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Great Planes Reactor GP/EP 3D ARF 58" Review
By davidsons
Aug 04, 2008, 09:14 PM
Introduction
Great Planes has shifted gears to become a big player in the ever growing electric RC aircraft market, turning out some really great electric ARFs. The Great Planes Reactor 58" GP/EP 3D ARF is by far one of those great ARFs. The Reactor is a .46-.70 size glow or electric powered 3D plane for intermediate to advanced pilots. In addition to its 3D capabilities, the Reactor is a great precision flyer as well.
Kit Contents
The Reactor 58” GP/EP 3D arrived in great condition, and I was very impressed with how well all the parts were packaged to prevent damage during shipping. The covering on the Reactor was nearly perfect right out of the box. I did find that the graphics on the horizontal stab tried to pull off when removing some minor wrinkles, so start with a low temperature and work carefully.
The complete kit features:
Items needed to complete:
Items used for the Reactor review model:
The Manual
Great planes has been in the ARF business for a long time so it was no surprise that the manual was laid out very well with photo-illustrations to help in the assembly process. It was easy to understand and at no time left me wondering.
AssemblyWing
The Reactor wing is fully symmetrical and has a extremely tapered leading edge compared to most 3D wings.
Attaching the ailerons is very straightforward using standard CA hinges. To insure full deflection on 3D planes, I use zip ties to space the hinge gap and then seal the hinge line with Scotch MultiTask tape.
Each wing half is secured to the fuse using two hex head screws.
The included wing tube is aluminum and weighed 2.5 oz, and I replaced it with a carbon fiber wing tube that weighed 2 oz. less. This is not a major issue as the Reactor would carry the extra 2 oz. just fine, but I had the tube, and I like to lighten my birds any chance I get.
Tail
The tail surfaces on the Reactor are easy and quick to install. The horizontal stab was a perfect fit, and therefore the fuselage did not require any additional sanding to make the stab parallel with the wing. The tail surfaces are airfoiled, which aids in the Reactor 's outstanding flight performance. I used the stock servo arms that came with the Futaba 3102 metal gear servo for the elevator and rudder setup. They provide full 3D deflections.
Landing Gear, Wheel Pants, Wheels and Tail Wheel
The Reactor landing gear and wheel pants look as fantastic as the rest of the plane. Installation is very straightforward.
Motor/ESC Installation
I also chose to install an arming switch to allow me to mount the batteries plugged in with the bottom hatch attached. This comes in handy since the batteries mount from the bottom. When it's time to fly, I simply turn on the transmitter and plug in the arming switch.
Receiver, BEC and Servo Synchronizer
The receiver and servo synchronizer are installed under the canopy deck. The manual instructs you to cut the covering on three sides and peel back from the deck, and reattach the covering after installing the radio equipment. I chose to remove the covering and then apply black trim sheet to give a black interior to match the included decals. The receiver used for the review has been discontinued and the suitable replacement is the Futaba R617FS 2.4GHz FASST 7-Channel Receiver.
I installed the Sport BEC just aft of the ESC above the bottom hatch.
After installing and connecting the receiver, BEC and servo synchronizer, I applied the included instrument panel decal and a piece of black trim sheet over the deck.
Finishing Touches
The Reactor comes with a very nice pre cut and trimmed canopy that is attached to the fuselage using provided screws. I was happy to see that the canopy was already cut out because I don't enjoy cutting out canopies.
The Reactor cowl is very sturdy and has plenty of air cooling for the motor.
The battery hatch is located on the bottom and is secured with magnets.
Posing Time
I'm very pleased with the appearance of the finished Reactor. The color scheme looks great, there are no visibility issues in the air, and it's easy to distinguish top from bottom.
Power Talk
I'm very happy with the power setup on the Reactor. I had my doubts that the 9.5 oz. Rimfire 42-60-480 was up to the task, but it has proven me wrong. The Great Planes ElectriFly LiPos (two 11.1V 3200 mAh 20C in series for 6s) are holding voltage well to supply plenty of electrons to the Rimfire motor, which provides more than enough power to 3D the Reactor with authority. Just make sure you use the supplied wheel collar and attach it to the shaft right next to the retaining ring as the retaining ring could pull away from the groove as it did on my setup. I really like the Xoar 16x8 electric wood prop and find it to be very efficient. The Reactor came in at an all up weight of 95 oz - that calculates to 191 watts per pound! See data from static testing below.
