edalves68

Starting a forum on the reasonably new Great Planes Electrifly Cosmic Wind (white version). I want to start by emphasizing what an absolutely great flying airplane it is. It has four flights on it right now as I battle the Montana winter for flying time. It's been unusually warm but super windy. I was impressed from the start on the ARF. It went together straight and easy. I set mine up with speed in mind and went with the Rimfire .15, 1200KV motor. It fits perfectly with no modification and is a jump from the .10 Rimfire, 3 cell recommended setup. Some how I think they had that in mind? I'm running 8X8 APC with a four cell, 1800 MAH, 45C Thunder Power Battery with an Eflite 40-Amp Pro ESC. You have to change up the connectors if you choose this set up. Needless to say it is a Rocket.

My recommendations are to make sure you customize the covering especially if you have the white version and choose not use the included decals. It is small and fast and can be hard to see. Beef up the size of the screws used to screw in the gear incase of a bumpy landing. The 4 cell batteries add weight, but if you get the right demension battery, slide it all the way back in the battery compartment it balances just 2MM forward of the recommended forward CG. Still slows OK for landing but it is a slick aircraft so make sure you have a good approach. Take offs are a snap, really very little torque and P factor issues. I was very surprised, after flying an EF1 Pogo, I expected some issues and lots of R rudder needed, not so. Use the recommended throws and you can expect a very pleasant flying airplane. Smooth Skies!!!!

Ad Clark III

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Ditto to what you are saying, great flying airplane.
my buddy and I have been racing them all week. We usually put 6 or seven flights a day on them. They have performed very well. We have used a radar gun extensively on them and have achieved between 98 to 101 mph in straight and level no wind conditions. Fairly decent performance for 3s batteries. A few Pics. BTW....Billings, Brrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Ad Clark III

My Feedback: (8)

a few more pics....I will try and upload a few vids later
Both airplanes have -60 amp esc
-cobra 2814/10 1700 kv motor
-7x9 apc props
-2200 3s batteries
-.055 piano wire w/silver soldered couplers on all linkages
-make sure and put wheel collar on tail wheel
-replaced all factory hinges with GP CA hinges(3 times larger)
-one extra rare earth magnet on aft end of battery hatch cover

Definately used beefier screws like Ed suggested for the landing gear, luckily havent put them to the test yet. Our CG 2 3/16.
There is a thread on rcgroups that my buddy Tsymonds and I have been posting on.
[link]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1509077[/link]

Ad Clark III

My Feedback: (8)

short vid of couple of fly-by's
[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpOnlLPUSAI&feature=related[/link]

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qig506r6Ekk&feature=related[/link]

edalves68

Thats quick on a three cell Wow!!!! I replaced my piano wire, used z bends to prevent any mishaps, forgot to mention that. Good call out Add Clark. I replaced the hinges as well, great minds think a like, LOL. Sound like you are geting the most out of that 1700KV motor and prop combination with the three cell. I have no idea of my speed, but I will tell you I think it's in the neighborhood of the EF1 set up I had on my Pogo??? I need to tach my combination but the other day I was racing light and by myself so I went for more flight time and less data. Can't wait till I can fly again!!! I do need to add that wheel collar on the tail wheel, I was looking at that the other night? Thanks

edalves68

Great Fly by's thanks!

Ad Clark III

My Feedback: (8)

Some more flight clips.

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4oFWcsrjQs&context=C3022e0cADOEgsToPDskIe43FMwAq1fO9l9paU6vwN[/link]

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALwjRmfT5OQ&context=C3fa03c9ADOEgsToPDskLQZMSpulyHcyUpj6pQcZkt[/link]

A knife edge pass.

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYiTZlywY54&context=C3570592ADOEgsToPDskI1sE6K49H5WaCTVUEOptgN[/link]

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

Are they EF-1 legal?

tsymonds

They aren't EF-1 legal. They have a glass fuse, wing span is only 36", weight is only ~29oz, wing area is 250sq/in. So in short too small in all dimensions and made of the wrong stuff. It's definitely an excellent flying plane with no bad habits what so ever and it's clearly not slow considering it's only using a 3s pack. I think it would be a great candidate for a club racer or race classwith near EF-1 performance for alot less money.

