JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

HI Everyone,
Guess What The UPS Dropped at my door today... Brand New, Somenized YAK 54, All Electric new 3D plane from QQ aircraft. Here are some pictures. This is one the first ones shipped. I ordered the combo package that includes the Hacker A30 motor and The X-40 speed controller.

I am going to have to put this one together slowly due to my busy work schedule. If there is some interest, I like to post build thread as i go thru this build. Now I have to tell you that I am by no means a pro builder however, being an engineer, may be able to shed some light on the process. SO if anyone interested let me know and will get it started.

Check out the pictures, plane looks great and very professionaly build out of the box. There is good deal attention to quality and details. Packaging is very adequate and quality is what you would expect from a top notch company like QQ aircraft.

Some starting issues:
Hacker sells an X series controller USB Inteface and driver software for $15 which is well worthed and I have already ordered.
I still have not ordered my servos.. manual suggest JR MC35s or JR368s. What you guys think? Hitec? JR?
I am planning to order 3Cell 3300Mah Lipos by Duralite, Per the manual
As for reciever, I have a JRR2000. although overkill but since Ive got it might as well use it??

Signing off for now..

Jason

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Hi Guys,
Well I decided to continue with this build despite the low response in hopes that someone who is thinking about such plane will find this helpfull. I like to emphasize that this plane is designed by a #1 Pilot and RC Airplane designer in world and there is great deal of attention being paid to details that effect the performance such as weight, etc. I suggest avoiding any unnecessary steps that would inadvertently increase the flying weight of The YAK. Take extra care not to use the fuse as fulcrum, leaning against and wedgeing against it. It will break.

I started the build by inspecting all the pieces, trimming out all the fuse and wings and tail openings. In doing that I used my iron to go over edges and all over the ultracote. I used the lower setting on my iron (see picture). Once that is done you should end up with 3 slots on the left side and 1 on the right for the tail surfaces (view point from nose).
That took about ½ hour.

Next I started on the tail section by locating and adjusting all the control surfaces hinges for the tail. Checked the depths, inspected travel. I then moved to glue the stab. To ensure the parallelism with wings, I used a measurement method as follows. Measure front side of stab 7” from edge and mark and rear side 6 7/8” from edge and mark all four sided. Place the stab in fuse and line up to the marked edges and that should be perfectly parallel to the wings. You may also need to add shim to either side to ensure perfectly level stab to wing. Per manual you can compare that with wing tube in place. Once stab was aligned, I used thick CA to attach to fuse. Following the manual was easy on the rest of the tail surfaces using thin CA.

At this point I was 2 ½ hours into the build.

Signing off for now,
Jason

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Hi Guys,
Tonight I had only 1/2 hour so I finished installing the servos/servo arms and links. pretty straight forward. However my Hacker ESC programmer came in and here is the scoop. It has a CD with application, A USB cable and DONGLE you connect to USB and TO ESC RX input. I have included a picture of the interface. Just to remind you, this plane comes with a hacker X-40 PRO SERIES 40amp ESC.
The ESC comes with presets for the following parameters but you can use the programmer to change any if needs be. Here are the presets and the parameters for inputing into the ESC
Factory default settings:
Brake: Off
Battery type (ESC with BEC): 3S Li-Poly (ca. 8,7V)
Battery type (ESC-Opto without BEC): 5S Li-Poly (ca. 14,5V)
Under voltage: Reduce power
Acceleration : Fast
Timing: Auto
Frequency: 8KHz
Active RPM-Control (Helimode / Governormode): Off

So this is what the ESC is programmed. Anybody thinks that any of these parameters should be different??

SO I am going to rap it up for tonight and tomorrow will be getting more building done as soon as I am done with my ESC program. Also as you may know, ESC comes with a switch. I ve heard some people using switch and others don’t. I would appreciate some opinions on this.

Signing off for now,
Jason

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Hi Guys,
I had few hours to kill tonight so I figured I would tackle some of the more time consuming stuff. I have to back up a little and talk about servos which I installed the night before. I decided to go with JR 386s. They are the most expensive ones in the class however they provide the most accurate and highest torque among the choices which are MC 35s weigh .59oz with 30in/oz torque, 386’s are 53 in/oz weigh .83 oz, HS80 36 in/oz, weigh .67oz. The manual also calls for using 40mm arms on all servos. The elevator and rudder are pullpull each with one servo each and one servo for each aileron. For now I am also going to use my existing JR R2000 RX and replace with a Spread Spektrum later.
Servo installation was pretty straight forward. I did use the supplied servo screws and long 40mm arms. However installing the wheels and wheel pants is a little tricky. The picture shows a method I used to accomplish that. Basically I had to tighten two nuts together in steps so I found that having a vice to hold landing gear is a good help. If you don’t have a vice, then install the gear into the fuse and using long nose pliers tighten it up. Then I prepare the motor for installation. This motor is set up as an outrunner so the outside housing shaft adapter needs to be installed. The mounting bracket is installed on what would normally is the front main housing. So the front is held and the housing turns. (see picture) . A note on the ESC programmer. I still haven’t been able to make the USB Dongle to talk to ESC but since the default setting is acceptable its not a show stopper. Any ideas why my computer can’t get data from or to ESC. USB is set up right.
Tonight I clocked another 2 ½ which puts the total at 5 ½ hours total..


