General Information

Our MXS 2.9m follows the design features of our Extra 330LX. This aircraft represents a true revolution in the large-scale Aerobatic Market. Its uniqueness and distinctiveness make it a truly exceptional undertaking that was initially met with skepticism and deemed impossible by many. Yet, those naysayers were proven very wrong. The CARF-Models MXS 2.9m defies gravity and inertia, surpassing all expectations. And as a "small" 3m airframe, it's perfect for all the older 150 cc engines sitting around.​

Get Hooked! A new, giant aerobatic MXS, like never seen before.

Not too long ago we realized that there are so many 150 cc engines sitting on the shelves of our customers rendered too small for the modern 3+ Meter 40%ers, but still a bit too big and heavy for the 2.6m - 2.7m 35% aerobatic planes ever so popular lately. Finding a home for these beautiful, totally reliable, well decorated 150cc engines must have gone through the minds of many aerobatic pilots. 

At the same time Rob Holland had won the Aerobatic World Championships in his totally awesome MXS, which had been a very special factory build down to exactly his requirments, painted in a color scheme which surpassed everything we had seen on a full scale aerobatic plane.​

Wait a minute....! Where are the molds of our old MX-2??? What was the wingspan on that one? 2.9m? 114"? This sounds like a solution!

And that's what we said and started with some planning. 

Looking at the MX-2 we produced many years ago, we had to throw the old concept overboard. Obviously a new cowling and a new canopy / canopy frame had to be designed. But there were also a lot of other features we wanted to incorporate in that airplane. With the current success of our Extra 330LX, after all the industry changing mods we did to this airplane at the beginning of 2019, the all new MXS had to boast the same features. That meant to make new wings with the same airfoil as our Extra and center hinged, bevelled ailerons. The same had to be done with the stab/elevator and rudder.

Features

Shiny, rigid, complex composite parts spoil you with an almost maintenance-free surface. There are no wrinkles to be ironed out or risk of smoke fluid creeping under loose covering. However, the REAL durability will only be felt after years of hard flying, when other airframes would have been worn out and replaced several times.

Fuselage

 The control surfaces are center hinged, the sealed bevels are precisely designed for the desired deflections of 38 degree aileron and 55 degree elevator and rudder. Servos are ganged where needed. They are installed close to the CG of the aircraft. The composite design gives a huge advantage in surface quality and structural integrity of the parts. Carbon reinforcements are placed exactly where they are needed, and unidirectional carbon in spars directs the fibers exactly in the load direction—not a single gram is wasted.

The canopy opening is cross-braced so that the canopy can be attached with a single bolt. A wide 45-degree carbon web and cross-bracing in the canopy frame area achieve unbelievable torsion stiffness without adding weight. Subtle carbon reinforcements at just the right areas and critical points keep the weight extremely low. The solid carbon engine dome blends in with the stiffness overall.All parts are strictly weight controlled and documented in individual QC sheets.

Cowling

The new, two-piece cowling is generously sized and accommodates all 150–170 cc twin-cylinder engines as well as all common 200 cc four-cylinder engines, thanks to a newly developed motor dome. Its length has been adjusted so that shorter twin-cylinder engines can be installed easily without any modifications or the hassle of extending the firewall. For longer four-cylinder engines, the dome can be shortened with minimal effort. A new firewall plate can be mounted directly inside the dome — and the four-cylinder engine is ready to go.

The two-piece cowling is one of the few elements carried over from the Extra330LX — and for good reason: it has proven to be extremely convenient for engine access at the flying field. You can remove the cowling without taking off the spinner and propeller — a huge advantage, especially when tuning the carburetor or performing maintenance work.

Wings

The new MXS 2.9m features a completely redesigned airfoil. It offers maximum aileron efficiency, stable harriers thanks to a generous leading-edge radius, and minimal drag at high speeds. The ailerons are beveled, equipped with 7 flat hinges. A sealed hinge line on the top adds to the incredible roll rate—over 720°/sec in level flight! Rifle rolls? Only limited by the pilot’s skills.

Thanks to the full composite construction, the control surfaces are both torsionally stiff and lightweight. All servos—even elevator and rudder—are located near the CG. The aileron servos are mounted directly in the wing root at the spar, making this setup superior even to lightweight wooden wings. The size, shape, and taper of the ailerons were also optimized, increasing chord at the tip and achieving the perfect balance between roll authority and drag.

Stab

Unique for a 3m Aerobat is that the stab halves have no elevator servos. These are installed as a ganged pair in the fuselage close to the CG and carry their torque to the elevators via a huge, light, and ultra-stiff carbon pushrod. Deflections of up to 55 degrees are possible. This system has been proven for many years and thousands of flights. It works flawlessly! No servos are in the tail. A central bellcrank, 20 mm pushrod, and carbon pin connect both elevator halves, allowing for a longer fuselage without CG issues. No control horns, no linkages, no electrcial connectors... there is no way to have elevators installed any cleaner and lighter. 

The rudder is beveled, uses six flat hinges, and has no internal hinge posts. It’s lightweight yet offers the largest surface in its class. A smaller counterbalance prevents high-speed hunting.

Engine Choice

The MXS is just that little bit smaller than a 3m airplane—well, 2.9m, to be correct—so it will end up in the 17-18kg range. Ideally, it was powered by one of those many 150cc engines sitting on shelves and retired from older IMAC airplanes when larger engines were unavailable. A carbon dome and a two-part cowling make engine service a breeze.

Landing Gear

The landing gear has a single-piece design, not bolted to the fuselage through weakening holes but clamped. Made from a combined biaxial and unidirectional carbon lay-up around a 3-chamber sandwich construction. It still gives a lot of room for canisters placed in a completely separate muffler compartment, keeping heat away from RC components.

Accessories

For our MXS 2.9m, we offer a wide range of accessories. These include DA Engines, fuel tank, smoke tank, zimmermann exhausts and more. In addition, we offer high-quality MacGregor servos in combination with our very own CARF-Models servo arms – perfectly matched to the model and the demands of a high-performance aerobatic plane.

Various Color Schemes

 Like all our airplanes, the Extra330LX 3.0m is no different. They boast meticulously applied PU paintwork, expertly executed in the molds. Explore a gallery of our stunning paint schemes in our shop, showcasing a collection of past projects, some of which were crafted to match unique customer requests. If you're seeking a personalized touch, we offer color swaps and completely custom designs developed through collaborative efforts between you and our skilled artists. Below are our Standard Schemes and a few standout examples: