F-86 Skyblazers EDF Jet Receiver Ready

I bought this as my first EDF because it was a good price, and EPO. It's a great flier, as long as you can get it through the launch. It needs a really hard throw or it will stall and crash. The EPO tolerates the crash on takeoff pretty well, though.

Tone down the ailerons until you get used to flying it. It's easy to get into oscillations in flight and put it in the ground if they have too much flex. The paint on the hor. & vert. stab. attachment surfaces peels easily allowing the tail and hor. stab. to detach sometimes, so use a little glue on the seams at the top, or strip the paint out before you glue in the stabs. II used hot glue. The included epoxy cured way too fast to give me time to apply and use it on all the attachment surfaces. Make sure to use a rubber band on the front to hold the canopy down. Those magnets come unglued very easily, and the canopy will fly off in flight.

Bag the drop tanks. They fly off on landing no matter how soft. I made some small foam "u-bolt" protectors for the 2 wing servos and a 1/4" wide, 1/4" high foam "landing gear to save the damage on the bottom from landings.

It's got enough power for an intro EDF. I flew it in moderate wind with no problems, and the speed was more than adequate for my purposes. It has a nice scream. If you want to scream by the crowds at 100+, though, you'll be disappointed.

Flew it a bunch of times and then nosed it in in the wind. Thanks to EPO the damage was not that severe. Boil the foam for a few minutes to get the shape back and glue back together whatever broke, and you're ready to go again.

Overall a good first EDF. Fairly stable if you can get it through the launch, and easy to fly and land if you are already familiar with aileron use. Good landing characteristics, except for those drop tanks.

The F-86 Sabre gets an average rating, put it this way, it looks better than it flies. I purchased the F-86 to replace my 64mm AMX Light Attack EDF Jet (also purchased from Hobby-Lobby, but they dropped JPower models), which is now RIP thanks to a crash caused by Sun blindness. I pulled the power plant from the AMX and dropped it right into the F-86 - Wicked 4800Kv motor, 9g digital metal gear servos, 2200mAh 40C batt, therefore I bought the kit not the ARF/RTF version.

Compared to the AMX, the F-86 is sluggish. Top end speed is about 65-70mph with no modifications to the airframe. The nip-tuck, which involves cutting a small 1/2" wedge from the bottom and "tucking" the airframe back together to reduce the diameter of the exhaust, is required to get into the 80mph range on the Wicked 4800Kv motor.

The drop-tanks don't secure into the wings very well, so I recommend cutting some 2" long c/f rods and allowing 1/4" or so to stick out of the drop tank, then put small holes in the wings and use Gorilla glue liberally to keep those tanks from ripping off on grass landings. The c/f rods help but looking back I may have been better off using NEO magnets on the tanks.

Overall, the F-86 is ok, but not great. I wish HL still sold the AMX, it was a better-performing airframe and the electronics installed in a much more "clean" manner. I would not fly the F-86 on the stock motor/ESC as IMO it would be grossly under-powered.

Finally got the maiden in. Wow, very quick, good slow flier, easy landing, can't wait till next time. Easy build too, very good quality overall. Can't beat the price.

This is my first introduction to an EDF jet. I must say that it is a very stable flying airplane. As the instructions say it was together in a little over an hour and the next day I took it out flying.

The first flight was hairy because I hand launched and probably did not do a good job of it because the plane dipped and started for the ground, but I was able to recover and fly. If you have flying experience this is a good inexpensive way to introduce yourself to the hobby of EDF, but for sure NOT an beginner's plane.

I gave the model 4 instead of 5 stars (although it should get five), because when I landed (and I thought it was an easy landing on matted down grass) the drop tanks broke a bit. They appear to be hollow foam and not alot of thickness in the walls. I recommend before flying for the first time to reinforce the drop tanks with something (I used clear packing tape).

I would actually give this plane a 4 1/2 because the service at Hobby Lobby was superb thanks to Dave.

I will sure be back for something else....just got to save my pennies.

This is a fun little jet. Most EDFs come with marginal batteries and need upgrades,,the included 3S battery is perfect for 4 to 5 minute flights. I live in a snow-belt,,not a problem for this jet. It balances so nicely on the drop tanks that you can take off from snow. The skid plates on the tanks make perfect snow skis. It skips along so easy that landings take some room,,LOL. It can be touchy but useing EXPO takes care of that!

Really inexpensive FUN!!

Wow, what a Great Value. I bought this plane when it was on the crash sale. It comes receiver ready and took me about two hours to finish. Flew with no trim adjustments first flight. I will take this with me to the flying field every weekend.

A solid 4 star performer! considering the price, and it just might make 5 stars. Fast, cheap, and fun. a perfect recipe!

