Hey guys, I added a pilot to my Extra yesterday , and wanted to show her off. My plane is named the Leslie Marie (named after my wife). She got it for me for X-mas, and I told her I wanted to add a pilot that looked like her when I got it built. This Barbie looks pretty close. I am trying to figure out what to use for a shirt since she looks naked, but will probably end up keeping her just like it is.

starefly: it is good to hear someone else with a good flying extra here Right on.

bonebreak: cool pilot you got there, put some clothes on there sheesh (joke)!!! Ahem... and you DO know though that you are going to have to recheck you CG after this modification.... hehehe.

starefly, did you mean to say 300 grams? That is over 11 ounces! Or did you mean 30 grams, just over an ounce? Jon

bonebreak, I hope your pilot has her hair tied back so she doesn't get blinded in a Lomcevak! LOL. Jon

I actually had my wife do her hair to her liking, then drenched it in hairspray to keep it "looking good".

I do have to adjust my CG again due to the weight of my pilot. I figured I would have to make sure it didn't change, but didn't realize just how heavy a Barbie's head and shoulders are. It affected it alot more than I thought. [:@]

Hello,

It's 300grs ; I know it's quite high ! That the reason why I had headache ! Even that it flies well !

I have an issue getting my CG pushed forward also. I moved my entire engine forward about 2mm using washers behind the engine mount. The instructions call for some washers to get the right/down thrust in line (it looks like you have them in the picture), and I added 2 additional washers on each corner to push the engine forward. This gave me the CG I needed, without adding any additional weight. I'm not sure this would work for you however because it seems like you have ALOT of extra weight. You could however shed "some" of the weight with this method. Then again, if it flies OK, then you may not mess with it.

By chance the A/C flies well ; the main issue of my setup is that the pitts muffler is lighter than the stock one. When I built the plane I wanted to make it light...but unfortunately the nose is too much light and I had to put a lot of weight...

I ordered a new engine cowl as I've got an OS 70 Surpass sleeping in a box ; I gonna try with this engine to see which one is better. I will maybe fit a larger propeller ; I've an APC 13x6 an the OS 55 maybe I'll try with a 14x7 on the surpass...

Hello,
its good to see the post started again. I originally flew my extra with an o.s46 extremely underpowered (it dragged its tail the whole flight), then i up graded to a 55ax and it is fine although vertical is limited. But my issue now it it with the radio, i am running spektrum gear (dx7) and in all my flights i am having alot of frame losses, could the figerglass be and issue ?? any help is appreciated
Thanks blake.

Hello,

If it was carbone you may have some issue if the antenna was inside the fuselage, but fiberglass .... On mine I performed a hole on fuselage bottom and I taped it on all fuselage length. I never had any issue... I have got a classic FM Futaba receiver.

I was able to maiden my Extra today, and it is one hell of a plane. I had a blast flying it. The wind was a little strong today (13-19mph), and made approaches a little hairy. I flew twice and had great success on both. On the second flight however, I lost power (engine was still running, but barely), and didn't know why, so I landed. It turns out I blew my glow plug?? It is a brand new engine/plug, so I figured I had it a bit to lean. I took her up a third time, and it seemed like she bogged again so I came in for an emergency landing (my wife said it sounded fine). Long story short, i ended up landing in the grass, and there is a bunch of potholes in it (this is the first time I have flown at that field, and didn't realize just how deep the potholes were [:@]). When my wheels touched down, my left gear hit a pot hole and collapsed. I was pretty bummed to have a successful maiden, and a "crash" all in one day. I figured it was better to do a "controlled" emergency landing rather than test my luck at circling again. Well, it turns out that my glow plug was just fine, and I psyched myself into thinking the glow plug blew again. I was really bummed when I found this out. Oh well, it could have been soooo much worse. I have already fixed the gear, and she is ready to fly again. Even in the strong winds, I was able to try all the stunts I wanted, and all were successful. This plane can knife edge like nothing. I can't wait to go and fly her again.

