AeroFinn

Waiting for my Yak to arrive..

Mark, did you reinforce the landing gear mounting area?

And btw is the bottom of the fuselage balsa sheeted, too? Could not see it in any of the pictures I have come across..

mark nichols

No mounting gear plate is very good, ive had a couple of bumps in my probable 100+ flights and besides the aluminium will bend which is good, i have no complaints.

My field is quite bumpy but i land very well.

Fuse bottom is foam. I have no pics on the computer of inside fuse.

Mark

AeroFinn

Thanks Mark so the fuse bottom is foam but is the foam reinforced with balsa sheeting?

flygilmore

Yes.... it is. I had this plane and sold it after prob. 20flights. It was ok, but there are MUCH, MUCH better "Yaks" out there for the choosing. You don't realize it until you have flown one!!!!

mark nichols

Hi I have a QQ86 and a QQ python and just bought into the AW100 cc yak, having flown a few yaks yes there are better, but better depends on what you want, this is my winter hack plane or quick fly plane, nice small and compact easy to assemble and flies good. QQ flies far better very light longer to assemble and not for bad weather strong crosswinds etc but flies superb, you knock it its destroyed. Aw gone for this it flies imac superb and 3d, heavier tham the ef 110 but just watch it being flown talk to guys who fly it and that bit of weight makes little difference.

Gp yak build it lite and it flies good, not superb but good, if i had one id build it and fly it for a year then keep it as a hack, if i didnt have one id go for a pilot or ef yak , but living in the north os scotland where i fly of a bumpy field where its allwasy crosswinds, you need to fly good or youre lite plane will be wrecked in a few flights.

My gp has had 7 gallons through it so thats a lot of flights, i just like it, but then my QQ knocks sopts off it.

Mark

Planejaw

My Feedback: (53)

Sort of looks like this thread is just about dead.

Been flying mine this summer with a Fuji 43 in the nose, swinging a Xoar 20X8 prop. Flies quite well and will do any IMAC routine. I'm not a 3-D flyer, so it pretty much does everything I want it to. The engine has been very reliable, starts up quickly and never a sputter.

Only one part replaced this year was the flimsy landing gear. Replaced it with a TNT gear. Had one landing that was a little firm and the gear flexed and damaged the gear-mounting area in the fuselage. Rebuilt that, reinforced it and installed the new gear. Much stronger and no fear of over-flexing as the old gear was prone to do.

Uncas

My Feedback: (1)

One thing about GP is that their replacement parts are very cheap. You can replace your gear for $12 at Tower.

Planejaw

My Feedback: (53)

Yes, the GP gear is cheap, but very flimsy. The TNT gear is just stiff enough. In fact, had an incident a couple weeks ago. Stiff breeze coming right down the runway, turned on final and was beginning final decent to the runway. The windspeed reduced just enough that a stall was induced (yes, I should have kept the speed up a little more!!), she tucked a wing and went in from about 12' of altitude. Guess I'll never make that mistake again.

More damage to the fuselage than anywhere else. The entire engine-box assembly was shattered, as weas most of the fuselage wing-mounting structure. also bent the wing tube and some damage to the balance tip of the right aileron. The back of the fuselage was split vertically, down from the vertical fin. The landing gear was unscathed! My nice Xoar 20X8 prop was also unharmed. The Fuji 43, which had been running flawlessly, also looks like it was unharmed. A little run on the test-stand should confirm she's OK.

With a new fuselage, tail feathers, cowl, wing-tube, not to mention the Tower Super-Saver discount, I can get her back in the air for about $186.

Planejaw

My Feedback: (53)

The re-building of the Yak has begun. Received the fuselage and cowl last week. new horizontal stab, elevators, wing tube and servos coming this week. Wing is on back order, but I do have an unscathed left wing panel and have repaired most of the right wing-tip and aileron-tip. No hurry though, flying weather here in Michigan is about over until next Spring.

As I'm using the TNT main landing gear, going to reinforce the gear mounting structure within the fuselage. Not much "give" to all of that plywood. A few extra pieces of plywood and some extra bolts to hold things together. The problem is, if that reinforced structure takes any shock, it must transfer it someplace else...not too many good places for it to go!

Since I had over a pound of lead in the nose, to balance on the wing-tube (even with running the Fuji 43, which is as heavy as a brick), I ordered some 1" almunum spacers and bolts from PSP engineering, which should help move the CG just a little further forward. I'll also see if there any creative ways to move the 3100 mah LiFe packs a little further forward. May even mount the rudder servo in the tray witin the center of the fuselage and run the pull-pull arrangement instead of mounting the rudder servo in the tail. That should help quite a bit.

Kostas1

I think that GreatPlanes replaced this YAK,
one of my favourites out there,

with this M version...

