TOP 10 PLANS - JUNE

July is nearly half way over and we have not posted the Top 10 most downloaded plan on Parkjets for June yet!  Well, time to fix that little oversight.  We have some real changes to the Top 10 list this month, probably due to a better way we are now keeping track of the number of downloads, but much remains the same. Let’s get to it.

10. Super Bandit by Steve Shumate – The Super Bandit slips into the Top 10 list again. The Super Bandit is a superb design by Steve Shumate that combines easy flight, fairly simple construction and the ability to accommodate many different sizes of EDF fans. It can even be configured for a simple pusher set up as well.

9. F-15 MK2 by Jamie Rothwell – The F-15 is an excellent example of the movement to simple score and fold designs that let you achieve a full fuse design without the hassle of sanding and building up a box with formers.  A timeless design that lends itself perfectly for RC Parkjet flying, the F-15 is a must for your fleet.

8. F-302 Tau’ri by Robertus – The F-302 is a fantasy design that combines nearly impossible designs into one mean looking parkjet. Modeled after a popular TV show, the F-302 will be one of the most unique flyers at the field.

7. YF-23 Gray Ghost by Craig Clarkstone – You want a challenge?  You want one of the best looking designs out there? How about building a scale and amazing YF-23 Grey Ghost parkjet.  This design is very well documented and very well tested.

6. Mermaid by Marcel du Plessis – The Mermaid remains a very popular design on Parkjets.  One, it can take-off right from the grass or water, the design makes it easy to fly, and the simple control surfaces make it a real great flyer.

5. T-720 Broadhead by Domenico Sebastiani – The T-720 is classic design with a few twists, ones which make the parkjet unique.  The large oversized canards, the tail boom between the vertical stabs, the winglets, and aggressive slant of the wings all make the Broadhead a parkjets Top 10.

4. SU-37 Terminator by Jamie Rothwell – The SU-37/SU-35 download stays popular!  This is a smaller version of another design with some improvements and the ability to saw off the canards for the SU-035 variant. Like his F-15 above, the SU-37 features score and fold designs that make for a quick build with great in-air realism.

3. FA-209 Saber Tooth Tiger by Eduardo Flores – The Saber Tooth Tiger is a nice little EDF flyer that boasts a terrific weight to thrust ratio, giving it excellent performance.  The easy construction and big wings mean it stays stable in flight and makes for quick repairs when things don’t go right.

2. Hydro – The Hydro jumped up the charts last month, making sure it cements its status as one of the most popular downloads on Parkjets. Part boat, part airplane, the Hydro fills your checklist pretty quickly.  EDF option? Yes!

1. F-22 Raptor by Steve Shumate – The undisputed king of Parkjets stays at the top of the list again. The F-22 Raptor is a classic Steve Shumate effort, excellent documentation, excellent performance, and good scale make it an great choice for anyone to build. 

That's it! Stay tuned, we have a couple more parkjet plans to upload and you never know when a new plan will knock off the #1 download!

NEW PLAN - CHIGGY

Let's get Chiggy! The lastest plan uploaded is another Robertus special, the Chiggy. It's a fantasy aircraft with a crazy design that makes the two wings and vertical stab all the same. Putting the prop on the front of the aircraft, in a traditional tractor configuration allows for awesome vertical take-offs. The Chiggy pairs nicely with the Hammerhead, and almost looks like a flying bomb.  

Parkjets now has 135 free RC plans available for download. And with summer in full swing, it's a great time to add to your fleet. The Chiggy is a simple 3D design that should get you up and running in no time. One thing is for sure, no one will have a more unique looking flyer at the park than you when you roll up with the Chiggy. 

NEW PLAN - SABER TOOTH TIGER

We just uploaded another plan to the growing catalog of FREE PLANS right on our site. Now that brings the total number of free plans up to 135, which is a pretty big deal.  We can’t believe we are only 15 plans away from crossing the big 150 milestone. It will be here soon enough. Building a good quality catalog is not easy and takes a lot of time, but with over 35,000 people downloading plans every month, we know there is always room for one more plan!

