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I've been into RC flying for some time now and have always just wanted something fun and easy to fly... little/no maintenance, inexpensive... and today my parents got me an electric RTF RC plane!  She's called the F-27 Stryker by Parkzone... only $170 and all you need to do is tape on the nose and the fins... charge the battery and go!  That's just what I did too... well, I didn't charge it first... lol  just threw her together, went outside had my brother-in-law give her a good toss and flew for about 30 seconds till the battery died... then from about 50 feet up she crashed into the fence.  but good news... I couldn't even find a mark on the plane!  Wohoo!     She's styrafoam and light weight (some 21 ounces).  

Ummm... it has a spot on top where you can fit a little device for dogfighting that sends out a signal, and if it's aiming at another plane with this device on it... will simulate a "shoot down" but cutting the throttle of the downed aircraft for about 10 seconds!!  (For only $25 I'm gonna get that little guy next time I'm by the hobby shop)  

Anyway, she's also about 37" long... 3 channel proportional radio... with automatic mixing for elevons... trasnmitter has switch to change from hi-rates to lo-rates.  And on a full charge she definately has plenty of power!  About 10-15 minutes of flying time...  only 40 minutes to charge (comes with car adapter to charge in the car)  and... yeah, it's pretty touchy even on low rates... but as soon as it stops freakin' raining here, I'm gonna go out and fly it some more in the back yard...


Anyway, here are some pics of it I found on the internet... enjoy!

(BTW if anyone is thinking of RC flying... I DEFINATELY recommend an electric RTF like this!  Now I don't have to go get the gas, and all the other gear I have for my gas RC... just the plane and the remote!)

Inflight with the little thing for dogfighting mounted on top:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/reviews/392/stryker-045.jpg

This is particularly nice to know... she even flys well with missing parts!!
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/reviews/392/nonose3.jpg

Dogfighting goodness!
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/reviews/392/battle.jpg

Anyway, if you have any questions or wanna see some more pics and a couple videos... check out the review at RCO.com...  http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=392

COOL!!!

I got a RTF plane for $100 for my birthday and I lost it over some woods within 5 minutes. Thats why I'm going to stay away from RC planes.  :)

Oohh, I'm sorry man.  how frustrating.  But was it your first RC?  I've been flying RC's for a few years now so I have quite a bit of experience... otherwise with only about 3 acres of clear land to to fly in... it would have been in the trees within the first second! lol  

Anyway today I wiped out again, this time crashing into a large stump... the thing did a sort of flat spin to the ground... it now has a gouge taken out of the back and front of the wing... but just picked it up, threw it and she flew wonderfully!  

Yeah it was my first RC Plane. I was SO exited about it too. lol Oh well. Yeah I have NO idea where it is now. lol I guess I'll stick to Flight Simulator.

I have a firebird commander. It's a dream to fly, especially in smarttrak mode where the computer puts down the ailerons if it's about to spin out of control. Nice pics, I fly with that aircraft in an RC simulator and it's awesome.. One question, how do you land it? Theres no gear and the prop just crashes into the ground for me.

that's cool... my dad just got a firebird II or something... forget... it's the small yellow one.    They're great little planes to fly!  I almost wish I would have found them before gas RC planes. lol  But, both are fun in their own sense.

Anyway, as for mine, you just land it on the belly... or catch it if you can bring it in slow enough. lol  I've done that a few times.  Also, since it's electric the prop just stops when you retard the throttle so even if it does touch the ground, it wont hurt it.  

Speaking of spins... today I was flying mine inverted and my battery was improperly secured into place... and it popped out and, luckily, was still attached to the plane... which made me put it in a funky inverted flat spin from about 80 feet up, to land her gently on her back. lol  and not even a scratch on the vertical tails!  

Wow, that's one heck of a forgiving plane!

[quote]Speaking of spins... today I was flying mine inverted and my battery was improperly secured into place... and it popped out and, luckily, was still attached to the plane... which made me put it in a funky inverted flat spin from about 80 feet up, to land her gently on her back. lol