ALL,

I am an avid Heli Pilot with a very good knowledge base in this area, however I want a plane to have something different.

I have flown a friends plane a couple of times and found it rather relaxing compared to the concentration level required from rotary wing!

So with this in mind I acquired at rock bottom price a 72" ARF EDGE 540 kit NIB

The kit has foam cored wings and tailplane (apart from the fin).

Motor recommendations are 1.08 to 1.60 cu in the model requires two Aileron and 2 Elevator servos and 1 rudder and obviously a throttle.

I have been thinking of the following set up please feel free to comment

OS 1.60FX
1x HS 425bb
4x HS525bb/mg
1x HS635bb/mg
1x JR700 Rx
12x8' prop
Spinner
Pitts style muffler
HD switch harness

Please if i have missed anything let me know or i am off the mark

ALso bear in mind although I will fly the model on low rates etc I want the model to be very onsellable and setup with the right gear for the model.

If there is anywhere i could save on the cost of the setup please let me know also.

Thanks

UNLESS YOUR VERY GOOD AT FIXED WING ID GET A TRAINER TO START.
I SWING A 12X8 PROP ON AN OS 61 I'D GET A 18X10 FOR THE 1.60 IF THE LANDING GEAR WILL ALLOW IT TO CLEAR.
BEAR IN MIND THE WING NARROWS AT THE TIP THIS AIRCRAFT IS SUBJECT TO TIP STALL. IF YOU HAVENT SEEN A TIP STALL ITS RIGHT NOW AND HARD TO RECOVER FROM
GOOD LUCK

Heli flying will NOT train you to fly a fixed-wing plane.

"I've flown a friend's plane a couple of times..."

You are NOT ready to fly an Edge 540!!! As you were already advised, get a good trainer, and an instructor.

Your inexperience with fixed-wing planes shows in your equipment selection, especially in the prop you've chosen for that engine, and the servos you've chosen for that plane.

I'll echo "good luck". You'll need it.

Dr.1

I know you are not going to listen to these people so set up the plane with the center of gravity on the most forward end of the recomended CG range, that's nose heavy, not tail heavy, and use low control surface movements. Have an experienced pilot take off and land it for you and practice flying it at it's lowest speeds. You learn nothing from flying it fast, slow is harder.
When at a safe altitude, pull back hard on the stick and do a tight loop, if this causes a snap roll, let the experienced pilot land it and reduce the elevator throw even more.

I agree 100% with what is said here.
Most people don't listen and you want to fly fixed wing now.

One exception I would make is never put a 12x8 on a OS 1.60FX engine.
I would go with a larger propeller. Probably a 16x8 if you want to be on the small size.

While I also agree with the given advice. I fail to see why everyone is so quick to assume that he won't listen? He hasn't responded in any way other than the original inquiry. While many people do ask for advice and ignore it, that doesn't mean that everyone - or even this person - will react the same way. Yes, there is evidence of inexperience in the question, but the only way to learn is to ask. Isn't that why most of us are here in the first place - to learn and to teach?

Thanks for all your help with regards to my question the Cof G especially and elevator throw, Also thanks for advice on a more appropriate size Prop for the Machine. However I did not ask for advice on whether the plane was any good for a novice etc etc. As I already knew those answers. I would appreciate it if anyone wanting to help would please advise on what equipment they reccommend to be used for the application as originally asked.

And just to try and sort through this Trainer debarcle.

1. I am a fully qualified Aircraft Engineer.
2. I have studied aircraft design including aerodynamics,propulsion,system design etc
3. I have been around aeroplanes for 20yrs or more
4. The above is why I am interested in RCheli as it was all new and the physics /setup are different (for me planes are well a bit plane due to my background)
5. Mitigating factors to consider, I fly on Reflex XTR daily both planes and helis (up to Knife edge circuits etc with planes on the sim)
6. I have flown an 80' edge 540 at the club on buddy including inverted passes (at height)
7. The model will be on buddy until i am ready (due to the investment)
8. My peers feel that even though I have never owned a plane I would outgrow a trainer very quickly due to my level of experience thus far. (plane Peers that is)
9. I do not want to waste money on a trainer that i may outgrow within a matter of weeks.

Note. I have also done knife edge passes with a friends pc9 46 size machine SOLO.

