[KrisW]

If you are used to seeing a Carden Extra. . then YES. . it does. The fin shape is very similar, with the narrow top and very wide bottom. The Stabs/elevators are "Giles202" sized with a slightly different shape and aerobalancer, and are narrower than an Extra. The "Extra" style wing, with double sweep, is slightly different on the MX-2, with the TE sweeping forward more than the LE sweeps back, but the placement on the side of the fuselage is very close to the same position.

I'm thinking that this plane should fly very much like an Extra, withthe same coupling characteristics. The Full Scale MX-2 was actually modified extensively from the G-202 planform, more closely resembling the g-300, with the rudder/fin being moved aft 7" to get the turbulent air from the stabilizer off the vertical components and make them more effective. Also, the MX-2 uses a 540CI Lycoming, versus a 360, so the cowl was lengthened about 8-10" to accomodate the longer engine, like the G-300 style cowl. It's also a 2-place aircraft, adding a bit of length in the canopy area. (again, G-300)

So, overall, the fuselage shape is going to look stretched in the Full Scale, when compared to the G-202, will be less bulbous at the front, and will have a longer tail moment, making it start to resemble an Extra 300L or even Extra 200, with a Giles rudder grafted onto the airframe. Length and Span of the MX-2 are smaller than the Extra, with a length of 21.5 feet and a span of 24 feet. This renders a "Model" at 40% with a Span of 115.2" and length of 103 for "scale" to 113" for 10% over length (measured from rudder tip to spinner tip). Anyone touting a 120" span as being "40%" has it ALL wrong. That's a 42% plane.

This makes the CA mx-2 39.5% scale, and the fuselage length right in the middle of the allowable range for competition in IMAC. Also, at 107 long, it is NOT just a revamped G-202, since it is 5.5" longer than the CA G-202. I think they did a lot more with the molds than they are telling us about.

BTW, when talking to the guys at MXR last year, they told me the plane retained all the good characteristics of the G-202, being very nimble and quick when compared to the Extra, and that they actually had to turn the roll rate DOWN because it was possible to see over 720 degrees of roll per second, and no one could keep up with the plane at that roll rate. Right now the roll rate is rated at 400 degrees/second.


So. . "Looks like an Extra" . .mildly so. I'm sure it will fly as well, if not better, than the 3M CA-330, and if you can get it light enough, ought to be a good slow flyer as well.