David Jackson

My Feedback: (15)

Thanks for the thread. Just ordered one today with the Rimfire 15 as a replacement for the Sundowner 36 (Scorpion 3026 powered) which was totalled as a result of lost radio signal. Any speed data using the Rimfire 15? [8D]

edalves68

No hard Data, use the 1200KV .15 rimfire and a 45c+ four cell and it has got to be close to EF1. 105-115MPH. Have Fun!

edalves68

I snuck out to do some early season cold weather flying today. On my first take off roll the motor hatch popped off, ripped the gear off and planted the Cosmic wind right on its nose. I had already beefed up the screws on the gear based on some feedback I picked up on a forum. It made no diffrence. Upon inspection I found that one of the upper rare earth magnets came unglued. To make matters worse I found that the light ply holding the gear was not installed properly and was 90% loose hanging in the fuse. It was not located properly under the bulkhead and was attached with the same resin used for the fuslage construction, or at least that is how it appeared. I called up customer service at Great Planes and after a short wait and a somewhat detailed explanation they volunteered to send me a complete new fuselage, and rear control surfaces. Total class move! I was happy with the plane, it flys great, its disappointing to have to rebuild but they should be commended for taking care of me. That kind of treatment really makes a consumer, this customer very pleased. It won't be forgotten!

headhoncho

Been checking out this lil' speed racer since last fall when she first came out so now I'm all in. Got one coming from Tower hopefully by the end of this week.

Going with the stock set up as this will be my first Formula 1 racer except I'll be using 1800 - 2200mAh  3S packs (for now) & a 40A ESC, not the 25A that I've seen listed for it. Got both recommended props, 8x8E & 9x7.5E to try out. Probably going to use the the 9x.7.5E first. I'll be sure to give it the typical "ARF once over" to address the known issues & concerns.

Really nice little machine & she looks fast just sitting still. Looking forward to getting her airborne & getting that need for speed fix as soon as possible...

lcloninger

Hi Ed,

Just ordered a white cosmic wind. Been reading your thread and finally decided to buy one. What do you recommend for a motor and battery?

Lenny

lcloninger

Hi Ed,

Just ordered a white cosmic wind. Been reading your thread and finally decided to buy one. What do you recommend for a motor and battery?

Lenny

edalves68

Got everything you need Lenny, you will enjoy. Flys like a sport plane on steroids. Great slow speed characteristics. Look forward to seeing you at our races!!

Russ_The_Flyer

Wow! This is an old thread. But I just had to reply to it. I just recently won a Cosmic Wind at a Fun fly. I put the the plane together, ordered a 1500 Kv motor from Heads Up Hobby and took it out to fly. On take off the battery hatch popped off. I tried to bring it around quickly and land but the battery fell out and jerked itself loose. The plane nose dived straight into the ground. Damage wasn't too bad as it crashed into marshy ground. But it has a lot of character now. Cracks everywhere.

I'm surprised there are no further posts on this great plane. Mine handled great. Very predictable flight, short as it was.

IronButterfly

Been reading this thread but not sure how to configure Cosmic Wind.  I want Rimfire .15.  I have Chipmunk and Mini-Contender electrics with standard equipment but feeling the need for speed.

I think Rimfire .15 will fit without modification but not sure.

35A or 45A ESC?

3s or 4s Lipo?  What maH?  Will 4s fit?

What prop?

Which Futaba servos?  S3114 probably good for elevator and rudder but may need bigger for ailerons. Will bigger servo fit?

Any help appreciated.

ehelibuff

The Cosmic Wind isn't a legal EF1?

IronButterfly

If your are asking me I have to say I don't know.  Someone on this thread said the Cosmic Wind is not legal EF1 but with Rimfire .15 and 4s Lipo it is in same speed class.

ehelibuff

Can I use a 40A ESC? What would you recommend?

IronButterfly

I think Rimfire .15 needs 45A ESC but maybe 40A will do.  Max. constant current rating for that motor is 45 amps.  A 35A ESC will do for the Rimfire .10 motor.  I am still building my Cosmic Wind with the Rimfire .15 and 45 ESC.  Help, please, somebody recommend prop for that setup with 3s and 4s lipos.

ehelibuff

I was hoping to have a legal one.. Mine is new in the box still. Maybe I can sell it if someone is interested?

Dave Yost

Cosmic Wind is not EF1 Legal. It is too small and does not meet several EF1 requirements.  None the least of which is it has a fiberglass fuselage.   

Great looking little airplane and would make a great club racer, just not for NMPRA EF1.

Cheers Dave 

Waterlogged

Found some money burning a hole in my pocket at the LHS and bought this model. I already have the gifts for it laying around.... eRC BL15 1300kv motor, 3x Gens Ace 3s2200 60C packs and CC Ice.lite 50 ESC. Will assemble and test the motor on 3s APC 9x7.5e and 4s APC 7x8 props, using data from CC Ice ESC. Also, will probably sheet the top of those wings with 1/64 ply.

Funny to think I'll actually set up a testbed on the truck to see data in a 70mph highway airstreem.

AUW@ 29.0oz with 3s 2200mAh and APC 9x7.5
AUW@ 26.0oz with 4s 1320mAh and APC 7x8

Hope to maiden her Sunday July 7th, 2013. Will have a Garmin Forerunner-101 GPS onboard for speed runs..........[>:]

-WL