Just got my escapade from LHS. Im quite excited about it. I'll be switching my OS 46 ax over from the alpha to the escapade, and just ordered a ST GS 45 for the alpha as well as a triton eq charger from tower ( i had a gift certificate and there was a 35 dollar off if you spend 200, on top of that the charger had easy pay) cant wait to get all the shiny new toys together. Ive heard great things about the escapade.

Anyone fly one of these puppies yet? the reviews were good, the only low wing ive flown is my friends tiger 40, will it behave similarly?

Thanks guys

Great for you! Let us know what you think of the comparison between the OS and super tiger. Im curious. The super tiger takes work to get broken in....but the power is amazing!

My wife who has been flying about 12 years purchased herself an Escapade. We flew it for the first time this weekend. It has to be one of the easiest to fly low wing planes I've ever flown. With a 46 you can fly it around on 1/3 throttle. Takeoff is easy with little rudder correction needed and if you chop the power and close your eyes I swear it can land itself. It will do all the normal aerobatic maneuvers with ease including inverted flight. I could not find anything bad about the design. I swear a strong 25 could fly the thing. I think you should have a lot of fun with the plane. Assemble it per the instructions and you will have a light, nimble airframe. With a OS 46FX and 1000 MAh RX battery my wife's plane only weighs 5lbs 2 oz. I think for a low time pilot it flies much better than the Tiger 40. But remember DON"T add a bunch of extra weight trying to make it strong! All you'll do is make it heavy.

The Escapade was/is my third plane. Mine has Magnum 52 4S in it and it's a blast to tool around with. I went from a T-28 foamie to this one and noticed very little difference in how they handle, with the exception of the tail draggersetup of the Escapade. It's a very friendly planeandas mentioned above, very easy to bring in. The .46 should have more than enough power for Sport as well as simple Aero flying. I think you'll like it a lot.

My suggestion is to tape down the canopy prior to each flight as it does not fit that well. After doing the walk a couple of times and having to buy a new one (they're really fragile) I began doing this and have had no further issues.

I would also suggest replacing the stock tailwheel with a Sullivan or Dubro. The ARF supplied wheel is really flimsy and makes it a handful for ground handling.

What tail wheel should i get, do i just need a tail wheel or the whole tail wheel assembly? Also ive seen many people state to epoxy the tail on and the wing halfs together, Is there any tips for doing this? or just follow the instructions to put the parts together but use epoxy rather than the bolts or use epoxy in conjunction with the bolts?

thanks guys hopefully will start putting it together tonight, and if the triton eq charger and ST gs 45 i ordered come in tommorow or friday i should be all set to get both birds in the air this weekend.

There is no need to change the tail wheel, the supplied one is just fine. Changing it will only add to the cost and make the tail heavier. Same with gluing the tail on. It's not necessary and will just make it even heavier. But you can if you want. As for the wing if you glue it tite bond is lighter and strong enough. Plus use the nylon strap and supplied screws to help align the wing halves. Check for any new Tech Notices before starting; http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1200.html

The plane is well designed and if assembled per the instructions you will have a nice light plane. Start adding new parts or wood or epoxy and you'll turn a wonderful light weight sport plane into an overweight, and no stronger, flying porker.

I'm going to disagree here. I believe the Dubro tail wheel assembly I added might have put all of an ounce on the plane over the weight of the stock flimsy POS that the ARF comes with. It made a great deal of difference with ground handling though. If you enjoy fighting it on the ground, by all means leave the stock one on and have a blast. I found the extra $9.00 to be well worth it.

Epoxying the wing halves is the way to go IMO. Just use 30 minute epoxy so you can adjust alignment while it's setting up. It'ds a 5-6 Lb. plane, it can handle anextra ounce or two. If not you've seriously under spec'd the engine.