So, following up on his EDF wonder, the SAF-14, the designer, E. Flores brings us a delta wing EDF Saber Tooth Tiger.  This design is ultra-light weight, has a single vertical stabilizer, and can perform very well with a modest motor and fan set up.  Slap a cool paint job on it and you have a real stunner at the park with this design.  The Saber Tooth Tiger is stable flyer and set up for a 64mm fan but can be converted to accept a traditional pusher configuration with a prop.  Go ahead and download it, check it out and see what you think, after all, it’s totally free.

JUMP START

Getting a jump start in RC Airplanes is not easy. There are so many planes, so many designs, so many different opinions on the best way to get started and of course one big question we always get is, “How can I learn this stuff quickly?”

Nowadays, with busy schedules and fast paced lives, it can be hard to really get into a hobby and feel confident in what you are doing. That’s why we have the “New Pilots” section where we review and preview products that can help you get going in the hobby.  Yes, if you purchase, we get a small commission, but that’s not why we endorse another company’s product, we do it because it works. 

And now, we just finished updating the page with an all new V4 Pro Pack that includes new plans and some great beginner’s guides. So if you are wanting to get a jump start on RC flying along with some excellent plans, check it out. 

TOP 10 PLANS - MAY

With May closing out, and the heat of June already bearing down, it’s time to get to the most popular downloads on Parkjets for last bit of spring. We have some new comers to the list, some old favorites, and a couple of surprises.  Let’s get to it and kick off June right.

10. F-15 MK2 by Jamie Rothwell: We have a few F-15 models on Parkjets and they are all excellent flyers. The Eagle’s broad delta like wing and large flying surfaces make the design an excellent choice for beginners and experts alike.  The Rothwell version utilizes score and fold techniques to give you that full fuse look with minimal effort. 

9. Hot Spot by Domenico Sebastiani: The Hot Spot keeps on keeping on as a popular plan on Parkjets. The “fun jet” like design is a proven performer, while this version keeps the building simple. Just like we like it.

8. X-Shuttle by Robertus: Simple design usually means an easy to fly plane and the X-Shuttle fits this description. Broad wings, simple control surfaces and a simple design means you have time to install LED lights and light up the dark, just like the designer.

7. Hydro: The Hydro is consistently in the Top 10 for Parkjets and while we keep thinking it will lose its popularity, it never seems to for very long. Part boat, part airplane, the Hydro is the perfect craft to terrorize those ducks at your local pond while providing the on-lookers something they rarely see, a boat that can fly.

6. Mermaid by Marcel du Plessis: Another aircraft capable of working in the water, the Mermaid design uses a high motor mount, traditional design cues for construction and a proven design. The Mermaid is an excellent flyer and will not disappoint you.

5. SU-22 Fitter by Robertus: The SU-22 Fitter isnot an easy plane to build, with swing wings and a complicated design.  But as you know, Parkjets tries to offer something for everyone and the Fitter is a great alternative to more common models.

4. YF-23 by Craig Clarkstone: The Grey Ghost, the YF-23 is the design that lost out to the F-22 Raptor when the U.S. decided which new plane to buy. But the Air Force’s loss is your gain. This is one of the most scale depron models we have in our Free Plans catalog, so the build is not simple. But what you can achieve with a little time and effort is well worth it.

3. SU-37 by Jamie Rothwell: Just like his F-15 design (#10 above) the SU-37 uses score and fold building techniques that allow you to build quickly, achieve some scale looks, while keeping the design very simple. The SU-37 plans contained here also have a variant option, sans canard, that give you a great way to keep things fresh.

2. F-302 Tau’ri by Robertus: The Tau’ri is one of the most unusual designs on Parkjets. Straight from the TV series Stargate, the F-302 has some unique features that make it look unflyable.  Dihedral, forward swept wings, and more make this one a great alternative if you are looking for something strange.

1. F-22 by Steve Shumate: The F-22 comes out on top again. The thrust vectoring, the scale looks, the available kit options, the decals, the detailed instruction guide.  Is there any wonder it’s been number 1 for so long and so consistently?  This is not an beginner build, but the results are worth the hard work.

NEW PLAN - T-720 BROADHEAD

We just added a new plan to the expanding catalog, the T-720 Broadhead.  It's from the same designer of the Hot Spot, so you know it's a proven plan. The zip file contains the parts drawings along with construction photos to help you out when you get yours ready to glue up. 

The T-720 is a stable flyer but also nimble and capable of good manuevers, suitable for beginner flyers as well as the more experienced RC pilot. 

