Testimonials

RCUniverse Katana MD REVIEW
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Burger Thing @ RCGroups

We have some guys at our local flying site who upgraded from something like the Multiplex Easystar to the Katana MD. It can be done. The KMD is one of the most gentle and best flying planes out there. Wing loading is extremely low. On low rates and a few warm up sessions on the simulator you could hack it. We also had a 2 beginners training on the Addiction on low rates. Believe it or not.... Low wingloading is the key. And here the KMD and PA in general excels.

 

twotacos @ RCGroups

Inverted flight was hands off plus a slight amount of down elevator, upright flight was hands off. Not a spot of trim was needed, as I used a ruler to trim every surface neutral for flight..
Bar none, this is the best plane that I've ever flown in my life.. she has a lot of stable tracking in the wind - it was KIND of gusty out there, and I did notice some wing lifting, but it was completely manageable.. My 38" wingspan Fokker D.VII gets tossed around in the wind like a square of toilet paper, so this is a nice plane to fly around on windy days.
Well, two thumbs up for this fine bird - and two thumbs up for PA!

 

Adam G @ RCGroups

Let me just say wow! I am impressed with everything about this plane. It hovers better than any plane I own, that is for sure. With the incredibly light wing loading, it floats better than any of the fleet as well.

 

ClioRC @ RCGroups

Well after seeing the plane fly,reading everything here on the Rcgroups thread and wanting a plane this size,i got one today.Met Cliff from Atlanta Hobby and took one home from the Toledo show.This plane is everything i thought it would be(I have an Electric Shock already)after looking at all the other planes i was interested in, it was hands down getting the Katana MD.

 

Cobull @ RCGroups

This plane is SOOOO easy to land it's insane! Just cut the power and it'll glide right down. Then give small blips of power to arrest the descent rate and it'll do a perfect 3 point landing looking like a 40% plane. Guaranteed to put a smile on your dial!  Also with the extremely light weight and super strong landing gear.

 

HPSOV @ RCGroups

I think every single person at the club commented on the KMD.... all amazed at how it flies!
I'm getting better at the hovering, it is SO easy in the KMD (as compared to the Kmini and my Fliton Extra330 60"), I would say just as easy as the Electric Shock, although I do still do it at tree top height in the KMD (not game enough for tail touches yet hehe).
Just as I was sick of all the attention on the KMD at the club someone else turned up with one!! Had a good chat to him, and he was also very happy with it (and this guy has LOTS of electric planes). He gave it a 9.5/10 and said it was the best ARF you can buy.
Well I always find it hard to put into words how a plane flies.... but the KMD really is amazing!

 

Aflipz @ RCGroups

I was among the first to get the Katana MD. It is gorgeous... I can't say enough about it's good qualities. Definitely my favourite plane so far.
Prop hanging and torque rolling this thing is as easy as an indoor foamie. The vertical cg, thrust line and stabs are perfectly lined up by design so it basically harrier rolls axially with very little skill/input required. It will knife edge with only rudder input and zero coupling when you got the cg right on the sweet spot. And wait till you see the elevators and harriers!

 

Boudewijn Swanenburg Netherlands 25/05/07

I can’t help but repeating what has been said here many times before. What a beauty and what an outstanding technical achievement. The design may be already superhuman; the fabrication is almost non human, like from a different planet. Simply a miracle how al these intricate pieces have been put together. PA must be in big trouble now. How can they ever top this one?

 

Michael (Germany) 08/06/2007

Well, i'm back from my maiden flight, and what can i say...

I flew four packs, and did about ten landings... it was just awesome. That plane is so gentle when set up properly, and touches down like a feather!

You can say all you want, this thing behaves like a trainer! Even better then one. When i almost botched a landing attempt by getting too close to the side of the runway, full throttle and it was free and back in the air! You don't have that kind of power in a trainer, it would have hit the wheat field next to the strip.

I even tried some aerobatics. Just some rolls, loopings and blenders. But it was Awesome with a capital A. Soo much fun!

I'm glad i bought the KMD.

 

NUTNDUN  @ RC Groups 27/06/07

I know I guess I should have gone by the book and did all the trainer stuff but I know how I am and I pick up on stuff too quickly and would have easily have gotten bored. It is amazing how the KMD is my first plane and it is the easiest for me to fly and PA does definitely make a great product.

 

Mike F @ RC Groups  02/07/2007

I finally got to maiden my KMD today. Kind of a record for me. Pulled it out of the box last Sunday and it was ready to fly last night. That says something about the quality of the KMD. It usually takes me a month to assemble an ARF many would build in a weekend.

And, I learned something today.

I CAN fly an airplane with the ailerons REVERSED!!!

I realised it as soon as it left the ground and managed to make one curcuit and then messed up about a foot off the ground. It hit wingtip first and almost cartwheeled. Sent the hatch flying about 10 feet. The KMD survived apparently unscathed. Same landing (if you could call it that ) would have trashed my Jumping Jack.

Completely not like me! Even planes I've been flying for years I do a control check before every flight. I was so excited to fly it after reading about it for so long, I just plugged it in and off I went.

Anyway, after changing my underwear and doing a little re-programming the 2nd flight was sweet.

 

Sam M.

I just bought your Katana MD today, and upon opening it and inspecting the details I would just like to compliment you on a job amazingly well done! You have raised the bar for ARF's and ushered in a new era of airplane design. The industry desperately needed a fresh design such as the Katana. I got to go to the airfield today to watch another pilot fly his Katana. He

couldn't stop talking about how it made him feel like a better pilot ( and only after the first day of flying it) because of how easy it made 3D maneuvers. All the pilots stopped to watch when he was flying. It was truly a sight to behold. I got to fly mine later today and it was the best experience in the past 3 years that I have had flying an RC airplane. The effortless harriers, knife edges,water falls and the list goes on and on. 

Just wanted to thank you guys and let you know how your innovations are rocking the rc world.

Thanks- Sam M.