Flight Review - Durafly D.H.100 Vampire V3, "RAF Camo Edition", 70mm EDF Jet, 1100mm (PNF)

[@fragment555]

While you are resurrecting great EDFs, don't forget the Sea Vixen!

[@sjdz8123]

10000% agree!!

[@kevoyhei]

Love it!!! Please bring back the Bonanza!!!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Nice classic model Stuart. I love the new paint scheme. Great flight!

[@tomling9310]

This was my first ever edf from years ago, cracking model.

[@DadsRCHangar]

Great to see this back out in this scheme. Nice little upgrades to make her better. 👍🏻

[@hansleatherby1032]

Nice to see an old friend back ! Well done Stuart

[@stephenpheonix6549]

The Vampire is such a classic Hobby King Model and so great to see the V3 with the upgrades!

Nice! Happy to see this one come back.

[@leepering4440]

Nice to see the Vamp back! like the new scheme as well

[@arminmuller5990]

I still have the first version. The two tail booms are not reinforced, which is why they swing at high speeds. During the first soft landing, the nose gear broke because it was stopped by a mouse hole. I glued it back on, but since then I've only used the landing gear for starting. Mine still has a pilot - it's a shame that this has now been abolished. The model reacts very sensitively if the battery is placed too far back, so I recommend determining the center of gravity well when starting up for the first time and, if in doubt, moving it a millimeter further forward. Then it flies very well and can also fly slowly. I've been flying it for about 7 years now and it still looks great - occasionally I use some acrylic paint to fill in the paint scuffs from belly landings. The second version was reinforced on the tailbooms - I hope they kept that on this version. The smaller nozzle opening means it is now faster, at the expense of less thrust when stationary; but I think it's better this way. My nose is still like new, but such reinforcement is definitely beneficial. This was my first “jet model” and I love it. I think it's easy for a pilot who can handle a Spitfire to fly.

[@ddegn]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I think this is a really good looking airplane.

[@me262mike2]

Well done! Added to my wish list.

[@lenp.eriepa.6472]

Thanks Stuart for this vid, I still have my second V1, First one met a untimely demise clipping the top of a poplar tree, and was full throttle confetti, all I found was the battery and motor, The Latter V1 now has a " Changesun" 10 blade fan, 3mm round Carbon Fiber Boom integrity for strength ,Using a 3600 4s battery. I use a programed "Spoiler action" on the ailerons to assist in landings sometimes because of the glide effect of this plane, And that 10 Blade Fan Sounds Freakin' Awesome! ( OH Yeah! it has the Jet sound) I might mention here that I fly off short grass, And have about 40 some flights on this one. Now I need to get the V3 Just to keep in case I have another untimely demise. Will be ordering one for sure!

[@Meonlymeagain]

Always liked the Vampire, a classic. Stuart still seems your flying with the x9d and still a very good radio, another classic. OpenTX is still a good system after many years, that's another classic.

[@papapsadventures6119]

That nose really sticks out when approaching. Nice!!

[@Shauncat1]

Awesome Stuart , another great maiden video with new products . I bought the silver freeing vampire after watching your video flying this model a few years ago and it’s pretty quick and sounds awesome. Greetings from Shaun, your fan from Durban South Africa 👌

[@ThrunRC]

Nice demonstration. That´s a really nice model 🙂Can´t wait to get one 😅👍👍👍

[@jetjacko]

November is very close. Stuart, thanks for this one.

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

You bet!

[@airhammer6203]

Looks great HK, good updates. Nice flying Stuart. AirHammer out!!

[@AeroSmithyRC]

Great scheme … I’d have loved a rudder!

[@CreativeRC]

Very good presentation. The Vampire V3 has useful improvements and better visibility.

[@chuckcawthon3370]

I was recently given a very well worn early version Durafly Vampire. I removed the nose and fashioned from blue foam a new nose, added dorsal fin fairings and converted it to a DeHavilland T 11 two seat trainer. It flies the same but it has much better eye appeal.

[@PhilipCockram]

Looks good Stuart. I might add that thrust pipe to my V2 version if you're going to make those available for sale .

[@yarsmythe]

I own three of the v1 Vampires. Each one has needed the booms strengthened up to the wing - they flex too much. Bamboo skewers or a carbon fiber tube work great. I am surprised Hobby King did not include this upgrade in the latest version. My original flies without landing gear and is my go-to EDF. Easy to hand launch & flies on rails.

