My new concept X5 DLG! KST xo8 v5 servos,futaba 18Sz TX

Loving the cx4 and 74" laser

I few years ago I sold my beloved E power 78" Extra EXP to fund a very special project. I had to concentrate on other things,but have been content flying 60" and 48" freestyle aircraft to stay in the grove. The last year I've had the Itch to get another large aircraft. I had to take into consideration that I also purchased a new Dodge Challenger,and sold my old A4 Wagon(plane hauler).
After careful consideration I decided the 74 inch laser exp would be the perfect airplane for me, and it should just fit in my car. Worst case scenario? I would have to make the rudder removable, or lay it on its side for transport.
One of the main reasons I picked the 74 inch laser was because It was designed around a purpose built 35cc electric motor!! Finally a reliable, affordable, large scale brushless Motor, that was designed for the airplane! Let me first say that in the past I've made every mistake possible! Tried to save money by mixing and matching generic components and this never ends well. This time around I went right down the extreme flight list and clicked every box that they recommend! Right down to the extensions and aluminum servo arms. They even make their own motor stand off kit,and have a downloadable template for drilling the firewall.
I've always been a big fan of Extreme Flight, but now that they've taken all the guesswork out of building a reliable high performance aircraft? I'm really hooked!
My 74 build went like most extreme flight...Continue Reading

I've been building a tweaking my RC collection for years. It's always evolving, but I finally feel like I have well round hobby room. With plenty of spares!

I have never lost my love of 80's and 90's RC 1/10th scale. It was a Great time for RC. This is a bit of my collection. No reissues.

I love all things RC, but I've noticed over the past few years, that trends in the flying community are changing drastically! Unfortunately most new flyers aren't that interested in fixed wing or Percision flight? With the addition of almost indestructible quad copters,flight stabilization,EPP,and dirt cheap plug and play kits.. The learning challenge is gone! I see large portions of the Hobby dying? A few years ago there were many boutique shops building ultralight Depron milled planes( fragile and challenging),and now you would be hard-pressed to find a variety for sale? Fancy foam has decided to get out of the market, and guys like Donatas, and RJ have not found it profitable to produce there kits? If fixed wing flight is your passion? please continue to support It! Remember this Hobby was started as something to challenge you, a learned skill that not just anybody could apply. We have to get back to that! Our young people need to learn building, and repair skills. Or we can turn into a world of plug and play then throw it away people...

The wind has been blowing for the past two weeks here in Texas! This morning it was 10 miles an hour at sun up, but I couldn't take it any longer! I had to get the duster out and at least fly a maiden flight.
After doing my preflight, I noticed there were a few things that needed to be addressed. this set me back a half hour,when I finally took off, I had a 12 to 15 mile an hour wind down the runway! My initial set up was a hair tell heavy but the plane still felt amazingly good. While I was waiting for the wind to die down so I could land.. it needed a few clicks of trim in each direction. After getting it on the ground and adjusting the CG I couldn't help but take off again! With the proper CG the Duster took a 15 mile an hour wind like it was doing its job, and getting paid for it!!
I was concerned that my setup might be a little on the heavy side(Motor is 100 g heavier than the torque), so I installed the ESC as far back as possible. I was pleasantly surprised when it balanced with no major adjustments. I was able to set up the flaps and reflex while fighting ridiculous gusts of wind! On my third battery pack, The wind had shifted and was giving me 15 mile an hour gusts across the runway(see flag in back of photo)! The duster got pushed out over the rough stuff(but never dipped a wing), I dropped the flaps, and laid on the rudder(with a hair of cross aileron), and completed a very scale farmlanding!! It also drops in like it's almost doing a full elevator, with no dip of the wing, or stall point that I could see? The plane flies incredibly light but doesn't get muscled around by conditions? Not quite sure how they accomplished that? It turns so fast I couldn't pylon race it! Thanks to the big easy flight 470 KV motor and talon 90 ESC it's whisper quiet and performs flawlessly! Can't wait to fly it in good conditions! Thanks again Extreme Flight for another keeper!!

KST servo's on 8v talon BEC!! All .05sec.. 90oz-in rudder, and elevator, and four 51oz-in in the wing. Flaps double as full wing aileron.

I've been fortunate enough to purchase one of the new concept extreme CX fours. The fit and finish on this plane is second to none! After building it I've found that the flight characteristics are absolutely amazing! The factory support is also great. A few modifications were needed for fine-tuning and the guys a concept extreme are always available in the build threads and on Facebook for input .
I've had many big flights with this airplane and plan on many more.

Thought I would leave an open call on my blog, for DLG pilots in the Austin round rock area. There's a small group of us so far, and growing! All welcome..These are my two blades.. Smile from AJ aero model, and a new concept extreme CX4 light

These days when a plane gets damaged its far to easy to just order a new ARF. Half of the fun for me is building, and repairing, but I also find my self taking the easy way out sometimes.

