Need Formosa 1 advice
10-04-2008, 09:10 PM
#1
E-Pilot
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Peoria, Arizona
Posts: 444
Need Formosa 1 advice
I just built a GWS Formosa 1 and am running 3 a cell 2100 Lipo. I maidened it last weekend with an unpainted all up weight of about 21.5 oz. It seemed to fly decent, but a little quick handling for me. Once I backed off the control throws I could fly it fairly smoothly. I'm new to this type of plane. I have a aileron equipped Super Cub and a PZ Spitfire, both with big brushless motors.
I painted it, and the weight went up. The COG went way back, and with my battery all the way forward I had to add weight to balance it to where it was, 90mm from the LE per manual. AUW is now 24 oz.
Was no fun to fly. I just fought to keep it level at anything less than full throttle. Gusty light winds may be a factor, but I'm thinking it was the extra weight. I can cut a couple of oz by going to a 1300 mah battery, and maybe shave a little here and there.
I'd appreciate some input on flying weight from you Formosa experts out there.
I painted it, and the weight went up. The COG went way back, and with my battery all the way forward I had to add weight to balance it to where it was, 90mm from the LE per manual. AUW is now 24 oz.
Was no fun to fly. I just fought to keep it level at anything less than full throttle. Gusty light winds may be a factor, but I'm thinking it was the extra weight. I can cut a couple of oz by going to a 1300 mah battery, and maybe shave a little here and there.
I'd appreciate some input on flying weight from you Formosa experts out there.
10-05-2008, 04:21 AM
#2
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 55
I had a Formosa I and it was about 23 oz auw and everyone said it was pretty porky. I too, painted it -- even put a tricycle gear (nose wheel) on it. I'd guess too heavy -- and perhaps underpowered? If it feels fast maybe a little more expo would help?
07-21-2009, 01:03 AM
#5
3D Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Chino CA
Posts: 180
The only advice I have is to keep it light, put two servos in the wing, and use a battery strap because I crashed mine two times from my battery falling out after a tumble.Mine is only 1 pound eith paint and still flys at low throtle.
07-28-2009, 03:45 AM
#6
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: raleigh, nc
Posts: 51
expo and a diet
hey there
I have had two of the smaller versions. THe first one was stock when the Formosa came out.
I had nmhi calls in it then upgraded to a 1200 2s then 3s pack.
The build was light, very light with only two coats of acrylic sprayed on with an airbrush.
THe plane flew very well and balanced ON the CG listed in the manual.
The second one I built was a year later and powered with the himax inrunner in the original gws gearbox.
Powered with a 2s then 3s packs kokam 1500s.
Again the cg was as listed on the manual. The plane was amazing with the brushless motor. It was also able to do basic 3d.
I flew the airplane with up to an 1800 mah 3s pack, it was heavy with the bigger pack but managable.
Your set up is a little on the heavy side for a sport airplane. It would be fine as a pylon racer but not if you want a relatively sane flight.
The other consideration with the heavier pack is that you must have a real spar that runs the span if you want to run that much load. The original fiberglass tube is far too light for a performance build.
Most importantly - regardless of motor and battery - make sure you add lead to the nose or tail to balance the airplane ON the CG on the manual until you get the hang of flying the plane.
Another "tool" to make the plane more managable is to add Exponential to your elevator and ailerons to make the center of the stick less sensetive.
Phil
I have had two of the smaller versions. THe first one was stock when the Formosa came out.
I had nmhi calls in it then upgraded to a 1200 2s then 3s pack.
The build was light, very light with only two coats of acrylic sprayed on with an airbrush.
THe plane flew very well and balanced ON the CG listed in the manual.
The second one I built was a year later and powered with the himax inrunner in the original gws gearbox.
Powered with a 2s then 3s packs kokam 1500s.
Again the cg was as listed on the manual. The plane was amazing with the brushless motor. It was also able to do basic 3d.
I flew the airplane with up to an 1800 mah 3s pack, it was heavy with the bigger pack but managable.
Your set up is a little on the heavy side for a sport airplane. It would be fine as a pylon racer but not if you want a relatively sane flight.
The other consideration with the heavier pack is that you must have a real spar that runs the span if you want to run that much load. The original fiberglass tube is far too light for a performance build.
Most importantly - regardless of motor and battery - make sure you add lead to the nose or tail to balance the airplane ON the CG on the manual until you get the hang of flying the plane.
