To kick off the new year, it's time to take a look at what people downloaded on Parkjets.com. We have been maintaining the Top 10 list now for the better part of 9 months and there have been many new plans to crack the list, some stay, while some fall off to an old classic.
Before we really get started, we want to thank everyone for an incredible January 2013. Parkjets received over over 30,000 visitors who looked at 239,000 pages on Parkjets! That's the biggest traffic month yet! So thank you.
Alright, let's get to the top 10 plans for the month of January 2013!
10. F-14 by Steve Shumate: The F-14 has been on parkjets.com from nearly the beginning, and all told is probably still the leader all-time in downloads. But recently, the Tomcat has taken a backseat to other plans on Parkjets. To kick off the new year, this tried and true plan that features swing wings (and available kit from 6mmFlyRC) killer looks, and great flight characteristics makes the Top 10 list. Other plans might well be shaking in their PDF files.
9. SU-37 by Jamie Rothwell: The SU-37 is a great design that features a score and fold method of construction. By cutting only halfway throught the foam, you can simply fold this aircraft into a semi-scale looking RC plane. It cuts down on construction time while staying away from the simple profile look that so many other designs lean on. Give the SU-37 a good look if you want to go Russian.
8. T-50 PAK-FA by Denis CyberD: The T-50 is a plan that puts together some of the blended looks of the newest Russian 5th generation fighter, the T-50 PAK-FA. This design is a simple profile style but keeps the looks of the T-50 while cutting down on building material and build time. With a large diamond shaped wing, the T-50 is a stable flyer and perfect for park flying.
7. SU-31 by Tomas Hellberg: The SU-31 is not your traditional parkjet, because well, it's missing the "jet" part. But when Tomas Hellberg puts together a design, you know it will be good. The SU-31 is a warbird style park flyer with the prop in the front! The easy design and good (unique) looks should make this warbird fly onto your shortlist of build projects.
6. Eurofighter by Jamie Rothwell: A large delta wing, canards, and large control surfaces make just about any Eurofighter an excellent choice for park flying. But Jamie Rothwell took his score and fold method and applied it to this great frame, you know the result will be good. We think the Eurofighter is just about the most perfect design for flying around a park or field, and this design is a good one.
5. Hydro: The Hydro, the F-14 by Steve Shumate has been on Parkjets a long time and still continues to be very popular. The Hydro looks like a boat, moves like a boat and can take off of the water like a duck. Some modelers have even strapped on an EDF on this thing and it performs. If you want something to take to your local pond, the Hydro might just fit the profile.
4. F-14 by MDC: The second F-14 on the list! This model is no less complex than Steve Shumate's design, featuring swing wings, but does it with a profile design. It's a great blend of scale and ease of construction. This model will impress at the flying field.
3. Firefly by Dennis Schmalzel: Perhaps THE MOST UNIQUE looking design on the site, the Firefly is not a jet or warbird but a profile design that faithfully reproduces the "Serenity" craft from the popular show, "Firefly." We can't even describe it. Just check it out for yourself.
2. F-15 by Jamie Rothwell: Jamie Rothwell must be doing something right, the F-15 is his third design on the Top 10 list this month. The F-15 has large delta wings and a classic look that will please any modeler.
1. F-22 by Steve Shumate: No one can knock off the F-22. The Raptor is the king of Parkjets for the last year and 2013 looks to be no different. Incredible scale? Check. Available kit? Check. Thrust vectoring? Check. Impecable plans? Check. What else can you say? Nothing.
That's it folks for Top 10 list for downloads on Parkjets. Stay tuned, we will be adding more plans this month and looking to lock down some more interviews. And of course, we are working on some other projects at your request.
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