Recently I dumb Thumbed a fresh(two weeks old) airframe into the weeds, pulling the LG block out. Taking into consideration that the plane was so new, I immediately stated I would be fixing this one. To my surprise, I veteran pilot sniped, that it would never be the same. I was surprised by this statement, and just smiled.

When rebuilding a high performance airframe you need to keep two things in mind, Strength, and weight!

You need to make sure your fix is solid, and light. This is easier than it sounds. Remove all damaged wood, and replace it. Never add materials on top of the broken stuff, because this just adds weight. A good way to repair the structure is with Carbon fiber. Also be careful to not over do it, with the glue.

Balsa sheeting is very easy to replace, and with all new wood in place you can sand the surface to a factory finish.

Covering takes practice, and the best thing you can do is start with small patches, untill you get the hang of it, practice on a old airframe.

I wanted to show how well a plane can be fixed, so here it is! Not only does my Extra look like new, but it also flys like new, and the battery is in the same spot it was in before the wreck

I did replace the batt tray with a CF one, and some of the support posts were replaced with CF.

Chris recently posted the rules for a new contest, and it's a good one! The winner recieves a new 91" yak(not released) free of charge! All you have to do is design the graphics package..

I figured why not! Four hours later here is my entry.

If your interested the contest, and rules are posted on flying giants.

Light wind, no SFG's in this one

LASER!!!!!!ROCKS!!!!!!! Extreme Flight Laser EXP (3 min 38 sec)

In this video, it was crazy windy, but I was still able to get a pile of flights in. The new Laser is amazing! It feels like the Extra with more rudder and elevator authority. I felt way to comfortable, and caught the rudder during a high speed inverted maneuver, causing it to snap half way off, on the first flight! It harrier lands nicely with no rudder Five minutes with thin CA, and I was back in the air! Thankfully I didn't put the stars on yet.

It pays to keep color matched covering around.

Unfortunately most of the video from today was corrupt, but I was able to salvage a few cool clips from the forth flight..

Extreme Flight 48" LASER EXP (2 min 16 sec)

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I only write about products I like. I Rarely get a free plane, and I can honestly say, I pay for 99% of my gear. I thought that was important to say, because I'm going to really talk up this next plane.
From the first time I saw a add for the GP silhouette, I new it was my type of plane. Large control surfaces, prebuilt Airfoiled wings, and fuselage! The list goes on, and on.
The standard set up is a Rimfire 400 motor, 12amp ESC, ,HS55 servo's, and packs in the 700-1200mah range. I'm building mine for backyard, and indoor 3D flying, so I opted to use a much lighter set up. I went with a Rimfire 26/28/1300, 10amp FliteTech ESC, 4 HS55 servo's, Rhino 460mah 3cell 20c packs.
I was happily surprised when the light set up balanced. With the battery in one of the easiest area's to get to, and there was no need to add weight.
I did make a few modifications to mine. I increased the Rudder throw, and lowered the rudder control horn, in order to increase the elevator throw. Aileron throw is at Max,and I reinforced the Elevator. The wheels were a bit large, so I used a couple of SL Hyperion wheels.
I built this plane for full 3D flying, and it doesn't disappoint! KE flight is amazing, with no roll tendencies, rolling harriers are second nature. It hovers perfect, and backs up in a hover easily. This plane is the same size as my 3DHS 42" AJ slick, and its a blast to fly in my front yard.
The Silhouette is a super fast build, and it wont disappoint! It's nice to See that great planes is raising the bar, when it comes to ARF foamy's. with a price point set at $59.99 you cant go wrong
If you like this plane, See the Pluma Biplane. (also in this series $49.99).

Out of all the new 3D planes I've flown, the 3DHS 42" slick is buy far the best. I was at the local park on new years day,and a photographer stopped just to take some pictures. The Little Slick is so good you can fly it any were.

42" 3DHS Slick
HS65MG's
Omega 72g Motor
Thunder Power 40amp ESC
Thunder Power 2250mah PP 30c packs

We had a great time at NEAT this year..The Multiplex/Hitec guys were there and I was one of the fortunate few to get one of the New 2.4G FSSHS Kits. I installed the optima7 RX in my trustee 42" Slick, made a few fine adjustments and it was off to the races. It was the perfect venue to test the new 2.4g unit. It performed flawlessly and I could not have been happier. Sines then I upgrade the majority of my fleet to Hitec's new 2.4g system..(I'll have more info later)

My love of flying started at a early age. A friend of the Family started taking My mother, and I up in his clubs glider's. Walt, an older gentleman was a weekend warrior, and spent as much time in the air as possible.
I remember Him saying, "you had the touch", he would let me release the tow rope, and fly most of the flight. There were times I did everything from release right up to lining her up with the runway. Walt always landed it.
I don't Know were Walt is now, people fall out of touch. I'm sure by now Walt has passed away. His wife was very sick back then, and he was getting up there in years. We flew with him until his last year.Webere ever Walt is, I hope He knows what a Big impact he made on my life.. Thanks, Walt.. Safe travels..