What's your All-Time favorite Parkflyer

[Darren Hintze]

I fly frequently so during these longer stretches of bad weather, I get withdrawl -- particularly because my favorite plane of all time (this includes 13 years of agressive gasser flying) is sitting idle in my garage just waiting to take to the air again.

For most of 2003, I'd say my favorite electric plane was my Mega-powered F-22. It was a 2002 Christmas gift that saw 270+ flights last year. But it still ranked below a couple of my gassers as all-time favorites.

That has now changed.

In September I bought and began flying a GWS Corsair mated with a Himax 2025-5300 motor on 8 AA cells. It was stunning. With an 11x8.5 prop it was both fast and thrusty. Even on the cheap AA Nimh's, it was a very strong performer.

But in early October I broke down and bought my first high-power lipo packs and the Corsair quickly shot to into the "all time favorite" spot. With power and speed to truly perform Scale manuevers... and full throttle to do those eye-popping vertical victory-rolls, and no bad flight tendancies, the GWS Corsair/ Himax 2025-5300 + 3s lipo packs rules the skys around here.

Though not quite as aerobatic as some of my other planes, the scale looks of the Corsair, ease and convenience of flying, and unlimited power more than make up for some aerobatic limitations of the Scale-like airframe and non-symmetrical wing.

On top of all that, the price of the entire set-up is several hundred dollars less than my Gassers of equal Fun value.... that I owned for years and never flew as often as I've flown the Corsair in just a few months.

That's my favorite... what's yours?
Darren

[BEC]

Well, for all around flying from several different surfaces (grass, dirt infields, other things) and flying fun while not being so demanding that I can't fly out a whole battery at a time (30+ minutes) I'd have to say the Mountain Models Dandy Sport.

With its recent silent power boost (AXI 2212/34) it is even better.

And versatile, too.....

From earlier today:

[dbruening80]

For me, it would have to be the GWS Beaver. I flew gassers when I was younger (ages 11-16, I'm 24 now). Anyways, I sold all my gasser stuff when cars and girls took over much of my budget. All I kept was a JR XF622 radio set. A few months ago, I saw a neighbor flying a TM on the golf course behind our house. I got to talking to him and found out about all the park flyer craze. I went to the local HS, hoping they would have a TM in stock, but they didn't. They did have a Beaver though. So with a monetary outlay that would would have bought just the covering materials for a gasser, I was back in the air and LOVING IT!!!! 8 years w/o touching an airplane, and it all came back to me. since then I have flown a Formosa, Spitfire, Wattage Camel and Crazy Max and SS, but I still love to pull out the Beaver and go out for some late afternoon flying. Just a little history about me and how I got bit by the RC bug twice!!!

Doug

[targetdrone]

At the moment, it would either be my Slow-Stick with an Astro 010 w/ planetary gear and a 3s lithium 700mah pack, or an LMH Corona heli. The Corona can fly in my back yard, something that no airplane can do.

[omega blood]

I would say stick FD. It might change to slow stick as soon as I maiden it. I have a corona that's sitting in my closet for the past 3 months. I have yet to learn to fly it.

[DIAMONDBACK]

I'am with BEC , no contest , Dandy sport .

[Lone Yankee]

My Todd Long's Gym-E, this little guy is just amazing!

[sarge]

I have flown most of the GWS planes, including a TM, Beaver, SS, Estarter, Zero, P51, Formosa, and PT-17 (actually, I did own the Zero, but fly may not be an accurate description of what I did to it). I currently am tossing around a SIG Bristol Scout. I have enjoyed almost all of them a great deal. If I had followed a logical progression, I probably would have enjoyed them more. For anyone just starting, the ZERO is not a good first plane.
My all time favorite is the Tiger Moth, hands down. My first kit after going thru all of the Firebird line, so I consider it my first "real" plane. Nothing else I fly gets as much attention when I step into the field behind our sub-division. I even built a styrofoam insert for a toughbox to fit the Moth and radio gear and took it with me to a former comunist country to train the Free Iraqi Forces last year. Flew it in front of the Post Headquarters of what used to be this one of this countries Air Force Bases. Weaving in and out of stactic displays of MIGs with a WWI Bipe is hard to beat!

[DLC]

I have various favorites for various types of flying, but the one I keep coming back to is my GWS Cub FD. I have had it for at least 2 years and have retired it several times to use the electronics in something 'new and exciting'. However, I always resurrect it after a short time because it is such a competent, relaxing flyer.

[grizzowner]

Another vote for the Dandy Sport/GT. I have both wings and she performs great. I am running a Razor 400/C gb with a 3cell etec 1200 pack. Still has vertical after 30 min!!!

[LcJ]

At this point in time, it has to be the Tantrum. Now in about a week, it may be the Flashback II, but for now it is the Big T.

Slow, stable, responsive, and unbelievably agile when called upon. Easy to build, and easy to fly, easy for thrills, and soft on the eye.

I loved it with the brushed and even moreso now with the brushless.

LcJ

[1987tc]

At this point it is my Lil ole Tigermoth.
Love the low ans slow of it!
Ole reliable she is!
Wes

[Neil Morse]

Switchback 3D w/ retracts, powered by Hacker B20-15L on 2100 TP pack with APC 11X5.5 E prop. This is the perfect parkflyer in my opinion. Just a very honest little sportflyer. Not a 3D plane by any means, but capable of just about any close in pattern-style aerobatics you want to do. (One exception -- it doesn't knife edge well.) The retracts add an extra coolness factor, and are the most trouble-free retracts I've ever dealt with. I must have about 300 flights on mine, and keep it in my car most of the time for spontaneous stop-overs in local parks and parking lots.

Neil

[10Thumbs]

Tough choice here. Tend to agree with BEC that the Dandy Sport/GT is the favorite. It will fly extremely well on the stock brushed motor and NiMH, and will be glorious with a brushless/LiPoly setup. The GT wing allows for better aerobatics. Both forms are pretty forgiving, thus relaxing to fly.

A close second is the Nemesis. Lots of 3D fun in a small package.

[Manchild]

Well, my favorite changes all the time. This is a scratch built Little Ultimate Bipe (see Stringfly's Thread). This is the most incredible plane I've flown to date. Fun factor, control, and aerobatic capabilities leaves all my other planes in the dust.

Kind of a dark picture but it's been dark in Seattle lately