REVIEW AEROWORKS FREESTYLE EXTRA 260 ARF QB-L - 201209

Aeroworks has built a reputation
for manufacturing quality aircraft
that have been fl own in various
competitions such as the Extreme Flight
Championships (XFC) and countless
International Miniature Aerobatic Club
(IMAC) events.
Aeroworks has built a reputation
for manufacturing quality aircraft
that have been fl own in various
competitions such as the Extreme Flight
Championships (XFC) and countless
International Miniature Aerobatic Club
(IMAC) events.
To date, the majority of aircraft
offerings from Aeroworks have been
designed to be powered by electric or
glow engines in the .60 to .90 range,
with the larger offerings set up for gas.
The new Aeroworks Freestyle Extra
260 QB-L, however, was designed to be
an electric-powered thrill ride for pilots
looking for a model that is at home
fl ying aerobatics or 3-D.
Assembly
Part of the name of this aircraft is QBL,
which stands for Quick Build-Light,
meaning that extra care has been taken
to provide a lightweight, yet strong,
airframe. Some of the features you
will fi nd right out of the box include
a premounted cowling, premounted
wheel pants, and a quick-release
premounted canopy.
A few other features worth
mentioning are the carbon-fi ber main
landing gear, the wing tube, and the new,
non-fl ex carbon control horns.
The included 31-page manual
provides photographs of every step
required to assemble the Extra, and it
can also be found online at Aeroworks’
website.
Because the manual is well written
and well illustrated, there’s no need
to provide an overview of every step;
instead we will touch on a few key
points.
When you unpack the model, you’ll
appreciate that it is covered in genuine
UltraCote and requires little work with
the covering iron.
The attractive trim scheme does not
come with the Aeroworks and Extra
decals applied, allowing you to detail the
model to your liking.
As stated previously, the Extra comes
with most of the work done for you and
some thoughtful features. One pertains
to the horizontal stabilizer, which comes
with the covering already removed to
ensure a strong bond when glued.
When installing the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, it is important to ensure they are
properly aligned. The horizontal stabilizer on the Extra has a locator dowel built into the LE to
ensure the front of the stabilizer is centered in the fuselage.
When it comes to mounting the motor, Aeroworks has thoughtfully provided eight 1/8-inch
standoff blocks to accommodate several power system options. In the case of the recommended
Hacker A30-12XL V2, four blocks were required to achieve the proper spacing.
Mounting the cowl has also been simplifi ed, thanks to predrilled holes and 4-40 bolts and
bonded washers.
A couple of other nice features are the inclusion of an air scoop to help with cooling, and two
laser-cut mounting locations to allow the use of a switch, if desired.
The airplane comes with both inboard and wingtip Side-Force Generators (SFGs). The
outboard SFGs are mounted with two button-head screws with bonded washers.
To mount the inboard SFGs, the covering needs to be removed from over the slots. When
complete, the inboard SFGs simply slide into slots in the top and bottom of the wing and are
tabbed to keep them in place.
The manual recommends a thin piece of tape to hold them in
place if they are too loose, but we have not experienced any issues
with them coming loose in flight.
When it comes time to check the CG and control throws, the
included Micro CG Buddy and Custom Throw Meter make it a
snap.
The battery tray is large enough to accommodate batteries ranging
from 2600 to 3000 mAh, and can be adjusted to obtain the CG of
37/8 inches from the LE of the wing next to the fuselage.
Flying
The Extra 260 handles well on the ground, and little to no rudder
input is required on takeoff. The Extra
was airborne in less than 15 feet when
flying full-throttle from a hard surface.
Well powered with the recommended
Hacker motor, the model is capable of
a wide flight envelope. The low-rate
setting provides the ability to fly like a
sport model and complete IMAC-style
aerobatics.
Medium rates will provide the
authority to fly the majority of more
advanced aerobatic maneuvers.
High rates provide plenty of control
for performing 3-D flight and any lowspeed
high-alpha maneuvers.
The SFGs provide a large amount of
additional area when flying knife-edge
maneuvers, thus requiring less power
and rudder input to maintain its angle of
attack and altitude.
The Extra is stable in high-alpha
flight, making rolling harriers and
inverted harriers look easy. This also
helps with transitions into a hover
because the wing rock is
minimal.
Unlimited vertical
performance allows the pilot
to gain altitude in a hurry to
set up for maneuvers such
as spins and hammerhead
turns, etc. It is also comforting
to know you have plenty of
power on tap to get you out
of trouble if needed.
The Extra 260 benefi ts
from its lightweight
construction when it’s
time to land. It is capable
of power-off landings and
provides a good glide ratio.
Conclusion
The Aeroworks Freestyle
Extra 260 QB-L is a versatile
aircraft capable of Precision
and 3-D fl ight. Aeroworks
has incorporated many
nice features that will be
appreciated both during the
assembly process and when
fl ying.
Providing two sets of
removable SFGs allows the
pilot to easily confi gure the
aircraft to his or her liking.
With its lightweight
construction and attractive
blue and yellow color
scheme, it should prove to
be a hit with pilots looking
for an easily transportable,
high-performance aerobatic
aircraft.
This review is dedicated
to Tim Tworek who built
and fl ew the Extra 260, but
sadly passed away prior to
completing the article.