F4U Fighter 97pcnt Plug-n-Fly w / BL Motor / Servo / ESC

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Customer Rated

Sep 16, 2012

HOLY COW, WHAT A FUN PLANE!!!

First, I have had hits and misses with HK, but I'm a fair guy and I review very objectively. This is plain and simple the best damned 53 dollars you can spend on a fun, park-flyer foamie. Disregard others' remarks about underpowered - they are talking about old itterations of this plane. HK is shipping with 1250kv brushless and the plane flies GREAT - I suggest 4S packs, it can handle it fine. Bottom line is the ideal setup is with a 1300 - 1600 mah 4S, and the stock 18a ESC 1250kv BL motor are perfect - the plane is plenty quick but more than manageable - however because the esc is 18a, you must use full-throttle judiciously. To be clear, at barely 1/3rd throttle on 4S the stock motor and 7x6 (2 blade) prop will lift this thing off right out of your hand. Ditch the landing gear and hand-launch/belly-land this one. I am getting 12 minute flights out of 1300/4S zippy and nano's - Trying to find a 1500 or 1600 square flat pack to do even better - that will give me 15 minute flights. The 4S packs come out barely hot, even after 12 minutes - this plane ROCKS! Ultimately, I will put in a 25a ESC and go to an 8x6 or 7x7 - the plane is already plenty fast, but I fly at 1/2 to .60pcnt throttle except for bursts, because of stock 18a esc - Moving up will insure that I won't overload the esc, 25a would be perfect if you stay with stock 1250 kv mot

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Customer Rated

Jul 10, 2012

This model is very inexpensive. You get what you pay for. With that in mind, if you don't mind tweaking and fiddling with control surfaces etc. This is a great plane. 3s battery also helps nail down the center of gravity.

Once its dialed in, it flies like a dream! Very agile and the sound is awesome.

Battery: 3s 1300mah - roughly 15 - 20 min flights (suggested 2s is not enough power)
Mods: All stock

I've read that the cowling can be created from a tub of butter/sour cream, which I intend to test myself.

Also if you want to paint it, Duplicolor Ceramic Engine enamel works great on the EPO.

I would definitely buy this plane again.

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Customer Rated

Apr 11, 2012

My son ordered one of these planes but they messed up the order and sended him a part for a heli. Then they tried to solve the problem by giving him a discount for the part that he didn't order. He doesn't fly heli's, so there no use for the thing they sended. Mails take a week before they get answered and its starting to look that HK will not solve the problem. Its a shame that a good buyer gets treated this way.

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Customer Rated

Apr 05, 2012

Worst problem with the construction is the aileron assembly.
A single servo sits in the middle of the plane, pulling two torsion tubes out to the ailerons. Due to the seagull-shape of the wings, the torsion tube has to be BENT where the wings bend, in order to move the ailerons. The motion is rather limited.
Purchase two 9g servos and dig them into the wings, lying flat, right by the wooden main spar - then use a Y connection or, better, the flaps channel on the radio. The plane flies much better after this modification and flaperons really help taking off and landing.

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Customer Rated

Mar 31, 2012

On Nano-tech 3s 1.3 is 14amps with 140 watt with stock motor and 9x5 gws prop. So you can use 3s batt. Great flyer!

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Customer Rated

Feb 21, 2012

First and second flight went well. Third not so good. The motor mount screws were not tightened which cause the motor to break loose mid flight. Once it landed, the motor was in the plane and the ESC cables were twisted. I'm happy to say that the motor and ESC still work.

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Customer Rated

Feb 10, 2012

Great plane and a lot of fun. Incredible stable and I uppgraded it with 35A gsw esc and 3 cell 2500 mah battery. I still had to put som weight in the nose. I think I have 20 min flying time.

I removed the servo in the wing senter for ailerons, and put one in each wing so I also could have flaperons. Also the servos in the middle of the fuselage I removed for rudder and elevator, and installed servo direct in the elevator and rudder. The servo who comes with the plane is not the best quality so I removed them all.

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Customer Rated

Dec 30, 2011

Very nice plane! You get very high value for the money,.. Nicely built, wings are reinforced with plywood and ailerons with carbon fiber rods. I didn't like big hole in front-you can see motor inside,... You can cover this with 1L yoghurt plastic bottom. With use 1300mha 3cell bat you still must balance the plane - 30g weights. I recommend this plane plane.

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Customer Rated

Dec 29, 2011

Una vez trimado vuela muy bien. Tiende a capotar sobre cesped, las ruedas son demasiado pequeas. Helices fragiles, compra mas. No aceleres mucho al despegar, vuela con poco motor muy bien.

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Customer Rated

Dec 07, 2011

This plane is awesome, but there's some things you need to fix before flight:
-put some fiberglass tape inside the cowl before you break it
-check the clevises so they don't fail during flight
-use strong magnets or tape to the hatch of the fuselage so you dont lose it
-use 3s 1000-1600mah lipo.