FEATURES: This is the radio controlled, glow or electric powered, almost ready to fly Great Planes Escapade Sport Airplane.
Construction: Balsa and ply
Covering: Covered in Top Flite MonoKote
Wings: One-piece with aluminum joiner tube
Aileron Control: Modeler's choice of single or dual servo control
Radio Compartment: Plywood reinforced
Canopy: Single tinted, hatch attaches to fuselage with magnets,
preinstalled painted pilot bust
Fuel Tank: 9.1oz (270cc)
Landing Gear: Left and right aluminum sections 0.12" (3mm) thick
Wheels: Main, foam 3" (76mm) diameter, tailwheel 0.87" (22mm)
diameter
Wheel Pants: Painted fiberglass
Spinner: Plastic, red in color 2.5" (63mm) diameter
Engine Mount: Two-piece composite
Motor Mount: Plywood
INCLUDES: Escapade Sport Airplane, landing gear, wheels, motor mount, engine mount, fuel tank, spinner, landing gear, pilot bust and instruction manual.
REQUIRES: Radio: 4-channel, Servos: 3-5 standard size, Engine .40 - .55 cu in (6.5 - 9.0cc) 2-stroke glow OR .52 - .70 cu in (8.5 - 11.5cc) 4-stroke glow OR, Electric Motor: .46 RimFire (42-60-800kV), Battery: 14.8V (4S) 3200mAh LiPo (if using electric motor), Electronic Speed Control: 60 amp (if using electric motor), Charger: LiPo compatible charger and cell balancer (if using electric motor), 6" (152mm) Servo Extension: Two for single servo aileron control, Dual Servo Extension required for dual servo aileron control, 1/4" foam rubber padding, propeller, building and field equipment.
SPECS: Wingspan: 52.5" (1340mm), Wing Area: 483 sq in (31.2 sq dm), Weight: 5.0 - 5.5lb (2270 - 2495g), Wing Loading: 24 - 26 oz/sq ft (73 - 80 g/sq dm), Length: 46" (1160mm), Airfoil: Semi-symmetrical, low wing configuration, Center of Gravity: 2-1/2" (63mm) Back from the wing's leading edge at the fuselage sides.
Seems like it is time for me to have another airplane to fly since the tragic loss of my Sonic 25 LW due to elevator servo failure.
I like the size and looks of the new GP Escapade airplane and decided on it. It is now on order at HTUSA. I will install JR Radio gear and maybe a TT .46 nitro engine for power.
Lee Hughes has kindly loaned me the TT engine for my use. As soon as the airplane kit comes in, we can get started.
I went by HTUSA today and sure enough, there were Escapade kits everywhere.
Jamal pulled one from behind counter with my name on it. Another fellow was buying his and another one was reserved for Russell.
More kits were on hand. Got it home and layed out the main prefinished assemblies for inspection/drooling over.
So far the kit is very good with flawless finish on sub-assemblies and parts fit is spot on.
When I trial fit the vertical and horizontal fins in place, they squared up nicely with fuselage and the horizontal fin was actually level with the wing without having to twiddle with it.
Looks to be the most airplane for the money, I have ever seen.
I have trial fit the OS .32 H engine and the TT .46 engine, I am torn as to which to use, I would like the good gas mileage of the .32, but might need the extra power of the .46, might drill mounting holes in engine mount for both engines, but leaning towards the .46 now.
I am going to use my JR X-347 radio that I had in the Sonic and it is getting a fresh charge on the batteries now so will be ready for radio install and setup. Also bought a new servo as needed to complete flight pac, a bottle of thin CA in case it will be needed (my current bottle of thin has turned to medium and my medium has turned to gap filling), and some Teflon glue tips.
Decision made, the TT .46 engine is installed, fuel tank mounted and fuel lines run through firewall.
Stock assembly called for the tail feathers to be hold on with just a couple of long threaded rods and locknuts.
I did not quite trust this method, so I glued and screwed the tail fins on.
Ran into a little problem with radio install/location.
The suggested area for mounting the batt pac was interfering with the aileron servo when using the single aileron servo mounted in center of wing.
I moved the throttle servo to a new location to rear with the rudder and elevator servos.
Now there was room in old throttle servo space to mount batt pac up top under hatch area, freeing up the area above aileron servo so will be nothing to interfere with servo operation.
Here is the neat little spring loaded steerable tail wheel assembly. I think that I will replace the plastic press on wheel retainer with a proper metal wheel collar.
Progress Report:
Everything pretty much in place now.
Waiting on the 24 hour JB Weld to cure. I am turning the two piece muffler into a one piece muffler, no lost muffler rear halves or leakage from seam.
Radio stuff is all nailed down in final position, hooked up, and the old JR radio came to life and all is wiggling like it should.Next is hooking up the push rods and adjusting for control surface throws and neutrals.
It came with about a two foot square sheet of all sorts of things, enough to make it look like a NASCAR decoration. Maybe I will save some of them for any needed patches in future.
The radio system install is now finished with control surfaces checked for correct directions and degrees of deflection.
Output screws are in all servos, receiver and batt pac padded and secured, wires routed out of the way and secure.
The wing is also ready to go with the completion of the aileron servo push rods to aileron torque tubes and adjusted for neutral and control surface throw.
The wing mounting bolts had to be shortened by about 1/2 inch so as not to bump into servos in fuselage when tightened down.
The front end is complete with the attachment of the now one piece muffler, fuel filter, and a 10X8 prop.
The center of gravity, with dry tank, checked to be within the suggested range.
The Escapade is ready for it's first flight this weekend. Then the flight report and evaluation will be posted along with before and after pictures taken at the flying site. Wish us well!!!
While waiting on the weekend to arrive, for actually test flying the Escapade:I just could not leave that sheet of decals alone and added one to each side of fuselage. Even balanced the prop, really needed it, had to take about 20 milligrams off one side.
The Escapade made first flight today and was to my satisfaction, I am pleased with performance. Due to wings being very close to same size/design, it flew very much like the Sonic. Had more yaw authority due to larger surface area rudder and held good knifeedge flight and stall turns. Was easy to over control on take off run so I will dial in some Expo for less rudder travel around neutral by it's next outing.
Since I did not have any engine manuals for the TT .46 Pro, had to sort of guess about the initial engine adjustments, but it soon was running great and really pulled the Escapade around with authority and idled well. I would say that one would not need any larger engine for this aircraft. Flying today, engine equipped with ACP 10X8 prop, OS A3 plug, and CP 15% MV fuel.