The broad wings and unique horizontal tail give it an different look. Made of 100% depron, it's easy to build with minimal effort. 

Give the T-720 Broadhead a download and kick start off the summer right. 

6MMFLYRC DISCOUNT FOR YOU

For those of you that have been with Parkjets for a while now, you know that our main sponsor, 6mmFlyRC.com offers some really cool kits for many of the designs right here on Parkjets. As a way to celebrate small business, and 6mmFlyRC is a small business, they are offering our followers/subscribers $5 off any of their kits, both full fuse (Original Series) and the profile style (Quick Build) parkjet kits.

Now, I'm told that in the nearly 10 years that 6mmFlyRC has been offering kits, they have never done a discount for anyone, but starting now, through the last minute of May, you can get a sweet $5 off. 

For example, you want the Steve Shumate F-22 but don't want to cut all that foam? Well, you can pick up a laser cut version from 6mmFlyRC that will get you all the stuff you need to get started. 

All you have to do is enter the discount code: PARKJETS at checkout and you will be all set. 

TOP 10 PLANS - MARCH

Ehh, we skipped a month there on the Top 10 list, and that can happen from time to time as life gets in the way. But we do have the numbers from March 2014, and we nearly had a new #1. But, with just 13 fewer downloads (out of 2,100), a newcomer just came up short. 

Let's get to the Top 10 most downloaded plans on Parkjets!

10. Super Bandit by Steve Shumate - The Super Bandit hasn't been on the list for a long time. And it's honestly one of the best looking designs out there so it should be a regular. A real easy build, with options for pusher and EDF configurations, the Super Bandit has a great shape and performs excellent in the air. A Steve Shumate design from years ago, this one will keep you smiling as you throttle up and fly this aircraft like it's on rails. 

9. F-22 by Tomas Hellberg - One of the simplest builds out there, the F-22 features tabbed construction and simple thrust vectoring. Available as a kit or ready for you to tackle from scratch, the Raptor is an excellent build for quick fun. 

8. Hydro - The Hydro keeps on impressing with its popularity. Half boat half plane, the Hydro is happy where ever you want to fly, boat, or whatever!

7. F-15 v2 by Jamie Rothwell - An improved version of the F-15 previously designed by Jamie Rothwell, the V2 refines the score and fold technique used along with improvements to the canopy and scale of the model. An excellent choice. 

6. F-35 by RCCal - The F-35, like its cousin above (F-22 by Tomhe) is a great choice for those builders wanting to get up and rocking in few hours. Simple scale construction, thurst vectoring, and great performance on just about any power combination you can throw at it, the F-35 will leave you grinning. 

5. Mermaid by Marcel de Plessis - A non-jet, but based on a real aircraft, this excellent design is just like the name implies, it's comfortable in the water and is great to take off from grass as well. With the prop above the fuselage, the Mermaid is a must have versitle flyer for nearly all fields. 

4. Hotspot by Domenico Sebastiani - The Hot Spot is based on the Funjet and is proving to be just as popular. A mix of several different design cues, the Hot Spot performs like you expect; plenty of speed, plenty of ability and just lots of fun. 

3. SU-37 JR2 By Jamie Rothwell - This refined design features the Russian beauty, with improved performance and the option to cut off the canards for an SU-35 model as well. Score and fold makes this one go together quickly while still having a full fuse look. 

2. YF-23 by Craig Clarkstone - We said it at the time, this design is so beautiful to look at, it makes you want to build it. The YF-23 is just so smooth. The designer took a lot of time to document everything, so you have all the instructions and decals and tips you could need. This one just missed the top spot and we expect it will be around for a while. 

1. F-22 by Steve Shumate - The F-22 is again at the top of the list. As usual. Thrust vectoring, scale looks, available kit, and excellent documentation means the F-22 will keep you up at night just trying to get to the next level of scratch building for your parkjet fun. 

That wraps up March of 2014 for the Top 10 list. We want to thank all the designers that have let us host over 130 plans over the last few years. And keep downloading! As always, if you have a design, let us know and we will get it posted!

NEW DESIGNER - 4 NEW PLANS

We just finished up adding in three new plans from the designer of the X-Shuttle, which quickly brings Robertus' total to four plans in our ever growing FREE PLANS catalog. So let's not waste anytime, here is a brief rundown of the new designs. 

