On a Sunday afternoon with the Daytona 500 on the television and the surround sound up nice and loud, I chose to get started on the new Escapade .61. As you would expect from Great Planes, all pieces are individually wrapped in plastic and well packed. As I removed everything from the box, I was surprised and admittedly happy that there were so few parts and pieces. Could I actually get this done in one day?

Top Gun is the event of events when it comes to building and flying scale RC aircraft. This invitation- only contest is designed to find the best RC scale builder/flier in the world. For the first time, the event was held at the new Paradise Field located at the Lakeland Airport in Lakeland, Florida. In October 2010, Paradise Field opened for Monster Planes, and it appears the runway keeps getting better and better. Top Gun started on Wednesday, April 27, and ended Sunday, May 1. Other than some crosswind conditions the first two days, the weather cooperated for the entire event. Top Gun pilots did a fantastic job handling the conditions, but then, you might expect they would!

Since its debut in 1983, the full-scale MiG-29 has turned heads at air shows, world-wide. Maneuvers such as the famous “Cobra” instantly became textbook terms for a new generation of flight. With thrust vectoring and fly-by-wire technology, the Russians took an early role in demonstrating the amazing potential of coupling vectored thrust with modern-jet technology for the future. For our modeling, this level of performance was at first, just a dream. Look at how far we have come! Modern ducted fan designs now exceed 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratios, and most importantly, these are jets that a sport flyer can afford.

HABU is a tribal word that loosely translates to “Holy crap, Batman, did you see this?” And that is what I said to the guys in the shop when I first opened the box. But, I digress. If you seek a great looking, hot performing and fun to put together electric ducted fan jet, with unheard of performance, this Habu 32 is the bird for you. It came from the design team at Horizon Hobby/EFlite, headed by none other than David Payne, you know, Kim’s significant other. If you’ve been chomping at the bit for a step up from their original “foamy” version, it is here. Yes, it is more expensive; yes, it takes about 30 hours to assemble, and yes, it will definitely help prepare you for hotter EDFs, such as the BVM Electra, EDF Bandit or perhaps any turbine sport jet you may see in your modeling future.

Hangar 9's Twin Otter is a scale replica of the USAF's UV-18B's, the military version of the DeHavilland DHC-6. The US Air Force Academy uses three of these twins for their cadet parachuting program.

HABU is a tribal word that loosely translates to “Holy crap, Batman, did you see this?” And that is what I said to the guys in the shop when I first opened the box. But, I digress. If you seek a great looking, hot performing and fun to put together electric ducted fan jet, with unheard of performance, this Habu 32 is the bird for you. It came from the design team at Horizon Hobby/EFlite, headed by none other than David Payne, you know, Kim’s significant other. If you’ve been chomping at the bit for a step up from their original “foamy” version, it is here. Yes, it is more expensive; yes, it takes about 30 hours to assemble, and yes, it will definitely help prepare you for hotter EDFs, such as the BVM Electra, EDF Bandit or perhaps any turbine sport jet you may see in your modeling future.

One of the great advantages offered by all the new micro models coming out is the ability to fly just about anywhere at any time. Whether your preference is for a classic WWI or WWII fighter, a civilian runabout or a homebuilt scale or freelance sport model designed to use the equipment from a worn out RTF airframe, these little models are just the ticket for a romp around the cul-de-sac on a calm evening while the grill is warming up, or any other time you need a quick fix of RC.

I can remember my first experience with an Addiction a few years ago. My buddy Jim Champion brought his out to the field to wring it out. Truthfully, when he told me he was bringing an Addiction for us to fly, I wasn’t very excited. I had only seen the Addiction in the magazine and thought it resembled a “pregnant profile.” Seeing it first hand and getting my hands on the transmitter taught me real quick that the Addiction was no porker! The original Addiction looks fierce and flies awesomely. I came away that day thinking that the only thing better than the Addiction would be a bigger one! Enter the Addiction X! The Addition X, like all other Precision Aerobatics products, is performance- tested and ready to rock!

I was excited about the chance to review the Great Planes Yak-55M. The market seems saturated with “popular aerobatic planes” so it’s nice to see a new kid on the block! This is one IMAA and IMAC legal aerobat that I knew would stand out at the field. The Yak-55M has great lines, with a large cowl and long sleek fuselage to keep proportions balanced. The huge rounded rudder looks right at home on the cylindrical fuselage. The real Yak-55M was designed with a relatively short wing span to better rolling maneuvers. This plane begs to be 3D! After reviewing the Great Planes Pitts Model 12 for Fly RC magazine last year, I knew I was in for a real treat and my hunch was correct!

For the weekend of March 3-6, 2011, Florida Jets, an event for RC jet aircraft of all types and sizes, was held at "Paradise Field" located at the Lakeland Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The field features an 800 x 70 foot runway of Bermuda Sod that is fairly well manicured.

Designed in 1934 by Larry Brown and christened Miss Los Angeles, the Brown B-2 was designed around the 300hp, supercharged, 544-cubicinch Menasco Super Buccaneer engine and was the second in a series of three similar racers. The B-2 had a top speed of 270 mph and landed at 60 mph. Miss Los Angeles was a small airplane, with a wingspan of 19 feet, 3/4 inch and an overall length of 19 feet 10 inches. Gross weight was 1,299 lb. with a fuel capacity of 30 gallons. The fuselage was designed as a tight wrap-around fit for the engine and pilot, and featured a quick release upper cockpit section to aid the pilot in the event of bail out.