foghead

Just finished a GB Electra, equipped as per the instructions to the letter. (only deviation was a 7-cell instead of the recommended 6) This thing seems to weigh a ton! I'm wondering if it will actually fly. Anyone had much experience with this one? Should I just go ahead and run over it with my car to save time?

wayfarerbobby

My son and I flew our electra several times per instructions. We found it heavy, slow, and didn't respond well to transmitter inputs. I crashed it (to much on the nose landing). I have now rebuilt (repaired) I went to a geared motor from Airscrew. Also put in a Electronic speed control. We have not yet flown the Elecra with the new upgrades so I'm sorry I can't say how much of a improvement these changes made. The plane is 3oz lighter and seems to have more thrust from the geared motor and larger prop.Let me know how you make out.

BMatthews

The 3 Electras that I have seen flying all needed that added 10 to 15% extra that a gear box and big prop would give. Add to this the fact that the wing didn't seem too happy to me packing that extra weight.

They DO fly and will thermal. But IMHO the Electra is not a happy marraige of motor package and airframe. But 45 to 56 oz is not an unreasonable AUW for a 2 meter fitted out with that class of motor and battery stuff.

One thing you could try is to go for a lighter and smaller cell size if you're using the usual car packs made from sub C's. 1000 mah AA's will save you enough weight to make a big difference at the expense of only being able to climb 2 to 2 1/2 times.

Another option if the basic airframe came out light enough is to switch to a Speed 400 and 7 or 8 cell 600mah pack. That could shave off almost a lb from the weight. But the airframe would have to be a light one.

As for the sluggish controls you were probably trying to fly it like it's lighter Gently Lady cousin. You can't. It's got to have it's speed to let the wing fly properley at the new weight. Let it move a little and the controls will respond much better.

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

I have had quite a few of these. I have a couple to friends so we could fly together. they are heavy as heck when you put in a battery, but they fly good. I can loop and roll it. I use a lot of throw. It flys inverted. Nice plane. Takes a pretty good thermal to get lift, but I have skyed it out many times over the years. Give it a try. You will like it. Drops like a rock if there is no lift. Make it so you can turn the motor on and off and you can get 10 to 15 minute flights.

Dan Johnson

A friend of mine is flying the electra and with a diferent motor
and gear reduction, has a couple hundred flights on it. His best time was 1hr 43 minutes.It gets his lions share of the flying.

aerostar55

The Electra never was a home sick angel in the climb. With the stock 550 can motor and direct drive 8 X 6 propeller the climb was sluggish. You almost needed lift or some wind to fly. But it did work and I have put in many flights with the original set up.

Most Electra flyers up grade to the Master Airscrew 3 to 1 gear drive and a 12 X 8 folding propeller. They sell a complete set up with a motor. It's a bolt on fit to the

Electra. Also Iwent to an 8 (AA size)cell NiMh battery pack. It fits right in the fuselage easily. I'm still flying mine this way, even with a video camera on board.


A lot of people are switching to a brushless 450 or 480motor with aLipo battery these days. With that set upthe Electra really climbs outfast.

da Rock

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