The 80" kits come out heavy for their size. They come out to a weight that is normally seen in planes of about 88" wingspan nowdays. It's easy to see why when looking at them. They were good for their day but the construction techniques have come a long way in the last 15 years since they were designed. Just looking at the 80" Extra there are several pieces in the plane that weigh a ton...stuff like the wing joinder, gear plate etc...Some of it can be lightened but a new design with a 2 piece wing and a tube is going to weigh a 1/2 pound less just in the wing, possibly more if you use a carbon fiber tube. Not only does the new design make the wing lighter the front of the plane gets lighter in the motor box area because the box can simply come back and enclose the wing tube instead of making a whole structure that has to tie in the motor box/landing gear/and the front of the fuse.

It's not a pig but it's not a lightweight modern design either.