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The Parkinson Regal Eagle F-15 was the third jet we had built, having already built a Byron's F20 and a BMV Aggressor. This was back around 1989-90. We decided to take a step back to something simpler (light as possible, no retracts) after having trouble flying the BVM Aggressor off grass. Construction went very quickly, however in the particular kit we received, about a third of the wood was of poor enough quality that we replaced it, which only cost around $20-$30 or so from the local hobby shop.
It flew ok, nothing stellar, and would handle a grass field if the grass was cut very short. Building as light as absolutely possible would probably help here.
Considering the very low kit cost, it's a reasonable entry level ducted fan kit, and I know several people have had success with it. My only advice to anyone that has asked me about it, is to make sure that stabs are solid. That's both in how they are secured to the fuselage and in stiffness, both in the stab itself and in the control linkage to the elevator. After flying it for a year or so, ours developed flutter in the stab the first time I ran it through some speed traps at a show.
There was this quiet pause right after it hit the runway. I remember laughing to myself as the silence is broken by the announcer calling over the PA: "...and on the F-15, we have 101 mph as it hits the pavement." But, as my grandfather would say, "We don't build them to just hang them in the basement."
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Disclaimer on the above commentary:
** The following commentary is simply my opinion, and does not reflect on the quality of the kit or it's capabilities today, considering that this was a single kit purchased and built around 1989. For the latest information about the kit, go to: http://www.rcjets.com/re-indx.htm **
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