Originally posted by: pontifex
I've always wanted an RC plane so I looked into this one after seeing this post. I think it was about $169.99 from hobbyzone.com so it's not too expensive and it seems pretty decent for that price. I noticed that it says flight time is only about 10-15 minutes though. Is that about what you get out if it? recharge time appears to be 3 hrs. too, is that right? Seems really short flight time and long charge time - the only thing that seems bad about it. extra batteries are $17 each so its not too bad to add on to the flight time with multiple batteries.
This plane is well worth the money, IMO, though it was my first "real" plane. I have crashed it several times on landing. I can fly it just fin, landing is a different story however, even with all my flight simulators I been using for years, I just cant seem to get that part down. Loops, barrel rolls, close call dives at the ground and pulling up, but them damn landings
Ive hit my neighbors barn, my shed, twice, my trees, my neighbors trees, my neighbors high grass field, and first time I strapped the camera to it a complete nose dive busting the prop, and it still flys and have yet to break anything on it other then the prop.
the batteries, FIRST charge took about 3 hours, after that about a hour. Ebay for $20 can get the upgraded batteries, the 8 cells, 1400nimh, for more power, climbs, and longer run times, wife just bought them for me should be here any day. If you get this plane, lmk I will give you the ebay store, much better then paying $17 for one 7 cell when you can get TWO 8 cells for $20 shipped!
Run time on a WINDY day like the day I shot the video is 5 minutes if that because of the extra strain. On a nice windless day, or perfect day is some upper wind but not to much you can get almost a HOUR!! because you get it high enugh and glide on the jet stream and you dont need to floor it all the time, just enough to get it back up, kill the motor, sit back and relax. It really is my new best hobby! With as stressed out as I am now a days, its nice to take it out, get it up there, and fly it, like a kit only MUCH better.
So if your looking for a great plane to get started with, and my person experiences with this plane, and can testify its durability, I say go for it, get around 4 batteries, and have a blast!