I've been flying scale for 2 years and would like to get into 3d flying. I have flown the Extra 330 in my Aerofly sim and like how it handles. I have also seen the Edge 540 and would like to know the the differences between the two. I plan to stay with an glow engine and wing span between 77" and 95". Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for the input!

The H9 E260 and Saito 220 or YS 1.6. A good running 1.6FX with the right prop will get the job done also if you are not in higher elevations.

Anything bigger or heavier than this plane & I would go to gas.

Get a foamy and a smaller glow profile to build your 3D skills on.

I have a suggestion for you:
Drop the idea of a glow engine on planes this size. Do you have any idea where to even get a glow engine for a 95" plane?
A 77" or 80" plane just lends itself to gas--way more than glow.

I waited 4 or 5 yrs before I got my first gas engine. Then spent the next 2yrs kicking myself for not doing it sooner. Gas is so great. Glow engines on bigger aerobats is NOT the best way to do it. The fact is that they are NOT lighter than a gas counterpart. For a 50cc glow engine--you'll need a 32oz tank for about 10 minutes worth of flight time. For a 50cc gas engine, you'll need a 10 or 12 oz tank for 10 minutes of flight time. That extra 20oz of glow fuel weighs a lot. Fill a 20oz tank sometime and weigh it.

With a glow engine--your forced to put your fuel tank behind the firewall. The plane is nose-heavy when you take off, and the elevator trims change as you fly the fuel out of the tank. You want the tank on the CG with a big aerobatic plane like this. It will fly smoother. It will fly the same at the beginning of the flight as the end of the flight. Trying to put the fuel tank on the CG with a glow engine is an exercise in beating your head against a brick wall. Only way to avoid it is to buy an $800 YS engine with a pump--or use a Cline regulator on your OS, or Saito engine.

With a gas engine--you get to use a smaller fuel tank. Thats a big weight savings. (20oz of extra fuel with the glow engine is 1.25 POUNDS!!! ) [X(] And, you get to put it on the CG. The gasser carb will pull fuel from the tail if you want to put the tank back there. Doesn't matter. The engine won't lean out. You can put the tank on the CG and just plumb it up to the carb. Adjust the needles once for break in and once again after 5 or 8 gallons. Then your done screwing with the needles--unless the altitude or temp changes significantly. Just fuel it and go fly.

If you want to 3D with a 77--85" plane--then you'd be a fool to put an unreliable glow engine on it and hover it down low. Glow engines die. Glow engines need the needles tweaked before every flight. Glow engines use very expensive fuel when compared to the price of gas/oil mix. They just aren't as reliable as a gasser.

Gas engines start easier. Gas engines are more fuel effiecient. Gas engines are more reliable in a hover--down low-- when a flameout would cost you $1500. Gas engines have more torque. Big prop--low pitch--for hovering. Lots of grunt.

Just bite the bullet and get a 40--50cc gas engine for your plane. You'll be so much happier in the end.

Hey guys, thanks for the excellent advise! The hanger 9 260 does look like a good one! I have their Cessna 182 and it's a fine plane. As far as the gas engines go, I agree that gas is the way to go. Thanks for taking the time to write such as detail reply! I sure have learn several new things! Unforturately, our club restricks the use of gas engines during most of the year due to fire hazards. I ended up with a Saito 180 in my Cessna instead of a Zenoah as I would have prefered. I'm open for any other suggestion on which plane and make to go with. I have been looking over the H9 260 and the goldburg Extra 330. I may have to go with the gas engine, fly the 3d in the winter and early spring and fly my scale planes the rest of the year.

Just my input Goldberg has a new 67 Inch EDGE 540 out. Pretty nice size, and a great trim scheme.

If I remember right the H9 260 is significantly lighter than the Goldberg Extra 330. This is very important for 3D and a lower powered motor.

A bit smaller, but a perfect larger glow model for 3D would be the new QQ 73" Yak. I am holding out for the new 73" E.F. that is rumored to be on the way.

Also consider the UL Giles for the largest lightest wing loading scale glow compatible model available.

I haven't seen a Goldberg or Great Planes scale model yet that is on par with other offerings available when it comes to light weight. Someone, please correct me if I am wrong.

If you have your heart set on glow take a look at the Ultra R/C Giles 202. At 79" and 10.5 lbs. with an O.S. 1.60. I'm flying a 24% C.A. extra 300l with an O.S. 1.60 with Perry pump and a little over 15 minuets on 16 oz. fuel. Other pilots say .8 oz. min.

Any way check out the video at Ultra R/C.

Matt