Honestly you'll find that with most higher performance props. The Master Airscrews are flexible which makes them more durable but it also allows them to flex, making them less efficient. In my opinion they are great for a trainer but not for anything where you want good performance.

I've also tried the smaller Xoar wood props and really liked them. Of course the wood will break too if you have a prop strike.

Same goes for Graupner props... they work great but they'll break if they hit the ground.

The best thing is to just avoid prop strikes. Sometimes easier said than done of course. I splintered a Xoar 22x8 on Saturday and that thing is over $40 by the time it is shipped. It was absolutely my own fault though so I bit the bullet & ordered a couple more. I also reminded myself to use my head and land the thing like I know how to.

Tulljt,

This is a good idea. Ihave been trying to figure out how I can going to setup mine with a Saito82 and drilled a hole in the firewall and test mounted the servo as you did. However, I can't get enough throw in the throttle because the stock cleavis hits the firewall. Ihaven't mounted the saito permanently, just have it clamped in, but moving it all the way forward doesn't help much either. The rod also seems to bind up a bit, so now Iam thinking Imight try a flexable cable, like this dubro one - http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXD861&P=7 Anyone have thoughts on the flex cable?

Or maybe I will mount it as the manual suggests.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I made the hole in the firewall large enough to allow the clevis to pass through. I just had to make sure that the geometry was correct throughout range of motion. I set the motor to full throttle, loosened the arm and moved it until the clevis hit the shaft and then tightened back up. Using the second hole on the motor and playing with throws I was able to get the throttle set to full range without binding.

The TT75 FS is a good looking, powerful 4-stroke. It would be a great choice and just as good as the comparable OS.

Has anyone tap a OS 55 AX with a Perry Pump Regulator? Or is there a more effective pump out there for this motor? My OS55 AX quit when doing negative flat spins and enforce a hard landing, in which, teared out the landing gear on my Extra.

How far back do I have to move the cg to get this thing to waterfall?  Flat spins inverted and upright are a blast.  For me knife edge requires some up elevator to keep it straight.  I have been reading about canopies falling off in flight.  I have not experienced this and think it has to do with the monocote that I ironed on over the holes it the firewall.  I also put a coat of epoxy on the firewall because I noticed small holes where the different pieces met.  I almost like this plane as much as my e-flite pitts model 12 that has a 25 fx on it.  With a little cg adjustment and a little more time flying it I'll have a new favorite.</p>

Josh6575, I have not experience moving the CG to do a waterfall. My CG is set at per instruction book by using the a 1400 mha JR battery to balance in the front-on top of the fuel tank of the aricraft. I glued a velco on the bottom of the tank and the opposite side of the velco on the centerline tank area to aviod tank moving around. Instead, I have increased throws to 20% from 11% using 30% Expo and have beautiful waterfalls. Forknife edgeyoumay need to balance the wings precisely and add weight. Hang it upside inverted ona nonmovingpole and usethe engine shaft and centerline of the fuse endtail to balance.Be sure the two elevator halfs areprecisely equal. You can use totwo rod ends. Tape a end rodon each elevator half making a "V" point to contact each other and tigthen the collar when precisely equal. Currently, I, now, fly this Extra using APC 13X6 prop-OS 55 AX. It will not go unlimited vertical, but this setup will take the plane nearly out of sight about 700 to 800 feet up for smooth vertical up-lines. This Extra will fly like a 30% aircraft andwill perform IMAC Squence for practice entry. I'm very please with this Extra. Currently, awaiting for Great Planes to make a 60 size verison of this plane.

I have a saito 80 on my extra with a 14x4w prop. vertical is unlimited. Thank you very much for the tip on getting the two elevator halves aligned. I was going to put a la 65, but was loaned the 80. I am very thrilled with the flying yet I have not got landing it down yet. It seems like I get it too slow and stall it about a foot from the ground. Yesterday I bent the landing gear pretty bad. I land on grass and have been afraid to use the wheel pants. Have you had success with them?

We fly in deep thick grass and don't have a problem with the wheel pants. We routinely flip .40 size planes on their top with or without wheel pants due to the grass but I haven't seen where the wheel pants make it worse or better. They don't seem to break either when this happens.

With my Pheonix .40 Suhkoi I have small wheels and no pants. On landing I hold my finger on the elevator high rates and as soon as it touches the grass I flip to high elevator rates and go to full elevator as soon at will take it without lifting off again. It would be easier I suppose to just flip the spoiler switch and kill the lift, might have to set that up and try it.

The biggest thing I have observed when flipping planes in the grass is breaking the horizontal stab off at the root.

Just some of my thoughts.........

Got several flights on my Extra 300 with Saito FA-82, and I must say its a great plane. My Saito is just broke in and died on approach and therefore caused me to land pretty hard. My landing gear is bent a bit and one wheel pant is cracked. I can probaby straighten the gear, but wouldn't mind getting a new set. Towerhobby says they are out until late July for wheel pants and gear, anyone have any idea if someone else might have them in stock? Or at least a similiar set of landing gear?

