Durafly Planes: HobbyKing’s Foam Warbird and Jet Brand
Durafly is one of HobbyKing’s in-house RC airplane brands, best known for foam warbirds, sport planes and some jets, usually sold as PNF (Plug-N-Fly: motor, ESC and servos installed; you add receiver and battery). Durafly planes are generally good-looking, mid-size models at reasonable prices, aimed at pilots past the trainer stage. As with other HobbyKing brands, quality can vary between batches, so a careful check before the first flight is worthwhile.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20263 min read
What Durafly makes
| Type | Typical traits |
|---|---|
| Warbirds | Mid-size foam fighters, often with retracts and flaps |
| Sport planes | Aerobatic low-wing and high-wing models |
| Scale and vintage | Distinctive and unusual subjects |
| Jets | Some EDF and prop jets |
The range changes regularly; check current listings for specific models.
PNF setup
A Durafly PNF plane arrives with the power system and servos fitted. You add a receiver for your radio, a battery (often 3S or 4S) and a charger. Assembly usually involves fitting wings and tail, connecting servos to the receiver, and setting throws and CG. Other HobbyKing brands and how buying from HobbyKing works are covered in HobbyKing airplanes.
Pre-flight checks
- Inspect for transit damage and loose parts.
- Check glue joints at the landing gear, motor mount and tail; add glue where needed.
- Tighten control horn screws and clevises.
- Set CG and throws as the manual states.
- Test retracts and flaps on the ground.
- Range check before the first flight.
Choosing a Durafly plane
- Experience: warbirds need skills beyond the trainer stage.
- Battery: confirm size, connector and how many you’ll need.
- Spares: buy props, gear and a spare wing if available.
- Reviews: owner threads reveal common fixes.
- Warehouse: closer warehouses mean faster delivery.
Durafly vs other foam brands
Durafly competes with brands like Dynam, FMS and Freewing. Durafly’s strengths are price and variety, including unusual subjects; others may have better local dealer support. Compare with Dynam planes when choosing a warbird.
Flying tips
Most Durafly warbirds fly faster than trainers and stall more sharply. Take off smoothly with right rudder, keep speed up in turns, and land with a little power and flaps if fitted. Trim in calm weather before trying aerobatics.
Batteries and power
Most Durafly planes run on 3S or 4S LiPo packs. Check the recommended capacity and the battery bay size, since a pack that doesn’t fit or shifts the CG causes problems. Use a balance charger, keep spare packs, and let them cool between flights. Warbirds with retracts and flaps draw more current from the BEC, so make sure servos and receiver get stable power.
Common improvements
Owners often reinforce landing gear mounts, add a carbon spar on longer wings, replace weak control horns, and balance the propeller. A dab of glue on the motor mount and tail joints is cheap insurance. Owner threads for popular models list fixes worth doing before the first flight, and following them usually makes the plane far more reliable.
First flight
Choose a calm day, a smooth runway or short grass, and an experienced spotter. Trim the plane before trying aerobatics.
Storage and transport
Foam warbirds dent easily in car boots. Store them with wings removed in padded bags or a simple box with foam cut-outs, away from heat, which can warp foam. Remove batteries for storage and keep them at storage voltage.
Always fly within your experience and local rules.
FAQ
Who makes Durafly planes?
Durafly is a HobbyKing in-house brand.
Are Durafly planes PNF?
Most are sold PNF.
Are they good for beginners?
Most suit pilots past the trainer stage.
Where can I get parts?
From HobbyKing listings for each model.
More on this topic: the complete RC Airplanes guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
