tazlittleking

You are crazy! The plane loves the DA-50. It's weight is real close to the fuji.

Uncas

My Feedback: (1)

Mine is a little bit less than the top string on my guitar, but I am no expert. This is my first pull - pull set up. I do not like the way you tighten them - you are twisting the cable and if you twist it a lot it will want to untwist and challenge the tightening nut. I would feel better with a turnbuckle.

crash99

My Feedback: (3)

Guys, Check your wings. I am sure GP will replace this kit.

Sewerdude

My Feedback: (20)

What failed crash99? Sorry to see that.

Kostas1

Ohhh,
boy,
what happened?

crash99

My Feedback: (3)

I took her up at 30% power and banked right. Pulled back to 20% power and was about to correct the trim ( I only needed about 3 clicks) and then the left wink started to shake and then the flutter came on the left wing, then the right wing. I then pulled down to 10% power to allow her to roll. I then pulled up to bring her down but right then she started to spin to the right and that was it. crunch!

Please bring me a trash bag! and we went to look. I have contacted GP and they asked me to send her in. I am sure GP will replace her. For the first 20 sec I fell in love with this airplane. She flew light and then like a lighting strike the flight went wrong. She was 12lbs 10 oz.

Crash99

Sewerdude

My Feedback: (20)

Hope GP takes care of you. Which they should . What engine did you have in it ?

Uncas

My Feedback: (1)

Crash,

I am very sorry about your mishap - I would be devastated - then I would start begging my wife for a new plane.

My story: After a flight last year when I was fueling up my plane I noticed the wing screw had come loose about 1 inch - maybe more and it scared the crap out of me. I learned to tighten the screw up real tight. Also a friend at the field recommended putting clips in the alignment guides. I have not flown it yet with this mod but it might prevent a wing departure from a loose screw.

fingers73

My Feedback: (2)

Not trying to start a war but what was the failure that Great Planes should responsible for? I lost my first Yak last spring when a elevator servo failed in the neutral position. It was in high alpha knife edge. The servo was one of the notorious Hitec hs 5945's. I called Hitec and they told me to learn to fly. I then showed them the picks of the undamaged empenage still it was my fault. So I wrote Great Planes a letter telling them how I loved the company and it's products but was ashamed of one of the venders they carry. In no attempt to get my stuff replaced, just to vent about Hitec! A letter came back to me From Great Planes, and now I have a brand new plane. Probably the best company in the R/C industry.

crash99

My Feedback: (3)

Hold on now big boy. "the left wing started to shake and then the flutter came on the left wing, then the right wing. I don't know about you .............. the wing mostlikely should not shake.

I hope GP is "the best company in the R/C industry" I will let you know. Did you have to send in your old plane?

Crash99

fingers73

My Feedback: (2)

I do not denie your trouble, just wondered what failure accured. I have seen many people not tighten wing bolts or even over tighten the nylon ones. This resulted in the head breaking off. I am sure you did not over speed the plane it has to much drag to even do so. It does sound as if the wing came loose some how, maybe a rib broke. The fuse captures the wing pretty tight on it's own. I was just looking for details. It drives me nuts how every one gets defensive on here.
To answer your question no I did not have to even send them a picture. The plane and company is awsome , but every now and then a lemon will get past even best q.c. man. Try to find out what exactly failed for your self and the rest of us. There is no doubt in my mind Great Planes will hook you up.
Let us know what you find failed!!

crash99

My Feedback: (3)

I just checked my bag of balsa. No the bolts are fine. I am sending it back tomorrow. We will see how good GP is as a vender. I just do not see what happened. BTW Thank you for placing salt on my wounds and rubbing it in. [&o]

Thanks
Crash99

flyman1948

crash99...

Hope you can pin down the problem...nice to know if it is something we can look for and correct in the field.

