EF 58" Extra Vs EF 48" Extra 300 EXP

[pepatrick]

So..in about a weeks time, I have managed to build two EF electric planes. I love flying my 40% Compy Extra, but I live on a golf course. I have only touched my clubs one time since I have been doing this hobby for the last 3 1/2 years. So...what better use (after hours ofcourse) of a golf course than to use it as a runway. Also not to mention it is a very very wide open par 5 that dog legs into a very wide open par 3. It is large enough to fly a 50cc (or larger) plane and not feel cramped.

So back to the planes. Last weekend I was able to maiden my EF 48" Extra 300 EXP. Without a doubt this is the best flying plane (48" class) that Extreme Flight has put out. It is very stable and with the G10 elevator horn, it does some really sick aerobatics. Landings are light and the plane just tracks like its on rails...even when it is windy. I felt very comfortable with the plane after the first flight and it has now replaced my trusty acromaster as my every day flyer. Add the SFG on the wing tips and you hardly need any rudder to maintain knife edge flight...even slow high alpha stuff. The SFG are awesome and coupled with the nearly 80 degrees of elevator throws...picture a super slow knife edge spin...The plane spins fast but does not lose much altitude. Plus..It is just a lot of fun to get the plane to do misc tumbles from burying the sticks.

Now...today I was able to maiden the 58" Extra. It was not pretty because...well..I was stupid. One..the range check did not go as well as I wanted, but still not bad. This has since been fixed by moving the satellite reciever to the turtle deck. Two...it was a bit wind for a maiden flight (like that has ever stopped me). The plane was not balanced right even though it balanced on the wing tube. So..take off was squirrely...Once it was in the air...it flew fine, but since it was tail heavy landing was a bit exciting. I got the plane down and moved the battery forward where the front is about 1/2 inch in front of the F1 former. The plane flew much better. I didnt get the plane too far away since I was afraid of the range check issues so every thing was slow and low. Rolling circles were AWESOME. I programmed the hi-tec servos with my HFP-10 and got better throws out of everything. This includes about 65 degrees on elevator using the dubro 1.314" arms. I attempted to hover the plane and was marginally successful, it has unbelievable pull out with the 15 x 8 APC-e prop. I look forward to flying this thing tomorrow to see what it is really capable of now that I feel better about the range issues.

I think I am going to build SFG for the 58" Extra. It should make for some interesting rudder fun with this plane.

Here are a couple of pics...Notice a very very rare event. My build table is clean. Normally it is completely trashed...

[1bwana1]

I love the EF Extras, I have the 58". I am curious about the new 48", it based on the 58", but is supposed to have some tweaks like a more forward canopy. I am anxiously waiting for the release of the 2 Meter version which is supposed to incorporate some of the tweaks made on the 48". Which leads me to my question. Since you have these planes side, by side, what differences are you finding?

[pepatrick]

Ok..after messing around with the 58" Extra, I finally got it figured out. The plane acted tail heavy but turned out to be nose heavy. Usually I can tell the difference...but oh well...stupid is as stupid does. Another I think I did was screwed around with my hi-tech programmer and made the throws too aggressive. How about 60% on ailerons...so I got home from the field this afternoon and reset the servos only adjusting the end points with the radio. Now she flies as good as the 48" plane. I was flying a 15 x 8 and tried a 15 x 6 and 14 x 7 prop. The 15 x 6 seems to be the best compromise at 1100 feet. Plus it gets a little more flight time which is not a bad thing. Both planes are equally aerobatic. The 48" is still the better plane yet...I like the truer flying of the 58" Extra. I still have rediculous throws on the elevator of both planes...so they both can be tossed around very aggresively. If the canopy on the 48" is any more forward than the 58", its not by much...the rudder (even without the SFGs) on the 48" has more surface area in comparison to scale. Both planes are keepers...and both are a blast to fly. Now..time to get the graphics on the 58"

[danielph]

Awesome! I have the 58" and love it! My 88" is almost done too, and I can't wait to get it in the air! ! ! When I get the money, I really want to get the 48". No plane can fit my style better than an EF Extra 300 of any size! ! ! !:198: Have fun! Oh, BTW, video???:200:

[fly/n/busa]

I have been flying for about 6 months, I have the T-28 Trojan and the Striker, I had the extre 260 but crashed it, my new plane is going to be the 48" Extreme Extra.. is this to much plane for me to learn the art of 3D??? Thanks Leo

[Rocket Ron]

pepatrick,
I just won the 48" at an IMAC contest and almost have it built. I'm an IMAC'er and do VERY LITTLE with electrics. Where would you suggest buying my 4s pack from and what charger should I get? I only have a Sirius that charges up to 3s and I suppose I really need to fly a 4s on this bird. Any info would be GREATLY appreciated !

