Spark

The trend towards smaller, electric powered jets got CARF’s attention, after watching the EDF scene grow year by year. Different things have to be focused when designing a high performance electric jet. It needs to be considerably different than a turbine powered jet. So CARF came up with a decisively new design, taking electric sport jet performance to a new level. The CARF Models Spark.

The Spark is consequently designed as a very lightweight all-composite structure, with features similar to a world class F3A-Pattern plane. Lightest lay-ups, perfectly engineered aerodynamics and structural reinforcements just where they are needed, the Spark is perfectly suited for electric ducted fan flying (EDF).

• We designed our Spark around fans developing a static thrust of approx. 4-5 kg, giving almost a 1:1 thrust to weight ratio. Perfect ducting, molded intake lips and a carefully calculated exhaust duct make sure this thrust is used with maximum efficiency to propel the Spark through the air. Depending on the batteries used, speeds well over 200 mph (320 km/h) are possible. Therefore the Spark’s size is very carefully planned, so that you can fly with the performance of the real big EDFs (which cost really big money ,too), but can stay with just that little smaller fan, that little smaller battery, that little smaller motor, which saves you serious money on the one hand, and converts the power of these just slightly smaller components into breathtaking flight performance.


• The airplane’s geometry and airfoils are designed for a very wide speed range at minimum drag, allowing fast fly-bys as well as precise aerobatics. The aerodynamic free flow wing tips reduce drag even further. And due to the very special airfoil used, landing speeds are very low, too. The speed brake, centered on the bottom of the one-piece wing just creates the necessary amount of additional drag to slow the Spark down and get it into the right angle of attack for a beautiful landing approach.


• The wing is a one-piece design, held on the fuselage with 2 dowels in the front and a centered bolt in the rear. Take the wing off and you have access to the fan, ducting and thrust tube. The installation of all is as easy as drilling 4 holes and bolting the fan in. Electrical connections are a no-brainer because all parts come plug & play. The battery packs (10-11 cell 4000-5000 mAh) are velcroed around a special plywood tray and fixed in the fuselage through the quickly removable canopy (no tools required) with a single knurled nut. This makes changing battery packs less than a minute’s job. 3-4 flights in a precious hour after work are easily possible. The stab mounts from below also with a dowel and two bolts. The slightly negative dihedral is a protection for the elevator control horns, makes the Spark look “hot” and roll straight. And the best of all is that a fully assembled Spark will fit into most cars in one piece. Charged, ready to fly out of the trunk.


• There are two fans we highly recommend for our Spark. The Schuebeler DS-75 and the TamJets TJ-100. We designed the plane with the Schuebeler DS-75 being available at that time. Soon TamJets introduced their TJ-100, which convinced us even more to be the right fan for the Spark. The advantage of the TJ-100 is the higher air velocity, going along with a smaller exhaust diameter, propelling the spark to faster speeds, maybe with a little bit reduced static trust. The Schuebeler works with larger diameter, higher static thrust and slightly lower exhaust speeds. Both systems are plug & play, well recommended by us and to be found in our accessory catalog.

Of course, as usual, the CARF Spark is highly prefabricated and builds very easily and quickly, supported by a detailed instruction manual, which also guides you through the electrical installation with lots of hints and tips. With a CARF Models Spark you barely can do anything wrong, whether it’s your first jet, your first electric, your toy for the weekday evenings or your high-performance contest tool, we have done the home work.