Extreme Flight Gamebird EXP__Smooth, Sexy, And Most Definately Swoopy

I've always loved swoopy airplanes and the new Extreme Flight 60" Gamebird EXP has definitely got that going for it, and a lot more too. Based off the full scale Gamebird Composites GB1, the Extreme Flight is a pretty accurate representation. The Design team had access to Gamebird's drawings and that's how the shape came out so convincingly.

So, she's swoopy and a good scale representation, but that's just the beginning.

Click On All Photos To Enlarge

 

Flying

We still need some ore video, so this section of the report is going to be a little short, and we'll have a comprehensive flight report soon.

Gamebrd EXP__Sexy, Swoopy, Smooth from Doc Austin on Vimeo.

The lasting impression of this plane is that it's smooth and stable but still snaps and spins with great authority. It's a lot like the Velox, but with them both being short coupled we kind of expected this. Like the Velox, the Gamebird has ridiculously stable harrier manners, as well as flying extremely light. The plane wants to float forever, but she still slows to almost nothing for a landing. This is a very easy plane to fly that wads itself up pretty tightly when you ask that from it. The plane just responds to whatever you tell it to do.

Precision manners are most excellent, and you can see in the videos the Gamebird will do a perfectly straight slow roll for the length of the field. Consecutive rolls are arrow straight and axial, and the plane tracks dead on during big sky maneuvers like giant loops and figure 8s.

Again, there will be much more later, but for now, know the Gamebird is completely of anything you ask from it, but could almost be considered a 3D trainer. It's an extremely mild mannered plane that does it all with smoothness and grace.

Kit Features.
The Gamebird features all the latest in aero and construction thinking, including the extensive use of mixed composite construction. There's so much to go into it's better to tackle it photo by photo.

Starting with the mixed composite construction, the Gamebird is a lot like the Laser and Extra V2 models The motorbox, battery tray and all formers are mixed composite material. Not only does this make for a stiffer, better performing plane, but it also makes them extremely tough and durable airframes.

You can see the composite used in every former all the way back, and at the bottom are carbon fiber rods that stiffen the balsa sheeting and make for a very stout unit. Only a couple of short years ago we had to cut out our cooling holes, but now it's done for you and you're another step closer to getting in the air.

With a canopy this large it was a good idea to have it be more secure. The old style pin latch we've been using for years is still fine, but added to the fuselage are latches that give additional security.

                 

  The Gamebird has a very beefy composite landing gear mounting block, supported by the usual 3DHS style tube system.  

Setup

These are the same ball links and pushrods we have been using for over a decade, so they are well proven. These are as simple as can be made, which goes a long way to assuring dependability and durability, as well as smooth, drag free, slop free operation.

Ailerons

In the only nasty surprise of the whole project, it was hard to get a good picture of the aileron linkage with the black servo arm over the black strip on the wing!

I was out of Xessories arms, so I used the ProModeler PDRS101 arm on the second hole, which is 7/8" from center. This gives me the amount of throw I am used to. I'm not a young guy, so it's hard for me to keep up with a plane that rolls like a drill bit. With this setup I get about 31-33 degrees, and that's enough aileron to counter torque in a hover, plus it makes the plane rifle roll so fast, again, I can't keep up with it. This is probably enough aileron most people.

Elevator
Using the second hole on the Xessories1.25" arm, I'm getting 45 degrees of elevator travel.

 
This ends up being absolutely prefect for this plane because it's got massive pitch authority and you absolutely don't need any more. Especially on the elevator, I like the cinch bolt on the Xessories arm. Even if the center bolt that secures the arm falls completely out, the cinch bolt will probably save you and keep the arm from falling off. I certainly don't recommend you try this, but having two bolts on the arm just makes a failure that much less likely.

Rudder
Here I use the ProModeler PDRS101 arm on the outer hole, and this gives me a perfect 45 both directions.

Power System

As always, the Xpwr Torque 4016/500Mk. II is the industry standard for performance and anvil like durability. The same is true of the Airboss 80 ESC, and it's perfectly linear and flyable throttle response.

The one hallmarks of the entire Torque/Airboss lineup is that you bolt the system on and forget about it virtually forever. You may want to check the mounting bolts every so often, but outside of that there's nothing to do except run it hard.

Also unchanged is that things that are designed to work together always work together better than things that aren't, so there was not going to be any mixing and matching.  If you want the best performance and reliability from your Torque, the obvious choice is always the Airboss 80 ESC, There is not a lot of bling or adjustments, but there doesn't need to be. The less adjustments you have, the less things for you to get wrong. The 4015 runs perfectly on the Airboss just the way it comes out of the package. Again, all that matter is performance and reliability, and that's what you get with this unit. You plug it in and forget about it until you either crash or wear out the airframe.

Certainly if you already have a power system, you gotta watch the pennies and use that, but also remember you save about $50 if you buy the airframe/power system combo, which makes it price competitive with lesser units. If you don't already have a power system, anything else doesn't make nearly as much sense.

Servos

Tests with ProModeler DS100s in my 52s yielded such impressive results that I have switched to their DS110 servos in all my 60" planes. These are only $60 per, which makes them competitively priced (and sometimes even less) to comparable servos. So given how happy I am with the DS100s, this was a logical choice, and one that is quickly becoming de rigeur.

It's going to be hard to beat the servos we have been using in these 60" planes, because they have been really good, but we thought that about the 52s as well, and the difference was day and night. Most servo discussions revolve around torque and speed, but that may not be what is most critical, at least not to me. What we already have features really good torque and speed, but what surprised me with the DSS100 was their absolute dead solid perfect every single time centering, and this is even more true of the DS110s. The difference this kind of centering makes is not something you are going to believe when put into words, but you will certainly get the true picture when you fly them.

 

If you add to that the robust machined aluminum case and gear train construction, not to even mention their water resistance, this was an easy choice in spite of how much I hate to change what's working. It's not a cheap thing either considering I plan to update my other 60s, but for the best performance from planes I have already spent a bunch of money on, it certainly makes sense to spend a bit more to get the most out of my investment. My other 52s were no fun to fly once I had experienced how much better my PM equipped Extra was, so re-equipping became mandatory for me. After this, I'm simply not going to settle for anything less.

Look, you don't need to buy the absolute best servo you can find. I was using the inexpensive 5245MG in my Yak with good results, and some people have actually gotten away with really inexpensive 225mgs (not recommended). Still, at $59.99, it's still the same or less money than other premium servos. Why not spend less and get the best?

Of course, when I say "best," it's fair to note that is subjective, but if you read the reviews, I am nowhere near alone in my praise. That, and since I have been doing this for over 60 years, I might be on to something.

It would be too lengthy to go into all these servo's features, so I refer you to John Beech's excellent article outlining them on the DS110CLHV page. Even better is the article on PM's DS100DLHV page that explains the merits of construction with pictures of the insides. Different servo, but same features and rugged construction.

Having flown DS110s for over a year, it's fair to say they have earned my confidence with regards to durability and reliability.  Combined with what I have read from John Beech, and the nearly unbelievable flying results I have gotten, I'm completely confident to put these into brand new planes and never think about them again. Stuff that runs like a sewing machine and perform above expectations don't just simply fall apart. You can't get that kind of performance without putting the quality in too, or they would have already blown up.