Customer Reviews

A steal at twice the price Review by Tim

Value
Overall
Quality

I wasn't expecting much for a sub $100 airframe, but I have been consistently impressed throughout construction, and now after several flights. The build went well, and the prefabricated parts were done better than I could do them myself. There were only minor wrinkles in the covering when I unboxed it, which were easily removed with a heat gun. The corners of the red stripes under the wing and tail were also coming off, but those were reattached with an iron. Overall, not a big deal.

I'm using a Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 4250 -500 KV motor as another user did, along with a 100A rotorstar ESC (overkill), and a pair of 3s 4000mah packs in series for 6s total. Even with an undersized 12x6 prop, performance is pretty good. Vertical isn't unlimited, but it climbs with authority and does mild aerobatics without issue.

Although this is a high wing, I wouldn't call it a trainer. It's a slippery airframe, and takes a loooong time to slow down for landing. A larger prop would help, but it will still take some practice to bring it down where you want it. It stalls predictably, but keep in mind this is a large plane and will lose 20 feet or so before recovering. For anyone familiar with heavier nitro birds, this won't be a shocker, but if you're used to small foam airplanes this will be new. It doesn't just recover instantly like a foamy will. With no (or very little) dihedral, it doesn't self-right at all either. It just flies exactly where you point it.

The wheels seem really small for grass and look a little funny for the sale of the craft. Get rid of the stock wheels and wheel pants and put on some 3.5" foam wheels. Then you can land on anything.

The only other knock I have is with the battery hatch. It's pretty small given the size of the plane, and can be a challenge to get your hands in to secure the battery packs. It's not a deal breaker, just an annoyance.

Overall, I love this plane. It's great for mild aerobatics or just cruising around the pattern. It goes exactly where you point it, and doesn't do anything odd or unexpected. It's efficient, and will fly for almost 20 minutes on a 4000 pack. Finally, it's big enough to fit in at the local flying field among all the old timers with their nitro planes. All for a bargain price. (Posted on 9/24/2017)

Great Airframe Review by Tom

Value
Overall
Quality

I wasn't expecting much for a $90 airframe but to my surprise this is very well built airframe. I hope it flies as well as it looks built. (Posted on 3/17/2017)

THIS PLANE IS AWESOME!!! Review by Vaughn

Quality
Value
Overall

I love this plane. Solid construction, easy to finish assembly, great flight characteristics (even on windy days). I recommend that everyone own one of these!!! This is my "goto" plane every time...I am thinking about buying another one because they are so great... (Posted on 12/16/2016)

I am happy with it Review by Brandon

Overall
Quality
Value

I installed a Saito 90T and split the cowl top and bottom. I only had to add a few oz of weight to the tail. It does really well with this set up. Not over powered. I did not use the wheel pants. (Posted on 12/13/2016)

Try it, you"ll love it!! Review by Wayne

Value
Overall
Quality

Excellent kit, easy build of a well designed aircraft! Built this using a 60 size electric motor with a 22.2 battery. The plane is a real eye catcher and a fantastic flyer!
Excellent value for an excellent plane! (Posted on 6/8/2016)

77" Aviator Pro Review by Gerald

Value
Overall
Quality

This is a great looking Airplane that flew marvelously until the elevator control horn broke causing loss of altitude control, resulting in a crash. Instructions are usable, explanations not perfectly clear, the pictures cleared thing up reasonably well. The quality of the airframe I found to be almost perfect, included hardware not so much. I would love to give 5 stars in all categories like others have. I plan to buy another, but will not use the included control horns and clevises for sure. I also had issues with the wood screws. Looking forward to getting another one, installing quality control horns and clevises and getiing some stick time. (Posted on 9/11/2015)

Great product Review by robert

Value
Overall
Quality

This are went together with very little effort on my part.very well done product.I used a os 91 4 stroke a d the p,and handled it well.not for beginners as it does not se,f correct.but for the advanced flyer all I can say is it wants to do only what you tell it to do so it's all on you!e njoy this plane while they still have them I'm tempted to buy another as a backup.it really flies great.only mod was bigger tires. (Posted on 6/22/2015)

Great flyer at an awesome price! Review by Steve

Value
Overall
Quality

Beautiful plane, craftsmanship is just as good as the big boys. Flies exceptionally well.
My setup is A Magnum .91 four stroke, Futaba digital servos, E-sky gyro on the rudder, and Futaba radio.
The plane was a little nose heavy so I put a five cell reciever pack as far back in the fuselage as possible
To avoid adding any weight. I also ended up using bigger wheels all the way around since I fly off of grass.
Trash the stock clevis's they are odd to work with.
Take off only requires half throttle. Tracks straight as an arrow, and is very responsive. Slow it down and I flies like a trainer. Throttle up and it's a beast! Landings are a bit fast but manageable.
I will be buying another one for a backup. Very Very happy with this one!
(Posted on 5/5/2015)

This is one great airplane. Review by Bob Moore

Overall
Quality
Value

I have purchased three Aviator Pro 60 airplanes because they are such a terrific buy and fly so well. The quality of construction is excellent and assembly is easy. The instruction book is very complete and easy to follow. I like the size of this airplane (77 in. wingspan) as it is easy to see and flys beautifuly. This plane can be used as a trainer but will also fiy all the manuvers. In my opinion, every pilot should have this plane in his or her inventory as it is such an enjoyable plane to fly. There is no better bargin out there for $100.00. It is also beautiful to look at on the ground and in the air. (Posted on 1/27/2015)

77 in. aviator pro Review by richard b ,lufkin,tx.

