Q's Yak-54 as a pattern plane.

[Earl Haury]

Eric

I pretty much agree regarding the Quique YAK. I've flown one all winter (?) with a 140DZ on the stock solid mount and  Central muffler. This arrangement, as one might expect, is noisy - exhaust muffling is minimal, as is the solid setup. Interestingly, the only servo to complain (JR8411) has been a pot on the rudder. 

I lowered the rear of the LG plate 5/16" and replaced the landing gear with a standard F3A Bolly - works great.

With linkage and travels as per a normal pattern set-up, and a much more forward CG, it's OK for practicing pattern. I wouldn't consider it competitive though. You're right about over rotation on snaps (and spins) - not unexpected with 20 oz. wing panels. Overall, I'd rank it more versatile than a sport plane and better value - the feel is somewhat more like an IMAC plane. (It is wild with a 3D set-up!)

I have observed that after flying the less smooth and faster YAK, a pattern plane seems to be in slo-mo and ultra easy to fly well. 

Earl
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Grow Pattern 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 6:57 AM
  Subject: Q's Yak-54 as a pattern plane.


   There was a question or note, about this plane being used in pattern that I have been thinking about.

  I flew one this summer with a YS 1.40L on the front. It came in under the pattern weight. I had to use a YS performance after market muffler because it did not cater for a more pattern conventional muffler.

  It had plenty of vertical and basically flew very well. It had a big problem with the landing gear block breaking out very easily. That was fixed with an extra ply plate.  

  I had an e-mail asking about its viability as a contest pattern plane. I found that the plane tended to fly much more like a sport plane than a pattern plane. Don't get me wrong, it is a good flying plane, but as soon as it got into a crosswind it required much more work to fly than a pattern plane. I also found that it wanted to over-rotate in snap-rolls. 

  None of this is a surprise because the Yak-54 is really more of a purpose designed 3-D plane. 

  I subsequently sold the plane to a very competent 3-D type pilot. We fitted an OS 1.60 and a Dubro iso-mount. He loves it, but I never see him flying any straight lines :-)

  Regards,

  Eric.
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