advice on right plane for IMAC/precision

[Dan_nO]

Hey Kevin, Im gonna jump in here and let you know what I have experienced.

Your wanting to get into precission, dont know if you are going to go and compete flying IMAC or not, I know from what you said you are on a budget and you have a set amount your wanting to spend and stay around that.

Here is some food for thought.

I started my son Brendan out a year ago flying IMAC with a 86 inch QQ Yak with DA 50, he flew it in two contests, one contest flying Basic and then moved up to Sportsman the next contest. It didnt take long for him to outgrow it and to need a bigger plane as he moved up a class, the 50cc size plane was just a wee bit small flying against the 35 and 40% size planes.

He flew a 33% for the next three contest, then moved up to a 35% H9 260 for the rest of the year and is what he is flying at this time again this year.

If I would have had any idea at all that he was going to get into this the way he did I would have went ahead and got the 35% right from the start. Only flying the smaller plane for two contests then it set and wasnt used, once he went to a bigger plane he had no desire to fly the smaller one.

I did end up selling it and everything in it was brand new, but didnt get anywhere near out of it as to what was paid for it all new and only flew two contests with it.

So this is something to take into consideration if you are thinking about getting into competing. I know you want to stay in a set amount range as to money, if you get into competing you might realize after you have made the investment in a smaller plane that your soon going to want a bigger one and there you are and you wont get back out of it what you paid for it, just something to think about.

I could have saved a lot getting a bigger one right from the get go but had no idea.

Let us all know what you end up doing.

Good luck with everything.

[Imac Kiwi]

http://www.composite-arf.com.hk/ar/Product?711000

Comp-Arf 2.6 Metre 260 with DA 85 is an awesome combination

[kevin12973]

Thanks dan no.I totally understand your point. I feel the same about transmitters. I just upgradeing one step at a time as was needed for the moment, costing a lot more than just getting the 9303 right off the bat. I try to make that point to new club members if it looks like are going to stay in the hobby a while. As for your H9 260 35%, I am so f#*^"ng jealous! I just dont trust myself with such an expensive investment. Full disclosure; on a scale from 1 to 10 my flying abilitys are a 6. I can buy any plane, but cant stomach crashing something too expensive. I havent crashed anything in a year and a half though. That was my H9 27% w/40cc FPE. Just wasnt running up to rpm but decided to take up anyway. My bad. aero stall at the bottom of a loop and splat. Bye the way, no competitions in my plans for now,I just like to fly that style with a little 3D mixed in.

[1bwana1]

Dano is absolutely correct in saying that it is best to with the 35% from the start. Maybe a good used plane is the right choice for you at this point.

I was out this afternoon flying my 100cc AW 260. Got into a little informal pickup challenge with some of the boys. We started flying Advanced unknowns from this year. Great fun, and the plane did great!

Hey Dano, how are things, long time no hear from you.

[1bwana1]

Here is an example of a first class used plane. This plane has the best of everything in it, and as Dano will attest, it is one of the best precision planes of it's size. His son won the Tucson Shootout Sportsman class last year flying one. From his asking price it looks like you could negotiate to your budget area.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=397751

[eagle1]

I agree with kiwi, if you want a solid plane then the comp-arf 260 is one awesome plane, although I only have two flights on my 40% 260, I knew on the very first flight how solid this plane is after flying more towards the 300's and 330L's, the body style is still growing on me but the ability of this amazing plane is just jaw dropping, have not done any 3D with the plane yet, I want to get some more fuel through it before throwing it hard but sooo far I do enjoy this plane look into Composite-ARF.com

[Al Lewis]

Kevin I have an 30% Aviation Models Extra 260 that is very good for the type of flying you want to do. I believe the new ones are TOC but they are still available and very reasonable.

[Dan_nO]

Hey Steve, Im doing good, still working on the Katana, or its working on me, at this point I dont know which lol.

As to what Steve said about the H9 35% 260, YES, I am biased in the 35% size to this plane and Steve knows the reason, so here is for you Kevin...

Last year just before the NATS, Mike McConville and I were talking one day about the NATS, the 260 at that time was in the prototype stage. He asked me, how would Brendan like to fly my new 260 at the NATS ? Welllllll, he was beside himself.

We go to Mikes to pick it up on the way to a local IMAC contest, Brendan had one flight on the plane Thursday night with Mike, we leave Friday morning and go to contest field, 2 more practice flights Friday.

Brendan wins that contest with the prototype 260 !

We go to the NATS, Brendan wins the NATS with it.

There were 3 other IMAC contests he won with it before having a midair with it just one week before leaving to go to the Tucson Shootout ! Brendan flew the prototype H9 Sukoi, won the contest with it.

We go to Mikes from that contest, pick up Mikes second and only remaining prototype which was actually the production model, brought it home, crated it up and shipped it to Tucson, and as Steve said, Brendan won the Shootout with it.

We have been to one IMAC contest this year, Brendan is flying in the Intermediate class this year, he won that contest flying the 260. I think the plane speaks for itself very plainly.

If you would like to take a look at what Brendan did last year, here is a page i have dedicated to his flying IMAC and also has some vids there too... http://www.myspace.com/dannyray321

Steve, that deal on that 260 on RCU looks awful sweet, and its cheap enough ! Its got all the top notch stuff in it too !!!

[kevin12973]

It looks like I will be going with the 75cc aero-works extra 260. It is as big as I can go and comply with the 'kiss' rule. I like single servo control surfaces, means no matching. I plan on pcm reciever, one battery, simple mpi switch/regulater.Kiss all the way. On my reserch this plane is supposed to be a precise flyer despite it 3D capabilites. Any AW. 75cc 260 owners want to to advise one way or the other? or thanks.

[1bwana1]

Kevin,
That is a great choice, you will enjoy the plane and it's quality.

[sweetpea]

If you are happy, that is all that matters.

Now go fly the pants of that thing