Decisions, decisions, decisions

[Mister]

Ok, I have been in the market for a new 50cc plane for about 6 months now and its time to buy. (thank you tax refund) I have my engine picked out (DL-50) but just cant decide on an airframe. I have narrowed it down to the 3DHS 85 Katana, Airwild Extra 260, Dietrich extra 260, or the new 3DHS Extra but im not to keen with it. Are there any others I should look at? I am mainly leaning towards the 3DHS Katana but the next day ill like the Airwild Extra. I just cant make up my mind and could us some guidence. This will be my 2nd gas bird and i want to make it a good one. Before I had a Aeroworks Yak 50cc that was a slug at 19 pounds with a g62. Im not very good at 3d stuff yet but I am getting there. I really want something that can help me become a better 3d pilot. I am open to ANY suggestions.

[VKGT]

Have you considered any of the Extreme Flight planes? I would take a look at some of them since the quality of craftsmanship in their ARFs is awesome. Outstanding flyers as well.

[Al Lewis]

Yeah, take a good look at the Wildhare Edge 540T V2. I bought one to learn 3D. Stable as a rock. IMO With the DL in it it will rock.

[Mister]

Bump ! ! !

[dubd]

My favorite 50cc plane is the Extreme Flight Yak 54. I've flown/owned 50cc planes from Aero-Works, Wild Hare, and Hangar 9. The EF was the best for 3D.

[Mister]

I dont understand. Please some explain to me how all the planes yall have responded with are at least 16lb+ planes. The airwild extra and the 3DHS Katana are coming in at 14.5. I would think the weight would play a huge roll in this. Thats kinda what im basing my decisions on. Am i wrong to say the lighter the plane the better it will be with 3D? I have also heard goods and bads about the EF yak. Seems like to get the power you want you need to run a tuned pipe. I dont want to deal with tuned pipes again.

[Craven]

EF Yak hands down. Great plane for what you're looking for.

[Mike Anderson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mister
	I would think the weight would play a huge roll in this.

Seen this?: http://troybuiltmodels.com/newsite/lighterplanes.html

[dubd]

I ran the EF Yak with a DA-50 and standard muffler and the power was great! You might have different results if you're at a high elevation (4000ft). I am at sea level and I could hover the EF Yak and 1/2 power.

Weight is not everything, wing loading is. The EF Yak has lower wing loading than the other planes you've mentioned.

[rede2fly]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mister
	I dont understand. Please some explain to me how all the planes yall have responded with are at least 16lb+ planes. The airwild extra and the 3DHS Katana are coming in at 14.5. I would think the weight would play a huge roll in this. Thats kinda what im basing my decisions on. Am i wrong to say the lighter the plane the better it will be with 3D? I have also heard goods and bads about the EF yak. Seems like to get the power you want you need to run a tuned pipe. I dont want to deal with tuned pipes again.

well now thats a easy question. yes lighter is better but look at the wing span you are giving up in the katana verses most other 50cc planes.its just a smaller plane all in all. you just might want to take a look at the carden yak due out this may. it would be worth a little more wait for this plane

[Kitman]

Look at www.dawghouse.net for a great selection of light, well built 50cc planes!

http://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/f...tml#post438303

[bodywerks]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mister
	I dont understand. Please some explain to me how all the planes yall have responded with are at least 16lb+ planes. The airwild extra and the 3DHS Katana are coming in at 14.5. I would think the weight would play a huge roll in this. Thats kinda what im basing my decisions on. Am i wrong to say the lighter the plane the better it will be with 3D? I have also heard goods and bads about the EF yak. Seems like to get the power you want you need to run a tuned pipe. I dont want to deal with tuned pipes again.

Power to weight and wingloading are factors, not just weight. The Airwilds are 14.5 pounds, but they also fall apart.
The EF Yak is on the heavy side, but it is also about the biggest 50cc plane out there, so the wingloading at 18 pounds is like a feather. For most true 3D, you don't need gobbs of thrust to weight. You just need enough to be able to hover and a little more to get you out of trouble and pull out. Most 50's can do this on an 18 pound plane at sealevel.
I owned the older version EF Yak and loved it. I hear only better things about the newer version.
Personally, though, if I were in the market for a 50cc plane, I'd be looking hard at the EF Extra 300. A guy that knows how to build light should be able to achieve 16-16.5 pounds, and that'd be perfect.

[Mister]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bodywerks
	I hear only better things about the newer version. Personally, though, if I were in the market for a 50cc plane, I'd be looking hard at the EF Extra 300.

I know that looks arnt everything but the EF Extra is one ugly plane.

[Mister]

Can someone explain how a airframe that weighs 16.5 lbs with a 1450 sq. in. wing area (EF Yak) have a lighter wing loading that a airframe the weighs 14.5 lbs with a 1340 sq. in. wing area. (3DHS Katana). Is there a calculator for this?

[Mike Anderson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mister
	. . . Is there a calculator for this?

Ummmm . . . . weight divided by area. The most common units for model aircraft is Oz/ sqft. BUT > the bigger the plane (wing actually) the higher the wing loading to still fly well.

Here's a table based on published weights. Where a weight range was published I used the average.