riot3d

I received my X-treme Altair 200 yesterday, and will start a build thread soon.

Earlier this year, I was planning to order another plane from Akiba, his latest design - the ProLine Evolution. However, since I didn't know whether I could make the Hong Kong team again, I just couldn't make up my mind for the longest time. At one point, I was actually thinking of placing an order regardless of the outcome, and was communicating with Akiba. Unfortunately, because of the appreciation of the Japanese Yen - all the way from 110 to 88 Yen to US$1.00. In addition, with Akiba's reply indicating to me that he will not be able to finish my plane until the end of May for a mid June delivery, I decided to scrap that idea. Since my wood ProLine is still more than capable of handling the P sequence, I will fly it again at this year's WC. Nevertheless, I would still like to have a spare plane just in case, so I started to look around at different designs. Unfortunately, there were just not too many offerings out there for a quick delivery.

After much searching, I kept coming back to the Altair 200. To be honest, the plane wasn't really on top of my list at first. I still remember my team mate - Alex Lau - representative of the Altair contacted me late last year, wondering whether I would like to be the first few to own one. However, since I was not really happy with my prototype X-treme PL - over weight and some workmanship issue - I decided not to accept his offer. However, after I saw the plane, actually, planes in person during my team trial - all 5 of the competitors from Hong Kong were flying the same design, I changed my mind. The workmanship and the quality of the plane was just a lot better than my Astral XX and the PL, and after I have seen the way the plane performed in the wind, I decided to place an order. Fortunately, because of Alex's connection and also with the help from my good friend Nuttawut - one of X-treme's representative - I received the plane in record time.

Here are some background info on the Altair 200, the plane is designed by two times World Champion - Giichi Naruke. It's an evolution from the Aries/ Altair series, it has a slightly shorter wing span and smaller wing area for better rolling/ snapping maneuvers. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I believe it also has a slightly taller fuselage as well. By looking at the way Alex putting the plane through the F sequence, I could tell it is a much better design than my Astral XX.

Here are some pix, and the build thread will start in the next few days:-

Adrian

jim woodward

Hi Adrian,

The plane looks really nice. If you get a chance, post some pictures of the landing gear installation. How are the gear with the stubby mounting tab held in? Also, have you talked to anyone that has flown the skinny and wide versions of the landing gear back to back?
Thanks,
Jim

Nickolas

Adrian looks gorgeous,

One of the most beautiful planes ever.

Internal quality is similar to the ProLine though.

The plane flown by Onda at the Japanese champs is wooden and made by Naruke Hobby right? Is there any difference with that in terms of design characteristics etc?

Regards,
Nikos

rgreen24

My Feedback: (6)

any weights?

riot3d

Hi Jim,

The angle of the pix is slightly distorted. The mounting tab on the gear is actually not that short, see attached pix

I have been using the wider canard gear on my X-treme PL for more than 6 months now, and more than a year on my Astral. I felt it does help the knife edge flight slightly, but you pay a slight weight penalty of 10g.

riot3d

As far as I know, Onda owns none of those planes, it's all a loaner from Naruke, and it's made by Nishioka - the most elite builder in Japan.

It is quite difference between the wood and the composite, with the Oxai version being closest to the original.

riot3d

Fuse - 998 g
Wing - 930 g
Lt stab - 130 g
Rt stab - 120 g
Bellypan - 150 g
Canopy & some included hardware - 173 g
Lt gear (supplied) - 61 g, (canard) - 80 g
Rt gear (supplied) - 60 g, (canard) - 70 g

tIANci

Having seen the plane in the flesh it is a real beauty. The finish is immaculate. It seems that AUW for GP is in the 4.8 kg region.

riot3d

As long as it's under 5 kg, that's all I care ...

Nickolas

About 130gr heavier than the latest version of the PL.

With the CDI engine you will probably be at the 4900gr range.

riot3d

I will not be using the cdi, I'll be using the new steam power unit ...

Nickolas

hehe water tank will add some extra weight then...