This plane is awesome! Takes a really hefty hand launch --- a buddy really has to sling it skyward -- but once it is "on the step" it is great. FAST!!!!!! Use a full range rx as it covers alot of sky!!!!

I won one of these in a raffle two weekends ago! Assembly was quick and painless, the instructions are very good. Flies like a dream, it's very stable and predictable. I've flown quite a few EDFs but would think this would make a very suitable EDF trainer for someone who has aileron experience. I've launched mine overhanded and underhanded, it launches quite easily either way and gets on step quickly. The recommended throws are spot-on, I haven't found a need to change a thing. I placed the pack as far forward as it will go and ended up about 1/4" behind the rearward recommended CG, but it flies perfectly stable there, I think they may have made a mistake on the CG recommendations. The canopy magnets are not very secure, I had to epoxy them in place after they popped loose. These are very minor quibbles on an otherwise fantastic jet, it flies wonderfully and the fan has plenty of thrust to push it through inside and outside loops. Rolls are quite axial. Inverted flight requires some down elevator, but is really stable and easy to hold. It's not crazy-fast, but it's fast enough to make for nicely scale fly-bys. It's small size makes it very convenient to toss in pretty much any car. And it's just as nice in person as the pics you see on the HL site, it's a very attractive jet!

My first Jet too. Was cheap, durable, and seems; as if it will be a blast to fly once I get some spare parts. I really wish HL would buy parts when they buy and sell a new design. All in all - pretty fast and I liked the price. New comers like myself do not need expensive jets to learn on. Thanks HL for a good product along w/ the Mig. HOPE these stay in your inventory for years.

Pros: Goes Fast, It's Cheap, Very Durable. Has a convenient exit for an antenna wire (72mhz) through the bottom wings. Hobby-Lobby is fairly quick to completely resolve problems with defective and missing parts if you have any.

Cons: Quailty control problems at the factory: My ESC was defective, the Ducted fan assembly was too deformed to fix rubbing blades (just move around the fan to fix, it's not pre-glued and doesn't need to be), and one - but only one servo horn was from a different kit (I fixed this by putting it on backwards and it lined up). Hobby Lobby sent me all new parts within a week, and my only complaint about the kit was the neutral positions for the servos have to be adjusted from the radio or they dig into the EDF body, easy fix if you have a digital transmitter. Also, the ailerons have very short wires forcing you to use the servo Y connector to reach the Receiver, and the supplied connector can be a bit, well, defective or fragile.

Overall: Q.A. problems are a hassle, but hobby-lobby will send you new (retail) parts within a week, if you need them. In short, if you're willing to wait an extra week to fly, if and when it comes with defective or missing parts, then this a great plane worth the wait. This plane also looks great as far as decals, modeling, and paint job go.

This is by far the best EDF Jet ARF I've bought....... fast, strong and cheap
This is my vid on youtube if you want to see how good this jet " Hobby Lobby mini F-86 cool Fly "

I purchased this airplane about a month ago at the Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF). I have been flying for about three years now and this was my first jet. I am not much of a builder but the kit went together quickly and easily. It probably took me about 2 hours but I took my time. It is a blast to fly. It is fast enough to keep me interested but not so fast that I lose sight of it. It sounds great during low upright passes and not so low (grin) inverted passes.

So many RC reviews have nothing but positive things to say so ... I did have a problem with one of the fan blades being a little long when I first ran it up. Turns out that is not unusual and the blade fixed itself when the motor was run up a few times prior to the maiden. I also landed it very hard recently and the balsa battery tray detached from the foam. This was easy to fix and the plane was back in the air the next day.

For $120 you really can't go wrong with this jet. It has quickly become one of my favorites.

This is a terrific "Pocket" or, "Back Pack", EDF. Small enough to transport and fly almost anywhere with lots of power for it's size. The 64mm fan and 4300kV motor are more than a perfect match for this semi scale trip down nostalgia lane. Visions of triggering .50 cal's while in hot pursuit of a smoking Mig 15 come at no extra charge.

Packaging, foam materials, finish and hardware are all better than one might expect in this price range. In fact, from my experience, better than with some EDF's costing quite a bit more.

ARF Notes: What little building is required, installing control horns and a bit of epoxying, (epoxy included) is both straightforward and easy to complete. Much appreciated are the plastic covers for the wing tanks and nose that are also included to provide for scuff free landings. A small 2.4 spektrum Rx fits nicely in the equipment area and the included 1600mAh 20c battery provides also fits well and provides adequate discharge for high speed fun. Building Note: I recommend adding some velcro to the bottom of the battery and compartment, in addition to the installed velcro strap, for additional security during flight.

