Originally Posted by bufordbob

3 Maiden flights today of my 60" Extra V2, Glad nobody wanted to take my trade offer from a few months ago. Started off with controls way dumbed down for initial adjustments working up to 3/4 of you big league guys. Plane is an absolute sweetheart.

Bob

I suggest don't dumb the plane down. Use the low rate from the manual. That's a precision rate, but it's also perfect for sport flying. That way on low rates you have a great flying plane, and you can flip to high for 3D.

My suggestion is not to creep up on the throw, because that's how I did it and failed miserably. I thought I knew what I was doing, but it wasn't until I went with manual full tilt number for number that I started making progress. I'm still using that set up because it works

Forgive me if I underestimate your experience level, but it sounds like you are new to 3D. I hope you find this helpful.......

http://docaustinextreme.blogspot.com...ide-to-3d.html

My first V2 didn't have a long life. I made a critical error and that was that. Stupid for sure, but why couldn't it have been one that was old and beat up?

Now, I am looking at the white V2. It's been three years, so I hope to run a complete build and fly review, with video of course. I just have to round up some financing. The medical bills lately have been crippling, so I have to be careful.

I absolutely loved that plane. It was like an Extra on acid and I was comfortable with it instantly. The build was a bit slow because I was so paranoid I would screw it up, but she didn't take any trim and the only adjustment I made was in the CG. The Extra has a bit different stab installation arrangement, and it was such a nice, snug fit that it looked like it was molded in. The plane was so nice it really hurt to tear it up.

I never measure CG anyway. I give it a rough check and then adjust depending on what the plane is doing, but that only took a couple of flights. The first day was in nasty wind, so it was just a systems check, but it did give me a clue to move the pack forward. After that, she was locked in.

It's been a tough choice between this and the NG, but I love this plane and the color scheme. I have both schemes in a 48" and I see the white better, so that's the logical direction.

60" Extra EXP V2__Grand Old Lady Falls Into Fountain Of Youth

Extra EXP V2__Secret Servo Testing II (4 min 47 sec)

Hey guys,

Let me throw my 2 cents in on this.

I love, love my Extra v2. I've flown it for about a year and it is without a shadow doubt the most stable rocket ship I have ever flown. The only plane that I have flown that trumps this on precision is it's 48" baby brother but even then we are talking by a whisker. Also I'm flying mine with an Avian 100 ESC and an XPwr 22 and the performance is totally bonkers.

What this plane excels at it's just so precise and so incredibly balanced and the motor cooling is outstanding.

The only gripes I have with it is it can be a tad tetchy in the harrier but honestly it's nothing any pilot worth their salt can't handle and nailing the knife edge spin from a full power dive can be a bit hit and miss. The later I can do all day in the Edge v2.

Honestly I have 200 flights on this so it's a third of the way through it's fatigue life, and while I am very much looking forward to the Extra NG when the time comes, I will shed a tear when I retire her.

My 2 cents worth.

Danny

Man, it's been weird not having a 60" Extra. Since about 2014 that has always been my flagship. I was trying to make up my mind what to do so I watched a few old Extra V1 videos and I got away with so much crazy stuff while being precise I knew there was no other choice.

So, today I called Keith and my V2 is on the way.

Originally Posted by Dan the man

The only plane that I have flown that trumps this on precision is it's 48" baby brother but even then we are talking by a whisker.

The big plane does give up a little small plane agility to the 48, but it makes up for it in presence. Where the 60 runs away from the 48 is in smoothness.

The only gripes I have with it is it can be a tad tetchy in the harrier ..........

Yeah, we need to stick an Aura in yours. My 48 harriers as well as an Edge.

............and nailing the knife edge spin from a full power dive can be a bit hit and miss.

Damm, are you trying to blow the wheel pants off? A few times I have dove into an outside snap, them hit the power and crossed over about 1/4 opposite ailerons. I don't do it any more because it's just too violent. When I tried it with a 60" Slick, you could everyone groan. It really should have exploded.

The later I can do all day in the Edge v2.

The Edge exceeds here for sure, but it's also easier to hit a perfect waterfall with one too.

I will shed a tear when I retire her.

No you won't. I thought the same thing about my 48 V1, but after one flight on the V2 I was on the phone trying to sell the V1s. As much as I wax about how great the SHP was, I get pretty much the same plane, only 100 times more refined, in the Velox.

So, when the 60" V2 eventually gets replaced, whatever comes afterwards will probably be so much better you will forget about the V2 overnight.

Inevitably, some will ask how the plane flies without a gyro. I didn't have my first V2 long enough to get any footage like that, but I do have decent footage of my V1. This is without a gyro, and using the Hitec 5245 servos ...... 6 volts. With newer equipment and an Aura, this would have been a lot better, but it will give you an idea sort of what to expect flying the old equipment and no gyro.

Aerodynamically, the V1 and V2 are really not any different because the V1 was essentially perfect. What is different s the V2 construction gives you a stiffer plane that staying in alignment no matter how much stress you put on it. While Extras are not noted for their tumbling ability (as compared to say, a Slick), the plane does snap and spin beautifully, more that enough to be satisfying.

I'm a big proponent of using the most mega servos you can afford, and absolutely an Aura, but they are not strictly necessary. As you can see, there was no holding back, so for sport 3Ders, even older equipment will still work fine. If you are updating from V1 to V2, your older equipment will drop right in and you will still have a better flying plane.

I can go on and on about servos, but I think we are all over that and there's not much argument that the new servos from multiple manufacturers make a word of difference. It's just up to you how much performance you are after and if you are willing to spend a little more to get it. Same thing with a gyro, but remember, if the gyro saves you one time, it just paid for itself five or six times.

