FAT YAK
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun,
MD
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FAT YAK
Ok now i'm confused and a little pissed. I just finished my 50cc Yak and just put it on the scale and it weighs in at a whopping 19.5 pounds. What happened? DLE 55 engine and muffler, the only other thing I added was an extra battery and a power expander and switch. I weighed those items and all of it together was 6oz. This plane is advertised at 16.5-17.5 lb. I sure would like to know how to get two pounds off this plane. Maybe leave off the engine. I guess I can forget about hovering. What gives.
#2
RE: FAT YAK
there is a huge variation in the desities of balsa wood. i have read here on rcu that global demand is way up therefore making it harder and harder to get airplane quality wood. these are simple facts. i owned a 90-120 size yac that wieghed in the same as the one used in the rcu review. i was very happy with the way that plane flew. my son crashed it and i did not think twice about replacing it with the same model. the replacement plane used all the same gear, not one change. on the new plane i had to move the batteries up to the firewall and then add 3 oz.s to the nose to get the plane to balance but still aft of the recomened. the upside is that this plane seems to be much stronger than my first one. also this plane clearly has alot more glue used in it's consturction. alot more oozed glue at many joints. in all the testimonals i have read on the net. no one else seems to have my experience until you. i did mention my new wieghts on this forum last spring and never did anything else about it. i fly the plane and it is great for loop & swoop but it does not perform nearly as well as my first one did. my new plane wieghs well over a pound more than the first one did. i wish it didn't. i will now say that I like the design, I like the company, and I believe that Rocco goes out of his way to make his customers happy. so call aeroworks and ask for Rocco and ask for help in achieving the goal of your plane wieghing in like the rest of them. Happy flying,capt
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun,
MD
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
I agree with everything you said, but two pounds is a lot of weight. I know ( hope) the plane will fly ok, Like you said it will probably do loops and swoops, however I like hovering and I really don't think this one will do it at that weight. I may be wrong and I hope I am. The main reason I bought an Aeroworks plane is this is a premium airplane. If it won't do what I bought it for its just a plane. I have it ready to go and if this snow ever gets out of here (we got 30 inches yesterday) I will put it in the air and if it flies ok I'll post an appology. I am very doubtful at this point.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Ellensburg,
WA
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
My AW Yak came out at 18.5 with a smoke system....
In looking at lighter 50cc Yaks the quality and structure are quite different...
I think my AW Yak is going to be flying for many years...
I do have several lighter Yaks but they are not as strong...
YES, it will HOVER as mine will witha DL50...
If you use the DL stand offs move the motor FORWARD at least 1/4 inch
as it will DROP a wing in SLOW loops....
I think you will like it.. LOVE MINE .....
Walt
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun,
MD
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
Beautiful plane Walt. You have a smoke system and still come in a pound and a half under me. I even thought my scale was off so I calibrated it and also used my other scale to check against hoping I was wrong, but I wasn't. If I got rid of the wheel pants and put on carbon fiber gear I would loose eleven oz. The spinner is a truturn with a lightened back plate it weighs three oz. Take off the spinner. 11+3= 14 now Im almost down to 18.5 lb. Maybe put on a shorter prop? Take out the extra battery and power expander, 6 more oz. , that puts me at just about 18 with an undressed plane. I know I'm being sarcastic here but I am concerned. I wanted a premium plane set up with good stuff and one that flies well. Time will tell. I still think it's a beautiful airplane.
#7
RE: FAT YAK
on these forums it is written over and over that aeroworks has unparalled customer service and i would agree. they are possibly the most exspenseve planes in there class but that's OK because they will go out of their way for us. just call aerowerks , they alwas back their product. these planes are sold to us to win contests not just enter them. if it is man-made there can be problems (toyota) the key is that the problems can be delt with. you deserve a plane that is at it's proper weight and nothing less (or is that nothing more) there is plenty of time before all that snow melts to get this right. happy flying, capt
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
That's the only problem I've ever seen with Aeroworks planes....they're NOTICEABLY heavier than most planes in that range. Great quality, beautiful planes, great hardware, great customer service....but their planes are HEAVY. Weight is the only reason I don't have their 50cc Edge. Would I hesitate buying a 3D Aeroworks plane? No doubt. Would I hesitate buying their Mustang? Not for one second.
At 19.5lbs, it'll hover. It'll do a lot of 3D maneuvers. It'll also be a fan of being snappy. The pull-outs will also be limited. Over 20lbs with fuel (20oz of gasoline is 1.14lbs) is a WHOLE lotta plane for a 50cc motor to pull around.
If I were looking for a scale plane, I'd already have their Mustang! Good luck solving that issue.
At 19.5lbs, it'll hover. It'll do a lot of 3D maneuvers. It'll also be a fan of being snappy. The pull-outs will also be limited. Over 20lbs with fuel (20oz of gasoline is 1.14lbs) is a WHOLE lotta plane for a 50cc motor to pull around.
If I were looking for a scale plane, I'd already have their Mustang! Good luck solving that issue.
#9
Senior Member
My Feedback: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: mcallen, TX
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
well, you have a 50cc, so get rid of the power expander and extra pack, you dont need that extra weight over there. About the AW heavy airplanes...well, i dont thing is something that will affect pilots, or at least i have seen a few competitions and most of the people use AW airplanes. If you plan to be the next champion of the world in 3D and freestyle maybe it will count.