Flying
I only used two rates because the Futaba 6EX only allows two rates.
The recommended starting CG per the Reactor Instruction Manual is 4 3/4" from the leading edge of the top of the wing checked inverted. I'm currently flying the Reactor at a CG of 5 3/4" which is just slightly tail heavy (pitches up slightly when inverted). I also flew the Reactor at a CG of 5 3/4" in the video included in this review.
The Basics, Including Take-Off and Landing
The first thing I noticed when I maidened the Reactor is how incredibly smooth the plane flies and how precisely it tracks. Takeoffs are a simple matter of applying gradual throttle and a small amount of rudder to maintain straight tracking. With just under 200 watts/#, the Reactor is airborne in 20 feet or less. The roll rate is extremely fast, and rolls are axial. Inverted flight requires just a touch of up elevator which I fully expected with my slightly aft CG. The CG can be adjusted forward for more of a precision/aerobatic setup if desired. Landing the Reactor is easy because the plane slows so well. Keeping a little throttle on during final will produce a smooth touchdown every time. The Reactor has no bad tendencies even close to stall speed, and I found that it would simply drop its nose after stalling.
3D Aerobatics/Special Flight Performance
The Reactor is really at home performing 3D maneuvers. I could not believe how tight this plane waterfalls and knife edge spins, and the pitch authority is simply outstanding. In addition to its tumbling ability, it excels in every other department, from knife edge to hovering. I have included a report card showing some of the many maneuvers I have flown with the Reactor and how I rated each of them. The Reactor is truly a versatile airframe as it allows the pilot the ability to fly 3D and precision simply by changing the rates and/or CG. Please keep in mind that this report card is subjective and based on my flying skills and previous experience.
Is This For a Beginner?
The Reactor is definitely not for a beginner. The Reactor is probably best suited as a 3rd plane once the pilot can handle a low or mid wing sport/aerobatic plane. A pilot who is 100% confident with an aileron trainer might be able handle the Reactor just fine on low rates and forward CG, and as the pilot gained confidence, he/she could gradually dial in higher rates and eventually move the CG aft for aerobatic and 3D flying.
Photo Gallery/Flight Video
Conclusion
The Great Planes Reactor 58” GP/EP 3D is an awesome 3D/precision aircraft. The great covering scheme, awesome flight characteristics and reasonable price make the Great Planes Reactor an excellent value. The pluses of this aircraft by far outweigh any of the minuses. While definitely not a beginner plane, it is well suited to a beginner 3D pilot by simply dialing down the rates and keeping the CG neutral. Great Planes was spot on when it designed the Reactor!
Pluses:
Minuses:
Last edited by Angela H; Aug 04, 2008 at 09:14 PM.. |
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Aug 04, 2008, 11:06 PM
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#2 |
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When's the next fly-in?
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Tanner, Alabama
Posts: 3,140
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Steve, great review and a really nice job on the video.
Andy |
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Aug 04, 2008, 11:32 PM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 442
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really gotta say thx to you for this one................since i got back into flying last year after a 15 year layoff, i have been eyeballing this bird for a loooooong time...............all inquiries about it have returned so much negative feedback that i have held off. it's obviouse now though that the plane must have fallen into the hands of a few hackers that didn't have a clue on how to shrink the covering or take care in the assembly process..............nice to see this plane built by someone who knows how to build, not to mention, is a great flyer to boot.
nice video, and really nice to see how fast it went to fly, land, rearm with new juice and then take off agian in a very short time. i just got into electrics this past month and while i really like it, i think i would like to go gas on this one..............something about a screamin 2 stroke with this bird just keeps naggin at me. great job, and perfect timing. |
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Aug 04, 2008, 11:48 PM
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#4 |
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**************
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Allen, Texas
Posts: 3,150
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Thanks Andy!
