E-Flite RV-9 450 ARF REVIEW

[ATIS]

E-FLITE RV-9 450 ARF BUILD AND REVIEW

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The EFlite RV9 comes very well packed it a fairly small box but dont worry, its all there!

Whats in the Box:

(1) RV-9

Whats not in the Box:

(1) EFlite 450 outrunner (I chose to use the EFlite 480 (1020kv))
(1) EFlite 30 amp ESC (40 amp if you go with the 480 outrunner)
(4) EFlite S75 servos (5 if you want flaps_
(1) 6 channel RX
(1) TX
(1) 20c 3s 1800 lipo (on 450 motor) 20c 3s 2100 lipo (480 motor)
(1) Set of Deans or EC3 connectors
(2) long servo extensions
(1) prop
(1) 1/9 scale pilot

The Build:

Wing:

The first step is install the aeliron servos. You will need to add servo extensions to both servos. I highly recommend that you use tape (I used hinge tape (see photo)) to secure the extension to the servo lead. Attach the string to the extension wires and then SLOWLY pull the wire through the wing to the opening on the TOP of the wing. This may take a little wiggling but take your time. Repeat for the other wing half. (There is an advisory out as the first batch of planes do not have the string, I used dental floss and a nut) I DID NOT attach the servo to the wing covers at this time. I center servos and such near the end. Its really the builders choice as long as you dont mount the servos.

Next is to attach the wing halves together. I used 6 minute epoxy and painters tape. I love the purple painters tape because it is very low tack and wont damage the plane and wont leave residue behind after being removed. You can get it at Lowes, Target or Walley World.



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Let the wing halves dry for an hour...but no worries we can keep building.
After the wing is dry you will need to add the wing support which requires you to remove some of the covering and use a high performance CA.




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Rudder and elevator:

This is very easy, simply slide them together and use the include lock nuts to secure them. Check to insure the elevator has free movement up and down with no binding. Now mount the tail to the fuse. Make sure you use the washers to help spread out the stress on the wood. I would mount the control horns at this time which requires some of the covering to be removed as well. (see pict).




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Fuse:

Install the elevator and rudder push rods. Install the servos for them from the TOP of the fuse. Install the velcro for the battery and the safety strap.




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Next install the motor and ESC. The 480 gets installed all the way to the top of the motor mount and the 450 about 1/2 way down. Use loctite on the screws for the "X" mount and for the screws to the firewall. Having a motor come loose during a flight is not fun! I installed my ESC using velcro and ran the wires out through the side behind the motor.

Electronics hook up:

By now the wing is dry. I hook up all my electronics and bind my RX to the TX. Once the bind is complete the servos are now centered, remove the servo arms and place them at 90* from the servo. I used the "easy connects" that were in the hardware to connect all the pushrods to the servo arms. They make adjust the control surfaces flush very easy and quick. The rudder and elevator are the easiest. The aeliron servos are next. I used regular CA and a kicker to mount them to the covers after I had placed the servo arms at 90*. Please be sure to center the servo arm in the opening. You do not want any rubbing. Now you can use the included screws to mount the covers. I place the push rod into the easy connect before I mount the servo and cover to the wing. Just makes it easier then flexing the control surface to get the wire into the hole.

Landing Gear:

The landing gear is straight forward. I did mod the wheel pants to use larger wheels as the grass I fly off of isnt short. 2 inch wheels fit but you need to use a dremel and sanding wheel to open up the opening both forward and aft.




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Wing Attachment

Make sure to use the washers with the wing screws and only tighten them till you see the covering begin to twist or compress. Over tightening will break the wood. Now flip her upside down and install the landing gear.

Cowl Installation:

The cowling come pre-drilled and installs with 4 screws. When I added the spinner and prop I had some rubbing. I used some sandpaper and lightly sanded the offending side to gain the clearance I needed. I had to sand the nose cone as well as the back plate. Rubbing will increase the motors amp pull.

Cockpit:

I used Ca to attach the seat backs. The required pilot is not in stock so I used a standard 1/9th scale pilot. He was a little short so I added a 3/4 inch piece of foam and painted it grey. He can now see over the instrument panel!!




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Preflight:

Verify that all control surfaces move inthe correct direction and that all surfaces are flush. I set my aelirons up for flaperons so I had a little tweaking to do. Double check your CG and go over the plane one last time.

Build Time:

Build time is 4 -5 hours depending on your experience.

REPORT CARD:

Good:
- Covering had no wrickles
- Easy to follow instructions
- Great looking plane
- Larger battery area
- Adjustable firewall blind screws (makes using various motors easy)

Bad:
- Poor alignment of flaps and ailerons
- Pilot not included


FLIGHT REPORT:

Weather:

- Calm winds
- Sunny

My Set Up:

Eflite 480 (1020kv) with APC 12x6E prop
EVO 25 3s 2170 lipo
5 S75 servos
AR6100 RX
EFlite 40amp Pro ESC

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Maiden:

I headed out to maiden with the hopes of being alone with my wife as the only witness incase I had a bad morning...no such luck as half the guys I fly with couldnt resist the calm weather either.

