[Mike Biedul]

I expect this weekend will be the last decent flying weather here in Edmonton, so I thought I'd ask for thoughts from anyone else with the Composite-ARF YAK 55. How did it go for you? In my case:
1. I'm using the ZDZ100B2NG on my 2.6 meter YAK. Seems to be a good match, though the firewall is set up for the DA100.
2. Plane makes me look good, and I am not a hot pilot. It's all I want to fly anymore....
3. I have CG at the forward recommended position. Next year I'll bring it farther back a bit. In the meantime I am needing flaps to slow it down for landing. On my JR10X I'm using 14 clicks down elevator and 29 clicks down flap. Shortened the runway required by half (Maybe try Morinville next year!). I expect with the CG moved back flaperons will not be as important. A word of caution: If flying with a newish engine with a high idle it will not want to sit down....after my ZDZ broke in and I got comfortable with a low idle things got a lot less tense at landing time.
4. I'm on my second set of gear. Ripped first one then the other on long landings into cut hay. These should have taken that abuse, in my opinion. On a good note, parts were readily available.
5. Elevator hinges are getting sloppy. Anyone else had this, and how did you address it? Aileron hinge seems to be holding up fine.
6. I bought the plain jane version (quite a savings) and did my own colour scheme with Stits paints. Seems to be holding up OK, and was minimal weight. Note the plain jane version is not all white. Undersides of wings and tail surfaces are red. If doing your own paint job, be careful not to add much weight, which would be easy to do with latex or acrylic.
7. I'm using a JR 500A gyro on rudder. Makes takeoffs smoother and helps landing too. Interesting in some other manoevers.
8. On balance, I recommend the YAK highly, and would not want anything less than the DA or ZDZ 100 twin up front. On low rates it flies like a perfect trainer.
This is all after about half a season. What are your experiences? Anyone have the larger one? I have seen it fly and I'm happy the 2.6 meter one I have seems to perform as well.

[WildBill]

Nice looking plane there Mike, i have one also and it is the only plane i fly anymore, i absolutely love it, i am running a ZDZ 80 in mine and it performs beautifully, i am not sure why you have problems slowing iyt down other than the engine idle mine will slow to a crawl and doesn't even think of tip stalling, my CG is back considerably from what is recommended but you would never know it by the way it flys. As for the gear issue that is one thing with this type of aircraft, they don't take much abuse due to the construction design, i too had a slight mishap that resulted in some fuse damage behind the gear leg, Good luck with it in the spring, the more you fly it the better you will like it

[ronm]

Mike, Bill is correct, if your landings are too hot, you probably need to move the CG back.

[Rob]

Here is a .mov clip of Bills yak landing and to me it is not comming in hot at all. the feild we are on is 400' long and he doesnt even take 1/4 of it to land. Mind you there is a little head wind when this video was shot.
Click Here

[JimMoss]

Originally Posted by Rob

Here is a .mov clip of Bills yak landing and to me it is not comming in hot at all. the feild we are on is 400' long and he doesnt even take 1/4 of it to land. Mind you there is a little head wind when this video was shot.
Click Here

All I can say is ....Put some cloths on!!

Oh ..... And nice landing!!

[scaleguy]

Rob,

I think Ron was telling Mike that he may be nose heavy, not Bill.

[Mike Biedul]

Yes. I agree with all that moving the CG back will slow down the landings. That is the ONLY issue I have with the plane as it is now set up. The CG is forward because I am not a 3D-capable pilot, or anywhere near that level of expertise. So, except for landings, I like the CG where it is. I will start moving it back next Spring. In the meantime, I have a solution that's working. Like you, this is the only plane I want to fly anymore.

I have three big scale jobs on the go, all in the covering/painting stage, and should be rolling them out when the Spring comes. They won't be as fun to fly. For the pure fun of flying, you can't beat the Comp-Arf YAKs. I got this thing in reaction to a big slow underpowered biplane I have (96" Lazy Ace), that doesn't do much of anything well except look elegant in the air. I started looking around for something robust yet lightweight. What a difference! I was also experimenting with lithium ion batteries to conserve weight, an opto-isolator for control surface servos, and various transmitter programming. I'm very happy with the way it has worked out.

By the way, I lost the left wheel during pull-out on my last takeoff this week. It's out in the stubblefield somewhere under the snow.... I will be using extreme measures (jbweld probably) to secure it this time. LockTite didn't do it (probably because the gear is tapped oversize - too sloppy). Landing was pretty darn exciting, but no damage fortunately. Good idea to check that left wheel before every flight. It's a weak link.

Keeping with that goal of lightweight performance, I have had the plans for Vaillencourt's Vailly Sport blown up and will be looking at a very lightweight version for my ZDZ 80 twin. Sort of like the lightweight ARFs we see in .40 size now. I'll post some pictures when it's underway. The goal will be a plane 2/3 the weight of my YAK.

Anyway, any other thoughts from those of you with the YAK are encouraged.

Thanks

-Mike

[Mike Biedul]

Wild Bill:

Are we the only people with this airframe in Canada?

Didn't know the club was so exclusive. Surely someone will spring for the big one; it flys so great.

Have you measured where your CG is now? I wouldn't mind having that for reference. We are actually having a heat wave and I may take the girl out for another dance this weekend.

-Mike

[scaleguy]

Originally Posted by Mike Biedul

Wild Bill:

Are we the only people with this airframe in Canada?

Didn't know the club was so exclusive. Surely someone will spring for the big one; it flys so great.

Have you measured where your CG is now? I wouldn't mind having that for reference. We are actually having a heat wave and I may take the girl out for another dance this weekend.

-Mike

Mike,

I am waiting for CA to release the 54... I like the looks better then the 55... but that's just my opinion.... and I am right d*mit!