I used to be into pattern flying in the early '80's when I was 16 years old. It was fun and I even went to a few contests. Never won anything, but it was fun. I have one of the old Dirty Birdies hanging in the den.

I'd like to get a modern F3A pattern plane. I won't compete, they're just good flying sport planes that look fast standing still. I have no idea what to get. I've poked around a few sites, Central Hobbies, etc. It seems Precision Aero Composites is just a retailer now.

Can anyone make some recommendations. I want an estetically pleasing 2 meter plane. No retracts any more? I realize they add weight but they're fun as well. I still like seeing the gear go up.

Can anyone recommend some planes and websites. One without as well as with retracts would be nice. Thanks.

Bill

http://ne-aero.com/2maquilaf3aarfarc.aspx

www.znline.com
www.camodel.com.ar (www.netboxhobby.com is the US dealer)
www.oxai-rc.com
www.piedmontmodels.com
www.composite-arf.com
www.chiefaircraft.com (xtreme composites PROLINE)

You have a wide range of models and prices.

From CA Models (argentinian factory, excelent airplanes designed by Top pilots like Chip Hyde and Christoph Pysant Le-Roux, 4 times F3A WC) you have the Genesis, Osmose, Pastport and Scandalous (biplane). You can get them in kit, arc and arf.

Piedmont: Focus II very good entry level plane standard wood construction.

Oxai: Amazing planes but $ 3K+ airframe only, only Arf

ZN Line: French factory, top quality airframes (don´t know if there ia a US dealer)

Retracts, most pilots uses fixed landing gear, don´t know if you can get an airplane to install retracts.

I´m actually flying a CA Models electric Genesis, excelent airplane.
All airplanes in the list are very good airplanes and their flying caracteristics are similar, you will get a lot of opinions, some people like one more than the others.
My opinion is that you go for the one you like.

Hope this helps

I'm toying around with building a Black Magic

http://www.customairframes.com/

Look at the Focus II not a bad price

FLAPSDOWN,

If your not looking to break the bank on one yet the SWORD 140 might be worth taking a look at.

http://www.texasrcplanes.com/sword140.html

If you are interested in a Temptation, I have a NIB Deluxe Kit I'm willing to part with...

Here are some pics of a finished Temptation:

http://www.nsrcad4.com/2006_contest_...SC01606_10.jpg

http://www.nsrca.org/galery/images/BobKane2.jpg

E-mail me off-line if your interested.

Larry Diamond
[email protected]

So am I!

LOL

Just teasing. I haven't built myself a plane in over 2 years now....that's about to change in spades.

-Mike

Best deal is the Genesis ARF $ 1,420.06. Includes: CF Landig gear, CF Wing tube, CF Stab Tube, CF Spinner, Chip hide Aluminium Control Horn, full set of bags (Fuse,stab and Wings) Transportation wood Crate.
http://www.netboxhobby.com/product.s...8&productId=15

Also the Genesis W.C. with the remubable SFG (Side Force Generator)
http://www.netboxhobby.com/product.s...8&productId=25

I will quote MTK here, "Guys flying in the lower classes always try to emulate what the top dawgs are doing and that's an expensive shame. Their costs skyrocket due to lack of experience in buying stuff they don't need. They wind up learning the hard way...we all learned that lesson. Many simply drop out on cost alone"

So how about some pattern plane recommendations for the rest of us. 1400-2000 for an airframe. Nope.

you can't go wrong with this one.

http://ecsvr.com/abm/shopexd.asp?id=2445

I'd beg to differ. My first (and definitely last) Oxai product has been nothing but a PITA. I could have rolled my $3K+ on a spin of the roulette wheel, lost, and at least walked away from the mistake. Now that mistake sits in my hanger until I can justify the financial hit to give it away after I've extracted my pound of flesh out of it.

I'm sure there's lower risk alternatives out there, and depending on your re-entry point some of the older (early 2000) designs draw nice lines and really carve through the sky. Later designs tend to be a bit "floaty" but they need to be to get around some of the integrated rolling elements.

Cheers
Brett

Which oxai did you get Brett?

PM sent

I totally agree with that quote. I have got caught up numerous times worrying about fine details that an experience pilot should be worrying about. In the lower classes, it's about getting an airplane and flying the sequence. Practice. That's it. These two planes will fly the lower classes as well as you can:

Electric: Sebart Wind 110 is an awesome plane for someone in the lower classes. $600, goes together in a day, very good quality, and flies great. Slightly limited on power options, but Hacker, Scorpion, and Neu all offer a motor that will directly fit. Whatever the plane is lacking, those of us in the lower classes could probably hardly even tell. Fit it together, strap in the power system, and have a contest winning plane ready to go. http://www.f3aunlimited.com/sebartwind110.html


Glow: Great Planes Venus II is relatively CHEAP as you can get it with Tower discounts for $260 or less. If you are flying Sportsman or Intermediate, this plane can handle every maneuver gracefully. Flies great on an OS 120AX or a YS 1.10, and flies pretty good on other 1.20ish four strokes. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...p?&I=LXLHV1&P=


I had the Venus II first and really loved it, and kind of miss it! A very plane built very solid to handle the bumps and bruises a newer pilot will experience. Typical Great Planes assembly, takes a few days to do right. Not setup for electric conversion, which is why I sold mine and went with the SebArt. Venus really tracks very straight, especially after a few trim flights and some minor adjustments. Can do a nice slower roll, flies nice inverted, and easily makes nice round loops.