First up is the Hammerhead. And it looks like you might imagine. Front cannards, reversed wings, and futuristic looks that will have your flying buddies wondering if it will even achieve lift-off. But it will, get the COG right, and it flies just fine. 

Next, we have the SU-22 Fitter, a great looking swing wing aircraft from Russia. Now, for you experienced builders, the SU-22 is a great way to test your skills.  Beginner builders, you might want to get a little time behind the razor blades and epoxy before trying this one. But a great addition to the catalog.

Last, we have the F-302 from the TV show Stargate. Similar to the Hammerhead, this one doesn't look like it wants to fly in a real atmosphere, but it does and very well. With dyhedrial and a forward swept wing, the shape is very unique. 

With these three plans, plus the X-Shuttle, we are very happy to have Robertus as a contributor to Parkjets. We put his name in the sorter on the Free Plans page, so now you can just go straight to his work. We want to thank Robertus and all our designers for letting us host their awesome work. 

NEW PLAN - X-SHUTTLE

We just posted a new plan over in our free plan catalog, one of the biggest and most comprehensive on the internet today. The X-Shuttle is from a designer that is just starting to feed Parkjets some plans, so we look forward to getting more online soon. 

The X-Shuttle is a simple form build, with simple formers and a skin over a smooth looking body. The designer put a bunch of LED lights on his and the results are awesome on low light flying. 

The X-Shuttle can move well in the air with plenty of speed, but slows down to a float when the power is cut. An excellent addition to the catalog. 

Now, before it gets too hot outside, get out there and get to building and flying! 

TOP 10 PLANS - JANUARY

So the first month of 2014 is already over and we are just pressing halfway through Feburary.  How time flies! Hopefully many of you trapped by the mountain of snow in much of the country have had a great opportunity to get in some much needed build time on your spring fleet.  

As always, let's take a look at the most popular plans for January 2014.  We have a couple of old friends crack back into the list and the reigning king is de-throned for the top spot.  Here we go.

10. Cargo Twin - The Cargo Twin keeps on being popular in part because of its easy build design and also because it offers a cool way to hve a unique plane at the park. Using twin motors and rock solid building techniques, the Twin Cargo is a nice change of pace for any fleet.

9. F-22 by Tomas Hellberg - This profile F-22 design is an excellent weekend project or for more experienced builders, just a few hours. It features tabbed designs, thrust vectoring in the simplest terms, and great durability. Oh, and if you really want to accelerate your build time, pick up a laser cut version from 6mmFlyRC!

8. Hydro - The Hydro is part boat, part park flyer. Available in EDF or tractor designs, the Hydro will impress at the local duck pond, unless its frozen over!

7. SAF-14 - A unique design, a unique flyer. The SAF-14 might not be a real jet for you or me, but a model that mixes up several modern designs into one great looking model can't be a bad thing. 

6. Mermaid - The Mermaid, like the name implies, is a parkjet that is comfortable in the water as well as the air. With a motor mounted high above the body, your electronics are protected. 

5. F-35 - Simple profile design plus thrust vectoring plus quick build time plus modern looks equal one heck of a parkjet platform. 

4. SU-37 MK2 - Featuring a score and fold method (like the F-15 up next) the SU-37 is all Russian and all great performance. The design achieves a full body look with minimal build time.

3. F-15 MK2 - Like the SU-37, the F-15 brings the American version of air superiority to score and fold building. 

2. F-22 by Steve Shumate - This design is usually #1, and we have no doubt it will keep pushing for top of the heap. Scale design and thrust vectoring and you can get a laser cut kit means the F-22 is a winner every time at the flying field. 

1. Hotspot - The Hot Spot is in the TOP spot! One of the newer designs on Parkjets, the Hot Spot is a funjet spinoff that has a large delta wing and easy to set up controls. Check out the design and get to building. 

That wraps up another Top 10 for Parkjets. Check back in a few weeks, with the awesome YF-23 uploaded at the beginning of Feburary, we think we might have another strong contender for the top slot. Now, get to downloading!

NEW PLAN -YF-23 GREY GHOST

Okay folks, been a few weeks on the new plans. But this one makes up for it. Now you know we look at a lot of plans before we post them. We want to make sure they work, we want to make sure the documentation is good. And we want to make sure you know what you are getting with good pictures and video. This is not an exageration: This new plan is one of the best we have ever seen. Period. 

