Dietrich Extra 260 Conversion

[Ron101]

Just thought I'd share my Conversion.
The plane is a Dietrich 30% Extra 260 it has an 87" wingspan.
I used a neumotor 1521 1.5y geared motor, spinning a 20x11w carbon fiber prop. Speed controller is a CC 110. Batteries are thunder power 12s 2p 5000 mh packs. Servos are all JR 8711's with a DS 8711 on rudder. I'm running two Jr 2150 6v Ni-metal RX packs and JR heavy duty switches.

All I really had to do was build a shelf for the batteries and use standoffs for the motor mount. It was pretty straight forward.

The plane is just under 18 lbs with batteries ready to fly. I have 9 oz of lead in the nose to keep it nose heavy for the first few flights. Now that I have a few flights on it I'm going to start removing the weight. If I can lose them all I'll be at 17.5 lbs.

It fly’s really nice. Good speed and tons of power. Vertical is unlimited.
All in all I'm very happy with it. Hope you like the pics. :D

Ron

[spyderron]

Nice job, Ron! I was thinking of this plane myself for a conversion. I'm suprised of the AUW being close to 18 lbs and the plane being somewhat tail-heavy since you had to place the bat tray under the moter. Switching to lipos or lions for the servo packs would reduce some weight. Also, what amps are you drawing with that 20 X 11 prop. I was thinking more like a 22 X 10 for that Neu.

Most importantly, how does the plane fly?

Thanks!

[3Deranged]

Excellent Ron! Just curious as to how many watts your pulling on your setup? Clean pack install BTW. :)

[Ron101]

Thanks guys!
I'm new to big electrics.. I've been doing nitro & gas for years..
Started small electrics a few years back
Jeff Small at eflightline.com recommended this setup for my plane..
He has the same setup in one of his planes...
I just went for it.. it is pulling 8900 rpm which seem high..I haven't tested the Amps & Watts as of yet..
I plan on doing that this week.. I'll let you know the numbers
maybe a bigger prop would be better for it

It fly’s very well!! The batteries are new so I kept the first three flights short
5 min.. I'm going to charge the lipos tomorrow and see what I put back in them.. I'm hoping for 8 to 10 minutes of flight time...

I'm very happy with it.. It feels very light in the air.. The climb rate was really good! I have the RX packs mounted in the nose also (under the batt tray) so if the packs were lighter I'd have to add more nose weight..

I was surprised of the weight also.. But I look at it this way.. Most guys are building the gas version at 17.5 pounds ready to fly.. Then have to add almost two pounds of gas... that's 19.5 lbs.

Mine is under 18 and this setup has more power than a DA 50.. Pretty cool to not have to start such a big plane..lol.. I just turn up the trim and go..

I'll keep you posted on the numbers and how the next flights go.. I'm still working on my throw and expo settings,, I'll get it dialed in

Thank you
Ron

[Ron101]

Two more flights on the extra 260 today..
Really digging it

So here is the numbers 60.76 Amps 2612 Watts. 42.31 Volts

It has great power so maybe I should just leave it alone..
I have a 22x10 apc coming just to see what the numbers are with that prop

any input would be great
Thanks
Ronnie

[sun.flyer]

Two more flights on the extra 260 today..
Really digging it

So here is the numbers 60.76 Amps 2612 Watts. 42.31 Volts

It has great power so maybe I should just leave it alone..
I have a 20x10 apc coming just to see what the numbers are with that prop

any input would be great
Thanks
Ronnie

Ronnie,

Your plane looks great!! :) I would say looking at your setup you actually might want to get a little bit higher wattage coming out of the Neu motor. At almost 18lbs. and at 2612W you are at 145 W/lb. I would say that this is on the low side of what you would want to 3D this plane and have power to spare.

I am not sure how you are flying this plane but those numbers would definately work for IMAC type flying. I would say if your Neu motor could take an additional 300W-400W I really would look at going to a 22 x 10 prop (something like an electric Xoar). This would put you around 162-188 W/lb. which would probably give you a little more throttle for pulling out of hovers/emergencies. It looks like you are really not even pushing the rest of your setup (batteries, esc) with the numbers you are running now.

Tim

[lazyboyflyer]

Hi Ron, I have the same power set-up in my Airwild 29% extra 260, I think your going in the wrong direction with your choice of props. I have an APC 24x12 on my plane now and will be stepping up to a 25x10 or 26x10 wood prop very soon. You should at least step up to an APC 24x12 or the new 25x12.5 or try the Xoar 24x10. Then, you'll notice the true power you have with your set-up.

[Ron101]

I'm sorry guys I wrote I has a 20 x 10 coming I edited that

I have a 22x10 apc coming... lol.. my bad

I'm flying more Imac type of flying but want the power for 3D

I'll give this new 22x10 porp a shot and see what it does

Lazyboy Flyer your plane looks great!! Wow so your saying a 24x12..

now is that the thin E prop from APC? What numbers are you gettting with that prop?

What Batt? and flight times are you getting

Thank you

Ronnie

[lazyboyflyer]

Hi Ronnie, IMHO, send that prop back and at least get the APC 24x12E or 25x12.5E prop or the Xoar 24x10 E prop. Don't waste your time and money on the 22x10 prop. I'm using 2 Tanic 6s 5000 packs, 12s/1p. I can fly 2 sequences of the sportsman knowns with these. What numbers? I guess about 90 amps +/- , 4000 watts +/- and around 6200 rpms.

[Ron101]

Hey Lazyboy,
I'm going to order the 24x12e prop tonight...
4000 watt!! thats crazy.. I have to try it.... that's over 5 hp

At 6200 rpms is the straight and level slow? or does it still move pretty good?