Nice plane anyway sure it would fly well even if it came at the 6Kg range. Happy building...

tIANci

Come on ... if you are really worried about weight then let's:

i. remove the pilot and instrument panel decal (btw, I am curious, are pilots a must for events?)
ii. lighten then US by drilling some holes
iii. lighten firewall a little (you can go EP to ensure less vibration)

Hehehehee ... I think there is an EP version of the Altair in Singapore now. I need to ask my pal. I heard he wanted to go EP and that the plane is completed. Wonder if he went the EP path ...

Chris Moon

My Feedback: (8)

Adrian flies mode 1 just to prevent his buddies from being able to fly all of his cool planes. Not really true but we want to fly his planes. He has good stuff nobody else has...

riot3d

Some progress has been made this week, the aileron servo and connection is done. I'm using push rods from Creative Models, rod ends from Hirobo and horns from Nishioka. Since the push rods' length are pre-determined - 55mm - it took a bit of cutting & measuring to ensure a correct fit.

Whenever I install servos on a plane with a one piece wing configuration, I always glue a small piece of foam inside the servo lead opening to prevent the leads from dropping back into the wing by accident.

riot3d

Landing gear, wheel pants and tail wheel are also done. Presently, I'll be using the wide canard gear. However, if that makes it over weight, I'll switch it back to the narrower one.

The plane has the option of either using a Budd or YS mount. Since I have had good luck with the YS mount on both my Astral XX and ProLine, I chose the YS option. However, if you want to use the YS mount, you will need to purchase a mount bracket manufactured by my friend Alex Lau, This particular bracket has the same mounting holes as the Budd, and will fit X-treme's Astral XX, ProLine and the Altair 200.

Next step will be ele & rud installation. Hopefully, will be done in the next few evenings.

riot3d

Due to carelessness, I installed the ail push rods on the wrong side of the horn. Luckily, my friend Alex Lau was reading the thread and pointed out the obvious, it's now all fixed.

mups53

My Feedback: (41)

Mode1!!!!
Hey Adrian I could fly your planes now. Great!!! Thanks dude. Mike

riot3d

I have been using some very thin foam insulation tape from Japan on all of the contact surfaces with good results - the wing saddle, the stab and the bellypan - to cut down on the rubbing noises. Since it is extremely thin and light weight, I also wrap it around the aileron & elevator extension leads. And, because this plane will be using two servos on the elevator, the long extensions will most likely be rattling inside the fuse if it is not properly insulated also. However, you must use a very sharp knife each time. For some reason, these tape snags easily.

riot3d

One thing I have noticed, the mounting point/ platform on the wing is not that strong. You can easily crush it if you over tighten the wing bolts, even if you use some relatively big flat washers to spread the load. In addition, you always have to worry about losing the wing bolts after removing the wing.

Luckily, I have some aluminum wing bolt retainers with a cap opening for M4 bolts. Once the bolt is inside, you glue the cap with epoxy, and you no longer have to worry about bolts falling out. Then, after you glue those retainers onto the wing with slow cured epoxy, you're done. The mounting bolts will always go in straight, and you will never have to worry about damaging the mounting platform.

tggilkey

Adrian

What is the thickness of the foam tape?

Have you seen a comparable product in the States?

The build is looking good! Keep the photos coming.

Thanks,
Tom

riot3d

Tom,

According to the packaging, L - 7 m x W - 40 mm x Thickness - 2 mm.

I have not seen anything comparable here in the States. Then, again, I have never really did much of a search on the net either.

Adrian

riot3d

I finally found some time to start installing the engine. First, two holes has to be cut on the firewall. One for the spark plug cable, the other for the timing sensor wire. Be sure to insert rubber grommet onto the firewall to prevent the spark plug cable from chaffing.

The next step is to install a honeycomb platform for the cdi unit, all real straight forward. Next is to install plumbing, throttle servo/ push rod, header and pipe. Hopefully, will get that taking care of in the next two evenings.

dragonlhk2388

good job Adrian,happy landing. Altair really flies good. you will enjoy much from it I,m sure.

Ryan Smith

My Feedback: (25)

Adrian,

Do you get your valve covers painted overseas, or do you do them yourself? Do you know what kind of paint is used?