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Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

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Old 07-14-2008, 08:03 PM
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teamscalepilot
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Default Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Just got done putting together the new GP Pluma!!! Lots of prefab done, the fuse is built, glue the stab with elevator and rudder with tape hinge. The wings are complete with taped hinges too.. LOTS of extra carbon rods in places you wouldn't of but they add extra strength the the airframe..
Check out the website for more details and manual (lots of pictures) going to use there recomended motor and ESV for outdoors. They have a different setup for indoor flying. Check out the speed brakes..
Waiting for Futaba digital servos and 2.4 FASST RX
I like it !!!
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Old 07-15-2008, 10:45 AM
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teamgs
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Looks great! Now we need a flight report.

Regards,

Gary
Old 07-18-2008, 07:53 PM
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qspilotcmh
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Yes a flight report would be appreciated. I am looking at purchasing this aircraft and would like to know how it flies on the recommended power system.
Old 07-18-2008, 10:12 PM
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altavillan
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Futaba 607 Fasst is as light as any other micro rx. Especialy if you remove the case. But I see no real reason too unless you are into indoor compitition flying. I've been using a 617 and a 607 in a Charger foamy and a 27oz GP 3D plane. They don't weigh any more than a Berg 72 mhz rx.
Old 07-25-2008, 10:28 AM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

The Pluma is a great flier.. Very stable!! I set it up using the recomended throws for low, high and 3d (tripple rates) and using -35% expo..

I LIKE IT!!!!!

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Old 07-25-2008, 10:34 AM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

I just got one in for review, looks like a quick build.
Old 07-25-2008, 01:23 PM
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3Disaster
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

I like mine, alot , if set up light its a great indoor plane, and can be a great outdoor plane too.
Old 07-29-2008, 08:43 AM
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qspilotcmh
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

What motor and battery are you using? What did the total weight come out at? I am looking to purchase on for indoor and calm wind outdoor flying and I am uncertain on the motor / battery setup.

Thanks
Old 08-17-2008, 12:07 AM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Yeah, i'm looking at this plane also... Looks nice. It looks as though both motors deliver more than a 150 watts per pound so why would you need the 28-26-1000? That motor will put out 135 watts. Thats alot for a 8-9oz plane. If i were to even think about getting the outdoor setup, i would get the 28-26-1300. It would put out 165 watts. BUT, the batterys they recommend for this plane will not offer enough amps to allow 165 watts. I guess if i get this plane, i should just get the 28-22-1000 to save weight. My only concern here is the battery. The GP 11.1v 640 battery which weights 2oz will give me 12.8amps. The GP 11.1v 300 battery which weighs 1.1 oz will give me 6 amps to play with. 6x11.1 gives me 66.6 watts which is low. I think it's worth adding an oz to give me 12.8x11.1=142.08 watts of power. That extra oz is easily carried and then some. What do you guys think? Would you though in that extra weight? The extra battery weight and extra motor weight? I would for sure use the 640mah battery but the motor.... I think not.
Old 08-17-2008, 08:18 AM
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qspilotcmh
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

I am using the Rimfire 28-22-1380, Flight Power 3S 350, APC 8X3.8SF, TB9, AR6100, Futuba 3114. THE AUW is 8.7oz. I opted for the indoor setup for this winter flying, however I did fly it outdoor the other evening in no wind. It flies very light at 8.7oz and has unlimited vertical. I would think you would only want the larger motor and battery if you were planning on flying in wind, however IMO this is not the airplane for wind. It has such light wing loading it gets knocked around with the slightest breeze. Plus the landing gear looks very fragile and I would not think of landing it on grass. It does land fine on smooth blacktop.
Old 08-18-2008, 09:06 AM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

The review is submitted. I used the outdoor setup right off the Tower site.

It flys awesome.

The wheelpants were gone in one flight, don't bother with them. The foam is a bit fragile so it wont take a lot of abuse.

