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pipercub123 · 10-20-2008, 06:07 PM

I now have two good crashes on my 29% Airwild Extra 260. I like the plane as it's light and flies well. I've been considering buying an Aeroworks Yak 54, but it seems heavy compared to the 260. I've read other posts of people complaining that the 260 is too light weight. This is my first 50cc powered plane so I'm not to familiar with what's normal damage during dead stick landings in the rough. The rough I mention is taller field grass with a few ruts from a tractor, nothing that bad. Two times now I put it in and torn off the whole motor box in about the same spot. I've put other .60 sized planes down with no more damage than a broken prop. During the first crash, I had no broken prop. The stock DA muffler stack tore back and in the process ripped my fire wall. Now this time around I used nylon bolts on the gear and have less damage. My prop did get a light crack, but not broken in half as I'm used to. That is a good hunk of wood, but shouldn't the motor box withstand breaking a prop without tearing itself apart? Perhaps this plane is too weak? I know it holds up to blenders!

So one question is, are our giant planes weaker than the smaller ones because of their weight, speed, and the limited thickness of balsa available without gaining excessive weight?

I like my planes to be rugged enough to withstand a few deadsticks and rough landings as these things just seem to happen. I never bash land mine, but my engine trouble is forcing me to deadstick a few rough ones.

My second question is, perhaps I should put this plane on the back burner again and bring out later for an electric conversion? That should help limit the dead sticks even though electric isn't 100% perfect.

I really can't afford another plane, but all the time I spend rebuilding I could be doing over time to buy a plane that will hold up, unless this is the norm.

So third question is if I buy a new plane, I want a quality plane that will last and one that I can be proud to show up with to the field. I fly mostly IMAC, but I like to 3D and would like to see how the Yaks 3D. I love fast vertical performance. I would like to try a canister or tuned pipe so having a model with a pipe tunnel would be awesome so I can get it quieter. I also need something that's easy to see in the air as I mostly fly in whitish overcast days where a lot of white on a plane just doesn't work.

I've been leaning towards the Aeroworks Yak 54, but am thinking a Wildhare or TOC Xtreme to keep costs down. The Magic Hand planes seem like a nice affordable option as well. I am leaning towards Airwild though as I've heard so much good about them. So what do you guys think? Rebuild the 260 or time to move on?

10-20-2008, 06:07 PM	#1
pipercub123 Bad-ass Super Contributer! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY, USA Age: 25 Posts: 387	To buy or not to buy I now have two good crashes on my 29% Airwild Extra 260. I like the plane as it's light and flies well. I've been considering buying an Aeroworks Yak 54, but it seems heavy compared to the 260. I've read other posts of people complaining that the 260 is too light weight. This is my first 50cc powered plane so I'm not to familiar with what's normal damage during dead stick landings in the rough. The rough I mention is taller field grass with a few ruts from a tractor, nothing that bad. Two times now I put it in and torn off the whole motor box in about the same spot. I've put other .60 sized planes down with no more damage than a broken prop. During the first crash, I had no broken prop. The stock DA muffler stack tore back and in the process ripped my fire wall. Now this time around I used nylon bolts on the gear and have less damage. My prop did get a light crack, but not broken in half as I'm used to. That is a good hunk of wood, but shouldn't the motor box withstand breaking a prop without tearing itself apart? Perhaps this plane is too weak? I know it holds up to blenders! So one question is, are our giant planes weaker than the smaller ones because of their weight, speed, and the limited thickness of balsa available without gaining excessive weight? I like my planes to be rugged enough to withstand a few deadsticks and rough landings as these things just seem to happen. I never bash land mine, but my engine trouble is forcing me to deadstick a few rough ones. My second question is, perhaps I should put this plane on the back burner again and bring out later for an electric conversion? That should help limit the dead sticks even though electric isn't 100% perfect. I really can't afford another plane, but all the time I spend rebuilding I could be doing over time to buy a plane that will hold up, unless this is the norm. So third question is if I buy a new plane, I want a quality plane that will last and one that I can be proud to show up with to the field. I fly mostly IMAC, but I like to 3D and would like to see how the Yaks 3D. I love fast vertical performance. I would like to try a canister or tuned pipe so having a model with a pipe tunnel would be awesome so I can get it quieter. I also need something that's easy to see in the air as I mostly fly in whitish overcast days where a lot of white on a plane just doesn't work. I've been leaning towards the Aeroworks Yak 54, but am thinking a Wildhare or TOC Xtreme to keep costs down. The Magic Hand planes seem like a nice affordable option as well. I am leaning towards Airwild though as I've heard so much good about them. So what do you guys think? Rebuild the 260 or time to move on?