So again if you could please just assist me in selecting the right equipment for the Aircraft i would be grateful instead of just saying i look like a beginner by the equipment i have chosen.

Regards
Jody

I don't know how heavy your plane will be. SIG recommends five HS-625MG servos for their Extra which is around 74" wingspan and 13 pounds.

You could go with HS-925MG or HS-945MG for more torque and good speed but they are almost double the price of the 625s.
For even more $$ you could use digital servos with coreless motors.

I guess I'd contact the kit maker (if still in business) for specific servo recommendations if there's nothing in the manual.

Here's a link to the 1.60FX manual which has prop recommendations http://www.osengines.com/manuals/160fx-ring-manual.pdf

Thanks Carrellh one point I should make is that i am trying to avoid going to Digital so as to keep the cost down so I am looking at the most suitable/well priced analogue servos to use in this application. I am expecting the weight to be around the 10-11lb mark

Sir:

If your BUDDIES at the field say that your ready for a non-trainer plane for your first plane, do us all a favor. Take a picture before your first flight and then after your flight. Then post it on here. Id love to see the plane before and after.

Well, since you have access to flying your friends plane, fly it more and more until you become proficient, then go for the edge 540, if you dont want a trainer. I know how you feel, i wanted the good stuff now, and i still do, but till then, easy sport it is.

Hi!
I have been flying R/C (both helis and fixed wing) for 30 years and been into teaching others for 25 years and it is interesting to read that you want to cut the learing curve and get what you obviously belive is a good looking, good flying airplane and skip the ugly, boring novice trainer airplanes.
It sounds as if you just think that: "this is the plane I want and it would be unnecessary too get another".
Don't you realize that R/C flying constantly demands that you build (or buy) just because you crash now and then...and more so when you are a beginner.
So why crash a big(72) airplane when you can crash a much simpler airplane ...doing much less damage, moneyvise to you, but more importantly...less damage when you hit someone?!

It's interesting to read what you say about your qualifications and your experience flying the Reflex simulator. But I must say...sorry! You are going to crash that airplane in a hurry!
The problem is ...and this you don't seem to understand ...is that your qualifications are worth nothing when it comes down to real practical R/C flying. It takes time to become an accomplished and safe R/C pilot. Thinking of getting into a F-16 fighter before passing flightschool is just not the right way of doing it!

Just ask yourself some questions: Do you know the importance of setting an airplane up, balancing, proper CofG, how wash-out and wash-in effects flight behavior?
Do you know how to set an engine and what fuel to choose for that engine, what prop to use and not to use? And the proper way of balancing a prop?
Do you know why Uni-flow tank set ups are better than an ordinary one clunk set-up...why the Tettra "Bubble less" tank is superior to every other tank set-up?
Do you know how to build and repair a model airplane? what glues to use? ?what plastic coverings to use and how to apply it?
Do you know what to do when the engine stops in the air, what to look for when the engine won't start, the importance of holding the model up before you take off...and so on and so on?

Just some of the things you are expected to know when your'e about to fly such a big model as the 72" Edge.

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

Jody, If you are an avid heli pilot, and have flown other pilot's planes as you described, and have practiced with planes on a sim, I'd suggest you ignore most of the nay sayers posts. I've gone the other way, i.e. I'm an avid plane pilot, and wanted a 30 sized heli. I practiced on the sim, and then built, setup and flew my heli unassisted without incident.

RC planes and Helis require very similar skill sets. If you can do one, the transition to the other is easy. Issues such as orientation, control, etc. are basically identical between the two. The main diff is altitude control, i.e. collective on heli and elevator on plane.

I'd agree that being an aircraft engineer, understanding the physics, etc. will not improve your chances of flying RC much... but the point is really moot as you have RC heli experience too.

My "flight" suggestion is that you have a more experienced buddy check out, fly and trim your plane on the first flight. Then, for your first flights, have one of your buds act as a spotter. That way, if you should get into trouble, they can bark out orders, or worse case they can take TX back from you.

As for gear... prop is wrong for that engine... but that's been covered. On servos, verify torque. I don't know the specs on what you listed and didn't bother to look them up, but on a plane that size with that engine, I'd suggest at least 80 oz-in of torque on rudder, ailerons and total elevator (i.e. 40 oz-in per side is fine with a split elevator using two servos.) Don't have to be coreless or digital as long as the torque is right.

Cheers