Landings on grass are doable and won't hurt the gear because you can harrier it in at next to 0 airspeed. A bit of a breeze and it will float straight down, wings level, half elevator. A bit more of a breeze and it will fly backwards.
Old 08-18-2008, 01:27 PM
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qspilotcmh
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Where is the review posted? I did not see it under the review section.
Old 08-18-2008, 01:47 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

It was submitted last week, its usually a week or two before it gets final formatting and posted to the magazine section.
Old 08-18-2008, 01:57 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Great thanks! I may try the harrier landing tonight.
Old 08-18-2008, 08:40 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Well cool. Love to see that review soon. By the way, what kind of flight time can be expected of a 300mah battery?
Old 08-19-2008, 08:04 AM
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qspilotcmh
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

I am using the flight Power 350MAh battery which is lighter and a higher C rating than the GP 300MAh battery. I am getting 6:30 minutes of mixed flight including hovering.

Last night I was coming out of a flat spin and my plane kept turning. I think the rudder servo failed or my spectrum locked out (which is unlikely since I was very close to the plane). Anyway when these planes hit the ground hard they are a total loss. Oh well time to spend $50 for another.
Old 08-19-2008, 04:33 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Thanks for the flight time. Wow, that sounds great. Looks like i'll get that battery. Only one question, How do you balance it without the v-balancer? A regulare thunder power balancer??
Old 08-21-2008, 06:32 AM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie


ORIGINAL: Luv2Flyallday

Thanks for the flight time. Wow, that sounds great. Looks like i'll get that battery. Only one question, How do you balance it without the v-balancer? A regulare thunder power balancer??
I use a Cellpro Charger. I have two of them and they work great for all my lipos which total 19 batteries.
Old 08-23-2008, 10:26 PM
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wc524
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

This plane is awesome, by far one of the best tracking foamies I have flown EVER. I did the flight for the RCU review and it only took one flight to fall in love with this plane and its performance. The power setup was CRAZY powerful!!! Knife Edge for this plane is out of this world. If you can't High Alpha knife edge with this plane you need to try another hobby because it is just way to easy. Be careful not to give too much rudder as it is very powerful and before you know it you are half way around in a KE Loop heading back for the ground. When I buy another foamy this one is next on the list. 10 out of 10 for flight performance and it floats like no other foamy for ultra-soft landings.

- Parker Gilbert
Old 08-27-2008, 12:43 PM
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wc524
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

When the review comes up remember that this was my first flight with the plane so try not to be too critical. RCU should have the review and video up later this week. I'm looking forward to reading it and watching the video.

- Parker Gilbert
RRE Models
[link]http://www.rremodels.com[/link]
Old 08-27-2008, 02:43 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Second time you flew it
Old 08-27-2008, 02:52 PM
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wc524
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

Flying in circles doesn't count in my book.....only good 3D and IMAC. Plus the battery wasn't topped off. I'll wring that thing out this weekend.

- Parker Gilbert
[link=http://www.rremodels.com]RRE Models[/link]
Old 09-09-2008, 10:12 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

This was my first foamie and had it since it first came out. Easy build, no major complaints other than the gear. Able to do rolling (harrier) circles that look like I know what I am doing, knife edge loops, easy to hover, plenty of power and great flight time on the outdoor setup. I am the type to want more power so I was hesitant about buying a stock setup, however GP got this one right. Other than the surge, I wouldn't change the motor/battery setup at all. About the gear, since the aileron servo sticks out the bottom, you pretty much need the gear, however after several landings, they like to twist around. After lining the wheels back up and gluing it several times, the slots became pretty worn out. I tried to solve the problem by grabbing it out of a hover. That worked pretty good until I slapped the plane out of the air and crashed. Pretty fragile, took some time to put it back together after that. I got my money's worth so have no problem buying another. Instruction manual had one oops as it wants you to cut the aileron push rods to 2.5 inches instead 6 something. Luckily that seemed weird so I didn't do it. Good thing, would have needed to buy more carbon fiber. Emailed support to let them know but they never acknowledged it. Oh well...

Question to you electric guys, the motor surges a bit at full power, especially after a couple minutes flying. Then when the battery is about done, it surges at half throttle so good indicator to land. Someone told me they thought the ESC may be a bit small. Does this sound right?
Old 09-10-2008, 08:21 AM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

There's an addendum that covers the pushrod length but you'd have to be pretty green not to realize that the measurment is wrong.
Old 09-22-2008, 02:32 PM
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Default RE: Great Planes PLUMA 3D Foamie

The review went live on Sunday.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1032


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