Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Hello,

I want to step up to a 50cc gasser, mostly for 3D but also some IMAC- style flying and am looking for the best plane. I have read some older threads on RCU which favored the Extreme Flight Yak (amongst others) but some new planes have been released since those posts (2006, 2007). Here are the main contenders:

Extreme Flight Yak 54: 88 inch span, 1450 sq in wing area, 16.5 - 18.5 pounds, 50-60 cc engine

Extreme Flight Extra 300: 88 inch, 1450 sq in, 16 - 17.5 pounds, 50-60 cc

Aeroworks Extra 260 QB: 85 inch, 1270 sq in, 16-17 pounds, 50cc

Aeroworks Extra 300 LP QB: 86 inch, 1350 sq in, 15.5 - 16.5 pounds, 50cc

Aeroworks Yak 54 QB: 85 inch, 1409 sq in, 16.5 - 1.5 pounds, 50cc

Dietrich Extra 260: 87 inch, 1392 sq in, 1618 pounds, 50-60 cc

Some thoughts: What is the best engine - leaning towards DL-50 or DA-50, but are they enough for the Extreme flight and Dietrich planes? Im not that worried about the price differences between the planes, $100 is not that much by the time you buy the servos, electronics, batteries and engine. The Aeroworks QB have the advantage of not having to hinge etc. What is the difference between the aeroworks 300LP and 260, besides weight and wing area? (sounds like the LP would be better at 3D?) The Extreme Flight look the coolest (to me).

Thanks,
David

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Well you have picked some planes that all are good quality.

I personally have time on the EF 88" Yak, the EF Extra, and the AW Extra 260 so I can give you input on them.

Since you mentioned IMAC - that really depends how important that is to you. I feel the EF Yak tracks well, but the EF Extra tracks a lot better, snaps really clean and just feel very locked in. My personal choice would be between the EF Extra and the AW Extra (judging those because I have flown both)


Both fly extremely well in both areas.


The AW Extra definately winds up and tumbles better than the EF. You can really do some crazy stuff with it and it flies IMAC very well.

The EF Extra I feel tracks a little nicer, and you can slow it down more in 3D, it will tumble well, but not like the AW.


I am not saying the 88" Yak isn't nice, but I prefered the locked in feeling of the Extra myself. Unfortunately I can't comment on the others.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

All excellent planes but for the Engine choice
Don't be afraid of considering the MT57 or the Area 51 - both have excellent mid range power curves for 3d.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

kewl

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

The DL-50 is plenty for any of those planes, especially on the stock exhaust, and is really an animal on a pipe. I tested my new DL-50 with stock exhaust on my 17#, 4 oz Edge and the verticals were incredible. Made me smile every time. The bark of that engine fully loaded in an upline is cool too. Area 51 is good too, shines in the midrange and pretty much equal in power to the DL. I picked up an EF 88" yak a few months ago and I'm getting close to done. I feel this is the best 50cc 3D ship on the market but that's just my opinion, not the rule. I have the EF 88" Extra and it flies great. This summer I'll be able to give more feedback on comparing the two. Can't wait......:)

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

:)Another plane that you've overlooked is the Great Planes Performance Series Reactor 160. I'm building one right now along with the EF Yak. The quality is very similar and it's a beautiful plane. All up ready to fly weight is right a 16lbs. I think it'll be the best for pure 3D. It has over 100" more wing area than the ones you mentioned. It's lighter. And boy oh boy does it ever have some huge control surfaces. I obviously haven't flown mine yet, still building. But it is a very nice 50cc airplane. It come out of the box set up for a DA/DL 50.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXUSE0&P=ML
The above link is to the Tower Hobbies page. Also, with discounts...it can be bought for under $400
Thanks
Barry

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

The 86" QQ Yak is also a contender at this power level, I have some experience of the others and consider the QQ Yak to be one of the best for both 3D and IMAC, it comes cannister ready so will be able to meet the noise restrictions imposed at some IMAC contests.