The documentation is insane. Complete build guide. Complete with decals. Complete with a flight set up document. Full size plans, EDF, pusher, whatever. It's all there. What about pictures? Unbelievable pictures. Video too. Insane stuff. 

This is not your beginner parkjet, which is probably why we are so excited. It rivals the master work of Steve Shumate in terms of scaleness. The details are just crazy. But it does involve some advanced building techniques. We love it. 

We do want to give a big thanks to the designer Craig Clarkstone who has clearly put in hundreds of hours into this project. He contacted us months ago and said he was just not ready yet, he needed more time to perfect his design, test it for the users, and complete the documentation. It's just amazing stuff. 

We haven't even talked about how cool the YF-23 was in real life. Craig covers that stuff too, so get on over to the download page and get to work. 

Just amazing work!

PRODUCT REVIEW - V3 COMPLETE PACKAGE

We thought it would be useful to do a comprehensive overview/review of what we feel is the best e-product, one that we have recently used and checked out in an effort to bring more information to our readers. Let's get started.

Recently, RCPowers made some significant changes to their e-product (The V3 Complete Package), designed to get new and experienced builders up in the air with a quality build, all while passing on years of knowledge, gained through experience, and some really great advanced RC techniques as well.  If you have visited RCPowers recently, you already know the offereing, but without actually buying it, you might be wondering exactly what you are getting. Well, let us tell you!

The V3 Package includes the following:

• Scratch Building, a comprehensive video tutorial on building the F-35
• An "Advanced Techniques" audio series
• FIVE Parkjets Plans, each with detailed instructions in tiled and full size plans
• A browswer based RC Simulator

Now, we know, if you are looking at the RCPowers website, it just looks like you are getting the plans and the simulator, but it's much more.  And worth every penny.  Cutting to the chase, Parkjets fully endorses this product. We used it, we continue to go back to the information and simulator, and believe it will save you time and money.

Click to read more...

2013 IN THE REARVIEW

2013 has come to a close and here at Parkjets, we like the idea of looking back and seeing what we accomplished and what we want to do in the near future, also known as 2014.  It was a busy first half of the year and we rounded out the year with some more plans and some new resources.  Let’s take a dive into what was 2013 and see what we can remember.

New Plans – We set the rather lofty goal of adding 3 plans a month last year and fell well short.  We only found nine plans we felt met our criteria.  You see, there are plans out there to add, but unless we are confident they will fly and the documentation is good enough to help the builders out there, we won’t post them.  Case in point, one plan we posted managed to unseat the most popular plan on Parkjets, the Steve Shumate F-22.  Again, we are going for quality, not always quantity.  What plans did we add?  Here you go:

• Cutlass
• SuperSlo 28
• T-28 Trojan
• Mermaid
• Mirage F1
• SU-37/SU-35
• F-242 Spiker
• F-15 Eagle
• SAF-14

For those of you wanting more plans, we have a few cued up already this year, so we are hopeful to get back into the 20-new-plan-range again in 2014.  Right now, Parkjets features 128 totally free downloads, by far the most parkjets available anywhere in one easy place.  It would be awesome to get to 150 plans by the end of the year! 

Interviews – We continued to build on our interview series with interviews by two of the best designers out there, Tomas Hellberg and Chris Carpenter.  These two guys have cranked out some very popular designs including the F-22, F-18, Morningstar, and SU-31!  We love hearing from these folks out there, it lets everyone get a little insight into the design process, the desire to make something from scratch, and any tips and tricks learned by designing. 

Sponsorship – Nothing new to report here.  6mmFlyRC continues to keep the computer running, the lights on, and the bandwidth covered.  It does take some resources to run Parkjets and we are grateful for the support and money 6mmFlyRC provides.  Do yourself a favor, visit their site, check out their offerings and save yourself some hours this winter by picking up a kit rather than cutting your own. 

Traffic – Good news here, Parkjets continues to grow its audience.  In 2013, Parkjets pushed out 2.6 million pages (2.5 million in 2012) and had over 400,000 unique visitors (305,000 in 2012) to 155 different countries!  That’s pretty awesome. Even more exciting is the fact Parkjets gained 50% more subscribers to our free monthly newsletter.  More and more people are coming to Parkjets, and that means more and more people will submit plans and that means more to give away to you. 

