Greg Covey

The Great Planes [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXWWM1&P=ML]Sequence F3A[/link] is an Almost-Ready-to-Fly 50" class E-Performance XLC Series Airplane. It features a balsa and plywood frame with a pre-built plywood motor box. The two-piece wings are connected with a carbon joiner. The ailerons are factory-hinged and the rudder uses a pull-pull system for control authority. The Sequence comes complete with wheels, canopy, wheel pants, pre-built motor box, decals and a 24-page instruction manual loaded with photos and detailed steps for a quick assembly.

Features:[ul][*] Balsa and plywood construction with prebuilt plywood motor box[*] Two piece wing with carbon wing joiner[*] Pull-pull rudder control system[*] Dual servo aileron control, factory hinged[*] Painted fiberglass cowl and wheel pants[*] Canopy magnetically attaches to fuselage[*] Covered in six colors of Top Flite MonoKote[*] Two piece painted fiberglass main landing gear with tailwheel wire[*] Foam wheels, main 2.25" (56mm), tailwheel .75" (19mm) diameter[*] Spinner: 2" (51mm) diameter, white in color (included)[*] Ready to fly in 4-6 hours
[/ul]Specifications:[ul][*] Wingspan: 50" (1270mm)[*] Wing Area: 505 sq in (32.6 sq dm)[*] Wing Loading: 16-17 oz/sq ft (49-52 g/sq dm)[*] Length: 51.5" (1310mm)[*] Weight: 3.5 - 3.75 lb (1590 - 1700 g)[*] Center of Gravity (CG): 4-7/8" (124mm) back from the leading edge of the wing measured at the fuselage
[/ul]

Greg Covey

The parts come well protected in a custom box. Each section is individually wrapped in plastic but I removed some of the bags to get better photos. The covering looked perfect and both the cowl and canopy have pre-installed magnets for easy mounting.

Greg Covey

The 24-page instruction manual is loaded with photos and detailed steps for a quick assembly. A large sheet is included with pre-cut decals.

Greg Covey

A closer look at the fuselage reveals the quality construction techniques that keep the Sequence light yet strong.

Greg Covey

Some key components I'll be using on my G.P. Sequence are as follows:[ul][*] Futaba [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFLA0&P=ML]S3150[/link] Slim Digital Servos[*] Great Planes Rimfire .32 [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLWV3&P=ML]42-50-800[/link] Outrunner Brushless motor[*] Great Planes Silver Series [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKSY6&P=M]45A[/link] Brushless ESC[*] Great Planes ElectriFly Power Series Lithium Polymer 2200mAh, 14.8V, [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=++&FVSEARCH=GPMP0521&search=Go]25C Battery Pack[/link] with Balance Connector
[/ul]

Greg Covey

The assembly begins with the aileron servo installation. The steps in the manual were straightforward and I found no issues. Fiberglass plates are supplied to be used when mounting the servos instead of the grommets and eyelets that come with the servo. The plates reduce the flex on the servo for greater precision on the control surfaces. I used Futaba [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFLA0&P=ML]S3150[/link] Slim Digital servos with Hobbico [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0095p?FVPROFIL=++&FVSEARCH=HCAM2100&search=Go]HCAM2100[/link] 12" extensions. Strings are installed inside each wing half to help route the servo control wires.

Greg Covey

The horizontal stabilizer is glued in place with 30-minute epoxy after first installing the wings to check the alignment. The manual has good photos that detail the key alignment measurements needed. An elevator joiner wire is also installed with the stabilizer. The stabilizer covering comes pre-cut on the areas to be glued so there is no chance of weakening the surface with a razor knife.

After the glue dries on the stab, the elevators are glued to the joiner wire with epoxy and the three hinges on each elevator are secured with thin CA. I installed the elevators when gluing on the stab, as suggested in the manual, to help create a perfect alignment between the stab tips and elevators on each side.

doxilia

My Feedback: (3)

Subscribed!

Keep up the good work. Eager to hear the flight report.

David.

Greg Covey

Hi David,

Welcome aboard! There will be a slight break in my posts starting Wednesday as I pack for the upcoming NEAT Fair this weekend.

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The landing gear installed without issue per the manual. There is nothing to align as even the pants have pre-drilled holes and installed T-nuts. The manual clearly shows which gear leg is left and which is right. The tail gear assembly was also well designed and easy to install.

Greg Covey

The elevator servo is mounted next on the far right side of the tail mounting servo rails. The position shown is used for proper balancing when using the recommended power system that I am using. An aft position is also available to help offset tail ballast when using a heavier motor or battery pack.

I used some silicone lubricant spray to remove the sticky tape reside from the long elevator pushrod. It had been secured in the box with tape for shipping. The pushrod is cut to length and the servo end is bent 90 degrees. Both ends are secured with supplied keepers. The control horn screws, like in the ailerons, are not visible from the top side of the model.

sdg666

Nice review yet, keep up the great work!

Greg Covey

Thanks. I apologize for the building delay. In addition to last weekend's NEAT Fair, I got sick this week and will also be traveling this weekend. To make up for it, I video taped Team Futaba's, Dan Landis flying his stock GP Sequence F3A at the NEAT Fair exclusively for me. Dan only had one flight on it and no mixes set up. Overall, he says it flies very well. I'll try to post some flying photos before I travel.

