Zeque Build GLow Powered

An update...

I returned yesterday from a marvelous experience in Phoenix. I promised to complete the Zeque prior to the Phoenix trip and allow others to fly it. I took about (30) photos of the project prior to leaving and lost them all in the download. I have taken new photos and will post and comment as time allows in the next few days.

Quickly, the model was flown (4) times the first day including the test flight in verrrry windy and gusty conditions. Troy Newman was given the test flight opportunity about 30 seconds before lift-off. Yes, he had a big smile and an even bigger smile as we flew the model for the first flight which was about (10) minutes.

Here are a few of the details:

Weight without fuel: 9 pounds 14.5 - 15 ounces.
CG: Not measured, using Mr. Suzuki's components and locations
Battery: Thunder Power 1320 mah (put back about 650 mah after four flights AND set-up) next (4) flights of 9 minute duration required 450 mah using Astro charger.
Fuel: Cool Power 30% Helicopter
Prop: APC 17 x 12

Initial control deflection/expo:
elevator: 12 degrees/35%
Aierons: 15 degrees/40%
rudder: large futaba wheel and MK medium horns/50%

Initial flight feedback: Pretty terrific! See previous posts, reduce control throws. Too windy to verify mix...maybe none required...

Flights 2 and 3: I was pilot. Took off and flew, no trim or get "cozy" passes and flew P-07. Tracked exceptionally well in windy and gusty conditions. Rolls very well, snaps clean and solid, presents very well and other than being very sensitive, a joy to fly.

Flight 4: Brett Wickizer. Ask Brett

Flight 5: Mark Leseberg...yes this IS a story. Mark came by on Saturday afternoon to visit and asked if he would scribe, while I judged a round of Masters and he graciously agreed. For interested parties who have not met Mark, he is a first class individual who has a very gifted pair of hands. I offered him a flight on the Zeque and he smiled and said yes. Well, despite my bad form in starting the model prior to the last flight of Advanced was completed, was treated to a display of the models capabilities! Mark has a unique set-up preference including "3-D" rates as "normal" for ailerons and a more sensitive elevator than most of us would use for snap or spin mode. He thought the ailerons and elevator were about right...validating the need to slooowww everything down. The crowd was treated to a collection of lovely manuevers including rolling circles, loops and high speed snaps and rolls. After landing, Mark looked me in the eyes, smiled and said that it is a very good airplane.

Flight 6 and 7: Arch Stafford. I encouraged Arch to fly my brand new Focus II (YS-160 DZ) for the contest which he masterfully flew with my very soft Futaba stock 12Z stick springs (more later) and flew the model 4 - 5 times prior to the contest flights. I DID NOT charge the receiver battery prior to Sunday's flights and we lost the model on the landing approach (round 4, I believe he won the round with a "0" on landing).

I encouraged Arch to fly rounds 5 and 6 with the Zeque. I believe he was winning the event by a very small margin with the Focus II proving to me the competitiveness and the very relevant capabilities of the Focus II design. My FLY RC Magazine Focus II and Beryll review idea hoped that someone would fly the model in the contest.

Anyway... I called for Arch for rounds 3 and 4 with the Focus II and 5 and 6 with the Zeque. He flew both models very well and "made friends" (Dave Guerin term) with them quickly.

Flight 8: I flew P-07 again and continued to enjoy the models ability to draw very nice lines, carve radii without much effort. Reduced AFR by 10% on ailerons and elevator, moved rudder to 60% expo, modified throttle curve.

Flight 9: Brett Wickizer. Brett added a new set-up and reduced throws across the board to better understand the models characteristics versus Troy's Oxai XX+ he had also flown. Ask Brett.

My initial feedback of my flying is positive and my impression is very good. Like all of you, one has a very high expectation of performance and appeal based on the investment.

I had the additional opportunity to test fly (3) brand new models last week including a Piedmont Focus II (YS 160 DZ), Oxai-Beryll (Hacker C50 14XL Comp, APC 20 x 15, TP 5300 mah) and the Zeque. In my opinion, the Focus II was 99% trimmed in (4) flights and remains a very capable model in all classes and P-07 and therefore is the best value. The electric powered Beryll allowed me to be more patient (a real challenge for me) and draws beautiful lines and is equally at home with P-07 and F-07. I had never flown an electric F3A model and am pleased with the relative value (assuming $6,000 can be considered a value). The Zeque may very well be the current greatest "bright and shiny object" and may be considered a relative value.

Troy Newman completed the D.E.P.s pushrod installation with expected precision. Properly done, this is an excellent mechanism to control your elevators. Incidentally, the temperature varied from 40 degrees in the AM to 70 in the afternoon with no noticable trim changes...Thank you Troy and Arch for completing the DEPS and the reinstallation of the motor and header.

DOC: regarding the use of the cool pipe mount...the primary feature to me is that it pushes the mounting point forward, in front of the landing gear where as my experience with the included mount requires mounting part of the unit on top of the landing gear (Scandalous).

Photos and text to follow,


Rusty Dose
Team Futaba
Team YS Performance