 Product Video
Product Review:
Hangar 9 35% Extra 260
Perspective By:
Stephen "SleepyC" CInch
Manufacturer Contact:
Hangar 9 Horizon Hobby, Inc.
4105 Fieldstone<
Manufacturer Website:
www.horizonhobby.com http://www.hangar-9.com/
FlyingGiants Ratings:
| Packaging: |  | | Kit Quality: | | | Ease of Build: | | | Huckability: | | | Overall: | | |
From the moment I saw this airplane at the 2007 Toledo Weak Signals show in April, I knew I had to have it. It hung above the crowded expo floor, a beacon in a sea of planes that constantly caught my attention. I spent quite a few minutes (read hour) staring at this plane. The covering scheme and the outline were exactly what I was looking for in an ARF. So when this plane was offered to the FlyingGiants for a review, I begged to do it. Hangar 9 has long been known to produce very nice giant scale aerobatic aircraft, and with this being their biggest to date, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! |
    Knowing that the plane was shipped from Illinois, and knowing that it was only a two-day transit to Ohio, I was ready and waiting for the kit when it was finally delivered. Hangar 9 did not disappoint in regard to the packaging of the plane. The large box was double boxed ensuring that any materials inside made it to their destination. Each piece inside this box was individually packaged, bagged and stuffed into its own little compartment. The fuse was wrapped in plastic, had foam padding in the proper places and even had a tight fitting dowel rod put through the wing tube phonolic that fastened to the sides of the box. This kept the fuse from moving in any direction. The wings were in their own box that was again double boxed Every part of the airplane made it through transport in perfect condition. I couldn't have been more pleased!
SPECS: Wing Span: 105 in (2667mm) Overall Length: 98 in (2489mm) with spinner Wing Area: 2003 sq in (129 sq dm) Flying Weight: 27–30 lb (12–14 kg) Engine Size: 100–116cc gas Radio: 4-channel or more Servos: 8 servos (or 9 if using two rudder servos) Spinner Size: 4 ½ in Hardware Included: Yes
Before the airplane arrived I downloaded the manual from Horizon hobbies website. This gave me a chance to read it through a few times and figure out what I needed to complete the airplane. After making the list I ordered the servo extensions I needed, (8) JR 8711 servos, (7) JR 1.5" alumnium locking servo arms, (2) JR match boxes, a DA 100, MTW 75 canisters with 55mm drop headers and a full Fromeco battery/regulator/switch set up to all plug into a Smartfly power expander. I had all of this arrive at the same time as the plane so that I could get right to work! After everything arrived, I inspected my pile of goodies in detail and made sure I was starting off with perfect equipment. Then, just because it's a habit for me, I went over all the parts of the plane with a covering iron (the plane really did not have any wrinkles to speak of, I just make it a habit to make sure the covering is completely sealed on any ARF) and then I went straight to work assembling the plane.My first impression after fitting the plane together for the first time was that this 260 appears to be a very nice airplane, and I can't believe they only change $999.00!! All the parts fit tightly together, and the overall construction was really of a high caliber. Also, I was really amazed at how much of this ARF is done for you. This is really an Almost Ready to Fly plane.I posted a build thread on our web site but it really is an assembly thread. I would estimate that around 90% of the actual building is already done at the factory. The hinging is done. The fuel tank is plumbed and mounted (we are talking metal ties and soldered on barbs don't even bother checking it kind of done), the control horns are in all the surfaces and Locktite applied, the cowl is mounted and the hatch is ready to go.
It almost like your skipping ahead to the final moments of a build and you just have the fun stuff left to do.If you follow the manual step by step the assembly process is very fast. The manual is laid out very logically, and it pays off to assemble the plane in the order that is presented in the book.     I have two tips that are not mentioned in the manual and I believe they can help out quite a bit. The first tip involves one of the first parts in the assembly manual, the stabs. Nothing major here, just a spot that can be a little tricky. The stabs have the servos mounted inside of them, with the servo arms protruding through the bottom of the stab. This is a great system if you need to remove the stabs for transport because it lets the control linkage stay attached, and you only need to have your servo leads remain detachable! I had to open up the slot on the bottom of the stab around ¼" to give the servo arm the room it needed to operate freely without any binding. If done properly, it is hardly noticeable. TIP: enlarge the servo arm exit hole in the stabs to accommodate your selected servo arms. The second tip involves the rudder. Again, nothing major here. The rudder uses a long piano wire as the hinge material. They did this so that the rudder can be made removable. This is a great idea, but the hinge material can be a bit of a bear to get in. After fooling with the rudder for a few minutes a friend of mine that had also received the airplane around the same time told me a little tip and it helped me tremendously. TIP: Sharpen the tip of the piano wire hinge material that you are inserting into the hinges. This will allow it to slip into each hinge much easier, and will make the rudder installation go very quickly.     The other aspects of the build were pretty straight forward. If you have ever built a standard ARF, this airplane will be a breeze for you. Its really that nice. Another thing I like to do is to check the wing and stab incidence. Would you believe it, both wings and both stabs were actually at ZERO. This is the very first ARF I have ever received that the wings were perfectly level. Nice job Hangar 9!! After 3 nights of relaxed building (two to three hours a night) I had the airplane pretty much ready to fly!    
