RE: Lanier Yak
 

I'm sad to say that this thing is a beauty, but a little fat for those of us that were going with total lightness. Total box contents 12.043 LBS. There was no plastic bag during weigh in, except for the hardware bag. Here are the numbers below.
Rudder 5.97
Canopy (which was pre-trimmed and painted) 4.92
Hardware pack (included tail gear) 11.32
Wing tube 8.7
Fuse with Canopy deck 63.66
cowl 8.99
wheel pants 4.14
landing gear 13.00
tail tubes 2.56
fuel tank 3.68
r wing 27.60
l wing 27.45
r elev/stab 5.55
l elev/stab 5.16
total of 192.7 oz
for 12.043 lbs.
Someone please double check my math, although I did many times in my somber state. I was hoping for 10 lbs or less. I was praying, is more like it. I will say though, it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! well worth the money for it's looks, but not quite for it's weight. but there will be many happy people, I may keep it and decide what to do with it later. But I will be sure to get some pics up for everyone soon. it may not be on Thursday like I had first said, but it will be soon. I promise.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

rchotdogpilot thanks for the update. The weight is clearly an issue for many 3D pilots. How does the build quality look?

Not much more to say other than I look forward to receiving my Yak.

Lang

RE: Lanier Yak
 

There is a good bit if savings to be had there...

CF Gear and wingtube alone can find 3/4 lb.
Pants off saves anoth 1/4 lb.

CF stab tubes & tailwheel probably 2 oz (and a bunch on the nose)

Fuel tank 2 oz.

Wheels, maybe 2 at least.

1.5 lbs if you work hard... (and spend $$$) and based on your weights will get you 10.5 lbs... + 6.75 lbs of stuff... and I'd be at 17.25 lbs... not too bad... about on par with most of the other offerings.

Straight stock looks like 18.75 lbs with a DA50... EVO 58's will end up over 20...

Mine will be here tomorrow and I'll do the weights too and up some pics...

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Hey Waco,
I agree with you 100%.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Rchotdogpilot,

Thank you for the weights. Lanier was right in their ALW estimation of 16.5 to 18 Lb. with a 50cc engine. I am confident if one shaves 1.5 Lb, as Maudib sugested, mine should come out at 18 to 19 Lb with the Evo 58 ( which I weighted at close to 5 Lb. with accesories).

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Everyone, wife called and said the big brown truck just dropped off two big brown boxes. Could not get home fast enough to open them up.

First, very nice finish! As good as ARF as I think I have seen. Now, my weight looks just about like RChotdogpilots:

R wing - 28.5 oz
L wing - 28.5 oz
R stab & elevator - 6 oz
L stab & elevator - 6 oz
hardware bag - 11 oz
gas tank - 4 oz
tail tubes - 3 oz
main gear - 12 oz
rudder - 7 oz
fuse & canopy - 81 oz
wing tube - 9 oz
wheel pants - 4 oz

That's 12 pounds 8 ounces. By the time you get double aileron servos and all other radio gear and engine, I believe it will be well over the box listed weight. Again, beautiful plane, just much more weight than I was hoping for. I was excited to get started on it, but will wait for now. May sell it. With smoke and 4 - 5 pound engine and prop and spinner, it could easily break 20 pounds.

Blue Skies & Fair Winds!

3Dflight

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Do not be dismayed fellow Yakkers :D

My Lanier Edge weighs as follow
Ok,

Here's the tally on the weight
L Wing ------------23 3/4
R Wing ------------24 3/8
Rudder ------------4 3/4
Cowl -------------8 7/8
Tank +hardware 5 1/4
Hardware --------10 5/8
Wheel Pants ------4 1/4
LG ----------------11 5/8 (definitely THE place to start saving weight)
Spar tube -------2 3/8
Wing tube ------9 3/8 (another great place to save weight)
H Stab x 2 ----10 1/8
Fuselage -------57 3/8

Total = 194 Oz = 12.1 lbs

Hmmm... maybe I got the heavy version

_____________________________

Josh

I got it to 17.2 lbs with DA50, with NO dead weight. the CG was 1" aft from recommended, but it ended up being PERFECT for 3D and precision. I built it STOCK also, with NO CF parts, other than the tail assy I got from my deceased H9 260

RE: Lanier Yak
 

I don't see how that is possible if the all up airframe weight was 12.1

DA50 with stock muffler & ignition 3.75 lb

7 servos at 2 oz ea. 14 oz (lets bump it up 2 oz for foam padding, velcro, epoxy)

That's 16.85 lbs and you still need a receiver, two batteries, extensions, spinner, prop, plumbing, switches, throttle servo, choke arm.