Planejaw

My Feedback: (53)

In an effort to reduce the need for over 18 oz. of lead in the nose, I've re-built my Yak with a few changes. First, pull-pull on the rudder, reducing the weight in the tail. The 2.11 oz servo, moved from the tail to the fuselage mounting position, calculated with an actual weight-and-balance method, shows that it will reduce the need for approximately 7 oz of lead in the nose. You can also see the 1" standoffs (PSP Engineering) which moves the Fuji 43 (which weighs 4.03 lbs) one inch further forward. That is the equivalent of almost two more ounces out of the tail, or almost another 7 oz added to the nose. If I started with approx. 18 oz of lead, I may have eliminated approx. 14 of those ounces of the lead formerly in the nose. I'll be able to place the batteries either behind, or in front of the CG (using the wing tube as the official CG) for final balance, without fuel. Each of the 3200 mah LiFe batteries weighs 7.4 oz, so they are easily used to fine-tune the CG. Hopefully, I can bring the ship in a pound under its former weight.

Kostas1

Nice....

Planejaw

My Feedback: (53)

By the way, have become tired with the anemic performance of the Fuji 43. Flew the Yak a couple weeks ago and could hardly hold a 45-degree up-line to check on CG. Found a guy near me with a good looking DA-50. The conversion process has begun!!

Planejaw

My Feedback: (53)

After about 6 flights with the DA-50, I can pronounce the Yak a decent flyer. Compared to the Fuji 43, the DA is a very welcome change. Though not over-powered by any means, the DA finally gives some life to this airframe. Along with the inverted pitts muffler and 3" standoffs, and an anodized aluminum spinner, the ship balances right at the wing-tube without fuel. One 3100 mah LiFe battery next to the fuel tank, the other under the wing-tube. Rudder is pull-pull. Prop is a Xoar 22X8. Landing gear is TNT.

Like most Great Planes aircraft, the Yak is built like and is a real "tank" in the air. It flies and tracks well. I'm not a 3-d flyer, but like to do some aerobatics and learn new things from time to time. Keep the speed up on landing, as the large round cowl and 22" prop really add to the drag profile and will slow it down in a hurry. Three-point it on landing with the 22" prop and you'll be just fine.

rowdyjoe

My Feedback: (9)

I hope someone is still monitoring this thread. It's been a long time since the last post.

I got a good buy on a bare airframe but, it didn't come with a fuel tank. Can anyone tell me which tank it needs? Tower doesn't list it in the "spares" list and I haven't found any indication in the manual.

Iplan to install a DLE 55 on this one. It might be overkill but, it won't lack for power.

RJ

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

A Dubro 16 - 20 oz will work fine.

rowdyjoe

My Feedback: (9)

Thanks for the reply. I've looked at the dimensions of the Dubro tanks you suggest and they are either too wide or too long. The compartment measures 5.5" X 5.5" but, if it's supposed to fit up further in the nose, the opening in the bulkhead is only 2.5" wide. So, it appears I need a square tank or a long slender tank.

Can you provide any more suggestions?

RJ

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

Do you have the instructions? Here is a link..

http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma1411-manual-v1_1.pdf

rowdyjoe

My Feedback: (9)

Yes, I've downloaded the instruction manual but, it doesn't identify the fuel tank. It lists the gasoline conversion part no.s but, no tank size, etc. I've searched Sullivan and Dubro. Been to ebay, Tower, and now Horizon. I've found a 16 inch Dubro that should fit but, would like to find at least a 20oz. I had a 24 oz on this engine before and I could fly for 10 min. and still have a 5 or 6 min. reserve. 20oz would be a good compromise if I can find one.

Thanks again for your help.

By the way ...do you have this bird and if so, how do you like it ...what are pulling it with etc.?

RJ

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

I had the Extra and it used the same tank which is about 20 oz or so. I no longer have it.

rowdyjoe

My Feedback: (9)

It's amazing to me that they don't identify part no.s for replacement. Fuel tanks do occassionaly wear out (vibration, etc.) so, wonder why they don't list a replacment tank. I visited Great Planes web site and found "replacment items list" but, the tanks they list are too big. Beats the heck out of me why it has to be such a toe-nail pulling experience.

RJ

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

If you are stuck for a tank and cannot find one I have one that is 2.5" square and 6" long. PM me your address and I can mail it to you. You will need to buy a gas stopper assembly for it.

rowdyjoe

My Feedback: (9)

That's a very generous offer. Thanks very much. I may have to take you up on it but, I'm still searching. What brand of tank do you have? Just wondering if Ican find a new one.

I found a 20oz tank that may work if Ican find the measurements on it. It's a tank for a Seagull model and Horizon lists it for sale on their site but, no dimensions. See what I mean? I feel like I'm chasing my tail.

RJ

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

It is just some tank from an old kit. What is the exact width and height of the opening. If I recall The tank for you plane is close to 3" wide and about 2.5" high but is is installed on edge.

Super08

My Feedback: (2)

If it will work an Aeroworks 750cc fuel tank is 3" x 2 1/4". You can phone Jeff or Mark at Aeroworks in Colorado and they could get one to you allot quicker. It will come complete with gas stopper, cluck and brass tubes.


BTW 750cc is about 25 oz.