Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter

Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter {Kit} (2124) [1996-1998]

Contributed by Kevin Johnson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Estes

Brief:
Foam glider w/booster.

Kit includes:

  • 1 NC55
  • 2 BT-55 tubes
  • 4 1/16 balsa fins
  • 18mm motor mount
  • 18 inch parachute
  • Foam glider kit
  • Self adhesive decals

Rocket PicConstruction:
Bought a couple o' these kits a while ago from Discount Rocketry. Begad! Booster construction is pretty standard. Arrr! T' fins have tabs t' impart a roll for stability on boost. Avast! T' glider is all foam and has 5 parts: wings/horizontal stabilizers, me bucko, matey, upper fuselage, matey, lower fuselage and 2 vertical stabs. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I used 5 minute epoxy t' bond all t' parts together. Ahoy! Due t' t' lack o' any cuttin' or sanding, ya bilge rat, this is probably t' easiest boost glider I've ever built.

Finishing:
I painted me glider over all light gray and added a canopy in black. Arrr! Ahoy! T' decals had t' be cut out and applied, me hearties, and went on well. Begad! T' booster be painted gray and gold, matey, and t' decals applied. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' one that was supposed t' have wrapped around t' body, didn't quite make it all t' way around.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Rocket PicFlight:
Trimmin' t' glider is important t' any flight, shiver me timbers, and this one needs it more than any other. Ya scallywag! I make sure t' do a few hand tosses before each flight t' avoid death spirals. I've flown this model several times on motors rangin' from B5-4 t' C6-5 and found that t' C6-3 be t' best. T' last recorded flight I have is a 44 second glide.

Recovery:
Very excitin' t' watch as t' rocket boosts high and then releases t' glider. Aye aye! Even with t' weight o' t' paint, ya bilge rat, I get consistently long glides from this kit.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Pros: Sleek scale like appearance with excellent glides for a foam plane. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Cons: Estes discontinued it! If you can find one, snap it up! You won't be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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