All of that only 4 oz? I don't think so... (4 12" standard extensions are .8 oz themselves) the math was wrong somewhere... HAD to be...

:)

RE: Lanier Yak
 

must be heavy plastic, as I weighed them while they were still in the bag:D.

FWIW, I used LION's, and made a pull pull assy, and used a smaller spinner (the one I had from my 9 260).

RE: Lanier Yak
 

It seems to me a few folks on this thread are overly concerned about the weight issue. I believe this plane was designed with IMAC flying as it main mission. I have big expectations that it will exceed in that role. For those more interested in 3D performance, it may be a disappointment. For IMAC flying a slightly heavier platform, with a considerable amount of drag (that big cowl will act like a parachute on the downlines) is more stable in flight, especially when it's windy.

Some of the lighter 3D acrobats lack the penetration, and stability that makes an aerobatic sequence look good. If 3D is your thing an EF Yak (if you can get one), or a TOC Yak will prove a better (lighter) model. If you are a serious IMAC competitor, give the plane a chance. Build the darn thing, fly it, and then you can tell if this plane is for you.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

It does add more than you think them bags...

Well... it looks like the y are coming in at 12 lbs. +... It's not overall bad, just heavier than the other aircraft out there. It will tax a DA50 for 3D power, and it seems like 20 lbs is too much for the airframe... that's 4.5 lbs more than the EF or Quique Yaks... that's a lot for similar wingarea...

16.5-18 lbs doesn't seem realistic when it will come in over 18 with a DA50... probably close to 21 with a ZDZ80.

Wonder how fast Graphtec canmake up a set of gear? :)

Hey guys who got 'em... what size is the wingtube? 1.25" and the stab tubes? 1/2 or 5/8 or some metric size?

RE: Lanier Yak
 

You make good points AirTech,

As it happens mine is for a formal RCU review. And I look at all these things when I assess an aircraft.

While I don't know what the "intended" purpose of this design is, the 16.5-18 lb range with a 50-80cc engine range certainly would lend it's self to thinking that it would come in at the lighter end of the suggested range with the 50cc and the high end with an 80.

I've seen planes easily go a full pound over advertised weights (Wild Hare for instance) but it basically seems that the weights are not what they expetced them to be and it will probably be in their best interest to adjust them after a few of these production runs get built.

As you can tell two people were disappointed in the weights (make that three)... maybe that really isn't too heavy for this plane, but it's heavier than they expected and perhaps had they known the weights they are coming in at WOULD have considered another design that DID come in at 16.5-18 lbs... This is more like an 18-20 lb airframe.

I'll be willing to bet it's an excellent quality plane and will fly very well, but guys whos bought this airframe for a 50cc engine thinking theyd have 3D power may be left feeling underpowered.

I'm sure you will agree that that would not be Laniers intention... so in fairness I'm sure they'll want to know that these are coming in a good bit higher than expected. Maybe they'll confront their manufacturer and find out why they are so much heavier than the prototype.

I certainly don't think they are "overly concerned" about weight when they bought something that was supposed to be one weight and came in a lot more. That'd be like someone buying an EVO 58, and finding out it was only as powerful as a 50cc engine. :)

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Maudib,

Wing tube: 31 7/8" L x 1.5 in. OD x .062 wall thickness, don't know about the grade, as it is anodized (I always worry since I had an Aero Works Edge wing tube fail. Took it to our met lab and results were very poor heat treat, was almost an ought condition)

tail tubes: 1) 19 7/16" L x .490 in. OD x .062 wall thickness
2) 8 11/16" L x .490 in. OD x .062 wall thickness
again, anodized

Once again, a beautiful plane, just heavy for 3D, will use for IMAC or just fun flying. Enough surfaces to tumble and flop!

