86" Kraft Super Fli

[deezy]

I just got an 86" Kraft Super Fli already built plane from a freind who doesn't even fly who got it from some other bozo. it came with a saito 300 engine. It's taken me hours to even figure out what kind of plane it was I didn't realize what a classic it was ..I was surprisd however to find battery packs in it dated to 1988 !! Anyway it is ready to fly ! I spent all day yesterday going through it . I only had to replace one wing servo and clean outh the sludgey old fuel tank but i have one problem....it doesn't have the cowl.. the model is an 86" wingspan and i have no idea what company built it. I actually traded a t-rex 450 se heli for it I really need some money right now so i just got it for the saito 300 engine but i'd really like to fly it once at least. and maybe even sell it as a whole with the saito 300 I'd love to keep it but i'm afraid i'll have to sell I would really like to know how much it is even worth?? and how i can get a cowl for it..

[RappyMan]

Here's a bunch of great info on the Super Fli http://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/f...fli-build.html

check page 2 out - not sure if the cowl there will fit though.

http://www.kitcutters.com/Nex/NexSuperFli.htm - you could contact these people & see if they have what you need.

Here's another place: Kraft Super FLI, cowl w/52 louvers, $56.00 http://www.fiberglassspecialtiesinc.com/cowlkit.htm

[Mithrandir]

the real Super Fli used a Pitts Special Cowl.... that might lead to some options

[Matt Chapman]

Thats a blast from the past! THat was one of my favorit planes when I was younger...still is in fact. THe other thread said that they thought it had a new wing on it. Thats true...
Kraft parked the plane for years.. ended up selling it to a Brit that lived in CA, Ian something...maybe Padden... He had Jon Staudacher build a wing for it. The original was more of a Lazer type wing with heavy and slow ailerons. It would have been fine if he had stopped there... But he didnt! He built all new sheet metal from the cockpit forward and new cowling. He made the whole thing transition from aft to nose into a round cowl. Looks mor like a radial engine plane. It in fact has an IO-540, 300hp engine in it now. (was a IO-360, 200hp) Really, the thing now is as ugly as they come!
I last saw it down at the St.Mary's County airport in Maryland. Its solid blue with a white stripe down the side. That was maybe 10 years ago. I think thy had changed the name to VORTEX
Too bad...I would love to see it back original.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on.....

matt

[deezy]

thank you very much for your reply much appreciated ...

[Thumb Thumb]

For your viewing pleasure.

The Pitts Cowl and Landing gear were changed out to something more sleek. You can see it in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/upndair7.../0/w47mV5h9DZA

[Matt Chapman]

That is CLASSIC! I love it. Thank you you for posting, Yes, the cowl looks much sleeker as does the landing gear on spring gear .... very cool. I noticed the French Connection in the footage as well. Great stuff.

[Thumb Thumb]

Another clip from the past:

YouTube - The Beach Boys - "Airplane...