What is it like to fly a "big plane" Can you "feel" it better? How about landing? I am really interested in picking up a xtra 300 or something similar. any suggestions?

Mike

That depends on what you mean bigger. I have both a H9 Sukhoi and a DR Hobbies 2.6 Extra. Both fly extremely well. The Extra tracks better, but the Sukhoi flys slower so it is easier to make minor adjustments. I have found that the 1/3 scale planes fly much more consistently than the 1/4 planes. What I mean is the bigger they are, the more likely they will do the same thing everytime you tell it to. I have found several 1/4 planes that have varying reactions to different stick inputs. Also most 1/4 scale planes you have to keep up with them all the way to the ground. On both of my big birds, all you have to do is line them up and juggle the throttle, and wind no wind, they will land themselves. Bigger is definately better when it comes to feeling the airplane. There are a few 50cc offerings that come close, but in most cases, the bigger it is, the better it flys.

That's a pretty good description that 3DONdaEdge gave. I have a couple of 1/4s and have flown a friends 35% Carden Cap several times. It's hard to tell how it feels but I have described them as more true to the sticks. The Carden does what you tell it when you tell it with no suprises.
His is for sale. He will let it all go for less than $2,000. You get it all minus the RX and batteries. It's Brison 6.4 twin powered with all JR servos. If you look around in your area maybe something similar is out there.


David

Does Aeroworks new yak-54 count as a big plane? That is what I am leaning toward. I have a question about the gyro, where does it go?

the difference I've seen in a big plane is MOMENTUM! a big plane carries its momentum, whereas a smaller one really doesn't have any. this is USUALLY helpful, it softens up the controls a little and makes everything look smoother. so even if you aren't as experienced, you will look moreso with the big plane...

anyway, the gyro goes in a helicopter, usually mounted in the front under the canopy but on the mainshaft is the best location.

is this your first plane? that ISN'T a good choice as a first plane, there are lots of other big planes you may want first. keep in mind most people's first plane has a fairly short lifespan, even with an instructor, so don't get too attached to it. lots of people have left the hobby after crashing their dream plane early on, never to return...

Gyro, in an airplane? Are you serious? They are explicitely outlawed for any and all IMAC or 3D competitions. Recreationally, you can do it but they can actually make flying the plane harder, or so I've heard... it makes the plane respond strangely. There was an article about them in some rc mag recently. (I only brought up competition so you realize that the pliots are actually flying the planes in all the 3D videos you've probably seen... there is no magic computerized whiz-bang answer to 3D).

As for big planes, the are horrible. You wind needing bigger and bigger and your wallet gets thinner and thinner. You start having transportation problems and your friends start thinking you've lost it. Seriously though, once you fly a big plane you'll never want to go smaller again. I have a 35% and I can't imagine flying a 50cc plane again... I tried to talk myself into it but couldn't.

I agree, I have flown a 42% Extra and it was the best flying plane I have ever flown. The bigger they are, the better they present, the smoother they are, and the easier they are to control. There are usually very little if any bad habits to them, whereas my 27% will snap on you severely if you are not careful. They might seem to weigh a lot, but once in the air, it flys like it's 5. If you can swing the cost, they are VERY MUCH worth it.

Brandon

Mike,
Good information already here. You will want to get some help from an experienced pilot with time on large scale planes. The landing will require more power management than smaller planes. It needs to be with some power on as it's very difficult to glide a plane as most trainer and lightly loaded planes are done. You will need to fly the plane in under power. There are pilots who fly in without power however most are very experienced with giant scale planes. The skills aren't difficult just different. In the air they actually are normally easier to fly.
EXCAP232

Thanks for all the imput fella's. I have been hitting the sim really hard with the Yak-54. I love this plane. The reason I asked about the gyro is it is an option on the Yak. I use it while hovering, and it makes it very easy to perform.