3W 40% Extra 330 Pro's and Con's

[DKY]

I am really looking forward to getting it. The fellow is driving it down next week. I should be able to put in my RX, transfer his programming to my TX and then go fly next weekend. Can not ask for much more than that.

I did want to mention one thing that I really appreciated the feedback I received through this thread as I was initially hesitant to post on this subject as these type of things can get out hand and turn into endless cheap shots and useless commentary. This topic stayed on track and gave me everything I needed to make a decision.

Garret I have been able to see you fly a few times TOC 2002 demo and Tucson 2005 I think and your are a great pilot. thanks for taking the time to contribute to my post. I was reffereing to the landing gear plate that this plane has had issues with however it has been attended to and is a non issue going forward.

i will post some picks once I have possession for those interested

Thanks again guy's

Derrek

[Mithrandir]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Showtime
	I have owned one. they fly good. It was many years ago and my flight skills were not that great at the time. Not that i am great now but better then 5 years ago. The plane has some really good 3d capability. watch this vid. http://old.aircraftinternational.com...tt_d2flyin.wmv

Awe c'mon Jason... you Bad-Ass 3D throwdown pilot!!!

[HK the III Esq.]

	Quote: Originally Posted by DKY
	Thanks for all the good feedback. The structural issues have been taken care of in this airframe and the owner has it right at 39lbs with DA150 & RE3's. I have decided to purchase the plane.

Yorga? Chris' Patty... I don't know how you could have questioned it the way it flew in that 50k wind on the weekend!

[DKY]

Hey Ryan

It did handle the wind well and Chris flew awesome with it, so I pretty much had my mind made up once I cleared it with the better half. However I never make a decision on single points of reference so I always like to do a little research before buying and the talk on the newsgroups has been fairly light in regards to this airframe so I wanted some more user experience feedback before I made the leap.

The feedback was good and Chris put together a great airframe so the decision was easy.

Now the waiting and anticipation begins.

Derrek

[Mithrandir]

I think there is some Bad Arse Sean McMurty video from the "Masters" flying one of these....

[HK the III Esq.]

	Quote: Originally Posted by DKY
	Hey Ryan It did handle the wind well and Chris flew awesome with it, so I pretty much had my mind made up once I cleared it with the better half. However I never make a decision on single points of reference so I always like to do a little research before buying and the talk on the newsgroups has been fairly light in regards to this airframe so I wanted some more user experience feedback before I made the leap. The feedback was good and Chris put together a great airframe so the decision was easy. Now the waiting and anticipation begins. Derrek

Ya, you don't see too many of them up here. Be careful though... Old Ben might try to have you wacked for the plane - he's "Patty" obsessed - and the fact that it's the "3W Patty" makes it exponentially worse!

I did the same after he offered to sell me the Krill 55M. After the research and reading and figuring out the finances, I figured it was a good airframe for me. I'll grab it after the season ends... At least you get yours soon! Is he dropping it off this weekend or next weekend?

[crhammond]

Derrek,

If you don't like it I'll buy it back, seriously. It flies awesome - much, much more capable than I am

My Godfrey is going to be in the same scheme but without the Goodrich graphics. It presents really well with the all-white bottom. The only problem is in calm air it shows every little error because it is so visible it obvious when you miss stuf ... but we hardly ever fly contests with light wind. Saturday was a 50k cross wind as you know - it handles it very, very well. One thing I find is its easy to stealth in corrections with this plane and rollers are very consistent.

I posted a few pics of my build on here last winter... but when I bring the plane down next week I'll go all through it with you to make sure you're happy. I don't really want to sell it - but I do have a Godfrey pro build to fund so it must go. Hopefuly the Godfrey is as good! You'll find the 150 in it is strong with those RE3's.

I will probably practice a lot this winter on my snaps ending at KE and my various combinations of rollers and maybe move to advanced next season.

I know you'll be more than happy with how it flies.

[crhammond]

	Quote: Originally Posted by HK the III Esq.
	Ya, you don't see too many of them up here. Be careful though... Old Ben might try to have you wacked for the plane - he's "Patty" obsessed - and the fact that it's the "3W Patty" makes it exponentially worse! I did the same after he offered to sell me the Krill 55M. After the research and reading and figuring out the finances, I figured it was a good airframe for me. I'll grab it after the season ends... At least you get yours soon! Is he dropping it off this weekend or next weekend?

Ryan - you can have the 55M any time. I will strip it next week and send the motor etc to Mike for the Godfrey.

[crhammond]

I never knew Wayne flew one

Here is the gear area re-enforcement. The first one I had was already broken in this area when I got it. The factory had alreay re-enforced the new one with CF. I added more and added some 1/4 ply rails that I lightened up. They are glued in with Hysol and some CF tow is added betweent he new rails and the fuse.

Mine is 39lbs without smoke according to my scale... flies like a rocket with the 150 and RE3's. My first one was 42lbs and this one feels a little better in the air. CG is neutral... spin entries took some work but it is good. I have 2.5% Rud -> elev one side, 2% on the other and no rudder to aileron. Thats less than my Integral 2M pattern plane... This new one has a lot less mix than the first one too. Landings are fine but you must flare it and like all Extra's it lands fast if there is no wind.

This is #191 - I think the very last of the level 3 PW scheme's so it has all the updates they ever did along the way.

