Maidened my WM Extra 80.5" Extra with DA50 today. [&:] It flys very solidly compared to the under powered 1990's pattern planes. At 14.5 lbs the DA50 take it vertical with astonishing power, it just seems to accelerate vertically until it is a speck in the sky. Best of all, no sag / leaning on the engine, just endless powerful RPM. No Nitro either, what a relief that stuff is just a rip off. No complicated YS 4 strokes either with their ultra critical fuel systems. This thing is so much more fun to fly than a pattern ship of a few years back, it is amazing. I put the best servos and linkages in money can buy, and run 2x 2350 mah regulated lipos on Miracle swithces, single Rx. The rudder uses the new Hitec 5995TG, and I noted it has no play around the centre at all (karbonite gear?). The 4x JR 8611's do have play around centre. Interestingly though, 1 click of transmitter trim moves the Jr's but not the Hitec - that needs 1.5 to 2 clicks, so the resolution of the JR's seems better. If I had this level of performance in my plane back in 1990 in the nationals, it would be like having a Porsche racing against Lada's, the performance has come on such a long way.

The Hitec has incredible torque, and I fitted it to a short thick steel rod only 4 inches from the Rudder, and so the rudder has huge power. It seemed as if when you gave a quick burst of full rudder that it "throws" the plane sideways in the air. Incidentally, it was gusting at 19 Kph for the maiden, but the plane made a mockery of the wind. Size does make for a solid easy flying machine. The DA just idles so the plane stands still (22x10 prop), but the engine will quit if you nudge the plane, which is a common problem. However, after only 2 tanks of gas the DA already seems to have settled in at a better idle and I decided to use 100% mineral based oil to speed the break in. Th eengine is reasonably noisy (exhaust is the culpurit) - and the sound is great, sure beats an electric hissing noise.

Incidentally, I mounted the throttle and the choke servos in the engine box next to the igntion battery, and no interference problems were noted.

Of course the biggest problem is my rusty piloting skills, and on the second landing I misjudged it and landed in some tumble weed type bush but incredibly sustained no damage other than a few minor dents in the balsa. My conclusion is, yes, I grew up flying pattern planes for 15 years including plenty of competition, but, if you don't fly for like 5 years, it takes a bit of practice to get the airspeed/height/speed visualisation back, epecially with a giant scale plane.

So it seems flying skills are mostly like learning to ride a bike, you don't forget - but you are less confident due to no practice, and the landing approach skills are still the hardest bit .

Hey, glad to hear you got you a good plane and a good engine. DA is the BEST. Oh, your 5995 TG has titanium gears in it. Thats why it is so expensive.

Thanks on DA Edge. But does the TG have a single karbonite gear in it too to eliminate play ?