F-16 from Hobby King

[Gabe]

I had been looking into the Banana Hobby F-22 and I decided to look a little more into my alternatives. I found this F-16:

www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/%5F%5F12881%5F%5F90mm%5FEDF%5FJET%5Fw%5FAir%5FRetracts%5FGrey%5Fversion%5FPNF%5F.html

Air retracts, flaps, 3700mah 6S on the 90mm EDF. It's got a 36" wingspan and it's 56" in length (just under 5 feet).

$238 plus batteries. Seems better than the BH f-22 deal. I may spring for it!

[19000rpm]

Wow! Nice looking jet. How much is the shipping? Never had air retracts. That could be interesting.

I'm wondering if HK would be as easy to deal with as BH. HK is half a planet away. With BH, if you have a problem, you can just drive over to the shop and pick up Pete by the ankles and shake him until you get satisfaction. I can picture that. LOL!

[Gabe]

Me either. Anyone know how they work? I bet shipping is 30 or more.

[Solitaire]

Easy to find out how much the shipping is. You can either put it in the cart and the various shipping prices will be listed, or look at the weight (in this case 5439g) and check the postage table at the top of the page (next to "New Items").

$62 is the cheapest shipping to the US on that one, Gabe. The other problem is if there is an issue with the plane, forget about shipping it back (too expensive) and HK has documented issues with warranties on some items.

You guys in the US are better to order from the lower 48. It doesn't matter to us in Canada, since shipping on large items like that F-16 from anywhere in the US to here is about the same price...$50-$60

Now, I haven't checked to see if it's available in the HK USA warehouse. If it is, you may be able to get decent shipping from there. The jet itself will cost a bit more, though.

edit: It is available from the USA warehouse. $20 more. No idea on shipping within the US.

[19000rpm]

Gabe, here's a primer on air retracts www.tompierce.net/SBD/html/building/retracts.htm
I might want to replace them with a set of electric servoless retracts.

The US warehouse is in Washington State so the shipping "shouldn't" be outrageous.

[Gabe]

Oh yuck. Between the shipping and the air retracts I'll pass. What a let down.

[19000rpm]

Yep, I've been having a tough time finding a suitable F-16 too.

I got spoiled with the HLI 70mm TV plane that took a dump this year. They are discontinued at HLI and there are replacements, from another source, but they cost twice what I paid. I may have to suck it up and pay through the nose if nothing better comes up this winter.

This is the best one I've found so far www.bananahobby.com/1996.html

Let us know if you find anything else interesting.

[Gabe]

It's an awesome plane but it doesn't come with flaps. That's one of my "must haves" right now.

[19000rpm]

If you're looking for authenticity; the full sized F-16 uses flaperons instead of conventional flaps. The wing is too short to accomodate both ailerons and flaps. On top of that it also has speed brakes and an arresting hook.

I've found with the both F-16's I've had that;
they slow down really well, nice high alpha, great landings, with either TV or delta configurations with no flaperons.

Also, the F-16 never operated as a TV production aircraft. But, General Dynamics first tested TV on F-16D mules as they went about developing the latest generation of strategic fighter aircraft that all use TV. So, we'd be semi-authentic with the BH model.
www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article19.html

GD also developed a delta wing F-16 variant too. Much more capable than the original, but it lost out to the F-15 when it came down to the final cut.

[Gabe]

Wow! I didn't know that!

Hmmmm, reconsidering the possibility now.

[19000rpm]

Here's another one to consider Gabe. I think you were originally looking at an F-22. This one has flaps, TV and servoless retracts. www.toysonics.com/f-22-raptor-v2-vector-thrust-rc-r-c-remote-twin-70mm-electric-ducted-fan-jet-edf-pnp-w-retracts-gear-door-flaps-led.html

[Gabe]

It seems like its the exact same plane as BH. Same price too.

[19000rpm]

Yep, you're right. Same one as BH. Too bad it doesn't have 360 TV. Still a beautiful plane. I understand Toysonics is a better place to do business with the BH. I'm waiting til black friday to see what happens.