[link=http://www.gregcovey.com/reviews/GreatPlanesSequenceF3A.wmv]Dan Landis Flying the G.P. Sequence F3A[/link] (12meg)

Greg Covey

Here are some photos from Dan's flight at the NEAT Fair.

courtice

Nice flying!

courtice

Any idea what kind of flight duration Dan was getting? (I assume he was using the recommended 2100mah batteries.)
I'm wondering if larger packs might be a good idea. 2100's seem a little small for a plane as big as the Sequence.

sdg666

Have you look and the website, the important notice, They now recommand 14.8V 2200 man 25C, so I think you could get about 8 to 10 minutes flight if you do a little bit of throttle management.

I don't think that putting a bigger batterie pack would help, you will just add weight and maybe have trouble balancing the plane.

[link=http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma1575-tech.pdf]Tech notice from the web site[/link]

courtice

I did see that about the 2200's, which is still only slightly bigger than the 2100's. I have some 2200's on hand already, but I will need an extra pack or two. I might consider trying something in the 2500-3000 range.

g_mkoch

Do you think GP will come up with a bigger version, let's say 50cc?

Happy Landings

sdg666

Heres the spec for the recommended batterie pack

â–*Capacity: 2200mAh
â–*Number of Cells in Series: 4
â–*Rated Voltage: 14.8V
â–*Max. Charge Voltage: 16.8V
â–*Min. Discharge Voltage: 11V
â–*Maximum Recommended Charge Current: 2.2A (1C)
â–*Continuous Discharge Current: 55A (25C)
â–*Discharge Lead: 12AWG 3.1" (80mm) long wire w/Deans Ultra Female Plug
â–*Charge Lead: 24AWG 0.8" (20mm) long wire with Balance Connector
â–*Pack Dimensions: 103 x 35 x 32mm (4 x 1.4 x 1.3")
â–*Weight: 8.2oz (233g)

So if you could find something with bigger Mah but about same weight, that would be alright.
juste like the Thunder Power Pro-Lite 4S1P 2600 (238g), altough it's a 20C instead of a 25C.

If we do:
Great Planes Thunder Power
2.2AmpX25C=55Amp max 2.6AmpX20C=52Amp max

Tis would be about the same, but in flight time I don't know

woodie

The Sequence is a nice looking plane and would be a pretty handy size to throw in the car for a quick trip to the local school ground for some practice. That is, if it is designed with minimal mixes, etc. When will we find out about mixes, knife edge tracking, roll coupling, etc? The video looks good, but the demo isn't pattern, it is a demo flight. Most demo flights look the same, fast, good pilot, semi pattern stuff. I want to know about sustained knife edge, roll coupling and all the poor qualities that seem to be prevalent in this size plane. We don't need another small pattern plane that turns out to be a sport plane because of all the 'issues'.

For once, give us an honest evaluation of it's performance. I really dislike the 'greatest plane I ever flew' reviews only to find out there are issues we only find out about once it is in general production and several people have flown it. It's supposed to be a pattern plane, let's see a review that is a pattern plane review, not a wanna be pattern plane that is really a sport plane.

Not trying to be snide or sarcastic here, but it is advertised as a pattern plane, let's see a review that includes the pattern requirements. Here's hoping it lives up to it's advertising. If it does, it will certainly be on my Christmas wish list... ;-)

Woodie

LShaver1

My Feedback: (6)

Well said Woodie.
After watching the Sequence video I felt the sting of "Got You" that happens alot in this hobby. I am NOT dishing the pilot in any way; he flew what he had....did he have a pattern plane? Sure looks cool on the ground and fast too. But is that what a pattern plane is? NO!
Alot of new guys want to try pattern for the first time so they jump on the wagon only to be diappointed later ; a slick covering job and cool decals does'nt cut it when your in the air; Going fast doesn't ether.
I've watched the Tower Hobbys promo of the Sequence and now this one. If they want to promote it as a pattern plane then let it do what it was designed to do, or can it?
Its all about power to wingloading, I threw in a video that explans it better than I can.
PS this is 6mm flat foam
LShaver1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsQ5hE9B-TY

courtice

Your Clik-x obviously flies slow, and flies pattern well. (The model looks and flies very much like an indoor F3P type plane.)
I wonder how well it does in wind? Conditions looked to be dead still in your videos.

Donatas Pauzuolis recently competed in a "real" pattern contest flying the P07 sequence, with an Extreme Flight Vanquish. (Similar size and class of plane as the GP Sequence.) He won!
I'm pretty sure that the wind conditions were pretty still that day. Hopefully, with the right setup, the GP Sequence will be just as capable.
http://www.pauzuolis-rc.com/stories/...quish-p07.html

Like Lshaver1, I am still waiting for some honest, critical flight reports from people who have really flown some pattern with the Sequence.

courtice

I did a search for clik-x and read the threads I found. The 52" version with the full fuse and airfoiled wing looks very interesting.
I'd love to see a well detailed build thread.

apereira

In that video it looks like he is flying around, I don't think he flew to show the quality of flight of that airplane, it is way too fat for pattern.
The aircraft might not be dialed down on that flights as the rudder coupling is apparent.

LShaver1, what is that foamy you are flying? it really flies well!!

Regards

Planeclaims

My Feedback: (2)

That "clik-x" foamy is not being flown by LShaver1, unless the pilot in the video has changed his RCU user name and moved to Ohio.