GP Sukhoi SU-31

[Billpilotca]

Hi guys - has anyone had a look at the recently new Great Planes Sukhoi SU-31, 77 inch wingspan ARF ? I see a review in MAN this month.

Just looking for anyone who has one or seen one fly ?

Bill

[Wayne 1]

I printed off the Instuctions last week,looks great.I will be ordering mine in 2 weeks and installing the SPE40 gas i purchased here on RC 2 weeks ago.This is a 1 piece wing which will probably be a pain for travel.I am sold on it anyway.

[Billpilotca]

Yeah - I was not too enthralled with that one piece wing, I would have liked to see a 2 piece with tube joiner but it still looks like a good plane.

Threads on RCU and FG seem to indicate that folks are happy with it.

In the MAN review they used the Fuji 43 but I have a converted G45 that is looking for a home. I think this ARF might just be it !!

Bill

[Dennis 9412]

Hi Bill:

Have you looked at the new Wild Hare Sukhoi?

http://www.wildharerc.com/products/sukhoi85/index.html

Might give you some options. Split wing, & stabs, etc.

Dennis.

[Billpilotca]

Have you looked at the new Wild Hare Sukhoi?


Hi Dennis - actually my choice is centred around looking for a Sunday fun plane and a home for the G45. I was looking for an aerobat that is a notch down in size from our 50-60 cc size / 85 inch wingspan gassers and likely can fly some basic aerobatics with Zenoah power instead of a DA50 etc.

That's really what got me looking at the GP Sukoi since it looks like a candidate for the G45. Fortunately I can fit a 77 inch wing in my truck. All that said I like the look of the Wild Hare Sukoi and especially the split wing.

Thanks for suggesting options Dennis

Bill

[Frank Klenk]

Hi Bill

Here's one you should think about too ... http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1305.html
Mine has served me well. One tough plane and flies good too :D
78", 2 piece wing and a tube, removable stabs, right up your alley.

[Billpilotca]

Hi Frank - my fear is the G45 won't be enough for the Patty. I assume you have a DA50 or something similar in yours. I am sure I have seen it fly at the IMAC contests.

I know I used to have the G45 in a Midwest Extra but found it did not have much umph for uplines. I could nurse it through basic rolls and loops etc but it was weak in humpty's and hammers. I put the DA50 in and it was a different plane. I think the Patty would be handicapped unless I put a DA50 in it.

To be honest I am looking for a fun flyer more than an IMAC plane, although the Patty has the 2 piece wing which I wish the GP Sukhoi had.

Mind you this is a G45 that was converted to EI by Ralph in Arizona so it probably has more zip than the standard magneto version.

Bill

[Frank Klenk]

I had a Moki 2.1 in the Patty and it flew well but was a limited on verticals. That said however when I put in the DA 50 I also changed out batteries and saved almost 8 oz just in batteries. An engine between the DA 50 and the 2.10 would be perfect. Can't use full power on uplines with the DA cause it's just stupid power. What prop are you swinging with that conversion? With the new A123 batteries you can save even more weight. Just a thought. :)

[Billpilotca]

What prop are you swinging with that conversion?

The G45 swings a 20 x 8 usually

Bill

[Frank Klenk]

oops! double post

[Wayne 1]

Just got mine this week.Installing the Spe 40. Super light air frame,nice aluminum spinner,overall just sweet.

[Mike Anderson]

Isn't the PW E300 a couple pounds heavier than the "new generation" GP IMAC series, like the Su-31?

I have been eyeing the E300 too but my impression is that it's built like a tank. The Info sheet says 14 to 16 lb but with what equipment? I would be flying it electric-powered so knowing the empty airframe weight would be helpfiul if you knew it.

Mike

[Wayne 1]

Just gluing the alerons in lastnite. Will hold the rig on the scales this weekend and will post the empty weight .

[Gary Maker]

Hi Frank - my fear is the G45 won't be enough for the Patty. I assume you have a DA50 or something similar in yours. I am sure I have seen it fly at the IMAC contests.

I know I used to have the G45 in a Midwest Extra but found it did not have much umph for uplines. I could nurse it through basic rolls and loops etc but it was weak in humpty's and hammers. I put the DA50 in and it was a different plane. I think the Patty would be handicapped unless I put a DA50 in it.

To be honest I am looking for a fun flyer more than an IMAC plane, although the Patty has the 2 piece wing which I wish the GP Sukhoi had.

Mind you this is a G45 that was converted to EI by Ralph in Arizona so it probably has more zip than the standard magneto version.

Bill

Bill

Was just reading over this thread as the Sukhoi caught my eye. I love the style of this type of plane, especially that beautiful big round cowel.