I assume that I was lean, and this is why my plug blew (wire broke). Do you guys have any other idea's or suggestions for me so I don't run into it again?

CONGRATULATIONS on the maiden! What a plane huh?

To me, there could be two things at work here with your engine trouble.

1) Too lean (like you said)

When you give full throttle from idle, do you get some smoke in transition and just barely some when it stays at full throttle? Usually I turn the needle CW till the engine is screaming, and then back off a quarter turn (which is about 200 rpms they say).

2) Starvation of airflow across engine.

The rule of thumb I keep hearing is for every 1 sq in of air getting into the cowl, 3 sq in of air is to be exhausted from the cowl. I see your pics there on page 3 of this thread, and it might be worth it to either baffle the right side of the cowl inlet (like I did) or enlarge your outlet a little more. Basically if there is lost of air that can get into the engine, but nowhere to get out, all that trapped air is basically stuck and suffocating/over-heating the engine.

I had the similar thing happen to me with my older planes, and the engine would do exactly as you said. Run slow with no power or no response to your throttle commands. I would have to glide the plane a few minutes at low throttle and open up the needle for the power to come back.

That is all I got, if anything else comes to mind I will let you know!

I flew mine today again also! I had a great time with it with a MORE AFT CG. Since last time I relocated the battery pack at least 3 more inches back in the fuselage. Now I think that I am balancing at 105mm from LE. Landings are slower and 3-point landings are now possible. I do have to be much more careful with keeping the nose down on approach as it is more prone to losing airspeed. Getting better with it everyday!!!

What a plane indeed!!!

I think I am pretty close to 100-105mm back myself. The plane flew awesome. Very responsive, and the landings weren't near as fast as I anticipated. I did open up the front and bottom of the cowl to allow more airflow today. I wasn't thinking when I put the bigger than recommended engine in there and didn't give it more breathing room. I tried to cut the front of my cowl to match yours, and was going to do the same with the bottom as far as adding more holes on the bottom, but i'm afraid I cut the front of the cowl too large and kinda stopped there. What are my options? Since I cut the front bigger, do I need to need to get the bottom 3X as big as that, or does the front count as some of my exit also? Im so confused. I am being told that I shouldn't have cut the front at all because it will cause the engine to over-heat?? I don't see how if the air has a place to escape, but I dont know. This is my first plane that I have built from ground up (all the others were given to me or sold to me built), and these are problems I haven't had to deal with. I really need some step by step advise on what I should do. I dont want to blow my engine up. It cost almost twice what the plane did.

I'm glad you got to get out and fly again. I think my cg is right where it needs to be at 100+/- mm, and it sounds like your plane flies a little better there also.

Man the weather is nice again today, I might have to charge up and fly later this afternoon!

I think... your best option is to get that front end closed up. Make a baffle. It is pretty easy. I will share what I did [&:]:

So this is the general shape you want to cut out (in red):


This is what the side view plane of the baffle should be close to:

You can have this baffle flush to the front of the cowl if you want, it does make this thing easier to make. BUT it doesn't look as cool IMO :P

To get this shape down perfect the first time, I used any 8"x11" paper as a template. Then I cut a half a circle into the long side of it. (pretty much if you visualize the red plane shown in the second picture above, that is what you want your paper to look like). Keep fitting the paper to the outside of the cowl, cutting adjusting, refitting, until you don't have any gaps between the paper and the cowl. Make sense?

Once you finished that template, tape it down to your plywood and cut out the baffle shape you created (The material I used LIGHT 5-ply plywood). Dry fit it inside the cowl and sand "high-spot" where needed. Once a good fit, fuel proof the baffle with epoxy or any fuel proof sealant. Now glue the puppy in! I just used 5 min epoxy around the perimeter. Should be good! (Oh yeah and if you wanted to add a picture or a "twin" engine look, you can glue it in before you seal it up)

That should do it! Basically you are going to decrease the airflow IN by about half and to me you look ok if you leave you outlet alone.

Good luck!

