1/ The building instructions are only available with the model (although, Vector Flight are such a marvelous company when dealing with customers, I bet you could talk to them about it)

2/ The usual 5 (throttle, elevator (1), rudder, ailerons (2)), and standard ones are sufficient.

3/ I can't remember this, but, yes, I think one does come with the kit. Talk to Vector Flight about it. They are great at returning emails

Yes, you have to order through their website :-

http://www.vectorflight.com/

As you've probably already read here, they are simply amazingly good at customer service, so will, no doubt, answer any questions direct by email.

Good luck. You will love the model!

-David C

RCBOZO,

I don't put pilots in my airplanes, it justs adds weight. Instead I tint my cowl prior to epoxying onto the fuselage. Looks good, easy and saves the added weight of putting a pilot figure in there.

Just my $.02

MR G

I now have about 40 flights on mine and it just keeps getting better with every flight. I removed the original magnum 91 4 stroke and installed a Thunder tiger 91 4 stroke. The magnum engine never gave me any problems and flew the plane great. The only reason that I changed the engine is because the TT engine has a little better performance. I use an APC 14x6 or 13x8 prop and the plane now has a little better vertical performance. I had to relocate the battery about half way back to the tail to get the plane to balance on the CG. Here are a couple of pictures.

Rick

What size spinner is that?

It is a great planes 2.5 inch.

Rick

Thanks so much Rick. I put my order in this very am for the 66" Extra 300 and a spare cowl. I hope the spare cowl comes with the decal too.
I am still torn on the engine, on a tight budget as I have some other builds going on too. I was leaning towards the Magnum .91XLS for a 2 stroke. ($129) Thats almost to cheep to belive right. Magnum does not post any HP rating though. I have always used OS with very good results but I have heard alot of negatives on their 91FX and air bubbles, dead sticks ect. I guess I dont need a headache for the extra $70 bucks to boot.

Tower had some nice deals on Super Tiger engines recently. These are hot engines.

Im running a 91 FX, and it will pull the VF 66 Extra straight up almost out of sight, but the engine does have some reliability issues also.

ToFast

Get the magnum it is a great engine. I have several magnum engines and love all of them. Magnums customer service is very good to deal with also. I sent in a 46 XLS that had low compression and they sent me a brand new one back. Take a look at the 91 4 stroke also it will be a good engine for the extra. I have seen them on sale for 149.00 from time to time. Check out hobby people they have the magnums on sale sometimes. Also check out the marketplace for a used engine. I got a new in the box ASP 91 4 stroke for 100 bucks. The ASP is the same engine as the magnum.

Rick

I fly an MVVS .91 2 stroke on my 66" Extra (of course )

This engine pulls a 15x8 prop easily and makes for effortless aerobatics...loops as big as you want them and the ability to pull the plane straight up out of site.

I was running a 15x8, but I found that my tendancy to land the airplane with the engine at idle led to too many landings that were right on the ragedy edge of stalling. The 15x8 keeps the approach speed up a little.

I am the Canadian distributor for MVVS. Great engines, and I have stock!

Im having some trouble finding a Pitts style muffler for the Magnum 91XLS 2 stroke. Anyone know if Magnum is same exhust size as OS?

Is this plane supposed to be balanced upside down or right side up?

I'm not sure which way is best. dean320 where do you fly? I am a member of the Thistledown Flyers in Napoleon. I just got my 300s up on Wed. for the first time. Man that thing TIP STALLS! I had to have someone dial down the elevator throw while I was flying it!

I think that's because it's extremely pitch sensitive. You should find a tiny elevator movement is sufficient to give very small loops, but stop any snapping.

-David C

you mean that 1 1/4" of elevator throw is a little too much Even with the throw way down I was having some problems. I usually like to pull hard up and rocket out of site but It would do a death spiral on every attempt, no matter how slowly I applied the elevator. I am a little tail heavy right now I will adjust that before this weekend.

A tiny bit yes!

One of the things I found most surprising about the whole range of VF, is their pitch sensitivity. I suppose it has something to do with the solid wing being very efficient.