Thanks for the input I'm dieing to try it out

Ronnie

[lazyboyflyer]

Hi Ronnie, I'm glad to hear your getting the bigger prop,it's fast for IMAC, vertical uplines are unreal!

[Ron101]

So here are some results with my prop testing:

20x11w carbon fiber prop = 60.76 Amps, 2612 Watts, 42.31 Volts, 8900 rpm

22x10E APC prop = 67.56 Amps , 2865.2 Watts , 41.52 Volts ,

24x12E APC prop = 98.86 Amps, 4131.59 Watts, 38.89 Volts

My Tach took a dump on me last night so I don't know the Rpm..
I have to pick up a new one

Wow is all I can say about the 24x12E Prop 4139 Watts!! that's awsome

That puts me at 229.53 watts per pound or 5.54 HP much more than a
DA 50 Gas engine..

My batteries are rated for 120 amp con. and 250 burst so it looks like I'm fine there..

Should I worry much about the ESC it's a CC110 at 98.86 Amps can I fry this thing?

Also will my flights time be shorter? I would think so ... I'm getting about 6:00 minutes now..

Any Input would be great
Thank you
Ron

[sun.flyer]

Ron,

The 24 x 12E looks like the ticket on your Neu. I would not worry abou the 98A's on the CC 110 as this is at WOT not a constant amperage. As long as you have adequate cooling to the esc is should not be an issue.

As to your battery packs I like to not discharge my packs lower than 3.5-3.7 volts per cell. So on your 12s pack that would be around 42-44.4V (no load).

You really need to get some video of your 260!! :)

Tim

[lazyboyflyer]

So here are some results with my prop testing:

24x12E APC prop = 98.86 Amps, 4131.59 Watts, 38.89 Volts

Wow is all I can say about the 24x12E Prop 4139 Watts!! that's awsome

That puts me at 229.53 watts per pound or 5.54 HP much more than a
DA 50 Gas engine..


Hi Ron, Thanks for posting the numbers, I know your happy with the results. I hope you get the chance to fly with someone with the same plane as yours, but with a 50cc gas motor, so you can compare set -ups and power. If you can? Get the Xoar wood E-prop 24x10, I would like to see the numbers on that prop. The only thing I don't like about the APC 24x12E prop is that the downlines are too fast.

[sun.flyer]

The only thing I don't like about the APC 24x12E prop is that the downlines are too fast.

I also find that the larger APC props are much louder than the Xoar props as they tend to cavitate quite a bit.

Tim

[Ron101]

No Problem Lazyboy,,,,
Thanks for the advice on the prop.. really looking forward to tomorrow

I have a video camera.. I'll bring it and see if I can get the guys to shoot some vids.. I have no clue how to get it online but I'll see what I can do with you tube or something...

I'm hopeing the fog isn't to thick to fly

Later
Ron

[birdie_in_texas]

hahahah you guys crack me up..i had over 4000 watts in a boat..!! hahahah guess i shoulda pulled that big ole aveox out the boat and stuck in a plane!! hahahaha

by the way..very nice plane and a great job as well sir! :)

[Ron101]

Thank you Texas.. was that an RC boat?
if it was for people I'm a real sick puppy to have this much power in a rc plane...lol

So what about flight time? any thoughts?

I was only getting 6 minutes on the 20x11... but that was at mostly full throttle

So I'm thinking with the extra power maybe I can fly at much less throttle ..just full power when needed .. and still get the same flight times?

What I'm getting at is what should I set my timer for in the morning...lol
Maybe 3 minutes then land charge and see what I put back .. and move up from there?

Thanks
Ron

[Ron101]

So more flight reports form today

All I can say about the 24x12 is WOW!!

very impressive.. it's like a rocket on the uplines.. pretty insane

As I thought most of the flight is around half throttle.. I didn't get the video today but I'll try again next saturday

On the down side I lost flight time... about 5 minutes is all it's got

that brought me to 3800 mah .. of the 5000 mah

or I cut back to the 22x10 lose some power and pick up maybe two minutes of flight time.. I'll take the crazy power for now..lol

Thanks
Ron

[lazyboyflyer]

I'm getting about 7 minutes, crazy power is GOOD! I have ordered the Xoar 24x10 E-prop, looking forward to trying that one.

[BoneDoc]

Ron,

I assume you're using 1521/1.5Y geared 6.7:1 right? How's the motor running at those peak numbers? What kind of temps are you getting, and what elevation do you live at?

I have my 19.5 lb 35% 260 from Dalton Aviation that I built. It looks like I could go to sub-19 lbs if I switch a couple of things, including the motor.

[Ron101]

Lazyboy your right crazy power is good... :eek:

Maybe with better throttle management I could get a bit more time.. Oh one thing I just thought of is I have my timer setup to come on about 1/4 throttle so I'm not counting the time on down lines and off the top of loops when the power is off.. so I'm really flying a bit longer than 5:00

Hey Bonedoc..
I'm at sea level.. and yes I'm running the 1521/1.5Y geared 6.7:1
I know this is not very scientific but the motor just feels warm to the hand after a flight...the batteries were around 110 degrees but cooled very fast...
I think is would do very well with just one more pound... It's like a striped axxed ape right now... I say go for it
good luck

Ron

[BoneDoc]

So 24x12 is what you've settled with? What's the RPM on yours?

[Ron101]

Yep the 24x12 is what I'm going with
My tach took a dump and I still need to pick up a new one...
The speed of the plane looked good

Ron

[Ron101]

So the next question for you electric wizards out there...lol

With this power settup I would love to try a topflight 1/4 P-47 with sound system

I think it would be around 24 pounds... with 4130 watts of power that would be around 172 pounds per watt...

do you think it would fly well? it seems like it would be great.. or do i need more power?

Ron

[BoneDoc]

Should be plenty. 172 watts / lb should give you 1.5:1 thrust to weight ratio.