EDF Jets are the ultimate RC jets. They are without a doubt the fastest you can get with typical rc airplane flying. Because our largest collection of airplane kits is EDF Jets we decided to write an article about this.
Whether you are already a veteran pilot or new to the RC building game, there is always a LOT of development going on with EDF jets.
EDF stands for Electric Ducted Fan. This means all EDF jets use a unit similar to the one pictures below.
Obviously, this also means these jets have no propeller. Instead, the ducted fan houses a multibladed propeller, or fan. Sucking in air and spinning at high speeds, this allows for super powerful flying.
Flying EDF Jets is NOT for beginners. High speeds combined with a quick launch can easily result in crashes if not handled properly. But when done right, EDF Jet flying is all the more fun. Just have a look at an expert flying one of our F7F "Cutlass" in the video below.
Impressive launch! This adrenaline pumping airplane definitely requires experience.
So what would be a good first-time EDF Jet? Within our collection, the Yak 23 and P80 are easy 70mm EDF to fly (but a bit more challenging to build), while the Panther is an easy 90mm EDF to fly.
What's the deal with 70mm and 90mm EDF?
This describes the size of the fan unit. It comes down to the fact that 90mm jets require a larger fan unit, and these airplanes are larger as well.
Foam vs. Balsa
When it comes to picking a jet, two common options you have is to build a ready made foam jet or build a balsa wood kit. This is a heated topic that you will find on many fora such as rcgroups.com. Without doubt, we strongly argue for building your own balsa wood EDF Jets. Here's why:
Best of foam - Foam is more crash friendly, it's better at surviving crashes (but the material is not stronger!) and easier to repair crashes. But there is something to be said for 'well you shouldn't crash to begin with'
Downside of foam - For scale models, foam doesn't look good. Besides this, for building your own airplane foam is not preferred in any scenario.
Best of balsa - Balsa is more durable, balsa is light, and it has a rich feel to it. To many experienced builders, balsa is the way to go. It can resist torsional and axial loads much better. When building your own airplane, balsa is much more fun.
Downside of balsa - Balsa is not known to survive crashes as well as foam.
Conclusion - If you are new to RC flying and don't care as much about building, go with foam. If you are more experienced with flying or want to build your own airplane, balsa is without a doubt the way to go.
I don't have that much time, should I just by an RC jet ready to go?
Does a parent say "I don't have a lot of time, should I hire someone to raise my kids?"
Does the cook say "I'm so busy, I should just microwave all the meals I serve"
See where I'm going with this? I hope you would answer NO to these questions. RC flying is a niche hobby, but it's a hobby where people are absolutely passionate about.
Building your own airplane is part of this. It is a magical feeling to complete your airplane and take it for a first flight. When you buy a ready made airplane, which probably is more expensive and doesn't look as you would want it, sure you would safe time. But in the end, you are cheating yourself, and your hobby.
And obviously there is no better place to start looking for your own EDF Kit than here at RC-builder, where we exclusively sell balsa wood RBCkits for electric RC airplanes. Find the new star in your collection HERE.