Signing off for now
Jason

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Hi Everyone,
A question came up regarding my set up V.S. the one QQ used in his prototype regarding the weight. So here is a comparison

QQ 's Plane (wt. in OZ)
A/Frame (w/o radio, batt) 42.00
Prop 14x7E apc 0.96 (not sure if the manual weight includes prop)
Servos (MC-35s; .6x4) 2.40
RX (R610UL ) 0.26
Batt (dura 3S1p 3300MAH) 9.88

Total 55.50 (3.47Lb)
(I am assuming that the A/F weight includes motor, Not specified in manual)
if motor should be added 3.47 + .32 (motor) = 3.79 Lb for QQ's plane

My plane:
Just checked and the servo arms I used are the same as the one suggested in manual
A/F 42
Prop .96
servos (JR386s; 4x.83) 3.32
RX (R2000) 1.60
Batt (same) 9.88

total 57.76 (3.61lb)
Adding motor 3.61 + .32 = 3.93 LB

I think I will end up setting up and test flying the plane with R2000 and then will change to Spektrum RX or Micro RX.
I am getting the recommended batteries which are 280grams, 3300 3S1P Duralites. Tune in for the flight report will let you know how long flight we get.

Today I installed the prop, adjusted the travel and opened up the fuse cooling for batteries. I only had half an hour and that brings our total to 6 hours. Looks like I should be able to finish this plane in less than 8 hours.. probably 6 ½ to 7 hours. I did go over the covering one more time and made sure all screws were tight.
Signing off for now
Jason
BTW,, check out the surface deflections on that plane...

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Captains log, Saturday March 23, 2007.
Maiden flight report on YAK54-49"

The day was sunny southern ca day however a nice 15m/hr wind with occasional gushing was around for the entire day. I set up the plane pretty much as described in the manual. The plane was maidened with JR10x radio with no mixing programmed. Battery was a 3300 3Cell Lipo pack (per manual rec).

The plane weighted at 51.5 OZ.

Take off smooth and required no trimming for level flight. Inverted flight indicated a perfect CG and required no modifications. Reza from QQ aircraft support was also there that day and performed a flight check and maidened the plane.

Pictures can tell the story. However I really want to make the following points:

I must congradulate QQ aircraft for another truely fined tuned rc airplane this time an electric. If you have any QQ aircraft planes, this yak feels like a 50cc with more stability and behaviour of larger yaks. I felt very comfortable trying different aerobatics and felt real good without any mixing necessary. the power is very adequate and you can get good 10 min flight time with this battery.

Keep in mind these pictures were taken in 15 miles winds gushing to 20 mph. The control surfaces are indicative of how little control where required to manuver this plane. This is great flying electric that you guys should all get a chance to enjoy.

Signing off for now
Jason

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Great job!! I'm considering buying one just based on your post. I'm currently building the Great Planes Yak 54 and have run into some pretty serious quality issues. I see you live in Aliso Viejo. Where do you fly? I live in Telaga (San Clemente) Fly Spread Spectrum at my local parks and school yard. Always have the place to myself.

Whats your opinion on the 3D Hobby yak or Katana? They seem to have better quality.

Thanks again for all the effort on posting this build;)

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Scrooks, I also have the great planes yak. Yes, tail section is a little weak (don't try full throttle dives with this plane, the horizontal stab will break apart).
My main gripe is the batt hatch. To change the battery, I have to take off the prop and cowl in order to get at the hatch. If you use a 3S lipo pack that is bigger in
height than the thunder power 2100, the hatch will not shut all the way. Other than that, the plane flies well. Landing gear is also a little suspect. If you fly off of a grass
field, landing gear that are just screwed into blind nuts generally will pull apart the surrounding wood that is glued. Happened to two of my planes last week (our field is not cut or rolled yet).
Hover, sorry on the highjack of your post. Your Yak looks great!!!! Doesn't seem like that all the newer balsa models that are smaller than their fuel powered counterparts fly just like the big ones do?

Dave...

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

Thanks for the advice on the GP Yak. I ended up building a new horizontal stab from scratch using a carbon spar for extra support;) I'm now in the process of recovering the wings and fuse bottom. Not a big fan of the clear monokote[:'(]

After reading this thread put together by Hover I kind a fell in love with this Yak. Looking forward to hearing more from him on how the thing is performing. Hover, Where are you??????[:o]

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

You have me interested. I never realized how cheap outrunner in this class had gotten(looking at hackers site the 30 series with ESC isnt much more than a glow motor, or at least a high quality one, for this size aircraft would cost.)


I could not find the recommended "14L" series on hacker's site though, is it a special order type of thing or am I blind?

RE: JUST ARRIVED -- SOMENIZED YAK-54, 49" ELECTRIC
 

scrooks,
Sorry I havent been visiting the thread lately. Here is the scoop. I have now about a few 30-40 flights on this plane and here is my take on it:

- before building this plane you should go through and add few drops of CA here and there to ensure no adhesive is missing.
- The key in the way this plane flies( and any other aerobatic plane this class) is weight.
- I tried both the 3Cell 3300 and 4 cell 2700 and even though 4 cell has equivalent current supply, 3 cell pulled alot better.
- This plane flies amazingly like its bigger brothers, yak 85 (50cc gasser).. However since the weight has been reduced tremondously, I must say the fuse is not very strong and you must take extra care building and handling it. Dont want to try very scale landings with lots of speed.
- I recommend the same digital servos I used. Their response is amazing.. well worth the extra money.
- I have not build or flown the Katana M from Atlanta Hobby, However preliminary investigation, it seems like its worthy contender.
- As a rule in any class of airplane, for aerobatics, every oz of weight saved is performance gained, therefore you will get stronger fuse, but you will lose on agility and performance. It might not matter much depending on your flying style and personal preference.
- Sorry I dont have exact data about the planes you mentioned to give you an accurate comparison, but this plane as I built it came out to 54oz for 49" wing span.

Hope that answers some of your questions.
signing of for now.
jason

hey if you guys are still around i just got one of these at a swap meet i need balance point c/g an help would be great thanks

Here is the manual...