Blue Skies & Fair Winds,

Rege Hall (3Dflight)

RE: Lanier Yak
 

I definitely agree with you, in that some people were expecting the plane to be (at lest) close to the advertised weights. So much for "thruth in advertisement" [&o]. In reality I have yet to find out more than two or three ARF models that have weighted as advertised by their manufacturers. It was much easier to maintain a decent building weight when we actually build kits (and I still do occasionally). You have all the control in the world to choose materials, hardware, and finishing.

I suppose is quite difficult to maintain a strict quality control when you are dealing with the manufacturer all the way on the other side of the globe. In any case I believe the distributing companies in the U.S. should try to be more realistic with these figures, since there's a lot of people that make expensive $$$ decisions based on them.

Maybe this may be a good point to stress in your article. Not to pick on Lanier (I don't think they are trying to mislead anyone), but to warn modelers to be cautious of weight advertisements.

P.S. You will be the first to know if the Evo is more hype than true performance. I'll have that puppy replaced by a ZDZ 60 faster than you can do half a snap!!!

RE: Lanier Yak
 

I got my Yak today from tower. The ups guy only had one box. Knowing this thing comes in two boxes I knew somthing was wrong. Tower didn't send me the wing kit. So I called them and they said they would send me a wing kit tomorrow, we'll see. I'm very mad at towerhobbies. This is the 3rd order in the last 5 they have messed up, that is crazy. This plane is my last straw for towerhobbies.

So far I'm happy with the build quality. The covering has almost no wrinkles in it. It has to be one of the best looking yaks I've ever seen. That big evolution 58gx should be a great engine for it. The extra weight should be worth it. Everytime I fly it seems to be windy anyway.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Well lets not get worried about the weight yet. I know from past expierence with the Lanier 30% edge that came in about 3 pounds heavier than what is was supposed to but it did not fly like a heavy airplane. Mine weighed 2 more pounds with the same equipment than my aeroworks 31% edge and it flew just as well if not better than the aeroworks. Plus it was built alot better than the aeroworks.
Well Squawk Im glad Im not the only one having problems with tower dont feel bad they messed up my last to orders too. Plus they cant seem to get them out on time either. It seems kind of funny that you can order something at 9am and turn around an place an order at 5pm the same day and the one at 5 ships out the same day and the one you place at 9am doesnt go out for another 2 days from the same warehouse and to top that off ups looses track of it so I have no idea when its going to be delivered this also happened the last 2 times Ive ordered from tower in the last month.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Don't get me wrong, this thing is beautiful and really on par with the TOC's we have at our club, weight wise. I had the guys weight them before they built them and those were coming in at 11-12 lbs out of the box. That's no where near the 9 or so from EF. I found part of the weight culprit to be that the bottom is fully sheeted, unlike the TOC and I think EF that have the open structure with stringers.
Once finished they were 17.5-18.5 LBS, but also with 2 ail servos and 1 rudder servo. If you do that in the Lanier, you save 6 almost 7 oz right there (don't forget extensions) So really I think you'll be hard pressed to get it over 19 even if you use a ZDZ 80 or Evo 58. Now, on the brighter side, since it is such a beautifully built plane, I will keep it and found other areas in the structure it's self that can be lightened. I think I found a good 4-8 oz to get rid of. And for what I want, every ounce will count. My calculations will still give 16.25 lbs with my adjustments, but that's still a little over the 15.5 I wanted. Oh well, the proof will be in the pudding, once it's flying. I know the ZDZ 50 will have enough to give close to a 2:1 thrust to weight, once broken in. The GP patty is a pig, the one I fly is 17 lbs and it hovers at 1/2 thottle no problem. But the plane it's sefl is just not a 3der.
I really want to say again, it's beautiful and built GREAT. pics will be coming I promise!! If you are looking for a Yak that should fly well and should be on par with the slightly more expensive models, this one is it. For us real 3Der's, we will have to put some work to get it there, but I think it will be worth it in the end. Just my 2 cents.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Good conversation.. .all.