This is an old video with old equipment and no gyro, and you can see the V1 was still an awesome beast. There's no reason to believe the V2 won't be a lot better.

Extra EXP__Best Of The Scorch Trials I Thru IV (9 min 26 sec)

Doc,

Totally concur with all those comments. As for the knife edge spin my whole attitude is go hard or go home!!

Your right I need to move on the gyro but life just keeps getting in the way.

Also Doc I'm so glad you put up that video because it underscores what a blessed time we live in. Something very important has occured with the 60" class, that is the servo's and cell's have caught up to the plane. So much so with me I've virtually stopped flying my 48" and 52" planes. That is how good these planes are.

When I switched my 64" MXS to the Hitec 7245 servos and new cells I was beaming but the Promodelor DS160 and Savox 1250 take it to a whole other level. I have flown my 60" Edge v2 in some of the most appalling of conditions and it just smiles at you and keeps on coming.

All the Best

Danny

Originally Posted by Dan the man

Totally concur with all those comments. As for the knife edge spin my whole attitude is go hard or go home!!

From a full power dive, do an outside snap, cut power and keep all other controls pegged. After one rotation add full power keep the elevator and rudder pegged, and cross the ailerons over to about 1/4 opposite stick. When you take all that velocity and energy into a KE spin it really makes a difference. You need the outside snap to carry the momentum into the KE spin, but it sure works

Your right I need to move on the gyro but life just keeps getting in the way.

Get with me when you're ready and we'll communicate over realflight!

Also Doc I'm so glad you put up that video because it underscores what a blessed time we live in. Something very important has occured with the 60" class, that is the servo's and cell's have caught up to the plane.

Yes, but I think the 48s and 52s have made the biggest performance leaps with the new equipment. We didn't have a servo that was good enough for how we fly our 48, but now we do. Now with the Aura we're getting the performance and precision that was built into those 48s to begin with. The 48s improved the most because the servos got improved the most, and an Aura helps the little plane a lot more than it does a big one.

So much so with me I've virtually stopped flying my 48" and 52" planes.

I think that would be a mistake. We should jam an Aura in one of those first and you'll really be sold. On a 48, the Aura makes the plane come alive, and the stability goes off the scale.

What 48s do you currently have?

Doc,

Hey mate a couple of things.

Firstly many thanks for the tips on the spin - I'll give it a run.

Also I will get to the Aura at some point.

As for my 48"/52" fleet I've divested myself of the 48" planes but I'm still flying the 52" planes. I fly those when I go to look after my Dad. Don't get me wrong I very much enjoy the 52" class however my 60" planes are just flying so well. It's freaky.

All the Best

Danny

Originally Posted by Dan the man

Doc,

Firstly many thanks for the tips on the spin - I'll give it a run.

It's basically a full throttle blender, with a throttle cut, then full everything and cross the ailerons to opposite in the KE position. You're basically carrying the energy of a full throttle blender into a KE spin. The 60 Slick does this so violently I had to stop it. As strong as these planes are it really, honest-to-goodness looked like the plane was literally going to explode. I always got either a laugh or a groan out of everyone who ever saw it.

Also I will get to the Aura at some point.

It's complicated to explain, but as you go smaller, the gyro exponentially helps the plane more. I can equip a 48 and a 60 Extra (for example) with mega servos and an Aura, and they fly pretty much the same. The 60 has a bigger presence, and is a little floatier, but now the 48 is every bit as smooth, stable, and precise. The wind becomes less of a factor between the planes too, so the plane tracks better even in bad conditions. Couple that with a good centering mega servo and you'll have laser like tracking.

Also factor in the 48s are now V2s, and that definately plays it's part. The 48s aren't merely entry level planes any more. With premium equipment they are deadly serious 3DXA assassins. One final thing extremely important to me is you get big plane stability and don't give up up any small plane agility.

The 48s were always so good they were ten years ahead of the equipment and it would blow your mind to fly one of mine. The 60s (even similarly equipped) are still better, but you'll be surprised how much the 48s have closed the gap.

As for my 48"/52" fleet I've divested myself of the 48" planes but I'm still flying the 52" planes.

Let's jam an Aura in one of those. I've got a super simple set up for that.

.......... however my 60" planes are just flying so well. It's freaky.

Don't get me wrong, because I do love my 60s. If I had a bigger car, house and budget, I would definately have a lot more of them. After all, the 60" Extra has always been my flagship.

I just try to get the most out of everything I fly, and the gryo with premium equipment keeps these little planes very viable as serious 3DXA weapons.

Doc,

Copy all that - leave it with me.

Danny

I maidened my Extra today. It flys great! Easy to fly and land. I was playing with the CG a bit and tried 2 different battery weights. The flight characteristics with the different batteries, (3300 mAH vs 4000 mAh), we’re hardly noticeable. Harriers make you pay a little more attention than an Edge or Velox but they’re not difficult. It was quite windy so I didn’t play too much down low. The plane is very stable. Definitely a keeper!!

I got 6 more packs through this plane today. This is a great piece of machinery! It’s a treat to fly.

Doc you said "Let's jam an Aura in one of those. I've got a super simple set up for that." Where can I find that? Thanks

Originally Posted by Hoosier37

Doc you said "Let's jam an Aura in one of those. I've got a super simple set up for that." Where can I find that? Thanks

Setting up an Aura for sport 3D

If I didn't cover something or you have any questions, send me a PM.

Thank you.