You should be OK if you :-

1/ Have a small elevator throw.
2/ Don't have the weight too far back.
3/ Have a reasonably good lateral balance.

As I say, only what looks like a ridiculously small elevator movement is needed.

-David C.

Yes way too much!! With the large control surfaces and a virtually mush free wing, 3/8 to 1/2 inch of elevator throw is all that is needed. There is very little slop in the way this airplane flies which makes it as accurate and responsive as it is.

Has anyone been flying the 66" Extra from grass with the stock wheels and wheel pants? Wheels are possibly a bit small for a fairly rough field and the pants are really the biggest disappointment with an otherwise great looking ARF. I think I'll try the stock setup; oversize wheels without pants might work better but would spoil the appearance.

I am waiting for a back-ordered Saito-100 for mine (they tell me another week). I am planning to mount it inverted unless someone can tell me why I shouldn't. 2 1/2" aluminum spinner??

I like the idea of the tinted canopy - guess I'll have to do some searches for the "right" recipe. I like the smoky grey color rather than the browns, blues or greens I have seen elsewhere.

I noticed that some people have replaced the landing gear with something a little more robust (doesn't seem too bad to me). I think I'll use the stock gear and paint mine white (or red if I can get a good color match). I wonder how the paint will hold up with the flexing of the gear.

I think its gonna be a blast!


Ross

RCBOZO - I am a member of the Flying Tigers. Our field is less than a mile from Toledo Express Airport. It is not uncommon to see planes coming and going at the airport.

Ross Kean - I agree about the wheels. I am not using the pants and have put 3" wheels on it. Have not flown it yet though. Try Hobby Time in IN for the Saito. That is where I got both of mine for less that Horizon's price. Their number is (765) 449-8233. I have bought 3 engines and 1 plane from them. Ask for Sean. I think he is the owner and it great to work with. I have 2 1/2" spinners on both of my Saito 100's and the seem to be a great match.


Anyone know if this is supposed to be balanced upside down? How are you all doing it?

What were we using for a landing gear up grade????????????

First off you need very little elevator throw to make this thing loop tight. If it snaps you have too much. Just keep turining it down until it stops snapping. The plane will fly very good at this setting. I junked the wheel pants and used a set from SIG that I had for a 4*60. I also used 3 inch wheels on mine. Here are a couple of pictures of it.

Rick

So what is the safe throw on the elevator to avoid snapping.. I am getting ready to maiden a 58 inch Extra and have a 1/2 inch throw set on low rates and 3/4 on high... Ia 1/2 inch too much... It would be nice not to have to deal with snaps on the maiden flight...

Even 1/2 inch on my 58 Extra was a little too much, but it's a good place to start. Just get high up and do tighter and tighter loops. There comes a time when the elevator movement makes it roll. At that stage, just reduce the throw.

Trial and error will get you to a maximum movement where it will not snap.

Once you have got rid of the snap, you'll find it very stable, indeed, and any unwanted roll will only occur when you are flying too slowly. (The way it's meant to be!).

One more tip:- Be prepared to give a few clicks of throttle on approach and just before touch down to keep it stable in the last phases of landing. It lands nicely, but, like with any Extra, you have to be going the right speed.

-David C.

It's a flyer!
Went great, The bird flys beaeeeaaaaytifuuuully

OK
My big brown box got here today and the extra 300 looks great for the money. I made notes on all your past posts so I will try to apply them. It feels like the landing gear mounts are still in soft balsa, as you really cant see them. I did purchase a Magnum .91 2 stroke with a bission Pitts muffler for the power plant and some 14x6 props.

Someone mentioned a stronger replacement alum. LG from another plane that fits VF300 but I dont see it anywhere. Can someone tell me what that was.
Thanks for the motivation
Jack

TOFAST4U, the landing gear mount is 1/4 inch ply. I did go inside the fuel tank section and spread some epoxy on the joints with a bent handle brush. Kind of touch and go as the access is limited. Be careful not to get any epoxy on the landing gear blind nuts or screws. The landing gear was initially my concern as our field has some bad spots, but it has held up just fine after many rough landings. I did bend my gear though and bought a new one and now greasing the landings. Flies awesome.[8D]