FlyingRC.net Giant Scale Build Series

I build an Aeroworks 60cc Freestyle Extra 260 QB-L

Text by Tom Hintz, Photo courtesy Aeroworks

Posted – 8-15-2014

The decision to build a giant scale airplane can’t be taken lightly because it is a relatively expensive proposition. Because I am funding this project myself cost must be considered in many parts-buying decisions but always balanced with safety and durability. Saving a few bucks only to have a giant scale plane fall out of the sky is not an option.

I also am not building the Aeroworks 60cc Freestyle Extra 260 QB-L because I am an expert in giant scale. Part of my reasoning to undertake this build is to show that an average flier can successfully put a giant scale plane together and then have fun flying it. Certainly there are giant scale specific considerations and I will look at those as we encounter them. The onslaught of ARF (almost ready to fly) planes – including giant scale aircraft – benefits a project like this by reducing the build time and the complexity of constructing a giant scale airframe. Modern manufacturing processes such as laser cutting make this level of prefabrication possible in part because of the extreme accuracy and consistency the laser process makes possible. Add jig built airframe components and we get an airplane that comes out of the box straight and with important angles locked in at the factory. We don’t have to shim motor mounts to achieve thrust lines because that is built into the motor box/firewall assembly. Critical relationships like main wing and stab incidence are also built into the airframe at the factory. That makes it easier for average fliers such as myself to get into giant scale aircraft with a better flying, more predictable aircraft.

Another very important factor is that companies such as Aeroworks who makes the 60cc Freestyle Extra 260 QB-L I am building in this series are deeply invested in modern support technologies. There certainly is a wealth of information available on the Internet in places like the big plane specific “The FlyingGiants” Internet forum. Aeroworks augments this kind of resource by participating directly on this forum to both provide helpful information in real time and to interact with their customer base which helps them develop planes their customers want.

This series of stories will follow my progress in putting the Aeroworks 60cc Freestyle Extra 260 QB-L together. Individual reviews will be produced on the products I use in this plane and you get to see how they all work together when the Aeroworks 60cc Freestyle Extra 260 QB-L takes to the air. Along the way I am likely to need help or information and will get that assistance from Aeroworks directly, the folks at FlyingGiants or other members of my local flying club, RC Wingers of Mooresville, NC.

First up will be the unboxing of the Aeroworks 60cc Freestyle Extra 260 QB-L and an overview of the parts I will be putting in it. You get to sit back and learn from my mistakes and benefit from the successes in this project. I am hoping to show that building a modern giant scale airplane need not be intimidating. If we follow the manufacturer’s directions and ask questions when we have them this project will be fun and reward us with an exhilarating plane to fly.

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