Durafly (PNF) Rare Bear Reno Racer 680mm EPO (Green/White)

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it's one of the nicest planes to fly in this class

May 19, 2025

I’ve flown a lot of hand-launch planes over the years, and not many really stick out—but the Rare Bear definitely does. It impresses right away with how quick it is to assemble—just two screws and you're ready to go. The CG marks in the battery tray are a nice touch, it runs perfectly on a standard 4S 2200mAh pack, and with a few tweaks, you can even get it running on 6S. It’s also one of the easiest hand-launchers I’ve ever used, and its compact size makes it super convenient without feeling like you’re giving anything up.
It’s packed with thoughtful details too: wing-mounted servos with optional covers, plastic skids on the belly and wingtips, ball links on all control surfaces, a roomy battery tray, and even un-applied decals so you can personalize the look. It looks awesome just sitting still, let alone in the air. With so much going for it, it’s genuinely tough to find fault.
“Alright, but how does it fly?”
Honestly—fantastic. It has a wide flight envelope and handles everything from slow, steady cruising to full-throttle speed runs with ease.
“Yeah, but is it efficient?”
Surprisingly, yes. You’re looking at around 4 minutes of solid flight time on a 4S 2200mAh, and up to 6 minutes if you’re easy on the throttle.
“What about visibility? It’s pretty small, right?”
Sure, it’s a small, fast plane (close to 200kph on 4S), so it does demand some attention. There are two color options—green and gold. The gold version can be tricky to track at distance because it blends more with the white foam, but as long as you don’t let it get too far out, it’s manageable. Still, this plane moves, so keeping it in sight and reacting quickly is key no matter the color.
At the end of the day, if you're after something compact, affordable to run, easy to launch, and way more capable than it looks, the Rare Bear really delivers. The only thing I’d love to see now is a bigger 6S version with retracts—but as it stands, this one’s an easy 5 out of 5.

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Serious thrill machine

May 19, 2025

Flying the Durafly Rare Bear is an absolute rush, this little beast is built for speed.
With its compact size, it’s easy to underestimate, but once you hit the throttle on a 4S pack, it screams across the sky, easily pushing close to 110mph. Assembly was a breeze, and everything felt solid right from the start.
The metal-geared servos give it crisp, responsive control, making aerobatics smooth and precise. It tracks like it's on rails, but you do need to stay on top of it, especially when coming in to land. It tends to carry a lot of energy, so landings take a bit of planning and space. I’ve been getting around 4 to 6 minutes of flight time depending on how hard I push it, which feels just right for something this fast. Overall, the Rare Bear is a serious thrill machine, compact, clean, and built to go fast. If you're a pilot looking for a high-performance adrenaline hit, this one definitely delivers.

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Flying is a joy

May 19, 2025

The Rare Bear is a easy to assemble aircraft, the quality of the finish is great and I love the fact it comes with metal geared servos to handle the high proformance of the airframe and motor set up.
Flying is a joy as well as it flies on rails and has a very good low speed handling without any nasty stall tendencies . Visibility can be difficult as model is small and fast and due to its scale livery the top and bottom look similar .
I would give it a 4 out of 5 star rating and a great addition to the FlyingFinnRC hanger.

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It’s just plain fun

May 19, 2025

This model offers a compelling combination of features that make it a standout in its class. First, it's designed for ease of assembly and transport, allowing you to get in the air quickly and conveniently. It delivers power and unrivaled performance, making it one of the top contenders in its category. Its versatility is impressive—you can easily upgrade it to a 6S setup with just a change of prop and a simple, no-cut modification, although it’s already blazing fast on the stock 4S configuration. The model is also steeped in history, being faithfully modeled after an actual award-winning aerial racer from a bygone era, adding a unique scale appeal. Despite its high performance, it’s easy to fly and boasts a wide flight envelope, perfect for everything from relaxed Sunday cruising to eye-watering ballistic speed with just a bit more throttle. And finally, the best reason of all—it’s just plain fun! With a fun factor that scores 11 out of 10 stars, this model guarantees pure enjoyment every time it takes to the skies.

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The easiest model to assemble

May 19, 2025

The easiest model to assemble, only two screws. Super speed on 4S , need to try it on 6S. Really precise in the aerobatics. Can also fly slow!

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Quick Assembly

May 19, 2025

This new Rare Bear goes together in seconds. Only 2 bolts to screw in and then drop in your receiver! Start with a 4S pack but you will soon get used to the speed. Remove the dummy engine cover, change to a 6x5.5 prop and you will have the fastest thing at your model flying club. Dom (Essential RC YouTube channel)