Great Planes ExtraS
 

Hey everyone, I have been flying my superstar for about 2-3 months now. I am picking it up very fast and I am already attempting many tricks. I am thinking of upgrading to a new plane that is capable of 3D flying and pattern work. I am thinking of getting the Great Planes Extra 300S .40 ARF. I would probebly put a powerful engine on it to get out of hover. What does everyone else think of this plane? Is it capable of 3D flying? thanks a lot.

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

I have the kit version of this plane. Lovely flyer, but not suitable for 3D, the control surfaces are not big enough by any means. If you really want this extra, get the kit version and then you can increase the size of the control surfaces, and also work on making it lighter. I plan on doing this with the 60 size version.

I put a Saito 100 in mine, it doesn't hang around :D

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

Yea, I thought it might not be able to hover. Can it do knife edges,harriers, and torque rolls and all that kind of stuff? Thanks

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

I have this plane in the arf version with an os 61fx on it. Its a great flier. Wonderful for point rolls, knife edge, etc. but its not a 3d machine. Mine will hover and pull out slowly, but it will not harrier. For that matter, a B17 will hover if you get the power right. For 3d you need something more lightly loaded with big control surfaces. Still, for learning aerobatics this plane (the extra, not the B17 8^) is worth a look. Get a Flip, UCD or Goldberg Extreme 330 to tackle the wild side.....

Dave

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

so can it pretty much do everything besides hovering? I would probebly put a OS .60 in it to get extra power. thanks

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

Hey Eric yeah the control surfaces do look a little small. You should get it though.

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

This plane will NOT 3D on standard set up. It will NOT do harriers, elevators, etc . You need to increase the size of the control surfaces significantly to be able to 3D. You also need to reduce weight, mine is at 6 1/4 lb with a Saito 100, I would say you need to get down to less than 5 1/2 lb for its size to get it to 3D well.

It is a great aerobatic flyer for say IMAC, but will not 3D.

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

This plane is able to do really nice blenders and inverted flat spins. Mine is at 7 pounds dry (it is a brick) and will torque roll with a OS 61 SF-P. Pull out from hoover is slow with a APC 13-6N.

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

Yeah, it will do lots of stuff, but it doesn't have that floating thing goin' on we all look for in a 3D plane. So its not a good investment in terms of 3D, but a great investment in terms of learning IMAC. How did the saying used to go?......horizon to horizon slow rolls.........

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

First plane I tried rolling circles on. Still very messy, but I'm practising. I've also been fiddling with the tx setting, how have a rate switch to put the ailerons on to 100% expo but still low rates, to see how slow I can get the rolls. :D

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

Eric, Yeah the key to 3D is control surface size and light weight, like the funtana. See you in school tommorow!

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

hey everyone, thanks for the replies!! I am getting it to learn IMAC tricks and everything. What engine would you suggest putting in it? Thanks

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

I started with a Saito 72 in mine, it went very well, but didn't give the vertical needed for full IMAC stuff (too heavy at 6 lb). I now have a Saito 100 with an APC 14x8 and it is fantastic.:D

I originally planned to go to a Saito 91, so that I would only go up two oz rather than 4, but I ended up with the 100 (long story). I would say that the 91 is really the better choice.

If you want a two stroke, I suggest a 61. In the kit building forum there is an old thread called something like "stuffing a 60 in a 40 size Extra" which tells how one chap did it. (Read it all the way through, comments get a bit vile about half way through, but it improves again.

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

Hi Sig728
I used to have a Great planes Extra 300 .40 which flew well, I had a OS 46FX with a Jett turbo muffler turning a 11*8 APC which gave fairly good vertical performance. all up weight was
6lbs 4oz. It is not a 3D airplane but does fly the pattern quite well, I manged first place at the last NZ nationals in basic IMAC and sportsman Pattern.:)
for anybody that is going to built one I suggest increasing the rudder width

Wildstyle

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

I had an os 61 fx in mine. Great vertical. I say had because I took the motor out to put it in a Goldberg Extreme 330, which is one fantastic 3d plane!

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

Eric, yeah go with the .60. Yo in my funtana im getting the saito .80 4 stroke.

RE: Great Planes ExtraS
 

I have almost finished coving my great planes extra 300s and it is a superb plane to build. No parts or wood missing, good balsa and good plans. I would highly recommend it. It will not 3-d though but its a _BIG_ step up from a simple forgiving trainer. I am going to increase the rudder later but will keep it at the kit specified size for now. I will put a Ys 1.10 fz in it (pretty much a 120!) Great engine and will hover it. Be sure to build light!!!! Lighter the better for this plane. I got a pull pull rudder dual aileron, dual elevator. Good setup for now. I promise you wont regret it, get a .60 size and put a big oll engine in it and go have a ball, then get a wicked 3-d machine!! Good luck and happy flying.