I couldn't wait to fly this plane. As soon as it was finished, I just stared at it, and planned my maiden. Unfortunately my workweek is a long one, so it would be a full six days before I had the chance to fly it! (ARRRGGHHH!) Saturday finally arrived, the weather looked great, so off I went to a flying field that I knew would be a great place to maiden the plane. I arrived and assembled the plane. Instantly I had some people eyeballing my new bird. The plane seems to have that effect on people. I went over every screw and connection one last time and started on the range tests. Everything checked out so it was time to give the plane a whirl. I had a buddy with me at the field that is a much more experienced pilot. So I had asked him to step in and do the initial flights. He went over my set up and nodded his head that he was ready. A few flips of the DA 100 had the motor purring, and the sound emitting from the cans was a very quiet and pleasant one. The surfaces were checked for proper deflection one last time and the plane was sent airborne. 2 clicks of up is the only trim needed for this plane. and within two passes the plane was flying hands off and level. My buddy said the plane felt instantly connected, and that the set up the manual had suggested was spot on. Within two minutes, the plane was performing rolling circles, flat spins, harriers and even hovering on the deck. My buddy only flys kit planes, and has not owned an ARF for quite some time, and his face was grinning and he kept saying.. "Well I'll be Darn, I think you have yourself an airplane here Sleep". We brought the plane down, checked everything again and now, finally, it was my turn on the sticks. I consider myself a decent pilot, but I'm no Animal J., so when I tell you that within one minute I felt completely comfortable with this airplane, that is saying a lot. I usually feel like I'm flying my other planes decently, but I don't have that LOCKED in feeling. With the 260 I did, and this feeling was on my first flight! The plane had a tiny bit of pitch coupling, but this was easily mixed out with a small rudder to elevator mix. (I apologize for some of the pictures, my camera had a bad day, and I had to take still frames from the video)       As I get more and more in tune with this plane, I can feel that it's really helping my piloting skills. Instead of fighting to fly, and feeling slightly behind the plane, on this 260, I feel I'm in control and I can concentrate on flying and proper execution. I can see how this plane could be a great plane for IMAC competition. It really goes and does exactly what you tell it to! With the DA 100 on cans in the plane, with the extra Fromeco 5200 battery the final weight was 28.2 lbs. And at that weight this plane is still a real floater. It can do the best flat spins, and perform the most rock solid harriers of any plane I have ever owned. If you know how to do it, this plane will respond, and make you look good doing it! And when its time to land, the plane will slow to a crawl for repeated 3 point landings.  
Follow the instructions to a "T". If you follow the set up perfectly, you will have a great flying airplane. TIP 1: enlarge the servo arm exit hole in the stabs to accommodate your selected servo arms. TIP 2: Sharpen the tip of the piano wire hinge material that you are inserting into the hinges. This will allow it to slip into each hinge much easier, and will make the rudder installation go very quickly.    
The Hangar 9 35% Extra 260 is without a doubt the best flying ARF I have ever owned. PERIOD. As the weeks go by, and the flight log fills up, I find myself enjoying this plane more and more. When I attend shows and let other pilots fly this plane, I hear the same thing over and over, "Man Sleepy, you have a great flying plane right there!" I hate to gush about any product, because when you do people tend to think your trying to be a hype machine. But in this case I couldn't do anything but gush. The Hangar 9 35% Extra 260 is really that good. From the quality of the materials included, to the amazing flight characteristics this plane has, IT IS REALLY THAT GOOD. To Mr. Mike McConville I say Bravo Sir, you really out-did your self with this one, and to Horizon I say Thank You for bringing this plane to market. I'm sure you will have many happy customers! | Hangar 9 Horizon Hobby, Inc.
4105 Fieldstone< www.horizonhobby.com http://www.hangar-9.com/ | |
09-12-2007, 11:56 PM
Re: Hangar 9 35% Extra 260 
2008 HUCKFESTS: ST LOUIS : CONNECTICUT : OHIO : ATLANTA - BE THERE!
