Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

Hey guys! I am thinking of getting the Extreme Flight Yak-54 88" with a DA60 for the engine. This will be my first larger 3D plane and I am wondering what type of set up Ill need? Stuff like a good reciver, best servos for the job ect. Also what type of electronics will i need as well? Or what type of fail safe/redundency is a good idea? This plane will be my first gaser as well. Is the DA60 a good engine? What engines do you like and why. I would love to hear what your thoughts and opinions are, and some pictures of your set ups would be cool as well. Thanks guys!

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

I would get an ignition shut off - like the smart fly. One reason is for safety but they also have an LED which lets you know your ignition is on.

I have a DA-50R and I am very happy with it. I have never had a DLE, but I have had a cheaper engine and it ended up costing me way more than the price difference between it and a DA in deadstick crashes.

A lot of people buy those power expanders. I personally do not know if they are really necesssary. I guess you would need to add up the stall current of each servo then compare that to what the receiver can handle. I have a GP Ultimate Bipe and I just use the recommended servo size, which are not super high torque servos and I just plug them into the receiver.

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

Thanks for your thoughts. ideas, and expertise Uncas.
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RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

Lots of different thoughts and opinions out there, but after having my GP Reactor for 2 years/120+ flights now, and reading lots here and more so on FG, general consensus seems to be a good rx (I use a single Futaba 6014), either a single or dual battery setup, and a good bat share type of switch. I would recommend a Wolverine switch, 2 1800 LiFe packs, and a RCEXL ignition kill/BEC setup. I'm using that BEC now, eliminating the ignition battery and switch, and like it very well.

Servos run the gamut in quality, price and performance, but a good digital MG servo, such as Hitec 7985's or Savox 1258's on the ailerons and elevator, and a little stronger servo, like a Hitec 7955 or Savox 1256 on the rudder.

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

I am using the reg and 2S lipo in the pics below to power a single Futaba 7ch 2.4RX. I love this unit. Each cell plugs into the reg separately. The switch only arms the reg, so if the switch goes bad it still has power. There are also green,yellow, and red LEDs on the reg. I can look through the canopy and see if the green light is on before each flight. I was told there are a couple of flights left in the pack even if the yellow is on. So far I have only put 4 flights in one day on it but it has never gone below green. I just arm the system and move all the servos at once to be sure it stays green. It is necessary with this system to unplug the battery after a day of flying to keep the reg from trickling down the pack. I don't charge the pack in the plane anyway, so I just go ahead and pull it out at the end of the day.
I am also using the DA-60. My Extra comes in at 17.25 lbs. The 60 is BALLISTIC on this set up. I am still running it rich with a 32:1 Lawn Boy mix and a Xoar 23X8 prop. After 2 gallons it will go to Red line at 40:1 and a 24x10 prop. It has more power than it needs now so the extra power from the different mix and bigger prop should be fun to see. I went back and forth in my mind between the DA and DLE. The DA with Pitts muffler was about $200 more than the DLE-55 so it kept me up a few nights. It boiled down to a few things. One, I knew what I was getting with the DA and I knew it would still be a great engine 5 years from now. Two, I have always wanted a DA powered Aeroworks plane, and you only live once.

David

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

Thanks for the info Dave. What is the differance between canisters and pitts mufflers?

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

A canister runs back into the fuse sort of like a tuned pipe, bot normally exits toward the front. I Pitts style muffler just diverts the exhaust behind the cylinder but does not run back into the plane. It's called a Pitts style because it looks like the one used a full scale Pitts bipe. Pros & Cons. the Pitts is simple,cheap and efficient but only slightly quieter than a stock muffler. A canister is quiet, and can increase the power of your engine. It can be heavier, is more complicated to install and cost more. If you go to the Aeroworks site and look at the pics or even download the manual for their 50CC size planes, there are pics of both setups. Most AW planes are pre built to handle a canister or a tuned pipe. On the Extra 300 I have the lower portions of the fuse are pre cut and then the cover is put on over the exit point. So if a can or tuned pipe is used, it's only a matter of burning out the covering over the needed exit and cooling holes.

David

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

Excellent Dave!! Thanks for all of the information. Your a big help.

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

Not sure about you. But I have been spending time on the simpualtors and trying dirrent planes. I found a few that I was confortable with. others I just cant get them to do what I want.

Dont know if it's me or if this is Jsut the way it is.

Of corse ya can have fun all day on the simulators but the real test.... Well you know.


Best of luck in your decission

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

I have both the DA-50, and a DLE-55. Neither compare to the smoothness or reliability of my Taurus 52. For your 1st giant scale plane, keep it simple, and get some quality servo's and a high quality switch. No need for a power expander. A single 2300 mah A-123 will be more than enough for your main power supply. No regulators req'd.

RE: Need your thoughts thinking of getting first large 3D plane.
 

The 60 is a wicked engine! The DLE 55's perform quite well and are half the price but probably 85 percent of the performance. They are also well supported from Great Planes/Tower now.

If you go with the 60 get a Vess 24B wood. If you go DLE get the Falcon 23x9 carbon.

As for power system, unregulated A123s for the reciever work just fine. All my 50cc planes use 1 2300 A123 that powers the reciever, and a second lead powers the ignition with a diode to drop down the voltage (something you dont need with the new DA ignitions)

Excellent recommendation here either way. We have been having excellent luck with the Savox servos and have quite a few giant scale guys flying them here in town.

As for the cannister vs pitts, cannisters are quieter and great where noise is a consideration. Pitts are nice and simple but they do rob a few RPM, stock muffler makes the most power (aside from a very expensive tuned pipe) but make the most racket. If it were me, I'd get Pro Flow cannisters from Plane Bender Products.