EF 74" Yak 54 What have I done

[blackbeer]

Well for months now I have been socking away all I could from my Social Security for my first big gasser. I've been flying RC since the late 50's and was well settled in my less then white knuckles kind of flying until last year when I saw my first 3D demo, thanks Ken for totally disrupting my comfort zone. Since that fateful day my first slab came into being, a little OMP Edge with a Saito 72 in the nose and with it I started to teach myself the mysteries of high-alpha fun. Yes I am totally hooked. I now fly a Velox with my trusty YS 110 for power and it is a great flying 3D plane. My next step was to be a 50cc rig but that is the rub. Which one................
I live in PAU country with their warehouse just about in my back yard and most of the guys flying gassers and doing 3D in my club are flying their Edge. It's easy to see why. Just a great flying plane, but I never could bring myself to fly what everyone else is flying so, although the Edge is still on my short list I had narrowed down my choices to the EF Yak or Extra. I could not make up my mind. Then I see a special on the 74" Yak with free shipping and today I pulled the trigger on it. Yes I have a problem with self control but I also have a brand new Saito 180 sitting around waiting to be sold or used and I thought it might be a good match for this airframe so what can I say. I will start over as far as saving my pennies for a gasser. I figure this will either get the Yak out of my system and make my 50cc choice easier or I will love the Yak which will also make my choice easier. I've seen flicks of the 74" flying with a YS 160 and it seemed to have plenty of power so I'm guessing the 180 will do the job. I've been trying to find a build thread here for it but so far I haven't found one.
Between discovering 3D, and this place and one other site my flying has gone through a life time of change. And maybe an old dog can't learn new tricks but I sure am haveing fun trying. Jeeze I even pumped up my old reliable H9 40 size Cub that I've been flying for about 4 years. After watching Bill Hempels vids of that over powered 50% Cub I finally hung a Saito 100 on the nose and clipped the wing tips off. Man what a blast that thing is to fly. Course the other old guys just shake their heads but what can I say. Anyway I would like some imput from you guys as far as my choice of powerplant goes and what not. If I blew it and should have waited until I had enough saved up for a gasser don't rub it in please. I am insecure enough on my own. I will let you know what I think of the ARF when it gets here.

Tom

[ben_beyer]

Nice Tom! Lets see some pics on here while you're putting it together.

I thought about jumping on that sale to, but just couldn't see me putting it together and flying it enough to make be worth it.

[blackbeer]

For sure I will Ben. I actually feel better already about doing this. I have been going nuts trying to figure out what to do as far as a big gasser goes. So many ways to go, so many great planes to choose from. Heck I couldn't even make up my mind to go 50cc or 100cc. So now I will have time to think about it.

Tom

[exeter_acres]

The 1.80 will be a great set up!

Will haul it around with authority!

[ben_beyer]

Cool. The first question you need to ask yourself on the 50cc or 100cc is what can you afford to crash. The 100cc will fly better than 50cc depending on airframe. I should be maidening my EF Extra 300 shortly and that's probably going to be the best 50cc airframe around. It's more expensive, but by the time you figure in the "extras" it and the yak come with, you're only spending maybe $75 more than what an equivalent Wild Hare would cost for example. I've flown an Aeroworks 35% Extra 260 and it flies really good, but the price is really up there. I'd be more willing to glue my own hinges and maybe having a better flying plane. Just my opinion though and I've thought about getting an Aeroworks myself a few times.

Personally, I'm seriously thinking of getting a 3W 110 in a few months and then waiting for the EF 100cc Extra 300 to come out. Little smaller than a 40%er, but cheaper to equip. I hear great things about the 100cc Yak EF released.

