Hi,

just wanted to know the difference between a Yak 54 and a Yak 55. I want to buy a 30cc type. Does anyone know regarding the GW / ARFMFG Yak 55?

Ameyam

Google YAK 55. It was manufactured by the YAK facility, but is not a YAK design. It was a lower cost version of a Sukhoi and preceded the YAK 54 by about ten years.

I have observed the Yak 55 to have a more boxy design, so it is older.

So, from an aerobatic / 3D point of view, which one is better? Case in point, I have the PilotRC Yak 54 73" 30cc, AeroWorks Yak 54 90-120 with a 20cc or 30cc and a GoldWing / ArfMfg (Slipstream / TBM / whatever) Yak 55 30cc to choose from. Wnat it to do a but of pattern as well as 3D

None of them is "better"? That's going to be your call. Some stuff I might be looking at trying to make that call for myself?

A pattern plane might be thought of as a more stable platform than something more suited to the tumbling 3D types. One of the ways to enhance stability is through the use of a longer tail moment?

3D types will have bigger control surfaces that flutter more easily than pattern types that are generally run at higher speeds. That's not to say the 3D type surfaces can't be cut down or rebuilt a little smaller?

Power vs. weight vs. wing area? Those 3 factors all play together, big time, to predict a plane's behavior as well. Higher wing loading for better wind penetration and stability, less wing loading for more predictable low speed, possibly high alpha control.

Frontal area/drag to help control speed on down lines? Big radial cowls and large radius leading edges much different than streamlined w/sharper leading edges?

Just some ideas. My preferences here may have nothing to do with what you think might be right for you/what it is you're trying to accomplish? Best of luck on your choices!

From an R/C manufacturers standpoint the 54 and 55 are going to use pretty much the same wing and stab layout. The main difference between the two in that the 54 has more fuse side area. In theory this will aid in knife edge flight. I have not seen any of the 55's struggle flying knife edge though. I think you should go with whichever you like the looks of better as both designs are capable.


Now the tougher debate, 3D VS Pattern type flying. An airplane can be set up to do both but will usually do the 3D stuff better. Reason is that you have to use large control throws and somewhat an aft CGposition for 3D. The throws can be dialed down with dual rates but you loose alot of resolution and precision aerobatics becomes alot more work. Back in the day when I would go watch the TOC in Vegas, I saw many of the pro's fly their precision rounds and then when it was time for freestyle they would change out 1" servo arms to 1.5" servo arms and either remove ballast from the nose or add it to the tail. Sebo used to bolt his prop drilling jig to the firewall of his Katana for ballast. Said he forgot it too many times and this was a good way of making sure it made the trip LOL. The two airplanes you are looking at will do either well, it just gets down to correctly setting them up.

Looking if anyone has some experience with any of the airplanes mentioned so that they can be compared. The AW Yak is the smallest and the wing loading is high. The GW (ARFMFG) Yak 55M is the cheapest as its locally available. Looking for videos of this airplane on the web, I could find only Goldwing and not ARFMFG (though they are the same company). The PilotRC is said to be the most forgiving of their lot of models but there is no way of comparing it to the AW or GoldWing /ARFMFG

Can someone tell em the difference between the Goldwing and ARFMFG models for this airplane?

With regards to 3D flying, I am not into hardcore 3D yet. So the airplane needs to be on rails in KE, harriers, hovers etc but not a lot more

Ameyam