Steve |
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Aug 04, 2008, 11:50 PM
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#5 |
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**************
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Allen, Texas
Posts: 3,150
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Summerwind,
Thanks for the nice comments. Glad you enjoyed the review. Let us know how you like the IC version. Steve |
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Aug 05, 2008, 08:08 AM
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#6 |
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Dr. Dave
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Howard County, MO
Posts: 861
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Steve, outstanding! Your flying skills are wonderful to watch. A+ on your review top to bottom. Thanks for doing this.
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Aug 05, 2008, 09:39 AM
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#7 | ||
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Formerly known as edfrules...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 3D World, Florida
Posts: 2,291
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Here's an old thread I started a while back:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=607141 Video of my friend Blake putting Reactor thru it's paces:
Don't know why more folks haven't tried out this decent sized plane, it's been out a while. Depending on motor selection, you can go 5s or 6s. |
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Aug 05, 2008, 09:42 AM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: frisco,tx
Posts: 1,889
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wow, that was fast
 
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Aug 05, 2008, 09:47 AM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: frisco,tx
Posts: 1,889
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i flew my reactor last night. still one of my favorite planes. there was hints given in another thread about a possible 10-12 s reactor!
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Aug 05, 2008, 11:10 AM
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#10 |
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2400+ Watt Club
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Rocky Mount, NC
Posts: 1,725
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Excellet review! I have one of these planes with a Hacker A50 outrunner, 5s 5000 mAh, 16x8 APC-e prop. I think I had a 15x10 on it before and the plane was literally too fast and didn't hover well. I switched to the 16x8 and the peed went down, the climb went way up, and the amps even went down a little. A friend has repaired my rudder as I tore it out of the plane during a "how low can you fly inverted" contest....
The only mod I had to make was to the battery tray. It started to crack around the edges, most likely due to the stresses of trying to hold on to that big 5s 5000 pack! I glued a nice thick lite ply tray for reinforcement and easily resolved that problem. Thanks for the insight! Now that I see what the plane is capable of in the hands of a competent pilot, I will try some of the maneuvers you have described... |
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Aug 05, 2008, 12:12 PM
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#11 |
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**************
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Allen, Texas
Posts: 3,150
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78dave - Thanks a bunch!
txfly - a 10-12s Reactor would be awesome. edfrules - thanks for posting additional video and yes, it's a good 5s or 6s plane depending on the motor. Kirby has his set up with a Hacker B50 13s, 6.7:1 and running 5s and the power is great. Mike_Then - thanks for the positive comments. The battery tray in the review plane is holding up perfectly to the weight of the ElectriFly 6s 3200's and as you can see, the plane has been thrown around in the air pretty violently. I bet the 5s 5000 packs are much heavier than the 6s 3200's Thanks again everyone! Steve |
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Aug 05, 2008, 12:48 PM
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#12 |
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War Eagle!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 6,600
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Very, very nice video. Extremely well-edited.
Nice flying, too! You really put it to the test, didn't you? 
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Aug 05, 2008, 01:19 PM
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#13 |
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Rammer Jammer, ya'll..
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Florence, Al
Posts: 24,893
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Steve, buddy.. That's how a review's supposed to be done man! That rocks.. Thanks for raising the bar!
I gotta know - what kinda camera are you using? I am stuck in the 90's camera technology and need to bump it up me thinks... Great review man! Jeff www.CommonSenseRC.com |
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Aug 05, 2008, 01:43 PM
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#14 |
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When's the next fly-in?
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Tanner, Alabama
Posts: 3,140
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I'm with you guys. Steve's video is top-notch. Very clear and very creative camera angles made it a fun video to watch.
Andy |
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Aug 05, 2008, 02:10 PM
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#15 | |
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Formerly known as edfrules...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 3D World, Florida
Posts: 2,291
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Yep, converted to an innie later on in the thread. Neu 1509 2.5D/6.7:1 GB,5s packs. That's a fun setup. Gotta love that Merlinesque gearbox sound
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