Here is my latest project.
97" (33%) Pilot RC Extra 260
I was looking for a Extra 260 to put a Hacker A80-8 motor. I saw Pilot had a Intro price on there new planes and everyone that has orderd one of there planes has been real happy. so I thought I would get one. (BTW I sold my H9 Carden Yak and a few of my smaller planes to finance this project)
Tony at Pilot RC was great to work with he answered all of my questions and made modifcations to the plane. (they added a center servo mount for the ailerons) I had the guys at Pilot do a little custom covering on the wings. he sent pictures of the plane packed up for shipping. I have my DHL shipping # and I should have the plane on monday - tuesday next week.

The Plane:
Cost $699.00
Custom covering on wings $35.00
Shipping $170.00 (from China)

The setup:
Hacker A80-8 motor
Jeti Spin 200 ESC
Xoar 24x10 prop
5 JR DS8711 servos (out of my Yak)
Spektrum AR7000 RX
2 A123 6.6v 2300mHa RX packs
2 MaxAmps 22.2v 4200mHa 35c lipo's

this is the same setup that I use in my 33% H9 Sukhoi SU26 and I have had great luck with it.

I hope the plane will come in around 21 -22lb. with the lipo's we will see.
http://www.pilot-rc.com/ProductShow.aspx?id=68

Congrats on the new plane

Cool, a big electric!

Can't wait for maiden video. I never see my plane with electric motor flight.
anything need help. don't hesitate to contact me.
enjoy.

Hi Ron
one important note I forgot to mention you.pls look the following:
The middle servo mount is for one servo per wing, other two servo mounts are for two servos per wing.don't cut the Ultracote with the wrong hole.

WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY overkill on the rx batteries!!!!!!! Save yourself a half-pound and just use one A123 1100, one switch, and a Fromeco DC-up. The single 1100 can push all the amps you'll need and the DC-up will be there to provide the extra umph when your servos start to work hard.
This is an electric plane, and you will have to pop the hatch to remove/install the main batteries, anyway, so just replace the rx battery after every flight as well, or charge it.
You will have a hard time getting down to 22 pounds as it is, so you need to think light when it comes to your equipment. With batteries, RTF, I'd bet you are in the 23-24 pound range - still extremely light for a plane this size.

hey bodyworks,
I have used the A123 1100 mAh packs in some of my smaller planes they work real good. My H9 33% Sukhoi is 21lb. with this same setup w/lipo's. I needed the extra weight of the RX batterys to get the CG right. the Hacker A80 is about 1Lb lighter than the A100 I had in the Sukhoi. so I had to move the RX packs to the top of the motor box.

Tony from Pilot says that the plane is 21lb. with a DA85 (2 servos per wing) with all the carbon fiber parts and one servo per wing it should be close 21lb.
there is ways to save weight but if I need to add weight I will take the extra RX packs.
we will see

I checked DHL the plane is in SYR NY I will have Monday morning.

have you given up on GS Electrics ?

Cool deal. I saw the A80 in your post, but for some reason I had A100 on the brain...
Do you have any experience with the maxamps batteries? I did a 12S2P of their 4,000's that they were selling a little over a year ago and wasn't terribly impressed with them. Are the 35C batts any better?

The Max Amp 4200 35c are a lot better than the 4000mah 20c. they are holding up real good the cells look like fight Power cells with big tabs on each ends of the cell. the Max Amp customer service is real good

I'm going to get some Flight Power packs to try for next season. they are about the same price as the MaxAmp 4200 35c

I Recived two wooded crates direct from china today. the plane is everything I hoped it would be.
the packing is top noch everthing is coverd in bubble wrap. the crate is made out of plywood.
I looked over everything the covering is real good not one wrinkle. all of the hinges are flat hinges and they are dubbled on the edges of the ailrons. the 4" wheels with Alum rims are nice. all the hardware is pro quaity. the carbon fiber parts look good. the cowl and has a mounting ring. the wheel pants are real light. and the canopy is a one piece molded and is real light. I have not weighed anything yet but It looks promising.

today I got the landing gear on (I will mount the wheel pants last). mounted the tail wheel (the plane comes with a real nice tail wheel with a carbon mounting arm.) I used the stock mounting arm and a Alum. tail wheel and Yok that I had. I also used a spring mounting system. the field that I fly at is rough. that is why im not using the stock one.
the tail wheel mounts easy there is a access hole on the side of the fus. you will need to drill 4 holes to mount the "T"nuts I used a magnet to get the "t" nuts in place to start the screws and seated them with the screws (use a washer on the screw when seating the "t" nuts) See Picture.
the Rudder is mounted using a wire though the flat Hinges. I mounted the Rudder mesured the hinge wire and trimed about 1 inch and sharpend the end. it slid into the hinges easy. (you have to articulate the rudder and rotate the wire) the wire goes into the rudder counter weight.

I mounted the servos in the horizontal stabs. I used 40" JR HD servos wires and heat shrink the conections to the servo. the servo fits nicely the mounting screw holes are predrilled just add a little drop of CA to keep the screws from pulling out. I used a stiff wire with a bent end to pull the servo wire though and around the ribs. you will have to cut covering on the 2 mounting screw holes on the Horz. Stab. the H Stabs us a wooden dowel as a aint rotation pin. and 2 SAE allen head screws. also a carbon fiber H Stab. tube.
I hope to get some more done tomarrow. and I should be able to get some weights
BTW the plane does not come with a Manual That is why Im going it to detail. sofar it is straght forward.

here is the pull pull setup.
I used 30min epoxy for the rudder horns. I first locate the horn slots on the rudder(I used a sodering Iron to open the slots) then test fit the horns and trace around the horn mounting plate. then use a hobby knife to cut the covering (be sure not to cut in to the wood)

I used the supplied servo arm for the rudder.
I used a 3/8 socket to center the servo wheel on the servo arm. (I used blue tread lock for the screws)

Next is the motor box, first I made a template for the Hacker A80 bolt pattern. then I drilled out the firewall.
I test fit the firewall marked the screw holes (I used a right angle drill) drilled the holes. then I test fit the firewall to be sure everything is lined up. I used 30min epoxy and one of the supplied tri stock pices for support