I don't feel bad about the weight, just that it isn't what was expected. When you set an expectation and miss it, there is always the inevitable "let down".

I really do think it will fly well at that weight, and it's not so much the wingloading (but I still think this at 20+ is just not a good idea) as it is the power to weight ratio. Because this will come in nearly 2 lbs heavier than expected, the DA50 will not offer the power to weight ratio I would have liked.

When it comes down to it, there is a mix of wingloading and power:weight that comes together to make a plane really stand out. Sometimes you find yourself wishing you could trade some wingloading for P:W and other times just the opposite... and you can do that by changing engines.

I have a 17.25 lb Double Vision that flies very well with a DA50... still there are times when the authority isn't there. Usually in the high-g, stall speed maneuvers... like waterfalls... the plane does them nicely, but slides down considerably each revolution as the weight slips the prop. Still it's one of my favorite planes.

Now I consider about 1 lb more. And I know that that ratio will drop even more. Having flown the DA50 on 15.25, 16, 16.5, 17.25 and 18+ld airframes I have a pretty good idea in the differences between then. The 18+ lb planes were a WH Edge and Extra... and while i've heard guys say how wonderful they are, was not overly impressed with the feel in the air or the power to weight ratio.

It's really a shame that the DA75 isn't out yet or I might change to it for this airframe. I can't wait to see what weight it comes in at. I'm not even worried about what power it puts out... I have the utmost confidence in that.

With that said the 50 will do very nice. I will definitely develop a "Lightening Section" of the review to cover the things that can be done to optmize this aircraft's wingloading. But I'll have to fly it stock in order to be fair about the offering.

I also should say that at the price $499 (plus shipping) this plane is a great value to be sure and there is a lot of room left over to add some CF goodies and still have a great value. As it stands I believe this:

A plane can have 3 attributes:

A really light plane
A really good flying plane
A really inexpensive plane

But it can only have a maximum of two of these traits at one time. :) Pick your two.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Thanks 3DFLight...

Looks like a fella can save about 2.5 oz in wingtube... and if it'll fit .5 stab tubes will save almost 2 oz in the tail! Sure would be nice if they did...
Man 2 oz in the tail is like 6-8 oz in the nose!

Mine'll be here any minute, but anyone have a quick tailwheel assembly weight?

(Well I hope they'll box be here... the tracking shows the fuse box "out for delivery" and part 1 of 2 boxes. But the 2nd tracking number shows the wings arrived in COlumbus the same time, but didn't geta departure scan to go to Newark to go out this A.M. Maybe because it's part 2 of 2... maybe because they needed a stepladder last night)

:)

RE: Lanier Yak
 

LOL !
I have a set of wings "out for delivery" , But the fuse is stuck 40 miles away !! Too funny..

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Im not trying to get off the subject because this is great thread. But I think something is up with ups and tower. I thought I was the only one having problems. Maybe its just ups. I have placed 2 orders from horizon in the last 2 weeks with no problems at all. In fact I get in the next day. I have ordered 3 times in the last month from tower and everyone was screwed up someway or the other tracking numbers that did not work. Packages getting lost. Towers says they ship within 2 days not shipped until 3 and half. I have another order that I need to place. I hate to go somewhere else because of the price and yes I have checked on prices of other places.
I have cod the last 2 just in case they do get lost. That way I wont have a charge on my credit card that will take for ever to get straightened out. Well its just to bad there is a couple of us in this thread that is from Ohio and the weather sucks. Another thing to consider when lighting with carbon fiber I agree with maudib there are many ways to make it lighter but by the time you spend the money on the carbon fiber you might as well have bought the qq yak. You are going to have about the same amount of money in it in the end. just my 2 cents

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Certainly the QQ is the cadillac of Yaks' right now... but you couldn't (or shouldn't) put a 58 or 80 on it... :)

And teh Lanier at $500 plus shipping ($7.95 to tower members) you can afford to put $100 in it for gear & tubes and still end up over $140 less tan the QQ.

Don't get me wrong... I have an 85" QQ sitting in the box waiting on me... just that there is a price point for some people and though there are trade offs, price ranges make a difference.

