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Writer's pictureRobareeno

Weight Balance and First Flight for the Mini Extra 300.

Updated: Jun 28, 2023

This model is incredibly sensitive to proper weight and balance. Fortunately it is easy enough to check. Simply lift the plane with your fingers directly on the wing spar. On the underside of the wing you will see two horizontal body lines that outline the spar location. This will be your starting balance point and will put you in an acceptable range for a first test flight.




Pointers on first flight attempts. I suggest taking this model to a smoothly paved parking lot free of obstacles. The wheels are very tiny and with the addition of the wheelpants it is not very forgiving of grass or rocks. Also, you likely will need the space to taxi around a bit and get used to getting this plane up to speed and continuously pointed nose first. This is where you will get an idea of the control forces you may need to modify. I had to dial my control deflections down to about 50 percent on my transmitter before I found I could keep up with this model.

As tiny as this plane is, It does not perform like an indoor foamy model. It's going to need some real airspeed to get airborne. Make sure you have it before leaving the runway. Landing will also be a bit faster than you may anticipate because of both the wing loading and the fact that the wing is a fully symmetric aerobatic shape. There is no dihedral in the wing, and this plane is just as happy flying upside down as right side up. Great if you are a stunt pilot, not so great if you are just learning how to fly. All of that said, it is a delightful plane to fly once you master it. It is also a tough little plane and will likely take a few scrapes before you have to print out another one.

Conclusion: That is it for the weight and balance! Check the main blog here for anything you may have missed, but at this point it's time to go fly! Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We will attempt to clarify the construction blog including your input as much as possible. Also please check out or new community forum. Feel free to post pics, ask questions, or help others.




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