I actually decided to go ahead and re-fiberglass the entire inlet. That way I can start over. I am currently waiting on the glass to dry, and I will go from there. How ddo youu think I should cut the opening once its time? The entire front is now closed up with glass, and I can start from scratch. Should I go back to the origanal cut-out and keep my outlet the way it is, or cut it smaller and open up the outlet even more?

I would say that if you dont' mind the way it looks, cut out just the left side of the cowl. Of course have the hole for the shaft in the middle and then a nice shape to the left cut, leaving the right side. This would be best for function.

How big does the hole need to be? Right now, I have a hole for the prop that is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The exit hole on the botom is 3" by 3". If the 1 part intake for three parts exhaust holds true, then I am about right as it sits. The hole is blocked somewhat by the prop and spinner and you can see about 1/4 inch all the way around if you look straight on at it. Here is a picture of my idea of cutting to the left. The black area is what I was thinking about cutting out. Thanks for your help on this. It looks like I should have left the front alone, and opened up the bottom more. Oh well, I will come up with something cool to do with the cowl to hide the fiberglass.

Definitely cut more I am pretty sure that the 1:3 rule doesn't apply to the area cut for the prop and spinner.

The black part to the left looks good. That portion would allow fresh air to come in and run right through the engine cooling fins. I wouldn't even touch the right side anymore, maybe just smoothing out to get the edge nice and curved there.

So far so good!

I just ordered a new cowl. I didn't even know they sold replacment parts. That made things alot easlier. I do want to know what to do when it gets here though. Should I leave the front alone, and cut a hole in the bottom as big as the hole in the picture above and be done with it?

New cowl's are always an option I think that you would be fine if you left the front of the cowl alone. For the bottom, yes I would make the hole the same size as the one you have right now.

I really wanted to make a nice oval shape on my front of the cowl so that the plane looks more scale-ish from the front. And then I think I got carried away with the fake twin engine picture on the baffle [X(]

I really appreciate your help on that. I think yours looks awesome, and I tried to mimic it not even realizing you had the baffle on there. I am still going to fix the old cowl, that way I will have a replacement. I did have the Extra nose over a couple of times while trying to turn around during taxi due to the wind that day, and it cracked the bottom from hitting the ground. I have been working on my Great Planes Cessna 182 and getting it ready to go also. I put a white nosecone on, and it looks nice and scale now. It's been a little while since I took her up. That plane is a blast to fly also.

Hi Fellas,

Ive had the red version of this for quite some time and have started setting it up.I have started to fit up a Saito .82, left this stage to last.
I've a question you might be able to answer.
Where did you set your engine thrust angles to that suits this extra or did you set exactly as instructions show with the centre lines offset 4mm above and to the left with the 2 washer thickness packers under the left side of engine mount lugs ?.

Cheers,
Craig

Craig,

I actually didn't pay any attention to the manual when I mounted my motor and motor mounts.... Therefore I don't have any offset of any sort. [X(]

In hindsight I would say that you are better off doing exactly as the manual states. The plane would only fly better if you do have these offsets. I only notice with my setup that I need a little right rudder on steep climbs and take off. Nothing drastically different than many aircrafts of this type though....

Good luck!

Cheers racingnismo,thats good to hear.I've mounted it as the manual states with just a touch more right thrust,i can always take a bit out later if need be.

I'm glad to hear everyone's planei s flying good I just picked one up at our auction that was crashed but an easy fix. I would like ot go brushless with it but didnt get the motor box with the plane does anyone have one they would be willing ot part with oh and also a wing tube maybe? I contacted nitro models last night about the items and they said they werent available any longer
thanks

I set my thrust angle just as the book stated with the 4mm up and 4mm right with the motor also. I used the washers to get the thrust angle correct, and it flies true and straight.

Kevin pelletier - I have the motor box, and would be willing to part with it.

Edit: Here is a wing tube for CMP models. Im not sure if they are all the same though. http://www.nitroplanes.com/alwitu1.html