Pulled out the RareBear today for its maiden flight. It was liberated earlier this year from the Mike Brodie collection. It is a very well engineered foamie, flies on 4S with close to an EF1 racing motor (1200 KV versus the EF1's 1250Kv) and uses the EF1 8x8 APC-ish prop. It has poor man's retracts (hand launch) but has a plastic coated belly pan for grass landings.
The hand launch was provided by Glenn "FliegerFlinger*" N. into a bit of a cross-wind. It flew right out of his hands. It flies close to the speed of an EF-1 pylon racer but very controllable at all speeds. The landing speed was surprisingly slow. Not knowing the stall characteristics for landing, I flew it about two feet off the ground when I cut the throttle and fed in up elevator until it settled in nicely.
The only adjustment is to dial down the aileron about 20% and the elevator about 15%. It is a short-coupled airplane so it makes sense.
Here's to hoping Michael will post a picture of the plane he took after the flight.
Phew!! 8)
Frank
* not be be confused with "Fliegerfunker" a.k.a. our best friend Martin Irvine from Kingston
As requested. ;D