
"With a BrickScore of 68.5, the Race Plane earns its stripes as one of the best-value entry points in the Technic lineup — a cleverly engineered little set that delights beginners and collectors alike, held back only by its intentionally limited feature set."
The LEGO Technic Race Plane (42117) is widely praised as an excellent entry-level Technic set that punches well above its modest price point. Reviewers consistently highlight it as a great gateway into the Technic line for younger builders and curious adults alike. The clever mechanical feature — a propeller that spins when the front wheels roll — impresses nearly everyone. A small number of reviewers note limited play features beyond that core function and flag a loose rear wheel and an abundance of stickers as minor irritants.
Where they split: Most disagreement is around play depth: some reviewers rate playability a perfect score, while a handful score it lower and specifically wish for movable control surfaces (rudders, ailerons). The rear-wheel durability issue is raised by one reviewer but not echoed widely. Otherwise, agreement is high across the board.

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"Like the set 42116 Skid Steer Loader, this small unpretentious box of 154 pieces is aimed at young fans who would like to gradually enter the LEGO Technic universe by discovering the potential of more or less complex ele…"
Hoth Bricks
"A limited function holds back what's otherwise a fun and colourful LEGO Technic model in 42117 Race Plane."
Brick Fanatics
"42117 Race Plane is another entry-level Technic set that's being released on January 1st. It introduces a number of new teal pieces, and that is likely to be the main reason for AFOLs to give it a second look."
Brickset Reviews
"Like the set 42116 Skid Steer Loader, this small unpretentious box of 154 pieces is aimed at young fans who would like to gradually enter the LEGO Technic universe by discovering the potential of more or less complex elements and mechanisms that can be assembled."

"A limited function holds back what's otherwise a fun and colourful LEGO Technic model in 42117 Race Plane."

"42117 Race Plane is another entry-level Technic set that's being released on January 1st. It introduces a number of new teal pieces, and that is likely to be the main reason for AFOLs to give it a second look."
Amazon4.8
LEGO.com4.9