Extreme Flight Owners Thread

[Aeroplayin]

I'll also admit that I sucked it up and paid the $128 to ship a 74" Laser to me....

So you paid almost exactly $100 more for a bigger and heavier plane with a split stab and stab tube, than what I paid for the smaller plane in November 2013. Sorry, but I still don't see why this is so shocking. Maybe it's because we could save $128 if we went to pick them up, or maybe I'm overestimating the 74 Laser's size compared to the 71 Slick, 72 330SC, and the 74 Edge. Are the new 74 EXPs the same size as these planes?

 

[gyro]

So you paid almost exactly $100 more for a bigger and heavier plane with a split stab and stab tube, than what I paid for the smaller plane in November 2013. Sorry, but I still don't see why this is so shocking. Maybe it's because we could save $128 if we went to pick them up, or maybe I'm overestimating the 74 Laser's size compared to the 71 Slick, 72 330SC, and the 74 Edge. Are the new 74 EXPs the same size as these planes?

You're equating value to size... and I'm equating value to presence in the air, and performance. I think that is where we're missing each other's points here.

I've built and owned every 3dhs 7X" bird available in the last 4 years. This 74" Laser IMHO out-flies all of them.. but that margin of victory is small. The Laser flies like an uber precise 71" Slick. Same fat fuse, but a little more length and larger tail control surfaces. Better than the 71" Slick... yup! But the EF 74" Laser costs $108.40 more to get to my door. That's a big pill to swallow for two comparably preforming airplanes.... at least IMHO.

Big quantitative differences between the 71" Slick and the 74" Laser:

Laser is a little bigger with more tumbling ability and better precision and high alpha performance.
Laser doesn't have a ringed cowl, the Slick does.
Laser comes with SFGs, the Slick doesn't.
Laser comes without hinges installed, the Slick only needs the rudder done.
Laser has new sliding latch cowl, the Slick needs screws for gas use.
Laser has removable tail stabs, and requires one more servo than the Slick, (increasing cost $100 more in my case).
Laser is slightly better build and initial quality.
Laser has slightly better hardware quality.

Hope that explains where I'm coming from better.

 

[Enterprise]

I run the ES pipe and that baby plain won't fit into any of the other airplanes. These 3 EF planes and the future 74" Edge EXP are the only planes I know of that can accomodate a 30cc tuned pipe as the 3DHS stuff is too short on the fuse and many of the others don't have a tunnel or accomodations for it. Same for the Pilot-RC stuff or the EGs I have owned.

 

[Aeroplayin]

Hope that explains where I'm coming from better.

Well, kind of, but probably not the way you wanted it to. That sounds like a lot of plane for another $100 to me, even if I liked the 71 Slick. If you are trying to convince me that the split stab is a negative because it costs you for another servo, it ain't gonna work because it's like saying the pipe tunnel is a negative too because it's going to make you want to put a pipe in there, which will cost you not only for the other servo, but the pipe and header too. May as well just buy the Velox and put a 6S setup in there... it's going to look just as big once it's 50 feet away, needs only four servos and a 6S battery. Oh, wait... it's almost $500 shipped. :banghead:

 

[AKfreak]

Lets all just agree it sucks to have to bay high shipping prices no matter what the reason. Lets all agree that EF does in fact fly better than all the rest of the ARF companies in the world. Lets agree that if EF could find a way to reduce shipping costs we would all be much happier and buy many more planes from them? Lets agree that we are all friends here and no mater how much our opinions differ sometimes we all want the same things. We want the best flying 3D plane at the lowest possible cost with the best possible service. Did I miss anything

The shipping topic comes up once every couple of weeks. I am sure by now Chris and his crew had read this complaint over and over. I just know if there was a way that Chris could ship stuff cheaper he would. Hell if for nothing else, so that we would all shut up about it. I know Chris wants to sell more stuff, so I he can , via some creative thinking, find a way to lower shipping costs 10-15%.

Anyhow, lets talk about something else. Something like when is the big MXS going to be out, and how can I get my hands on one at an up coming event.

 

[Aeroplayin]

In total agreement. I've always considered it a non-issue, and that's why I feel like it's important to try to put it into perspective. I like and respect Gary and he knows that we can mix it up a little without that changing.

Personally, I'd rather address the weight trend. I'm beginning to feel that as guys get better, and power these planes to the edge of the envelop, that everyone is reinforcing wings, motorboxes, LG frames, etc, so that those ugly pictures of stab and wing blowups don't start popping up more and more. Although I've never seen it on an EF plane, I know that Chris is hoping to stay ahead of the cure by reinforcing the D-box even more on his planes. Seems the new V2 of the 78 is also a few ounces heavier than the V1 out of the box.

The downside is that 300 Watts per pound may be a thing of the past without 50cc power. The upside is that the planes can handle the hot-rod-wicked power and take more of a beating. The end result is that guys like me that look for the top end limits of power end up chasing our tail. 11 pounds was easy, 12.5 to 13.5 pounds takes a little more creativity, and 14-plus pounds seems to beg for 50cc gas or electric power systems. I like the idea of going to 50cc power with these planes, especially when you don't need a pipe and airframes are less expensive. Now all we need is a $350 4000W motor that can take the pounding of a full-throttle KE spin with a 22x10. :thumbup:

 

[gyro]

I like and respect Gary and he knows that we can mix it up a little without that changing.

100% mutual

 

[Ken Cz]

When you ordered the 91 it came freight. I assume the laser came UPS. They will ship the laser freight for the same $120 if you ask them. I think they assume you don't want to deal with the hassle of commercial freight unless you ask. I always try to get a group order going so we can save on the shipping with a single freight order which is $125 up here.

Wrong again - Both orders were commercial freight to the same address. Does not say much for their policies except that they use shipping to make additional profit!

 

[Ken Cz]

You guys have all missed my point! I don't care about 3DHS, Horizon or Joe Blow RC!

I paid the exact same price to ship a huge 3 box EF 91" EXTRA 300 AND a EF 78" Extra 300, both on the same order, same time to the same address, commercial: Shipping cost total: $120

Then I ordered a single plane, EF 74" Laser, shipped to the same address, commercial: Shipping cost total: $120
Something is seriously wrong with their system when they charge me the same $120 for 2 far different orders.

Sad but true. Ken

 

[Enterprise]

I did make a assumption, which was apparently wrong. I know UPS was more expensive to ship to me so I went with freight as well. I believe EF when they say they are charging me what it costs them to ship the planes and I will continue to order from them.

I have shipped planes and when I priced the big boxes out, only greyhound was cost effective and they lost my last shipment. Not doing business with them again.

Here is a picture of the 76/83 MXS next to a redwing 50cc slick and basically these are slightly undersized 50cc planes and not 30cc.