You said you'd like something with a split wing and the Sukhoi is a one piece wing....Have you looked at and considered the Great Planes Yak 54??

Its a bit larger wing span but its a two piece wing and it suggests the exact same engine size range as the Sukhoi ---up to 43 cc gas! Just thought since you were considering the Sukhoi but wanted a two piece wing, you might like the Yak 54. It too is a beauty in which you could find a home for that engine of yours! Just a though!

[Billpilotca]

Was just reading over this thread as the Sukhoi caught my eye. I love the style of this type of plane, especially that beautiful big round cowel.

You said you'd like something with a split wing and the Sukhoi is a one piece wing....Have you looked at and considered the Great Planes Yak 54??

Its a bit larger wing span but its a two piece wing and it suggests the exact same engine size range as the Sukhoi ---up to 43 cc gas! Just thought since you were considering the Sukhoi but wanted a two piece wing, you might like the Yak 54. It too is a beauty in which you could find a home for that engine of yours! Just a though!

Hi Gary - I had looked at the Yak, but I was afraid that if I bought one, Jim D would think I had converted from Extra's to Yak's !! Did not want to tarnish my image :wink:

Actually I like the look of the colour scheme of the Sukhoi over the Yak, which is what got me looking at the Sukhoi in the first place. Another deterrent for me was that last year one of the guys was flying the GP Yak in IMAC and had a bunch of firewall problems with it. Basically seemed flimsy or not well constructed or reinforced. That kind of chased me away. However that is not to say that the Sukhoi might have similar problems. I will be interested to see how it works out.

At the moment I spent all my spare mad money on that Aeroworks Extra that I purchased from Dave. So the Zenoah will have to take a vacation until I can refurbish the bank account !!

Bill

[Gary Maker]

Billpilotca wrote: "At the moment I spent all my spare mad money on that Aeroworks Extra that I purchased from Dave."

Yep, I know exactly what you mean! Buying the airframe is just the beginning of the expenditure of having a plane ready to fly! Next comes a $400 to $600 engine, upwards of $300 for servos plus all the other bits and pieces - extentions, switches, prop, spinner, pilot figure & maybe a nice looking dash panel...it all adds up very quickly, and this is just for a 27% scale, 50cc size plane. :shock:

After all this, don't you just love it when guys look at your plane and say: "You know, if you really want to be competitive, you've gotta go bigger!" :censored:

Oh well, we do the best that we can and I'm sure I'm going to really enjoy my summer of competition dispite my "little Yak"! :wink:

I am really looking forward to this flying season. Also look forward to seeing that Extra of your Bill. Thats the exact model that I had purchased to fly last season, before I became ill and had to opt out and sold the plane to Bobby Hudson.

But this year, I kinda liked the looks of the Yak! I've even got Jim "Yakov" Daily beat with that one, as my Grandfather was Russian, so I actually AM part Russian - must be why I just had to have a Yak this year!

Anyway, I've got parts of my Yak laid out all over the dinning room table and should get back to work on it!

[Billpilotca]

After all this, don't you just love it when guys look at your plane and say: "You know, if you really want to be competitive, you've gotta go bigger!" :censored:

My wife always looks at the latest plane and says "now that plane is as big as you are going to get, right ?" My answer is always "yes, dear, don't worry". And planes all cost $100 each, as do engines , and servos are all $10-20 each etc.

It sure adds up fast. I just could not let the AW Extra go by me and it was a good deal (as always with Dave). Luckily I had a DA50 looking for a home. But as you say when you add all the electronics and all the necessities to get it in the air - yikes ! Always makes the maiden flight a knee knocker.

Personally I don't ever expect to make it higher than Sportsman anyway so I don't think I will ever need a 40% plane. They are nice to watch, but I will leave them to the guys with more skills than I will ever have. For me IMAC is all about improving your skills and flying with a great bunch of people.

Hope this snow gets out of here this month so we can get back to practicing by the end of April.

Bill

[hifly2104]

Check out this link for a SU31

http://www.peakmodel.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=su31

[canadianf1pilot]

I really liked the SU31 ARF, and I was really happy with the quality of the Great Planes Super Chipmunk from Great Planes (Thanks LGM), but I started looking at the Yak 54 (for the 2 piece wing) and now I am torn....31...54....31....54.....hmmmm

Bill

[canadianf1pilot]

OK I made up my mind...sort of....I am going with the SU31, and I was thinking about a DL50 for power....any thoughts on this power/plane combo?

The DL50 should have plenty of power but would like to hear what you fellows think??

Bill