Harris and Anderson 100cc YAK 54 the REAL DEAL.

[SleepyC]

Ok.. had a lot of people asking me about this plane so here it is.

For the money this plane is a very good value.

AND ITS HUGE... I MEAN FREAKING HUGE... AS IN.. IS THIS REALLY 35% HUGE!?!?!


Granted this plane is not a $1100 ARF... and it shows this in some ways.. but for 1/2 the price of the high end kits, its a very good deal.

Packaging: The plane was shipped Forward air. H&A actually charged me just about what the shipping cost. (Props there!) I think there was an extra $10 added on.. which is fine, because someone has to take it to the airport!
The packaging that the plane came in was top notch... not one thing out of place or broken. In fact it was the best packaging I have ever seen. Like a cardboard box inside a stiff cardboard crate inside another cardboard box. The wings were in a separate box, but boxed much the same.

The wood looks like any of the other ARF manufacturers, it especially reminds me of my KMP edge.. looks almost like it could have come from the same factory.. (DISCLAIMER - this is only my impression and what it looks like to me... I have no actual knowledge who makes this plane.. so please don't go there !)

The covering is very tight and not bad at all... but I got the BUTT UGLY green stripped version of the YAK, and had to remove the green. While doing this you can tell its not a super high grade covering (like mono or Ultra)... but it really isn't that bad... (once again.. especially for the money) I believe in another post the guy from H&A said it was Oracover? or something? Anyways.. not that bad at all.

The entire planes construction is laser cut (Jigsaw style) construction which makes for a very sturdy airframe (as much as I can tell with it sitting on my shop floor).
Just as I do with ANY ARF, I went over any available joints with a bit of titebond and epoxy where I thought it needed it. but the plane has a solid feel.

Hardware that comes with the plane seems decent. Looks almost like rocket city.
BUT... the control rods it comes with are a bit small, but if you put a carbon fiber tube around them, should be good to go.

Wheels and gas tank are a joke. the wheels are 3" wheels and look like a PEA sitting on the landing gear, and the tank is like a 16oz tank...haha.. for a nice 2 min flight time!

The tail wheel seems pretty strong and very functional. I'm going to use it.


I did make two modifications to the plane.

1) I built up the hatch a bit. The way it comes is VERY lite, but very flimsy. Some of you may like the lite-ness... I decided that a few sticks of 1/4" hard wood wouldn't add too much weight and would help strengthen the hatch... you can kind of see where I have added them and the balsa floor for my pilot Mr. Smiley (Oh yea... Best $4 I have ever spent!!)

2) I didn't like the wing tube th plane came with. Its actually lighter than mt Dalton CF tube but it seems very thin walled. So for like $35 I got a new one from TNT landing gear. I bought a 1 1/2" x 44.5 " tube. This tube will fit into the wings, but not the fuse. So here I ripped out the old phenolic and slapped in an extra piece of my Dalton 260's phenolic. Now I have a wing tube I know will not fail.
(Once again DISCLAIMER.. I have not flown the plane with the stock wing tube, it may be fine.. it may be Lite and Strong... but to me.. it seemed thin...MY OPINION)

Besides that... I haven't finished it, I'm getting my Dalton done first, and will finish this puppy shortly after.

Another addition.. 5" wheels... looks way better than little wheels and pants... yaks just do not look right with pants. (PS. if anyone has any Comp arf Spats 33% - 35% I WANT THEM!)

Ok.. pile of pictures, and a few shots for comparison.

The QQ 73" yak next to this monster for a perspective.

And my radio in front of the rudder (FREAKING HUGE!!!)

SO my official opinion without flying the thing is 4 thumbies:


Why not 5...

Covering could be higher grade, and the hardware could be a bit better.

BUT... I have said the same two things about a few of the higher end products I have bought as well.

Soooo.. make up your own mind.. do what feels right... But me... I'm happy with my purchase.

[SleepyC]

More.

PS: Ignore the dust and scraps in the botor box... I just haven't sucked them out yet!

[SleepyC]

last few.

[baxternick]

That thing looks exactly like my TOC, AM, EXTREME, S&D (lol) 35% YAKs! The fuse looks identical inside to my yaks! Your's just has some extra holes where the tank mounts. That is an awesome deal and I am looking forward to a flight report on that baby! If it flys anywhere near the same for the money you got one hell of a deal!

[HuckinChikn]

wow that thing is quite large! Sleepy, you turned an ugly duck into a very nice looking plane with that
color scheme, Nice work! What other schemes do they have available?

[KrisW]

Very nice, Sleep. good to see a PROPER sized 100cc aircraft. With the power we get out of the 100cc class engines these days, 102-105" is just too small. This one ought to be GREAT.

I'll drive up and get it from you and do your flight testing if you like. Short drive for me. .BIG van. . . . .you can pick it up at JN when you come down.

BTW . .the SD yak of the same size lists fof $999 plus $250 shipping. . that's $1250 to your door. You paid what??? $850 shipped???

Saving $400 on a proven aircraft is a STEAL. . you oughta be in jail Sleepy. . .

Wait. . maybe someone else should check their markup . . pricing those things so high, then charging that much for shipping. . . . .

[KrisW]

Ya know. . we need to get us a squadron of these things in the air at JN. . 6-8 flying around at the same time. . who says you can't have fun and not spend a ton of money doing it?

[yakwrecker]

Hey sleep, how do you hide these things from your wife.

[SleepyC]

	Quote:
	BTW . .the SD yak of the same size lists fof $999 plus $250 shipping. . that's $1250 to your door. You paid what??? $850 shipped???

Actually shipping was just $100! (Forward air) So it was almost exactly 1/2 price.

	Quote:
	Hey sleep, how do you hide these things from your wife.

HAHA.. I stopped trying and just let them show up... you'd be suprised...

I've been working on the Dalton for 2+ months, the other day my wife goes... you must have been up late last night.. I saw that NEW wood plane you built last night.. like you needed that. She thought I had the YAK for a while and built the Dalton in 1 night...
Man.. she really has NO INTEREST in my planes...she walks by my "area" in the basement almost everyday, and can't even tell the difference between a BIG ASS red and Blue YAK, and an "in the bones" Extra 260... hahaha!

[kolarshooter]

Sleepy: How often do you walk by her jewlerybox? Those shiny bits and pieces may all look alike to you! ;-)

Are you going to baffle the engine in the Yak??

[SleepyC]

YES.. Baffle coming... when I get to it.
HAHHA - its actually just mocked up for the most part - the prop is a 50cc prop and the spinner is taped on...

I have a lot of work before it's flight ready!

[LawnJockey]

Sleepy,
I have a new set of Comp ARF Spats. Send me a PM.

Bruce

[BoneDoc]

What's your projected AUW?

[SleepyC]

No clue.
I'll try to weigh what I have sometime in the next day.

LAWN - PM SENT!!!

[Neogenesis]

ok.....I was curious about specs since Sleepy didn't provide them.......so I went out to ebay and got them to post.


Here they are...

Price was also $649. Not bad for a ARF this big.


Wingspan: 107"
Length: 95"
Flying Weight: 28-30lbs
Wing Area: 2223sq.in. (huge)
Engine Size: 75-100cc
Servos: 6-9









Neo