ROG was easy and she tracked well for a tail dragger in 2 inch tall grass. She was off the deck in about 15 feet as I was easy on the throttle and wanted to keep the tail pinned to the gorund to prevent nose overs in the tail grass. I got her to alititude and let the sticks go at 1/2 throttle, she dropped her nose and the left wing tip...now worries as a few clicks of up trim and 4 right had her flying level. I took her to WOT and she started to climb a little, perfect, as thats what she should do. She is very stable and with small movements on teh control sticks acts like a low wing trainer. However, she is a sport flyer with rolls on low rates being slow and high rates being faster then scale. Loops are nice and big with no fall out at the top. Inverted flight requires more down elevator then I normally use. I did play with the CG on the second flight but it didnt improve the inverted but did make her more sporty as the aelirons became even more responsive. Landings were easy, pull back the throttle to 1/2 stick, turn in, and chop the throttle to 1/8 and she settles in and lands with ease. I tested the flaps at altitude and she just lifts up nice and easy but does slow down. I landed without them.

Report Card:

ROG: Easy
Glide: Level with a gentle downward decent
Rolls: Slow, on high rates rolls are 360* in 2 seconds
Loops: Easy, nice and big
Speed: Scale speed, 25-45mph max on my setup
Landing: Easy, lands like a trainer
Beginner: No, would make a nice first balsa plane or first low wing aileron or sport flyer

Summary:

Beautiful aircraft, she simply looks amazing in the air and the color scheme maintains orientation with ease. She flys well, almost trainer like but with better looks. Take your time and fine tune her as EFlite has another winning airplane with this one!!


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[ATIS]

http://www.vimeo.com/5761078

[WJCJR1]

Great review ATIS.

Sure looks like a beauty, been eyeing this one for a while but not sure if this should be my first low-winger. I know the Trojan is a very popular Low Wing and foam but I need something a bit different.

As to the alignment issue of the ailerons is this missed alignment a performance dampening issue if not resolved or just displeasing aestheticly when examined? Did you align them properly or does it require much work to do so?

I like the Pilot sitting on a phone book, nice touch.

Great report, build and maiden,
Wayne

[ATIS]

I didnt fix the flaps/aeliron alignment. The aelirons are flush with the outer edge of the wing and the flaps are raised as high as I can get them without modding the inner wing. So when you look at the flaps they look like they are dropped a few mm's. Did it hurt performance...nope, not a bit and if it did I didnt notice it at all. She is a great sport flyer and I am not going to mess with her anymore and just fly her to death.

[WJCJR1]

JUst watched and nice flying in the video. She does definitely need some down elevator inverted, she really drops.

I assume the landing at the end was no flaps either as your maiden flight or was the video taken at maiden?

Plane looks great on the ground and better in the air.

Wayne

[ATIS]

Video was second flight. I messed that one up, the maiden landing was perfect. I didnt use flaps on either landing. Tomorrow if the weather is good I will try and get another video.

[WingingIt74]

Very nice review. I may have to get one now :)

[ATIS]

you wont regret it. She flys better then she looks and thats saying alot.

[ATIS]

Got another flight in this morning. 10-15 mph winds. She flew great in the wind but I messed up the landing. I dropped the flaps and decided I was too high to land and circled around leaving the flaps down and then cut back on the throttle as I turned into the wind... bad move as she slowed to a stall 5 feet off the deck and as she dropped the nose I killed the flaps which finished dumping the nose. I managed to get the nose up but I cracked the balsa around the left landing gear. The fix should be easy but that was her only flight today.

[Gary Hoorn]

Thanks for the review. I have been trying to decide what to assemble next after losing my Taylorcraft. This plane looks interesting.
Gary

[ATIS]

Gary,

She is a great flyer and with the 480 really falls more into sport flying. She will do everything you could want short of 3d. Tail slides, loops, rolls, inverted, KE's, all are capable. She looks good in the air and lands nice and easy. I have flaps but only used them once and thats when I stalled in a very low level slow turn during landing (3 feet off the ground turning into final...bad idea with 15-20 mph winds)

[ksalley]

How does this plane compare to the t-34 or would a better comparison be with the T-28?

[ATIS]

The T-28 would be a better comparison in some ways.... lands slow, handles well, rolls and loops are similar, landing area/ROG requirements are the same. Now what it shares in common with the T-34 is great looks, in the air feel: she flys solid and feels like a heavier plane in the smooth responses to control inputs and its carving turns. I have all 3 planes enjoy them all.

[ksalley]

I have the T-34,T-28,F4U, Electristar, Tiger Moth, BladeCX2, Blade 400 and Vapor. I fly all E-Flite power except for the Electristar.
I plan on getting the RV-9 today and the PT-17 when the CG looks a little better.

[ATIS]

Keep an eye on the PT-17... a friend did a mod that I plan to try that he claims reduces the climb on power and improves inverted flight...PT-17 with CG set at 3 1/2" is perfect.

The RV-9 on the set up I used will give you lots of power for windy days plus fast ROG if you dont like tail draggers or your field is bumpy and long like mine. The nice thing is that it uses the same lipos as most of your planes/heli's!!