My wife's plane weighs 5lbs 2 oz with an OS 46FX and a 1000Mah battery, it required no weight to balance. Adding weight to the tail is magnified many times when it comes to getting the proper balance. Do yourself a favor and use the stock tail wheel assembly. It is plenty strong enough for the job, we fly off of a decomposed granite runway, and I've taken it off , landed and taxied in up to 14mph winds. It handles just fine. You do not have to fight it on the ground you just have to handle it like the conventional geared plane it is. As far as gluing the wing together, well it's not needed, but if you choose to do so why use epoxy when something lighter will do. No I stand by my recommendations. Keep it light and you'll be happy. Start adding weight to it and your just going to have an overweight plane to contend with. This is not my 3rd plane. It's not even my wife's 3rd plane. If I thought the plane needed any modification I would have done it. But it is well designed and if you assemble it as the instructions say you will have a nice little sporty low wing plane.

Thanks guys. I was reading the ubr long escapade thread and was getting worried with the wing and elevator concerns.

just soak the wing hook with thin CA and use a pin to poke some holes wear the elevator wire goes in and let some thin CA in it it will be fine.

I am reading this post with keen interest as I am very seriously considering the Escapade as my next plane and first low wing. I have a OS.40LA at home that I would like to put in it, which I've heard is plenty enough juice for the Escapade. Opinions on that?

It's an awesome plane that just needs a few items tended to to make it bulletproof (but not Pilot proof). It balances well regardless of an extra ounce here and there.

Mine runs very well on a Magnum 52 FS so an OS .40LA should be plenty for it. You won't be sorry if you get one.

That engine will be fine so long as you don't start adding unnecessary weight to the plane. It should be a very easy to fly light sport plane that you will enjoy.

Considering a few things, I think this is an excellent way to go.
1) You just cant beat the price. Being that this would be your second, it can easily be replaced if you get a case of dumb thumbs and its not repairable, until your improve your flying skills. Seems you also wont have to spend too much time building this which is important.
2) Looks great considering the price
3) Its been compared to the H9 Pulse. I had one and loved it!!! If this flies anything like the pulse, you'll love it. Pulse flies gentle and easy, great Knife edge, and awesome plane for sport aerobatics. Its all about finding the right CG.

I dont totally understand the elevator fix, Having not built a kit and this being my first ARF. Can some one explain in detail with maybe some pics on how to get the glue on the joiner wire and ensure i have enough glue.

I just finished putting the wing together last night with the dual aileron set up. The lamination looks good on my leading edge wing index but should that still get beefed up??

I was thinking id just build it as the instructions say and have my friend who i fly with and who taught me, look it over and maybe give it a light test run then reineforce what needs to be reinforced.

Thanks guys

There is a picture and explanation here on the elevator joiner wire. Just click the Tech Notices and look at them. http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1200.html

If it would make you feel better you can put a few drops of thin CA on the wing index tab. I didn't and have not had any problems. If the lamination's are solid it won't help to add the ca but there is almost no weight penalty if you do it.

Just flew the escapade for the first time today. She made up for all the hassle she gave me in putting it together. She flew great, quite the little bullet with the 46 ax on there. It was such a pain in the butt assembling it because im going to college and live in a tiny appartment, I have no tools or space to work. Im a mechanical engineering student who tinkers on cars all the time, I know the values of the right tools for the job. But having very few made the assembly of the escapade much longer than the estimated 3 -4 hours. But all i can say is wow. I loved the thing. I also dragged my roomate/ best friend from school, and I buddy boxed him on my alpha, my first time taking any one up.

Oh I also gotta throw out there:

I dont know what any one complains about the super tigres for, I bought a 45 gs for the alpha since i moved the OS over from the alpha to the escapade. That ST 45 fired up on the second flick of the chicken stick. I flew it great after the first tank and a half through it. Its still set very rich but it performs great.

Over all very great day flying

Glad to hear you had such a good day. I knew all along the Escapade would be a joy to fly. Now you get to start thinking of the next plane!

What I was most impressed about was the unlimited vertical the OS 46AX had with this plane. At 400+ feet , Orangehat just gave it some rudder and sent it back toward the ground, unbelievable. It looked a little twitchy on aileron and elevator, but he is just getting used to it. By the way, it was his very first maiden. He checked and rechecked everything, and I had a chance to check out all the connections and hookups too... A very impressive little plane. It was a nice day out at Bingo Field. Just don't ask me how many times I spun my props off, both on my Thunderbolt and my Tiger 2....[:@]

I bought my Escapade several months ago and threw it in the model room. I guess it's time to slap it together.