Another "tool" to make the plane more managable is to add Exponential to your elevator and ailerons to make the center of the stick less sensetive.
Phil
04-07-2010, 11:16 PM
#8
Class Clown
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Montclair, California
Posts: 4,472
I don't know how other people did it with that heavy of a setup, but mine was Light...
Turnigy 2217-16 (450 size motor)
Turnigy 30amp esc
4 hxt900 servos (one in each wing)
1000mah 20c battery
[media]http://www.vimeo.com/2096718[/media]
I would estimate I was in the 12-14oz range... and it flew great...
also, I was only using like a 10x4.7 prop, but if I had went to like a 8x8 or 9x9 it would have been much faster....
SK
Turnigy 2217-16 (450 size motor)
Turnigy 30amp esc
4 hxt900 servos (one in each wing)
1000mah 20c battery
[media]http://www.vimeo.com/2096718[/media]
I would estimate I was in the 12-14oz range... and it flew great...
also, I was only using like a 10x4.7 prop, but if I had went to like a 8x8 or 9x9 it would have been much faster....
SK
04-08-2010, 07:28 PM
#9
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: raleigh, nc
Posts: 51
more of the same but please remember what the formosa was designed to do
I also built two formosas
number one came when the the original was released. Ran box stock with the 7 cell AAA NmHi packs.
sprayed 2 coats of tamiya acrylic paint in bright yellow with black trim and a blue misted canopy. Ran great for the day. . .
built number two a year later, went with the himax inrunner and a 4:1 ratio running the narrow 10X6 GWS prop and the Kokam 5C 1500 2s and 3s packs.
Sanded all the bumps then brushed in thinned spackle to fill the holes then brushed on one coat of water based poly and talcum to seal. sprayed on coat of metallic charcoal model master (the hotrod series) then one coat of clear to seal in the decals and make it shine. Only added 1oz to the airframe with all that work and paint!
The airplane was not vertical limited by anything but my eye sight!
Completely different flying airplane on a good solid light weight set up.
I think the only area of frustration with this airplane is that most buy these thinking they are designed to be flown 3D, they can . . . . but they are designed more specifically and exceptionally well for pattern type flying . . .very precise and clean flying with long lines . . .not close circuit in a 3d manner.
Most have probably never seen "pattern" flown as the sport has shifted so hard in the direction of the "exciting world" of 3d in your face aerobatics.
Pattern is more the gentleman's version of 3d aerobatics and takes a lot more precision and patience as there is no room for sloppiness as the maneuvers are very similar but more drawn out so every fault is accentuated.
GWS did an awesome job with this airplane as it flies exactly like a nice .40 sized pattern type trainer in a smaller package.
It is still one of the only real pattern park airplanes.
Try to build it light and power it respectably rather than insane...for a little more speed than torque and you will not be unhappy with the results. The formosa will knife edge from one side of the field to the other with a perfect 45 degree rotation with nice clean lines.
Large radius rolling circles are just incredible. (I wish I had the skill, I have only seen someone do it with my airplane, crashed mine trying to learn the maneuver.)
number one came when the the original was released. Ran box stock with the 7 cell AAA NmHi packs.
sprayed 2 coats of tamiya acrylic paint in bright yellow with black trim and a blue misted canopy. Ran great for the day. . .
built number two a year later, went with the himax inrunner and a 4:1 ratio running the narrow 10X6 GWS prop and the Kokam 5C 1500 2s and 3s packs.
Sanded all the bumps then brushed in thinned spackle to fill the holes then brushed on one coat of water based poly and talcum to seal. sprayed on coat of metallic charcoal model master (the hotrod series) then one coat of clear to seal in the decals and make it shine. Only added 1oz to the airframe with all that work and paint!
The airplane was not vertical limited by anything but my eye sight!
Completely different flying airplane on a good solid light weight set up.
I think the only area of frustration with this airplane is that most buy these thinking they are designed to be flown 3D, they can . . . . but they are designed more specifically and exceptionally well for pattern type flying . . .very precise and clean flying with long lines . . .not close circuit in a 3d manner.
Most have probably never seen "pattern" flown as the sport has shifted so hard in the direction of the "exciting world" of 3d in your face aerobatics.
Pattern is more the gentleman's version of 3d aerobatics and takes a lot more precision and patience as there is no room for sloppiness as the maneuvers are very similar but more drawn out so every fault is accentuated.