[blackbeer]

Well Ben; that is the question I try to convince myself is the all important one and it is for sure. Not to mention the amount of gear needed to put a 100cc plane safely in the air as apposed to a 50cc plane. That is why the two EF 50cc planes have my full attention. Not to mention all the input on the other forum(you know the one) from Chris. Makes me pretty confident in the quality of EF products. But in reality, to loose a plane that I really enjoy flying out ways the cost of replacement. I would hate to crash into pieces my Velox. Best flying plane I have had in a long time. But I really don't have enough room for anything bigger then the 50cc size so I just fantisise about anything bigger. And I try not to look at QQ's Python I just found a thread on here about the 74" Yak and a Brillelli 46 that is interesting reading. I know that engine is not around anymore but who knows, maybe I have just bought my first gasser. The 180 to start with and then maybe I will find a good deal on a good 40 to 45 cc gas engine. Though I don't like the weight of what I have seen so far.
By the way exeter thanks for the input. Thats just what I wanted to hear.

Tom

[Mithrandir]

Anything Extreme Flight sells will fly great.... nothing accidental with these designs....
I think Extreme Flight actually is the company that forced all the other Mfgr's to step up their quality and their
airframe technology...

I wish I was a TEAM EXTREME FLIGHT Pilot!!!!

[ben_beyer]

	Quote: Originally Posted by blackbeer
	Well Ben; that is the question I try to convince myself is the all important one and it is for sure. Not to mention the amount of gear needed to put a 100cc plane safely in the air as apposed to a 50cc plane. That is why the two EF 50cc planes have my full attention. Not to mention all the input on the other forum(you know the one) from Chris. Makes me pretty confident in the quality of EF products. But in reality, to loose a plane that I really enjoy flying out ways the cost of replacement. I would hate to crash into pieces my Velox. Best flying plane I have had in a long time. But I really don't have enough room for anything bigger then the 50cc size so I just fantisise about anything bigger. And I try not to look at QQ's Python I just found a thread on here about the 74" Yak and a Brillelli 46 that is interesting reading. I know that engine is not around anymore but who knows, maybe I have just bought my first gasser. The 180 to start with and then maybe I will find a good deal on a good 40 to 45 cc gas engine. Though I don't like the weight of what I have seen so far. By the way exeter thanks for the input. Thats just what I wanted to hear. Tom

Look around, you might be able to find one or an equivalent replacement.

[mikeh]

Blackbeer, you will have a wonderful combo with the 1.8 and 74" yak. I flew mine with a O.S. 1.60 perry pumped and loved it. One of the best flying planes I have ever owned. Unfortunately I last it last summer, I got shot down. I do have a set of carbon gear if your interested. Good luck with your plane.
Mikeh

[whirlyspud]

EF planes all fly great.

Mike

[Ground Pounder]

Welcome to the retirement club. Did just like you starting in October of last year. I am seriously hooked on 3D after retuning to the hobby last year. Flew control line and FF in the 50s, heavy control line in the 60s, pattern in the 80s and finished up with heli’s and ducted fans in the late 80s and early 90s so I understand the lust for the new style of flying.

I went with the 74” Yak for my first gasser and it is a great flyer. I also went through the 88” Yak and the 58” elec Yak plus a 102” QQ. Use the Saito. It is a smooth solid engine and you don’t have to mess with the ign gear. In additon there is limited room in the fus for all of the ign gear plus the radio gear. The fuel will end up being expensive but it runs much smoother than the smaller gas engines and has buckets of power.

Keep the investment costs low on this bird because once you see how well it fly’s you will probably go to a 50 cc bird as fast as possible. I went from a 74” to the 88” and then the 102 QQ in a matter of 6 months. Just finished up the 110 EF Yak this week and got 5 flights on it this Sunday. Another excellent design by Chris and the quality is excellent.

You will have a blast.

(Big print is much easier to read. )

[blackbeer]

Sorry to hear that Mikeh. That's a crumby way to loose a plane. I might be interested in that gear if you think the wait savings is worth it. Maybe you could pm me about it.
I would tend to agree with you Mithrandir but I haven't tried any others. I have seen all the PAU Edges from the 50cc up to the 43% and I must say the quality of those ARF's is secound to none. Anyway I can't wait to get my hands on this thing just to see what all this yakking is about.

Tom