SebArt Wind 110 is a little more 'sporty feeling' - more responsive, slightly less forgiving, but still an easy and great plane to fly.

Air Borne Models
Zen 90 (Blue) A101B
64.5 inch Wing
$440.00 List
Pre installed retracts

Zen 120 (Blue) A120B
71.0 inch Wing
$400.00 List
From the specs, I don't believe the 120 has factory retracts,
says 5 channel, 6 servos, and I know from personal experiance that they like to put 2 servos on each half of the elevator.

www.airborne-models.com

These are the only pattern ships that I know of with factory retracts.
Teddy

If your like me and on a limited budget, the pattern plane I chose was the Phoenix Models SeaBee with a Magnum 52 4 stroke. This combination works great with the sportsman class routines, and is a great, low cost, entry level plane to use in getting into Pattern flying. This plane goes together fairly quickly and can be found at for $109.00 at the following site: and if you keep your eyes open, you can find a 52 magnum 4 stroke fairly inexpensively.

But thats just my $0.02 cents worth...............

Piedmont Model's : Focus Sport. Original price for the ARF version, $300.00, plus $50.00 shipping.
Right now, Piedmont is selling off what they have left, Focus Sport ARC's, $200.00, plus shipping. As far as I know, they have a few Focus II's left, $500.00 range. I was able to get a set of wing's, stab, elevator, rudder and fin, all finished, covered, and a painted cowl, in addition to the complete ARC kit.

Crank

Thanks to all of you for your replies. It's been a long time since I looked at this thread. To be honest, I sort of gave up my search and built a Super Kaos to knock around. I recently received a PM about my search for a modern F3A pattern plane, so it rekiddled my interest.

My difficulties stem from two things. I don't like the looks of most designs. They seem stubby, not sleak and streamlined like a Tiporare, Curare, or Dirty Birdy. They also rarely have retracts. Money isn't the issue at all, this is an expensive hobby.

I'm continuing my search. I need a break away from scale warbirds and something a little more high tech than a Kaos. I stumbled across the picture below of an Australian design, the Slingshot. It's long, sleak, and even has retracts! I can see why that guy is smiling. It's exactly what I'm looking for and....they're not made any more and the happy fellow hasn't logged into RC Universe since 2010. I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap either but probably cheaper than shipping from Australia. I'd still buy one though.

Also is a picture of what I'm exactly not looking for. I'm sure a beautiful flyer far exceeding my capabilities. Also, short, fat, stubby and landing gear simliar to those strapped to an IMAC plane. If I was looking for an IMAC plane, I wouldn't have retired my Extra300. The search continues.

Bill

Flapsdown,

The last photo doesn't do the Osiris justice, I will agree. Here is a photo of mine that shows it in flight, from a more complimentary angle.

It is one of the best flying 62-inch wingspan models out there, and there is a 2-meter version somewhere in the pipeline.

Do you want to fly older-style SPA pattern or current F3A style? Your original post said you wanted something modern, but you're not going to be able to fly the more advanced sequences with a Dirty Birdy or a Slingshot.

If you are looking for a modern airplane with retracts, you may take a look at the thread of the new Bryan Hebert design for 2012 pattern, It's called Alferma and it looks really good.

To be honest, I am not a big fan of the newer pattern airplanes either. When I was a teen pattern was the elite breed and everyone built their own airplanes and did it incredibly well. I can relate to the OP's perspective here. The Osiris pictured here is a great example and I'm sorry for putting you on the spot but yours is exactly the same as the one the OP posted. He and I are from a generation where pattern airplanes were built by the competitors. They were works of art. I too wanted to get back into pattern but because I have been flying IMAC for 13 years, I prefer a scale like airplane. My solution was to build a 2M Laser 200.

The OP creates a bit of a dilemma when he says he wants to get "a modern F3A pattern plane" and then says that he doesn't like any modern F3A pattern planes.

I don't know what to do with that.

I'll leave it with you guys.

In a 11lb and 2m max package, a pattern plane flies really well the sequence in the hand of a capable pilot. If you can find a IMAC like plane to serve the purpose, it will be great.

But I like to mention that the current pattern designs are very well optimized. There are reasons that they look like now.

Hi,

If you are looking for a plane that flys like an older pattern plane, you may want to take a look at the Kaos .40 to .46 at Towers Hobbies $134.97. The new .46 engines are close to the old .60's.

Hope this helps.

Fly4Fun,

Wayne