GWS did an awesome job with this airplane as it flies exactly like a nice .40 sized pattern type trainer in a smaller package.
It is still one of the only real pattern park airplanes.
Try to build it light and power it respectably rather than insane...for a little more speed than torque and you will not be unhappy with the results. The formosa will knife edge from one side of the field to the other with a perfect 45 degree rotation with nice clean lines.
Large radius rolling circles are just incredible. (I wish I had the skill, I have only seen someone do it with my airplane, crashed mine trying to learn the maneuver.)
04-22-2010, 01:54 AM
#10
No doors or fenders!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Bellport, NY
Posts: 733
Originally Posted by pval3
I also built two formosas
number one came when the the original was released. Ran box stock with the 7 cell AAA NmHi packs.
sprayed 2 coats of tamiya acrylic paint in bright yellow with black trim and a blue misted canopy. Ran great for the day. . .
built number two a year later, went with the himax inrunner and a 4:1 ratio running the narrow 10X6 GWS prop and the Kokam 5C 1500 2s and 3s packs.
Sanded all the bumps then brushed in thinned spackle to fill the holes then brushed on one coat of water based poly and talcum to seal. sprayed on coat of metallic charcoal model master (the hotrod series) then one coat of clear to seal in the decals and make it shine. Only added 1oz to the airframe with all that work and paint!
The airplane was not vertical limited by anything but my eye sight!
Completely different flying airplane on a good solid light weight set up.
I think the only area of frustration with this airplane is that most buy these thinking they are designed to be flown 3D, they can . . . . but they are designed more specifically and exceptionally well for pattern type flying . . .very precise and clean flying with long lines . . .not close circuit in a 3d manner.
Most have probably never seen "pattern" flown as the sport has shifted so hard in the direction of the "exciting world" of 3d in your face aerobatics.
Pattern is more the gentleman's version of 3d aerobatics and takes a lot more precision and patience as there is no room for sloppiness as the maneuvers are very similar but more drawn out so every fault is accentuated.
GWS did an awesome job with this airplane as it flies exactly like a nice .40 sized pattern type trainer in a smaller package.
It is still one of the only real pattern park airplanes.
Try to build it light and power it respectably rather than insane...for a little more speed than torque and you will not be unhappy with the results. The formosa will knife edge from one side of the field to the other with a perfect 45 degree rotation with nice clean lines.
Large radius rolling circles are just incredible. (I wish I had the skill, I have only seen someone do it with my airplane, crashed mine trying to learn the maneuver.)
number one came when the the original was released. Ran box stock with the 7 cell AAA NmHi packs.
sprayed 2 coats of tamiya acrylic paint in bright yellow with black trim and a blue misted canopy. Ran great for the day. . .
built number two a year later, went with the himax inrunner and a 4:1 ratio running the narrow 10X6 GWS prop and the Kokam 5C 1500 2s and 3s packs.
Sanded all the bumps then brushed in thinned spackle to fill the holes then brushed on one coat of water based poly and talcum to seal. sprayed on coat of metallic charcoal model master (the hotrod series) then one coat of clear to seal in the decals and make it shine. Only added 1oz to the airframe with all that work and paint!
The airplane was not vertical limited by anything but my eye sight!
Completely different flying airplane on a good solid light weight set up.
I think the only area of frustration with this airplane is that most buy these thinking they are designed to be flown 3D, they can . . . . but they are designed more specifically and exceptionally well for pattern type flying . . .very precise and clean flying with long lines . . .not close circuit in a 3d manner.
Most have probably never seen "pattern" flown as the sport has shifted so hard in the direction of the "exciting world" of 3d in your face aerobatics.
Pattern is more the gentleman's version of 3d aerobatics and takes a lot more precision and patience as there is no room for sloppiness as the maneuvers are very similar but more drawn out so every fault is accentuated.
GWS did an awesome job with this airplane as it flies exactly like a nice .40 sized pattern type trainer in a smaller package.
It is still one of the only real pattern park airplanes.
Try to build it light and power it respectably rather than insane...for a little more speed than torque and you will not be unhappy with the results. The formosa will knife edge from one side of the field to the other with a perfect 45 degree rotation with nice clean lines.
Large radius rolling circles are just incredible. (I wish I had the skill, I have only seen someone do it with my airplane, crashed mine trying to learn the maneuver.)
Well said! I love my Formosa... when they first came out, they were the first park flyer electric to approach gasser type aerobatic performance when properly powered and built as you indicated!
