The results were nothing less than phenomenal.  With the Fighterbird wing in place, the XL is faster, more responsive, and penetrates the wind much better.  When I tested it, each flight was better than the last (it did require re-trimming).  On the fourth flight of the day, it spent 20 minutes in a thermal with the motor off before I brought it down to low altitude, where I shot three consecutive touch-and-goes followed by a perfect landing on the center stripe of DC/RC's runway!  

I also liked the increased visibility of the red wing (it comes in several colors), and it seems sturdier than the standard XL wing.  (I don't know for sure, because I haven't crashed it!)

One note of caution:  do not install a Fighterbird wing on your XL until after you have learned to fly it.  Why?  The XL wing (like the Firebird II's standard wing) is designed to self-right the aircraft when you release the rudder stick.  This makes it much easier for a beginner to avoid spiraling (or worse yet, spinning) the airplane into the ground.  The Fighterbird wing (like the "speed wing" of the Firebird II) does not do this.  It is designed to fly where it was last told, essential for combat; you wouldn't want the airplane to "fight" you but to go where you want when you want.  So learn to fly first, then "upgrade" to the Fighterbird wing.  

Also, because the "Fire-fighterbird" climbs slower than the standard XL, it requires even more room to fly in.  When I flew my Firebird XL at my local schoolyard a few months ago, I ended up landing on the roof and having to pay a custodian to retrieve it for me; if I attempted to fly the hybrid Firebird there, I'm sure it would end up in a tree.

Finally, regardless of where you fly, please identify your airplane.  I lost two planes this Spring; neither had any ID on them.  Perhaps this is a case of locking the barn while you still have some horses left!

Name that plane!

Copyright (c) 2002 Hobby Works.  Pictures by Bob Aberman