The Meteorite

Dynam Meteor (beautiful ain't she?)

Often coined as the clone of the Parkzone Habu.  Dynam often makes planes that look and fly well; the Meteor is no exception.  A classic aerobatic sports plane and capable of surpassing speeds of 200km/h and beyond. It has a low wing load and is really easy to identify in the air. I had many enjoyable flights with it and so good was the experience that I had three Meteors; among which one was a gift.  A plane not easily forgotten but very forgiving to fly.  Match it with a 5S or 6S  power setup and it should please the most demanding of pilots. I recommend everyone to fly the "Meteorite".

Technical Data
Wingspan: 910mm.
Length: 1100mm.
Weight: 1100g.
EDF: 70mm
Battery: 2600mah 4S1P 14.8v
ESC: 60A
Servo: 5 x 9g

Looks: 8
Performance: 9
Aerial Ability: 8
Design: 9
Overall: 9

Skyangel F-16 Falcon (50mm)

Skyangel F-16 Falcon (50mm)

I had flown several of the mini EDFs made popular by JPowers/Skyangel.  This F-16 Falcon is by far the lightest and quickest with a 1-1-1 IHE configuration.  Extremely easy to launch and fly.  A model to consider for those still immersing themselves with EDF powered planes.  Employs a push-pull design to actuate aileron and elevator flaps using just two servos.  The belly and cockpit floor are very thin and will not take rough landing/abuse.  A "chuckie" to keep in the car.  Assembling planes from the mini EDF/mini Warbird series are straightforward.


Technical Data
Wingspan: 530mm.
Length: 680mm.
Weight: 325g.
EDF: 50mm
Battery: 850mah 3S1P 11.1v
ESC: 20A
Servo: 2 x 9g

Looks: 8
Performance: 7
Aerial Ability: 7
Design: 7
Overall: 7

Global Fly T-45 Goshawk

Global Fly T-45 Goshawk

The Goshawk is without a doubt, one of the longest serving and my favourite RC plane model in the Starry Hangar. It is a superb all rounder that can pull off all basic aerobatic manoeuvres with aplomb but rolls were a little slow. It is easy and recommended for beginners starting into EDF Jets.


It is made of high quality smooth EPO, is easy on the eye and looks really beautiful airborne. The stock setup has sufficient power to take-off over short grass.  Hand launches in generally, were non-events. If you are keen to upgrade its power plant, consider flying it on 2200 4S1P 14.8v with upgraded motor/ESC.  Build tip: reinforce the stabiliser fins and front landing gear.


Technical Data
Wingspan: 950mm.
Length: 1000mm.
Weight: 620g.Motor: 4300kv
EDF: 64mm
Battery: 2200ah 3S1P 11.1v
ESC: 50A
Servo: 3 x 9g

Looks: 9
Performance: 8
Aerial Ability: 8
Design: 9
Overall: 9

Skyangel T-33 Shooting Star

Skyangel T-33 Shooting Star

My second plane from the Jpowers/Skyangel series of 50mm EDFs. The US Navy Blue Angels colour scheme may look cool but is bad for plane orientation, particularly so with a profile so flat that is easily misjudged.  Nevertheless, I clocked about 15 flights with no mishaps. Aptly named, flying a figure "8" really made the plane look like a shooting comet, its drop tanks trailing - lovely. The stock power system is just enough but surely too slow for some. For the maiden, I downed the throws of the DR/EXP to 60/50 for Ailerons and 75/25 for Elevator. For the 800mah 3S1P, I sit it all the way to the front. Subsequently, I fly the T-33 Shooting Star using 1000mah 4S1P battery packs.

Build Notes:

• secure control horns - as one of the wing horns was loose upon arrival
• push rods too short so the flat side of servo hinge ended up facing outwards
• two self-taping screws to secure wing to fuselage could not tighten properly so the two small grey plastic pieces were not used
• a strong canopy magnets - good
• CG: 5cm from leading edge works fine.
• tip: "run-in" EDF slowly at low-revs then to high-revs with cool-down after landing.

Technical Data
Wingspan: 784mm.
Length: 683mm.
Weight: 360g.Motor: Brushless Inrunner
EDF: 50mm
Battery: 800 to 1300mah 3S1P 11.1v
ESC: 20A
Servo: 3 x 9g

Looks: 7
Performance: 7
Aerial Ability: 7
Design: 6
Overall: 7

Starmax F-5E Tiger II

Starmax F-5E Tiger II

This plane was decommissioned after a low-altitude crash at a time when I got careless. A complete makeover for the damaged nose did not worked as planned (see picture below). On hindsight, I came to realised that the plane flew somewhat tail-heavy right from beginning till the end. It taught me not to be shy when it comes to toning down the throws and using greater exponential settings. It sports the Canadian Cold Lake paint scheme and the short wings made roll manoeuvres really fasst. The power system matched the flight requirements quite nicely. The missiles broke easily. Well, a little handful for me but a nice plane to fly overall.


Turnigy Jet (oh it still crashed upon re-maiden - hehe)




Technical Data
Wingspan: 532mm.
Length: 939mm.
Weight: 500g.Motor: 4800kv
EDF: 64mm
Battery: 1300mah 3S1P 11.1v
ESC: 40A
Servo: 5 x 9g

Looks: 7
Performance: 7
Aerial Ability: 8
Design: 7
Overall: 7

Starmax F/A-18E Super Hornet

Starmax F/A-18E Super Hornet

(Photo: Defense Industry Daily)

My first EDF Kit. Not a big fan of the Super Hornet but this birdie is quite the floater and lands easy. ROGs are a handful as the landing gear rods are weak though the wheels are okay - most fliers I know will hand-launch it. I even have a "sleeping" pilot in there to assist!



Here's a little more - this beautiful livery is a commemoration of 20 years of service in the Canadian Air Force. Canada originally bought 128 “CF-18s” from 1982-1988, but accidents and retirements have reduced the fleet to about 103, with only 80 upgraded F/A-18A/B aircraft operational. The Hornets are expected to be phased out between 2017 – 2020. The F-35 is likely to be the replacement.


Technical Data
Wingspan: 710mm
Length: 968mm
Weight: 730g
Motor: 4800kv
EDF: 64mm
Battery: 1300mah 3S1P 11.1v
ESC: 40A
Servo: 5 x 9g

Looks: 9
Performance: 7
Aerial Ability: 7
Design: 8
Overall: 8

Bonus Info: Started in 1978, The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets (F/A for Fighter/Attack). The F/A-18A is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18B is the two seat variant. The improved F/A-18C is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18D is the two seat variant and are the result of a block upgrade in 1987 incorporating upgraded radar, avionics, and the capacity to carry new missiles. The single seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornets carry over the name and design concept of the original F/A-18, but have been extensively redesigned. The Super Hornet has a new, 25% larger airframe, larger rectangular air intakes, more powerful GE F414 engines (from Wikipedia).

Art-Tech Jetiger

Art-Tech Jetiger

One of the earlier models in Starry Hangar. The stock 1800mah battery's "C" rating that was included in the purchase was pathetic. That made it very challenging to fly and I suffered for it. You could imagine the joyous moment when it finally took off when I switched to a lighter, more powerful 1300mah 25C battery. This Jetiger is a superb Delta wing model.  I am going to miss this plane.


Technical Data
Wingspan: 820mm
Length: 620mm
Weight: 520g
Motor: Brushless Motor B2040-14L-2
Battery: 1800mah 3S1P 11.1v
ESC: 30A
Servo: 2 x 9g

Looks: 8
Performance: 8
Aerial Ability: 7
Design: 8
Overall: 8