[@jimr3633]

Love this plane. I wish it had a 12 blade fan. 5 is efficient but loud! Glides well but add a little power in the 2nd half of the turn so you don't drop a wing. Flies great!!!

[@bobi2582]

Nice Camo.

[@ficosk8]

I saw today morning the plane by coincidence on HK --- looks and flies nice!

[@workonesabs]

I've still got the other 3, recently flew the Canadian one, though the special edition one not flown in years and still hanging at the back of the shed. Only issue should have used a 12 blade fan not the inefficient 5 blade and out of date one- ok back in the day, but all new edf's are now using 11-12 blade fans.

[@kkuenzel56]

Will it come with a David Windestål afterburner kit?

[@ficosk8]

11-12blades or tuning her to a 6S motor would be sound nice too :)

[@unknowninvictus2520]

The resonance, is it the EDF or is it the thrust tube interacting with the edf? I guess my question is, can it be resolved?

[@timmybeetle]

Have to balance edf rotor and unit in total than it will sound great

[@unknowninvictus2520]

@@timmybeetle no, I didnt realize it was a 5 blade. That is gonne need replacing. No amount of rotor balancing is saving that one. Plus goodluck balancing edf rotors manually....

[@TilmanBaumann]

I loved that plane. You have to load an absurd amount of lead in it to make it PSS sensibly.

[@northernfpv9562]

I'm finally picking one of these up after seeing it flying for a decade. I wonder if it can be upgraded to 5 or 6s?

[@arminmuller5990]

Definitely not my first version, as the tail booms are too unstable for that. If these are reinforced with a carbon rod, then it will work. But it's really not a model to fly very quickly, but 6S are more efficient than 4S and the flight time could then be increased. But it's also a good size if you don't fly at full throttle all the time. And so the investment costs remain lower!

[@GillesCaudron]

I have the silver version still in box, i hope it isn't to complicated to build 😅

[@PhilipCockram]

There a lot of paint to remove from the surfaces before gluing .

[@user-lb8eh3oc5q]

Need the booms reinforcing with carbon strip (slot the underside of each boom full length and well beyond the joint at fuselage - use 10mm x 1mm carbon inserted upright and glued in with epoxy).

[@GillesCaudron]

@@PhilipCockram oh wait really? Thats a bummer :(

[@GillesCaudron]

@@user-lb8eh3oc5q oh damn, im no builder, i never do any "mods" to my planes :/ guess it will still stay in the box for a while 😂

[@PhilipCockram]

@@GillesCaudron No worries . It's easy , just a bit of sandpaper and few mins each side .Take your time aligning the tail section up . As far as the reinforcement goes, it's a great idea . But I have flown my V2 Vampire version many times without it and it been fine . As Stu says , this is an old model , not the most sophisticated but still a lot of fun to fly . They glide forever too . You can do it buddy !

[@deregomarc]

Is Durafly going to do a V3 in a RCAF scheme?

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

This could happen.

[@jayb2617]

those wire legs are already wonky

[@philipgoff2461]

When are things going to be available in the UK or EU warehouses? Particularly the F22 Raptor.

[@sleepyheadsleeps]

Hi Stuart , are you flying somewhere in Europe ?

[@HobbyKingOfficial]

Hello, Netherlands

[@papapsadventures6119]

I had the unpleasant chance to see one of these actual planes crash at RAF MILDENHALL in the 80's...mid air collision with a Meteor plane

[@agedflier9129]

I was expecting something with more improvements other than a new paint scheme a tail cone and a plastic nose........No pilot..same push pull steering.....No carbon spars on the booms No 12blade EDF and at $AU333 it is more than double the original price......For me it is a big let down from the recent superb Super Tucano...The only plus might be spare parts for those that already have the older models.

[@RC-Flight]

Super letdown for sure!

[@joec8107]

wow that's a "huge update" just like iphone did each year....

[@Grahame59]

Nice model but looks odd without a pilot.

[@RDM-RC]

Hey I love this plane it has the perfect price point!! I have a channel dedicated to RC Boats and I would love a sponsorship from Hobby King!!

[@TheSupermosiman]

Why no undercarriage doors??

[@BradEdelstein-s8q]

Rebooting crap old planes.. So sad what HK has become since their bankruptcy. At least we still have FMS.