Radjet 800. First Flight.

...back better than ever

The arrival of the Radjet, my second and a replacement for the much loved and even more battered original, was much anticipated. The pretty original had been the subject of countless crashes as I struggled to learn the secret of getting it into the sky.

Along the way I learned about the delicate balance required with speedsters, and not to get the Radjet into flat spins form which it struggles to escape. I also learned, and relished in, the Radjet's capacity for rock-solid performance and high-speed stability.

My arrival of MkII caused some angst as nearly a year had elapsed since it's predecessor had retired after the incident with the sapling. Fortunately, and remarkably, my lessons learned were so entrenched that the pretty speedster launched and flew virtually perfectly.

Something that I never had the opportunity to appreciated before it was pummeled through launch training, was just was cleanly the Radjet flies, swift cruise at half throttle and effortless acceleration out of dives.

So, despite the nervous anticipation, the Radjet is back and reinforces my perception that this must be one of the best-value foam speedsters around...

Radjet 800 Unboxing

...what's in the box

The Radjet comes nicely poackaged - double-boxed with all items individually wrapped in plastic, so there's no damage.

The parts are nice-quality EPO, and the kit also includes an underside protector skid. The canopy is a loose moulded plastic part which needs to be attached to the base, which includes magnets for attachment.

This kit, the PNF, includes a pre-installed 1850kv motor, and a 20A speed controller, good for 100-120kph performance with a 4S battery.

All parts fit neatly together, with the tail & wings needing to be glued. Note that you'll have to add some sort of reinforcement to the wing joins, preferable some sort of spars or strips because the basic joint isn't going to cope with the wing loadings of this pretty speedster...

Mini Eagle. Maiden Flight.

...fly like a bird

I’d half considered a “bird-plane” before but, with lots of other projects happening, I’d never taken it further than that. However, seeing the Mini Eagle offered on special by Banggood was enough to spur me to get this nice-looking EPP kit.

It’s a great quality kit - nicely packaged with everything you need including linkages, control horns and even an engine mount - all you need is a 1100kv motor (I used a 2212 1000kv) an ESV (20-30A) a 3S 800-1300 (I used a 3S 1000) and a prop adaptor for the supplied beak-orange 8x4.

The only minor drama was with the wing-edge extensions - flat foam pieces to be glued onto the straight wing leading edge to give the wing an Eagle-shape. I was concerned that misalignment of these could end in disaster but, as it turned out, they caused no problem and do enhance the overall effect of the Eagle in the air.

The other area of concern, no ailerons and a V-tail configuration, also performed without a hitch. So it turned out that the maiden flight, undertaken on a beautifully sunny and mild winter afternoon, went of flawlessly.

It ended up really enjoying the unflappable nature of the Eagle - it flies super-slow with little effort, looks great, and has taken the spot of easiest plane to fly in my experience previously held, ironically, by the Walrus glider…