Overall
Quality
Value

this plane really can not be beat for the money,i built the 68 inch aviator pro on floats was so impressed with it bought the big one to fly at field, went w/asp 91 f/s plenty of room for it, I installed bigger wheel pants w/ 4inch wheels,as the one that come with it are pretty small, cut out side windows out of monokote and ironed on ,
with 91 f/s instated 6 volt pack at rear of cabin, had to add 3oz. lead at very rear of fuze,
this plane flys great at all speeds, comes in like a trainer,no problem..everyone at the field really liked it's looks of this plane,
on the ground,and air,for 100.00 dollars you can not go wrong!!!!!
(Posted on 11/12/2014)

Excellent quality product at a value price. Review by Thomas

Value
Overall
Quality

Plane was shipped fast and arrived safely in a double box. Quality of structure and covering will rival all the big name brand planes you see on the market today. Build was easy and straight forward with very clear instructions on build. All hardware was first quality. The plane came with motor mounts for both electric and nitro "you don't see that very often". Quality of balsa and glue was top notch. Wings and fuse were straight with no warping. Covering was trimmed nice and tight as a banjo string with absolutely no wrinkles what so ever.

My setup.
Turnigy 50 aerodrive 750KV brushless outrunner
Turnigy Plush 60 amp ESC
Turnigy 5S 4000 MAH battery
12x6 K series prop
4 1/2 inch tundra tires
MRRCSOUND sound unit
It balanaced and flew perfect!
(Posted on 8/31/2014)

A lovely relaxing flyer Review by Straight Up

Quality
Value
Overall

Following on from my earlier rant that I couldn't get Value Hobby to ship me this plane, I arranged for a US shipping agent and managed to acquire the Aviator Pro 60. Cost me $160 to ship it to Australia, so you can imagine how much I wanted this plane (still cheaper than a Rascal 72EG). Very impressed with the build quality. I was absolutely amazed to find the wing bolts all pre-fitted and lined up perfectly! I didn't need to measure, drill or fit the blind nuts - nice! The wing fitted so well I simply bolted it into place. I never glued my wings together. I switched out the front nylon wing pegs for carbon fiber, not because of any concerns about strength, but because my pegs were a bit short. Other than that, the build was stock-standard, although I mounted my tail servos right down the back end - see below.

Achieving correct CG with a big battery up front
For those having trouble with mounting the battery in the nose and the resultant forward CG, I fitted servos in the tail - one per surface. That is, one servo for each elevator and also a rudder servo. I used digital micro servos, and the three are still considerably lighter than two standard servos, but I was able to get the right balance point despite using a 6S 5000mAh pack sitting up front, right under the battery hatch. I acknowledge the exposed servos are not as pretty as the original control rods, but they are mainly hidden from view under the horizontal stabilizer anyway. Now that I've maidened this bird I'll cover the tail servo mounts in white Monokote, for slightly improved aesthetics.

My Power Set-up
Motor: Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 - 4250-500kv. This motor luckily fitted perfectly with no stand-offs or spacers - a first!
ESC: Turnigy dlux 70A SBEC
Battery: ZIPPY Flightmax 5000mAh 6S1P 30C
Propeller: Turnigy Ultra-light wood propeller 13x8
Resultant Peak Power: 950W at 43A. The ESC is obviously well oversized, but it weighed similar to the 50A ESC and didn't cost much more.

Performance is impressive with all that power on tap, but I use throttle control to keep the speed near-constant. It has almost unlimited vertical at a nice controlled speed, but I prefer to ease her around most of the time at very low throttle settings.

Radio
I used Turnigy XGD-11MB micro digitals for each elevator, and an HK 929MG digital for rudder. I would have preferred to use HK929MGs for all three tail servos but they only had one left in stock when I placed the order. The wing servos were standard sized Hitec HS 485BB analogs - I had these in my spares bin. The receiver is an Orange FASST compatible - I've got a lot of these now.

Flying
The maiden was conducted on a breezy but cooler summer day (after that severe shipping cost I need to have one immediate advantage over you US flyers, and it turns out it's the weather!). Take-off was a non-event, with the craft becoming airborne quickly, and climbing out to a speck before I trimmed her out (no major inputs needed). She stalls very sedately, but this might get a bit more aggressive if I pursue a more rearward CG at a later date. I can't see a need for a more rearward CG at this point. She doesn't balloon when power is applied and she glides quite sedately, although I was gliding down in about 15 knots of breeze, which gives slower groundspeed on approach. I was amazed how well she handled the wind - she didn't get buffeted around at all! The airborne stability is one significant advantage of the 60 size over her smaller brethren.

I personally think the control throws in the manual are far too severe for ailerons and elevator, with 20° recommended for both. I went with 10° for the elevators and 15°up / 10° down for the ailerons and I wouldn't want any more throw. She slowed down easily for landing, with judicious propeller braking (not ESC braking!) - a trick I learned from flying pattern - set a low idle to keep the prop turning, and eased onto the runway without drama.

As for wringing it out, she rolls easily and loops readily, but I kept the G-loading low - she's not an aerobat/3D craft, and my craft's wings are not glued together.

Conclusion
I'm really happy with this plane. I can fly for 20+ minutes, just puttering around the sky. I fly pattern aerobatics and pylon racers, so I'm very happy to get a relaxing wind-down plane to cruise around with. It flies easily but precisely, with no noticeable vices or bad habits. The price for US buyers is an absolute bargain! (Posted on 2/19/2013)

Add Your Review

You must have purchased this product through Value Hobby to submit a review.