IF you want to save more weight, carbon fiber tubes, landing gear will do the trick, if you dont want to spend extra money, you can cover with monokote or whatever all the holes that the fuselage has for canister, pipes, etc. and remove the covers and screws,
IF you want to save more weight, carbon fiber tubes, landing gear will do the trick, if you dont want to spend extra money, you can cover with monokote or whatever all the holes that the fuselage has for canister, pipes, etc. and remove the covers and screws,
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
John, we normally agree on a lot of things...but I think that great pilots fly the Aeroworks planes well DESPITE their weight, not the other way around. And AeroWorks planes are some of the smoothest around. However, I've noticed that they all get heavy and they all get snappy up to 50cc (no experience bigger than that). Also, for a non-professional 3D pilot, that extra 2lbs can really be detrimental. Look at Quique. He flew the crap out of the Beast at Nall with what most people consider marginal to insufficient power...but you couldn't tell that from the way he flew it. That man could make a Telemaster look like a 3D behemoth. 2lbs also massively reduces the thrust-to-weight ratio, and that's EVERYTHING when it comes to getting away from the ground.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Ellensburg,
WA
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
Hi Sky,
On my 50cc planes I fly with ONE only A123 2300ma battery for everything:
Servos, receiver, smoke system and the DL ignitions....
On some planes I have a diode in front of the ignition to keep the voltage
at 6vdc , half of my 50ccs no diode..
I can fly 5 flights safely using 50 to 60% of the battery..
Before A123 batteries my planes had up to FOUR batteries in them...
This is one way for you to lighten up some what...
Walt
Walt
On my 50cc planes I fly with ONE only A123 2300ma battery for everything:
Servos, receiver, smoke system and the DL ignitions....
On some planes I have a diode in front of the ignition to keep the voltage
at 6vdc , half of my 50ccs no diode..
I can fly 5 flights safely using 50 to 60% of the battery..
Before A123 batteries my planes had up to FOUR batteries in them...
This is one way for you to lighten up some what...
Walt
Walt
#14
Senior Member
My Feedback: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: mcallen, TX
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
ORIGINAL: capt1597
i think that if you pay top dollar for a 161/2- 171/2 lbs. plane that is what you should get and nothing else. no exscuses!!!!!! if a full size stunt plane was over 10% over weight it would be illegal to put it in the air. if some of you are happy with fat yacs so be it. customer service about making things as advertised. if some clerk accepted bad balsa in china or some teck over glued, or there is a mouse hold up in the rudder, SKYSFALLIN should get what he payed for. just that easy IMO. capt
i think that if you pay top dollar for a 161/2- 171/2 lbs. plane that is what you should get and nothing else. no exscuses!!!!!! if a full size stunt plane was over 10% over weight it would be illegal to put it in the air. if some of you are happy with fat yacs so be it. customer service about making things as advertised. if some clerk accepted bad balsa in china or some teck over glued, or there is a mouse hold up in the rudder, SKYSFALLIN should get what he payed for. just that easy IMO. capt
#15
RE: FAT YAK
years ago the dope used on the tissue was a easy way to put unwanted weight on the air frame but those days are gone. the electronics and engines used are are known constants. so you can choose the weight that will be added to your plane as you like. the ONLY UNKNOWNS that we as consumers cannot control are wood and glue. if we use all the lightest new KNOWN conponants and and still have a "FAT YAC" then i say you should call the company ( known for great service) and see what help they can offer. if it is not the wood and glue then pleese enlighten me (that is a play on words). if one uses just the "light options" and still has a over the published weight i think that is 100% on the company. i think descussing the proper set up of these planes so as to achieve a skinny yac is something aerowerks will gladly do. if you want to settle for over weight stunt plane fine. but if you want light stunt plane you should be able to achieve it and it seems to me that the best person to help you are the people at aerowerks.
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun,
MD
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
Aeroworks suggested that I change out my landing gear, spinner, wing and stab tubes, and tail gear with carbon fiber units. However they didn't seem to want to offer them to me. I priced all of those up for $259.00 for a savings of one pound. I'll keep you posted.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
So...even AFTER you spend an extra $260 and remove your powerbox and extra battery, you're a half pound heavier than the MAX limit on their published weight range. Oh, and this is a plane you paid top dollar for...under the impression that you were getting an all-out 3D bird. Makes sense.
#21
Senior Member
My Feedback: (5)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: mcallen, TX
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
wow what a great comments in the last days. It helps a lot to remove weight. Just finish that airplane and fly it, see how it works and track close about weight reduction. After more than 22 years flying in this hobby i just learned that getting mad or worry for something that maybe i can live with will not allow me to enjoy my Hobby. At least for me i do for Fun.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun,
MD
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
You know, I got a little angry when Aeroworks customer service dept recommended I switch out all of the carbon fiber items. I would easily do this if I were in competition with this plane. I would have built it that way. But to have to spend another $260. just to keep it from flying like a pig rubs me the wrong way.
#24
RE: FAT YAK
SKYSFALLIN, dial 1-303-371-4222 and ask for Rocco. its has been written many many times on this forum aeroweks = the best service. talk one on one with Rocco. my father alwas told me "alwas go to the top" happy flying, capt
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rising Sun,
MD
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: FAT YAK
Capt, I called the number they said Rocco was not available and gave me Mark in customer service. He said the plane was a little over weight but it should fly fine. He said to fly it first and then if it doesn't fly as it should, I SHOULD BUY the carbon fiber accessories. Iwill fly this plane as soon as possible which will probably not be for another month ( we got 30 inches of snow over the weekend and today starting this afternoon we are supposed to get another 10-20) so it will be a while. If it doesn't perform well look back here for another FAT YAK thread. Until then I'll keep my mouth shut. Gary