Yes, its been a while since my last post, this is mostly due to the HORRIBLE weather we had over the winter.  Two and a half blizzards brought almost 100″ of snow this year.  24″ in late Dec, 32″ followed by 15″ 2 days later in early Feb… and there was NO flying to speak of.  Sure I got some flights in with the E-Razor 250 and Novus FP but nothing to speak of really.

Anyway, on to the new stuff!

Dad and I got out to the field last weekend hoping to fly the “Franken Plane” and my Phoenix Models Extra 330. This would have been the first flight with the new YS .91 and Futaba Radio/Servos but.. stupid me forgot to bring the Wing Tube…. yeah I know, bonehead maneuver

Fast forward to today and OMG!  The UPS guy showed up at work with a new plane/engine that Dad ordered from Tower Hobbies.  Opening the box I was happy to find a “40 size” Phoenix Models Super Decathlon and a new O.S. .46 AX 2stroke engine!

Dad has been itching to get a plane that was NOT a duraplane for a while, and hes a HUGE fan of Citabria Airplanes… especially the Super Decathlon.

OK for starters let me say this:  I will NEVER buy a Great Planes ARF again!  Why?  Because Phoenix Models makes such AMAZING ARFs at a fraction of the cost of a similar Great Planes ARF.

Dad paid $109.00 for this spectacular ARF, one of the best parts is, they pre-hinge AND pin all the control surfaces on the airplane.  And no, they don’t use CA hinges, they use actual plastic with metal hinge pin type hinges.  The covering/graphics are top notch and the build of the airframe is very light and of extremely high tolerances.  This is the second Phoenix ARF I’ve built and cannot be happier!

Other bonuses:  the hardware package is complete and of very high quality.  The engine mount is pre-installed and the fuse has a section cut out for the engine exhaust!   I really can’t say enough good things about these ARFs, so I will let the pics do the talking.  Here are a few I shot with my I-phone during the 3 hrs I worked on the airplane this evening.