Getting it in the Air: Hand launching requires a firm, overhand, toss at about a 15-20 degree angle at WOT to help get it flying as the fan develops enough thrust. Tip: You might also want to add a 3-4 clicks of up elevator trim or launch from a slightly elevated area to help compensate for the time it takes the fan to generate flying speed. Once in the air, zero trim was required. It flies exactly where it is pointed.

Flying Notes: The Skyblazers F- 86 flies very much like its name sake. That means; it's wants to be flown fast! And, with that speed comes real potential to show off your highspeed aerobatic skills. But also, just like the real thing, it lacks some in low speed maneuverability. Even so, pilots with intermediate skill will be able to handle this plane comparitive with ease. Some EDF experience will enhance the initial "get to know you" period, but is not required to get the most out of the plane within the first few flights.

Keeping the throttle at 3/4, or above, guarantees lots of fun for 4-6 minutes. Landings are a piece of cake. Throttle down and the plane sinks with predictability until you add a touch of flair a few inches, or so, off the grass.

I predict this great little plane, and important piece of combat aircraft history, is going to be enjoyed by pilots for numerous sorties over their local soccer fields and parks for quite some time to come. It's already a favorite of mine.

The drop tanks break off on this model even with a seemingly gentle landing on mowed grass. I've glued them back on 3 times now. If you land against the wind and slow the plane down just right they stay on, but we all know that's not always possible I tried just leaving them off but the plane doesn't seem to fly as well. The roll is less stable, the plane dances a bit as it flies due to the short wing span. Seems the tanks help the balance and stability of the plane. I transitioned to this jet after mastering several war birds. I have to say jets are a little boring. Sure they go fast and you can spin like a top but that's pretty much it. Trying to do loops with this model isn't worth the trouble, it falls out of the sky. There's no rudder so its pretty limited. Dare i say i think i prefer the prop jobs.

I saw Jason Cole fly one at SEFF in the Sport Flyer area. It had nice speed and good vertical performance. I bought one at SEFF and brought it home. I finished putting it together today and test flew it this evening. My version had the new CF reinforcements in the wing and stab and there was no flex that I could see in the air, even on steep dives or hard turns. My only assembly problem was that one of the drop tanks took some X-acto trimming to get it to match the attachment angle of the the other tank. This was a very minor problem and I'm really picky. I'm very satified with my F-86. Great value and excellent performance - what more could you want.
McD

It's a beautiful jet but beware of several quality control problems. Upon building mine, i noticed the following issues that needed attention:

1. The wooden board that mounts your electronics, battery etc. was glued in way crooked, just dealing with that. 2. The elevator servo that's mounted on the board was loose, upon further inspection the assembler stripped 1 screw. 3. My tail was molded crooked, it had a significant bend. I fixed this by heating up with a hair drier and slowly shaped it straight. 4. No hinge tape. This model has metal hinge points but from one hinge to the next (aileron to elevator) a significant amount of play was present. So much so, one of my elevator flaps lifted higher then the other. I fixed this with 3M blenderm hinge tape. Now they're rock solid. 5. The Mounting of the EDF unit is a little hokey. It's actually not glued in place rather it sits in a lip. Upon first power up my EDF clapped loudly as plastic fan blades slapped against the housing. It's since subsided, perhaps initially it was slightly out of round?
I guess i expected more, but the price was right. I'm starting to think I'm cursed with making online purchases...i always get the defective stuff. Anybody else feel this way?

In conclusion, owning this model was kinda like buying a used GM car. If you have knowledge and you can work on your ride, its not a problem. If your the kinda person that fills the tank, turns the key and drives, you'll be disappointed.

I have just finished my build of HL's F-86. It would be hard to imagine how it could have been easier. The comment that one-can-build-it-in-an-hour is a bit ambitious, IMO, but not by much. This plane makes for an relaxed afternoon's build with breaks tossed in. Everything, except RX, is provided for the build. While no difficulties were encountered, I might offer a few hints to make the build go more smoothly:

*The ESC's wires may try to restrict the elevator push rod's travel. It is easy to invent a way to keep the two separate.

*You might find the holes for the 4 wing hold down screws are TIGHT thus possibly causing difficulty when securing the wing. Give the 4 screws a test install before doing wing installation.

*As you secure the wing, make sure to not distort the fan's shroud. Clearance between fan blade tips and shroud must be maintained.

*Save installing the vertical stab for the very last step. Its being out of the way makes performing all the other build steps easier.

I am looking forward to the maiden. If it goes as well as the build, this will quickly become a favorite plane.

You cannot beat this thing for 100 bucks, great first jet. Not a plane for beginners

Only been flying RC since Jan 2010. This was my first edf jet. Well packed and good instructions. This plane exceeded my expectations. Have flown 3 successful flights and it flies really well. Excellent!