Extra ready for maiden
 

Well it's done. Ran a few tanks of fuel through it tonight to set the engine up, checked the balance and went over all the bolts. All the throws are set, dual rates are dialed in, just have to charge the batteries and go. Hopefully she'll see the sky this weekend if the weather holds out. This is my first tail dragger so any input would be appreciated. I set the elevator throws per plan, says DO NOT use any more but they still look skimpy to me. A 1/4" up and 5/16" down on low rate and 5/16" up and 3/8" down on high.

Great Planes Extra 300S 40 size with a S.T G51 in it.

Wish me luck,
Dan

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

kewl keep me posted on the maiden

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Those throws should be enough, it doesn't take A lot of elevator or aileron, I use A degree meter to set mine and go to 15 to 18 degrees up and down for high rate and 10 to 12 for low then work from there to see what the plane likes. Rudder I use as much as I can get.
Not as much difference in A tail dragger or A trike as people say, as soon as the tail goes on to step {lifts off the ground}it just steers with rudder. When pulling out onto the runway just hold full up elevator to keep the tail wheel on the ground so you can steer.
On landing let the plane roll out and stop then pull full up on the elevator again and turn around and steer it back to the pit area.
During take off some tail draggers like to lift the tail so high it will hit the prop, just watch out for that. No big deal, just watch the plane.
Dang nice plane too!!:D

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Very nice looking job. Good luck on your maiden!

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Hey Split S,

Awesome looking plane. Looks like you did a great job putting it together.

Fly safe and have fun!!!:D:D
David

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Nice covering job!

The GP Extra is a blast - Enjoy!

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

After a beautiful day yesterday in the mid 70's they want highs in the 40's and windy for the weekend. We'll see.

Dan

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Last weekend I maidened the Extra - what a blast!! She flies like she is on rails, makes me look like a much better pilot then I am. I had her out today at the field, flew till it started to drizzle a bit, wish I could have got more time in.

Dan

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Nice covering job.How did you get the checker covering around the cowl without pulling it out of shape?

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

The cowl checkers are paint - not covering. What an experience that was..;)

Dan

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Split S: your EXTRA looks terrific, very nice job. Congratulations. ;)

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

I would love to hear about the painting of the cowl. I just made A mess out of A cowl on A CG Extra. I can build but painting kills me every time.
What primer, what paint, what did you use to mask, did you use and air brush or cans?? A helpless fool needs to know. :(

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Upol "High 5" aerosol primer was used after I filled the seams. All the paint is PPG DBC urethane basecoat. I painted the entire cowl white first, them covered the cowl with masking tape. I drew the checkers on the tape and used an Exacto knife to cut the checkers out. I tried laying out the scheme with fine line tape but found I couldn't get the pattern very even looking - hence drawing and cutting. The black was sprayed next. I then masked the checkered portion and moved on to the red - masked that up and then sprayed the blue. Both the red and blue sections were un-masked leaving the checkers masked. I back taped the area that I wanted the silver stripe, sprayed that, unmasked everything and applied 2 coats of PPG DC3000 to the entire cowl. Being a sport plane I left it at that, no dirt and very glossy. I could have sanded and polished it but the GP cowl is a little on the shall I say fragile - flimsy side so I didn't want to tempt fate. Hope that helps you.

Dan

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Nice job!!!

RE: Extra ready for maiden
 

Dan, that told me everything I needed to know, I'm not cut out for painting. Sounds like way too much work for me. Sure looks good when you do it though. ;)