As stok you trade $230 for 2 lbs of weight... That's $115 a lb.. .;) Using this philosophy I should be able to get a 4 lb 85: yak for $7,423.45 :)

Seriously though some other differences are there... 120 more sq. in. for one. And potentially it is built more sturdy for those who might be a little harder on their planes.

I know I sometimes sound like I'm arguing both sides... but I think a good reviewer should do that. This allows potential customers to see it from both sides and align themselves to whatever position they find the agree with personally.

J. David

P.S. Thestab tube mod alone would only cost $15+ shipping for a 20" tube. A no brainer if it fits... if the existing .49" tube fits even a teeny bit loose... I think we are in.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

I wouldn't put the blame on Tower, some times it just seems that way. I think can honestly say I have had a lost/delayed shipment from almost every online vendor [:@] last summer I bought a 106 direct from Cactus Aviation and lo and behold it went to some company five miles away!! Talk about a heart attack ! UPS lol.. Cactus had nothing to do with it, they had all the right info, as I'm sure Tower does also, especially for repeat customers. But man those shipping companies ![:'(] You would assume with all of the systems that they have in place and all of the bar code checking ect. that a package could never go to the wrong adress :D
A little off topic i know..
As far as the carbon, your loking at about $140 - $150. Total just a tad cheaper than the QQ or others. For me personally I figured from the git go that I would be on the heavy side. When a dealer/manufacture puts specs like Lanier did on the Yak its kind of a give way that theres some beef to this thing. You wont see QQ or AW ranging up to an 80cc motor on there 50cc yak ,lol..
I will be using a 3W 70US so I have no issue's being in the 19+ club . I still might get some C gear at some point , this is buy far the most bang for the buck.

RE: Lanier Yak
 

So what is everyones opinion of the best Yak to have right now that will fly with 50cc engines as far as wing loading and 3-D flight?
I have a BME 50 and I'm thinking of these:

1-QQ
2-Lanier
3-TOC
4-BME
5-Aerotech
6-Goldberg

RE: Lanier Yak
 

Hi guys,looks like the people posting in this thread are getting a little nervous.
If you guys know how UPS does there work, youd see it really can have nothing to do with Tower if you get both both boxes the same day.It all depends on the conveyor sorting system at the UPS hub, its a crap shoot really.
Ive had two box shipments separated by up to three days, both sent from the same place at the same time.
Ive had it from both fedex and UPS.
That being said, anyone wonder why these thirty percent planes are costing so much for these companies to ship?
I sent a nib BME yak, (same size, large two boxes), across country via DHL, insured for 30.00.
DHL is all I use now, no size limits at all, and unbelievably reasonable rates,and no damaged goods ,using them over a year now.
I sent a finished Ziroli B25 to NY, from WI,(Carton size was 84" x 50" x 28") cost me 49.00 insured for 3200.00.

Anyways, getting back to topic here, dont worry so much about the weights, looks like theres plenty to be removed,the toc1 plane seem to be the closest in comparison, everyone who owns one seems to love them after flying them, and very few built up much less than 18 pounds.Go check out the TOC/model avaition yak thread.
This plane looks much nicer than the QQ's ugly scheme( my opinion only- looks like a child drew it up), and it looks closer to a real yak in appearance, the QQ looks so long and narrow, looks more like a pattern ship.
I know, if only 3d ability matters to you as a pilot, then that stuff doesnt matter.But why then why bother flying any other type of plane than one thats strictly designed to be a funfly 3d only machine, im sure they could design a 14-15 pound plane this size, that doesn't have to look like a existing real plane.
To each his own.
Well I have an offer,I placed a order (back order actually), to TH, for one of these.
If one of you out there is not happy with your Lanier yak, I will buy it at the cost tower will sell me one for- 469.00 shipped ( I am a member of the supersavers club so get free shipping, and they allways have a 30.00 off purchase of 299.00 or over sales coupon).
Another thing ,even paying the 7.95 for shipping, this plane at 476.00 is definetly the best deal going in 85 or 87 in Yaks.
Email me if you would like to sell yours.
Thank you.............BK