Endorsements – Last year we reviewed and endorsed a couple of products, which is fantastic.  And we just finished up our review and endosement of a slightly different but better offering, designed to get you building and flying faster than ever before. 

Twitter – When we started 2012, we had a very small Twitter following, so we set the goal and worked at increasing out Twitter footprint.  In fact, when we started 2013, we had an incredible 165 followers.  Today, we have 2,274 followers.  Now math isn’t necessarily a strong suit over here at Parkjets, but that’s an increase of 1378%!!  Now we set our sights on 5,000 new followers in 2013 and fell short, but we feel good about the awesome momentum.  If you are on Twitter and are not following us (@parkjetsusa) what are you waiting for?  Come on, help us spread the word!

Well, that puts a stake in 2013 for Parkjets.  We are looking forward to a new year and we are going to continue to work on making our site better and packed full of more resources.  Look for an all new Parkjets.com in 2014 that will allow for faster navigation, more search options, and more product recommendations.  Happy New Year everyone and thank you for your continued support!

TOP 10 PLANS - DECEMBER

After recovering from a rather rowdy New Year's celebration, it's time to get posted the Top 10 plans for the last month in 2013. December proved to be a month were some oldies but goodies made a return to the Top 10 and some new entries posted some strong showings as well.  Let's get started, here we go, the last Top 10 of 2013!

10. F-14 by Steve Shumate: In prior years, the F-14 was by the most popular Parkjet ever posted to our site. The swing wings are just too awesome. And the plans showed a bit of a comeback in December. With accessories like a clear canopy and pilots available (and kits too) from 6mmFlyRC, the F-14 has tons of support out there. 

9. Cargo Twin by Jamie Rothwell: The Cargo Twin is quickly becoming a regular in the Top 10. And it's not even a jet! Simple designs, a broad wings and twin motors make it a great alternative for folks looking to pull a cargo plane at the park.

8. Hydro: This design continues to hover and float as one of the most popular plans on Parkjets. Part boat, part slow flyer, the Hydro fits a unique place in Parkjet design. 

7. SU-37 by Steve Shumate: The Terminator or Super Flanker is one of the best looking designs of all time and Steve Shumate's design captures its beautiful curves and striking profile with precision. Twin thrust vectoring, clear canopies available, and awesome performance make it an obvious choice for a winter project. 

6. Mermaid by Marcel du Plessis: The Mermaid is built to live in the water, but it can take off from land as well. With the motor mounted high, and broad wings, the Mermaid is stable and easy to fly off the ground or water. 

5. F-35 by RCCal: The F-35 is a great first plane. Some even use it as a trainer. The Large wings and large control surfaces make it a perfect parkflyer. The simple profile design makes it easy to build in just a few hours. 

4. SU-37 V2 by Jamie Rothwell: The Rothwell designed SU-37 is a great compromise between true scale and fast assembly. The score and fold method lets the builder get a great looking plane without some of the complications of a traditional box and former techniques.  

3. F-15 V2 by Jamie Rothwell: Like it's Russian counter-part, the F-15 utilizes score and fold techniques that get you up in the air quickly.  The Eagle has has been a stable performer at the park for years and this design is a welcome edition.

2. SAF-14 by Eduardo Flores: The SAF-14 is a fictional plane to be sure, but it looks like it could roll off the assembly line at any point. Borrowing design cues from the F-35, SU-37 and F-22, the SAF-14 is an EDF performer. 

1. F-22 by Steve Shumate: The F-22, except for a brief moment this year, has remained on top of the heap. As far as scale designs go, it is pretty impressive, considering it's made out of foam. Oh sure, the fiberglass models out there are more scale, but we are talking about depron. The gentle curves, the thrust vectoring, the plain nastiness of the Raptor make it a winner month after month.

That wraps up another fantastic year of great designs and free downloads.  As we move onto 2014, we will post more plans and let's see what ends up in the Top 10 month after month.  Happy New Year everyone!

NEW YEAR/ PLAN - HOT SPOT

We just posted a new plan for the new year!  The Hot Spot came to us a while ago and we let it slip down the priority list but the designer sent us a nice reminder.  Hey, sometimes its needed!  

