I’ve admitted to being a glow guy more than once. The only electric airplanes that impressed me were EDF jets. I built a couple of 1/2A electrics and old timers, but that was just for fun. I never considered making a serious commitment to, or buying any electric powered airplanes of substance until recently. Enter the Draco. Since the Draco was introduced, it’s been perhaps one of the most videoed, unboxed, assembled, flight tested and analyzed radio controlled airplanes to hit the market in quite awhile. I won’t be doing any of that here! I’ll attempt to answer a question I was asked after flying my Draco. As I was disassembling the Draco for transport, a fellow club member asked: “Do you think it’s worth it”? BTW, I have no skin in the game when it comes to the manufacturer or the distributor of this product. I bought this with my own hard earned green frog skins because I love this hobby and airplanes, or I’m just a flaming idiot! You choose! For the the answers, read on...! The Draco has presence. It gets noticed at the field. For a foam airplane this thing is large. Two meters worth. Besides the wingspan, everything about Draco is big. The tires, the propeller, fuselage, and the empennage. Time vs. Price. To build this airplane from a plan like a Kaos would take an incredible amount of time and skills. Whether one used balsa or some combination of composite materials...forget it. The time investment calculated in dollars would be greater than the cost of the airplane and the electronics to make it fly. Considering that, the price of Draco is a bargain. The Details and Features. The scale detailing, painting and engineering that went into producing this model has been monumental. It blows me away. Even the builder of Draco was impressed. That alone is worth the price of admission. Features include tons of lights with various settings, working shocks, reverse thrust, AX3S, scale details, slats, flaps...etc. Flight Characteristics. Incredible. 6’ take offs, slow, fast, and mild aerobatics and everything in between. This airplane will bring a smile to your face every time you fly it. Yes, it takes some practice to not bounce on landing and 3 point it. Big deal. Support. Mike Patey, the builder of Draco, has a licensing agreement with Horizon Hobby to manufacture the model. Purchase of the model supports Mike. He’s an entrepreneur, pilot, and advocate of aviation safety. I have no problem supporting him with my dollars and the folks at Horizon who worked producing this incredible model. That’s it! Is it worth it? I give my unequivocal YES! It isn’t cheap, but good things seldom are. The Draco (and the videos I watched about it) have totally corrupted me. I now view electric airplanes and flying them with a totally different mindset. Does that mean I’ll get rid my glow engines? Not hardly. But I will purchase more electrics! Fly Safe! John W. Blossick johnb@tslidehaven.com November 2023