Thanks!

I'll try putting my wheel pants on. This evening I moved the cg back to 4.25. I am still not able to waterfall, but the elevators and flat spins are easily executed. It seems to perform these beter inverted. I had some problems getting my motor to run right. It ended up being the exaust extension that I was using put too much back pressure into the fuel tank making the high speed mixture act weird. I took an old .15 size tuned pipe from a truck and cut the whole end off at an angle. This extension acts like a megaphone and does not change the pressure. I also put hangar 9 3" low bounce wheels on it. My landings have greatly improved. I think mostly credited to the rearward cg. Tomorrow I am going to move the cg back another .25".

Hello -<div></div>Just wanted to show off the Extra in some photos and also praise how precise this bird performs. I'm very pleased and am in the process of installing a smoke system to help me hone my aerobatic skills.Haven't had one issue with the kit "as is".I'm one pleased pilot.Cheers All!

I am also interested in the smoke system.  please let me know what you use.

Josh6575 -

I've got the gear and within the next week am going to begin the process of installing. I'm using a TMESmartSmoker Simple Pump and a Slimline Pitts style smoke muffler. I'm planning on using a 6oz. tank for smoke fuel as well. I've never installed or used a smoke system before so come along for the ride.I'll post images of the install if your interested. I've gotten a lot of talk about possible weight issues with all the additional gear, however, I'm running an O.S. 91 Four-stroke w/ a 13x8 prop which by all calculations says that weight will not be an issue. It'll handle a bit differently once I get the gear in but nothing Ican't deal with.

I'm looking at upping the prop to a 14x8 (as i can go up to 16) and dropping the fuel tank from 12 oz to 10 oz. Which by my calculations and current flight times, I'll get 6+ min. of solid smoke and 8 min. of comfortable flying w/a 2 min. margin of error for landings and/or flight line delays.

Lemme know if ur interested and I'll start up a new thread on the install OR if people are interested I'll just keep posting to this thread.



Cheers!

Has any one else noticed coupling in knife edge? My plane tucks to the gear. I would like to know it there is any adjustment to eliminate this other than mixing in the radio.

If I remember right if you shift your CG forward it will help with the pull to the the gear. I'm not a 100 percent sure about which direction you need to shift, but I do know your CG will effect the coupling.

Hey guys wanted to post some photos of my extra. I did a lot of modifications to keep the weight down. Flew it a few times but unfortuanately the wing bolt came out on left wing. and caused crash . but only damage was broken firewall and busted up cowl . just waiting on gp for new cowl. there on back order now.

Here are some pics of the carbon work and the extra effort to lighten the plane. THe carbon gear is from 3dhobby shops 55" extra shp. Perfect match

kwboost, I have heard of others having trouble with there canopies coming off. I monocoted over the holes in the fire wall and have not had this trouble and thought it would be nice if something came loose on the exhaust it would not let any oil inside the plane. What motor did you put on yours. I have a saito 80 on mine and love it.

Sweet! Where did you get the CF sheets from? How thick?

How much should i trust the elevator setup with the way they show it in manual. Or should i run 2 elevator servos. Worried about the wheel collars loosing up. I tightened the crap out of them, also going to use some thread locker. Also iam having trouble getting my throttle servo to close all the way. I already stripped out a servo, i was using a Hi tech HS81. I can get full throttle but cant get barrel to close all the way. Thinking about using a bell crank. Motor is a Saito 82. Is there a better servo to use. I tried some different bends but to no avail. I even tried the one suggested in this thread.

I also put some solder on my elevator setup. Make sure you get things lined up pretty close and then solder, your adjustments can be made on the clevis if need be, holds great for me. I am running a Saito 82 and had trouble with my throttle setup at first too. I decided to mount my servo the opposite way the manual says...servo pointed inside. I then got a Dubro Throttle cable assembly - http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXD586&P=7 and drilled a hole in the firewall. This setup has seemed to work well for me thus far. Hope it helps.

built mine with a saito 80. dont think the 80 has enough rpm for the way i want to fly this. i am putting on an OS .50 Hyper ringed engine on it. well let you know how we do...im hoping for BALLISTIC!

Just an update on my Extra 300. It flies amazing with a Saito 82. I upgraded to carbon fiber landing gear from 3d hobbyshop, good fit. I was out flying tonight and my canopy flew off in straight and level flight and landed in our club pond, not fun. I had read about some other people having this same issue and added some foam to help keep the canopy pushed back...i also make sure and push the canopy back before I taxi out. Be aware, the stock setup stinks. I am probably going to add new magnets to try and hold it in place. Any other ideas?

yeah add a couple of those rare earth magnets that are about the size of a quarter. Thats what we did and the canopy sticks now, no questions. My bro-in-law just got a small electric Extra 260, can't remember the brand but the canopy is held on by a couple of magnets that have indentions kind of like a snap on a shirt. The one has a dimple in and the other has a point sticking out that goes in the dimple. They are tiny but they hold like a fright and prevent any side to side movement, which is what kills the stock setup on the GP Extra.