The Hot Spot is a great looking fun jet style foam parkjet.  Dual vertical stabs, big delta wing profile and super simple set up make it an easy winter project for just about anyone.  Like most jets with these design cues, its plenty fast but also stable enough for easy park flying.  

Check it out and get to building! And of course, Happy New Year!

AMAZING JAS-39 GRIPEN

A customer of 6mmFlyRC sent over some pictures and we thought we would post them to show off some of the best craftsmanship on a foam model you will ever see.  

Rafal is from Poland, which only highlights how global the hobby of RC flight is, but he clearly takes his models to the next level.  By incorporating killer decals, etching in panel lines, going through the extreme detail in the exhaust and every other part of the plane, he takes a standard kit from 6mmFlyRC (free plans here of course) and takes it up several notches. By making drop tanks, different under wing ornaments, this is the best example of taking the hobby to a new heights.

Remember, if you have any photos or video of your model in action, send them on over and we will share them with the world!

Check out the photos and begin to drool!

TOP 10 PLANS - NOVEMBER

We just checked in on the stats from last month and we have some shake up in the most popular downloads on Parkjets. We never know what will be popular, and have some theories about why plans bounce around a little. But really, we have no idea. One thing we do know is that Jamie Rothwell designs are very popular! Let's get to the list.

10. SU-37 by Jamie Rothwell: A great example of a score and fold design with great looks that will get you up in the air in no time. The SU-37 is an excellent platform for parkjets, and this design is standing the test of time.

9. Cargo Twin by Jamie Rothwell: We don't have many non-jet designs, but the Cargo Twin proves maybe we need a little more variety. A simple design that gives you your fix for a twin engined cargo plane.

8. SU-37 by Steve Shumate: This design bounces in and out of the Top 10, but it does represent one of the most scale designs out there. Most of the time people can't believe it's made out of foam. Twin thrust vectoring and available clear canopies from 6mmFlyRC make it a great winter project.

7. Eurofighter by Jamie Rothwell: Another Jamie Rothwell design! The Eurofighter is one of the basic designs that every parkjet pilot needs to try out at least once, it's one of our all time favorites. Great big wings and simple control set up make it a super easy flyer.

6. F-35 by RC Cal: The Lightening II continues to be popular on parkjets. Large wings, twin tail and a modern design make it an easy choice for anyone wanting a little variety in their fleet.

5. Mermaid by Marcel du Plessis: The Mermaid is one of the few water capable designs on the site. Add that to a proven designer and you get a great performing plane with versatility.

4. Hydro: Part plane part boat, the Hydro continues to captivate builders out there wanting a totally unique experience.

3. SU-37 v2 by Jamie Rothwell: This plan can be converted to the SU-35 and features some refinements to the original design featured above. A great update to a great design.

2. F-15 v2 by Jamie Rothwell: Another Rothwell design, this one of the mainstay of the U.S. fleet, the F-15. This design is a score and fold with easy assembly and good performance.

1. F-22 by Steve Shumate: Back at #1 after a few months bouncing around, the Steve Shumate designed F-22 Raptor is an excellent example of taking foam construction to another level. Thrust vectoring and smooth lines make this a winner all day long.

NEW PLAN - SAF-14

We just added in a new plan late last night, the SAF-14. Think of it as a combination of the F-35, SU-37, and bunch of originality. Better yet, this design comes from a new designer, Eduardo Flores. This model is built for EDF and based on the results, getting better than 1:1 weight to thrust ratio means it will perform like a good EDF should.

The plans are hand drawn, but easy to cut out, just print and cut. Designed for 3mm Depron foam, the SAF-14 looks to be a great addition to the parkjets line up.

This is also a gentle reminder, if you have designs you want posted, let us know, we will get them up for the world to enjoy!

NEW RESOURCE

We just added in a new resource for new flyers from the good people of Make Magazine.  We have always loved the publication and have done a few of the projects on the weekend.  So we were thrilled when we say they put together a 12-part series on RC Flight.  The entire thing is quality video, with great explainations and plenty of tips.  And the best part about it, its totally free.

From servos, receivers, covering foam, to free plans for a good trainer, Maker Hangar provides a good foundation for new flyers. 

Go ahead, check it out, watch a few videos and soak it all in.