[flieslikeabeagle]

Rocket Ron, may I make a suggestion or two on your charger/battery conundrum?

The best pricing you can get today for batteries and chargers is from a vendor called Hobby City. This vendor is located in Hong Kong. I don't know if the non-US location matters to you or not, but I wanted to get that out of the way first, since it does matter to some people. (FYI, I have no affiliation with any RC vendor, domestic or foreign.)

Firstly, the charger; the most bang-for-the-buck charger I know of today is the Turnigy Accucel 6, sold by Hobby City. The charger can handle up to 6S lipo packs, puts out up to 5 amps of charge current, and has built-in pack balancing. All of this sells for under $40, an incredible bargain when compared to other chargers with similar capabilities which often sell for well over $100. Here's a link to the charger:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7028&Product_Name=Turnigy_Accucel-6_50W_5A_Balancer/Charger

Hobby City also has a big brother to this charger, the Accucel 8, which can charge lipo packs with up to eight cells, and can put out up to 7 amps. This very capable charger sells for around $80:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7523&Product_Name=Turnigy_Accucel-8_150W_7A_Balancer/Charger

I have both chargers, and both have performed flawlessly for me. There are minor irritations and flaws - the brown letters and markings on the Accucel 6 are virtually invisible in poor lighting, the balancer sockets and main charge output are on opposite ends of the Accucel 8, for example - but I am quite happy with both chargers.

Hobby City also has excellent pricing on lipo packs, and over on RC Groups, the Extreme Flight test pilots mentioned using one in their 48" Extra 300 EXP and being very pleased with its performance. (It weighs an ounce or so more than some of the lightest packs on the market, but costs a third as much!). Here's the pack the Extreme Flight pilots tested, a 4S 2350 mAh Rhino lipo pack:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7469&Product_Name=Rhino_2350mAh_4S1P_25C_Lipoly_Pack

As it happens, I have two of these lipo packs myself. I use them in a Multiplex Magister and also in a 54" Hyperion Extra 260 (both electric powered, obviously). I have only a few cycles on the packs so far, and the packs have performed very well.

If you buy both the batteries and the charger from Hobby City, the balance plugs on the battery pack will be compatible with the balance connector on the charger, and you will avoid the headache of trying to find suitable adapters.

There are, of course, US vendors who will be happy to sell you chargers and batteries. One example is FMA Direct. They make a very nice little 4S-capable charger called the Multi4; it has less output power than the Accucell 6, but sells for twice the price, at around $80. FMA Direct also sells 4S 2200 mAh packs in two grades, one labelled Revoelectrix and one Revoelectrix Platinum. One costs about $90, the other $95.

Did you notice that these Revoelectrix packs have slightly less capacity than the Rhino 2350 mAh pack, and yet sell at three times the price? And the FMA charger sells for double the price of the more powerful and capable Accucel 6? This is why I recommended Hobby City. I know of no US vendor that comes even close to competing with them on price.

You didn't ask about motors and ESC's, but I'll mention that Hobby City sells both. Their Turnigy Plush ESC's are excellent, and some of the bigger ones have a built in switching BEC which you need for use with 4S packs. As for motors, my recommendation is to stay with one of the two Torque motors recommended for this aircraft by Extreme Flight. The Hobby City Turnigy motors are much cheaper, yes, but also heavier and significantly less efficient. That's not what you want in an extreme-performance 3D aerobat!

Those Turnigy motors do fine for sport planes, though.

-Flieslikeabeagle

[remsiux]

Hello boys,

So can somebody say more pros and cons of these two models. Witch is better? The 58 one is bigger so it will handle the wind better. But lots of people are having fut with their exp's.

[BR289]

They are really two different planes and two different sizes. The 58" obviously will be heavier and will require a five cell battery.
The 48" has a bit more stretched out fuselage using a four cell pack and is lighter...so it wont handle the wind as well but on the other hand if you like flying in the wind, it can be alot of fun.
Both are rather quick building and are very popular planes...the 58" can also be converted to glow with the conversion kit available for it.

[STLAV8R]

Does the 58" come with SFG's?
When will it be back in stock?

[BR289]

No, the 58" has no sfg's. as far as when we will have more I dont know at this point. Hopefully soon.