[Bunky F. Knuckle]

	Quote: Originally Posted by crhammond
	Derrek, If you don't like it I'll buy it back, seriously. It flies awesome - much, much more capable than I am My Godfrey is going to be in the same scheme but without the Goodrich graphics. It presents really well with the all-white bottom. The only problem is in calm air it shows every little error because it is so visible it obvious when you miss stuf ... but we hardly ever fly contests with light wind. Saturday was a 50k cross wind as you know - it handles it very, very well. One thing I find is its easy to stealth in corrections with this plane and rollers are very consistent. I posted a few pics of my build on here last winter... but when I bring the plane down next week I'll go all through it with you to make sure you're happy. I don't really want to sell it - but I do have a Godfrey pro build to fund so it must go. Hopefuly the Godfrey is as good! You'll find the 150 in it is strong with those RE3's. I will probably practice a lot this winter on my snaps ending at KE and my various combinations of rollers and maybe move to advanced next season. I know you'll be more than happy with how it flies.

Now, there's a DEAL you cannot beat with a stick!!!!!!

[dhawks]

	Quote: Originally Posted by wmat7039
	Hi there DKY... I flew two of these in IMAC 7 years ago. As mentioned by another poster, the landing gear area is very weak and will definitely need some beefing up. The two that I had were the competition versions & were lighter, but the L/Gear area was still compromised. The vertical longeron is just too weak to transfer any load with a less than stellar landing. What I did was to line both sides of each longeron with carbon fiber cloth & tied them to the floor. I also placed C/F cloth on top of the L/Gear plate & extended it upwards on the side of the fuselage to dissipate the landing loads. Flying: The airplane flew better than my previous contest aircraft (40% Edge 540) so, at the time I was satisfied. I did find that I had to have more rudder/elevator & rudder/ailerons mix than I had in my previous airplane...but once it was mixed out, the airplane did it's job. The aircraft performed the maneuvers with grace and would handle 3D fine...although I was not a big 3D pilot at all. The aircraft has built in dihedral in the wings & unless you get the newer set of wings that does not have dihedral, you will be flying with more down push when inverted than it feels comfortable with. I also did not like the size of the counter-balance of the rudder. I had to repair the spot where the counterbalance meets the rudder post on several occasions on both aircraft. I did not like the fuel tray because it did not give an option of centering the fuel tank...it was on one side of the fuse & the other side had a tray for a smoke tank. What I did was to place one of my batteries there to offset the weight of the fuel when full. The cannister mounts that I had bought for the "then" PEFA muffler system worked quite well & held up even after my crash of the first one... Hope that helps somewhat. Wayne

Wayne,

I too have one of these aircraft I'm hoping to get in the air. I'm interested in your comment about the rudder size and repair that you made. Do you feel that the counterbalance is too big, and is there a weak point at the rudder post? My plane is a level one kit so I could modify it before covering.

Thanks,
Dennis

[wmat7039]

	Quote: Originally Posted by dhawks
	Wayne, I too have one of these aircraft I'm hoping to get in the air. I'm interested in your comment about the rudder size and repair that you made. Do you feel that the counterbalance is too big, and is there a weak point at the rudder post? My plane is a level one kit so I could modify it before covering. Thanks, Dennis

Hi Dennis.... To repair, I used round tooth-picks (not the flat ones) drilled 2 small holes from underneath the bottom of the counter-balance (near to the back of the counter-balance at an angle which went upwards & inwards towards the angled balsa L/Edge & into the foam. I then used a syringe & saturated the inside with wood glue & inserted the tooth-picks up into the area. Let it dry inverted.

I do believe that the counter-balance is a bit too big & puts a lot of force where the rudder L/Edge (post) ends & the balsa sheeting for the counter-balance meets. If you take care of it prior to covering you should not have the sheeting & monocote show signs of cracking.
Hope you understand what I'm trying to describe.
Wayne

[dhawks]

	Quote: Originally Posted by wmat7039
	Hi Dennis.... To repair, I used round tooth-picks (not the flat ones) drilled 2 small holes from underneath the bottom of the counter-balance (near to the back of the counter-balance at an angle which went upwards & inwards towards the angled balsa L/Edge & into the foam. I then used a syringe & saturated the inside with wood glue & inserted the tooth-picks up into the area. Let it dry inverted. I do believe that the counter-balance is a bit too big & puts a lot of force where the rudder L/Edge (post) ends & the balsa sheeting for the counter-balance meets. If you take care of it prior to covering you should not have the sheeting & monocote show signs of cracking. Hope you understand what I'm trying to describe. Wayne

Thanks for the info. Your description makes perfect sense. Do you think it would be worth the effort to decrease the size of the counterbalance and extend the vertical stab?

Dennis

[wmat7039]

	Quote: Originally Posted by dhawks
	Thanks for the info. Your description makes perfect sense. Do you think it would be worth the effort to decrease the size of the counterbalance and extend the vertical stab? Dennis

No Dennis... I would not go to that trouble, as I could not suggest to you an optimum piece to cut off from the counter-balance... I would just leave it as is but strengthen the indicated area.
Wayne

[DKY]

Thanks for the advise Wayne I should be able to do this same mod to the completed plane with minimal impact if I undertand you correctly. I will discuss with Chris when he drops the plane off this week. Since this plane is not going to be used for 3D it may not show up.

Chris thanks for the reassurance on the plane. I am quite postive that I will like it for many flights to come. Now stop flying those jets and get that beast down here the anticipation is killing me!

Ryan good point I never thought about the ramifications to my life , that was good!


Derrek