I've just completed my YAK and it's ready for the maiden. Double checked the end points, dual rates, and range checked with motor running and without on the ground. I have 645's on all surfaces except single 5945 on the rudder (Oh Oh, is there a problem with that servo?). Power is a FPE 2.4.

fingers73

My Feedback: (2)

FLYMAN:

the 5945 was replaced by the 5985. The 45 had no bushing to support the gear on the top case. The 85 has a brass bushing doing this job. The problem seemed to be poor alingment on assembly. This egged the hole the gears pin went in. When the pin finally would shift it would lock where it was. Take the top off and check to see if it is egged out at all and reassemble making sure it is lined up. Hitec says there is no problem with 45 but quickly replaced it with the 85.

flyman1948

fingers73

How much use will the 5945 take before it starts to show ware? If the thing is a real piece of junk I'll replace it before the maiden. I have a single 5945 is mounted mid-ship and controls the rudder. I can see a pull-pull system putting stress on the gears.

flyman1948

While I'm at it...I'm not wild about the canopy mounting system with the four tiny SHCS screws that you know will be lost first time they are dropped in the grass. Anybody come up with a better system?

fingers73

My Feedback: (2)

Flyman

I had two 5945 's in my yak both on the elevator. The one failed from a defect, the other looked good. The recess for the plastic gear pin was egged out from assembly. The plastic gear would strip before putting enough side load to do the damage to the case top I saw. The plastic gear is the week link for this reason. I had a friend in plastics Q.C. look at it, he said it was definatally an assembly error. The servos had 5 flights on it before it gave up. I put a new cap on the bad one and it is fine now.

Tesla1856

I had the same thing happen on my Edge 540, when it was still new. It has 2 bolts on each side, but one fell out completely (found it in the tail) and the others were loose.

Since the Yak also has nylon bolts against smooth hardwood, I suppose they work loose the same way.

I installed washers cut from plastic screen material, and also tried some thick rubber washers. Both seem to work fine... Haven't had a bolt come loose since.

I also like your wire clip mod. Wild Hare also has it in their Yak 80" manual.

caliberfiveo

I have the GP Yak-54 81" 25% and decided to power it with electric. I am running the E-Flite 160 motor w/ a 10s Thunder Power 5000MAH Extreme battery pack. I put the airplane on my e-meter and this set up is making 2900 Watts at full burst. I airplane weighs 13lbs 10 oz approx. with the battery so I am making just over 200 watts per lb. I have installed HiTec 5985s all around except for the rudder where I went with just one Hitec 5955 to save weight. Do you guys have any suggestions for my maiden flight? I have not flown the plane yet, because I have not talked to anyone who has converted one of these to electric and was curios to see if anyone out there knows any things I shoud be wary of before I fly. Please let me know........ Thanks

crash99

My Feedback: (3)

Guys,

I just got off the phone with Great Planes and they told me they were going to be sending me out another airplane. Great Planes was very nice on the phone and was easy to talk to. I do not think there was anything they saw that they could say caused the crash.

As soon as the plane arrives I will have to decide to push off my other projects and start this one or complete the projects that was on the bench.

Thanks
Crash99

inverted1

My Feedback: (24)

Can somebody help me find the thrust lines for the engine box? I just bought this used GP Yak 54 the was converted to electric. The previous owner modified the engine box and moved it forward by about 5 inches, I am now going to place my Brison 50cc gasser in this plane. I have cut the additional engine box off but have no reference marks for thrust lines. If I could just get somebody to measure these two lines for me it would be appreciated.[sm=50_50.gif]

med601

My Feedback: (5)

Flyman,
I too am putting a 2.4 FPE in my Yak. I had it in a Sig Extra 300sx using a 20x10 pro Zinger prop @7200 rpm. The plane was heavy @15lb and the 2.4 was difficult to prime.

I'm hoping the Yak is lighter. I'm curious about your setup, please let me know CG, weight, prop, rpm, batery and equipment placement. Are you happy with the way she flys?

Thanks,

Medwin.

Tesla1856

I’m ready to buy my engine (yes ... really) .

I’ve decided to spend the extra bucks and go ahead and get the DA-50 with Slimline rear-dump muffler. From what I’ve read in this thread, I’ll get it with the 3 inch stand-offs. Chief Aircraft looks like a good place to order it from.

What else should I buy on this initial order? What would be a good entry level 22x8 prop. to buy for this engine on the Yak?

I have a drill press for drilling the props. They have a drill jig guide for $28 … do I need that? Or, do you just use the prop. washer to mark it, and then drill it alone?

Thanks for all the help so far ... my first gasser should turn out nice.

tazlittleking

It is hard to bite the bullet with the DA-50 price tag, but you will not be disappointed!

You will need to use a drill guide for drilling the props. A couple of places will order predrilled. My buddy and I split the tab on the drill guide. Maybe you know somebody that will lend theirs to you.

I live in Tucson and bought my DA-50 directly from Desert Aircraft. The prop they sold me for break in was a XOAR 22 x 8 wood prop.

Bass1

I could use a new pair of usable wheel spats![]