Mike

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Man, you left out one of the best, PAU!

Their
[link=http://www.flypau.com]-Edge 540
-SU-26
-Extra 330L
-Yak 54[/link]

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

And dont't let the price of the new SU-26 fool you. It includes wing bags, CF wing tube and kick-butt hardware. If you add that all up it's even less expensive than the Wild Hare. Another plus is that it's NOT a Yak or Extra. ;)

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Im pretty sure they are in stock and ready to be flown by YOU!

http://johnvh.smugmug.com/photos/457471757_kHRAc-M.jpg

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

You might get many varied answers to this. People have religion about planes, like they do about oil ratio, props and about anything else about this hobby.

I can only talk about my experience of planes I built and flew -

Extreme flight Yak 88 - Still way up there and a class act everybody is trying to imitate.

QQ Yak 86 - Sorry, did not like the way it flies and looks, though quality is good.


I did not have a chance to to check out the new PAU Yak, but they are a class act and from the build thread and other planes of theirs I did build, I have quite a good feeling about this one...

I am quite familiar with Aeroworks bigger planes. They are good but you will need to purchase the goodies and CF hardware in addition...

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

With my experience, yaks tend to be better for 3D and extras tend to be better for imac. If you are leaning towards 3D as more important, look into the yaks. They will still fly imac maneuvers with ease, but are more specialized for 3D. If the opposite is true, the aeroworks 300lp seems like a great choice. No matter what, you cant go wrong with any of the planes. Quality is top notch and all are capable of just about anything. At a certain point, its in the pilots hands.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Thanks guys!

Great to get advice from people who have actually flown these planes, especially those who have flown several of them. I checked out the PAU website which I had not considered before - cool planes. The EF Yak is really tempting for my flying style but I need to call AW and talk to them about the new Extra 300 LP and how it differs from their better known extra 260 - thats not really clear from their website. I will post here if I learn anything.

David

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

www.dawghouserc.net. Best deal and best airplane out there. $449.99 with "free" shipping. cant beat it.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Did you get the 5 for $499.99 deal. :)

Fleets always look cool.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Those are all the Yak 55sp's at our field. There is also a Yak 54 that I owned and sold to a club member. He still has one Yak 54 prototype for sale. I will also be flying the dawghouserc Bucker Superman 50cc. He has two for sale.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

I talked to Mark at Aeroworks. He said that of the 50cc Extra 260, Extra 300LP and Yak, the 260 is the most stable in 3D and the Yak is more oriented towards precision flight and has a slightly higher roll rate than the extras.
The Extra 300LP is about a quarter to half pound lighter than the 260 and has a lower wing; it has more wing rock in the harrier than the 260 does and is geared towards more experienced 3D or IMAC flyers.
Of their planes, he recommended the Extra 260 for what I am looking for (mostly 3D with IMAC capabilities as well).

David

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

DawghouseRC is in Brownsburg, IN. You can get the Yak 55 even cheaper because you can pick it up. The airplane flys precision and 3D excellent. I fly a Aeroworks 42% 150cc as well. But, for 50cc you cant beat the DawghouseRC Yak.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

All this talk about flying 3D and no one has mentioned an Edge? ;)

(See avatar)

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Ryan,

I was trying to stay out of it. But I'm with you and believe the Edge to be the best all around 3d plane available in 50cc size.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

Guys,

which manufacturer(s) do you like for the Edge?

David

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

My Edge is a Performance Aircraft Unlimited 50cc. I'm very happy with how it flies and the planes being sold now (version III) have cannister tunnels built in.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

I fly the V-2, 28% Wild Hare Edge. There's now a third version of the W/H Edge with an increase in wing span to 88". Both have can tunnels.

Both PAU and Wild Hare make some darn good aircraft.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

And if you add all these to his first post, you have quite a choice of excellent 3D ARF's out there.

RE: Best 50cc plane for 3D?
 

CMP Edge 540t