Capt. Larry

I recently purchased a Cap 21 rc airplane, and need to know who manufactuered this plane. The plane has a decal 'AVION', but I am not sure this is of importance. Appears to be aa ARF built in the 1990s.

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

I might have the same plane, looks vintage to me

I gotta find an engine for it and get it up, I hear they snap too much but I can deal with it

Is this the same plane you have?

Capt. Larry

Thanks Diablokid, your plane is identical to mine. Can you tell me who makes this plane, or do you have a manual that I could get a copy. Will gladly reimburse you. By the way, I power my CAP 21 with a FS65(Saito). Very smooth takeoff at 1/4 throttle. Handles great, yet very responsive. Thanks again for your reply. Capt. Larry

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

Capt I wish I could assist you on the manual but I got mine used as well. I was told its an older Great Planes kit. There are at my local hobby shop so im gonna snoop around today and see if I cant find a manual. Worse case im gonna contact Great Planes and see if they have any for it. As soon as I find one ill be sure to get one to you as well.

Capt. Larry

Thanks for the reply, I will research Great Planes and get back to you. Thanks Again!!! Capt. Larry

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

This is what they emailed me today:

Thank you for contacting Product Support. Yes, the Cap 21 was made by Great Planes Model Manufacturing. I would need to know which version of the Cap 21 airplane you have.

The Cap 21 L version was sold to Kitty Hawk many years ago (I have a copy of the archive manual). The manual does not list the CG
We also have a copy of the Cap 21 40 Size

We have a copy of the plans on disc and would unable to check the CG location this way.

Cap 21 L:
Section 18: Prepare the aircraft for flying

Complete the installation of the radio, engine, and linkage. Springs provided in the kit are used to connect the tail wheel steering arm to the rudder horn. Add the rudder cables and aileron servo clevis rods. Following are the recommended control surface throws for general sport flying.
Aileron: 5/8" up and 5/*" down
Elevator: 3/4" up and 3/4" down
Rudder: 7/8" to the right and 7/8" to the left


For maximum aerobatic performance, including snap rolls, the recommended control surface throws are:
Ailerons: 1" Up and 1" down
Elevator: 7/8" up and 7/8" down
Rudder: 1 3/8" to the right and 1 3/8" to the left

Add the engine "off" switch as recommended by the engine manufacturer. Perform a tip-to-tip balance of the wing by holding it upside down and supporting it from the leading and trailing edge at the center. Add weight to the light wing tips as necessary.

The manual for the Cap 21 40 airplane can be found on the Great Planes website (please refer to partss listing and manuals)
www.greatplanes.com

Rendegade

I used to have one...

Note *USED TO*...

They're very tipstally and kinda nasty to fly slow...

be warned, expect snap rolls on landing approach if you land too slow.

and expect snappy snaps mid flight

they're good fun when moving but they erode your confidence in dead sticks!

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

I have heard the same thing, im used to coming in hot so I might be ok as long as I keep the speed and line it up early with the runway. We will see

Capt. Larry

Diablokid, thanks for the follow-up, I talked with Paul Clements (Kitty Hawk RC), in Indiana, today. He apparantly has purchased rights to many old kits (discontinued) by Great Planes. Very informative. Unfortunately, he only has the CAP 21L. This is an 88" fiberglass. Not the one we have. It is my understanding that our CAP21 may be the 40 series (?) I will contact Great Planes for a follow-up. Will let you hear. Thanks!! Capt. Larry

waagbuck

My Feedback: (1)

I have a model tech cap 21 that came almost ready to cover, which is also discontinued. It has a sheeted foam wing and very weak instructions (basically a general list of tasks -- 1 mount wing, 2 install engine and radio, 3 apply suitable covering, 4 fly). Having built only three kits before, this was a problem. And having read a lot of negative comments about this plane I was nervous about flying it, but I got it in the air last week for the first time. I have an os 61 fx on it with a pitts muffler. It's definitely not overpowered, but it flies very well with this engine. I had no problems flying it or landing it, but it does have a nasty tip stall. When I tested that problem, it fell from the sky like a stone. I was able to regain control without difficulty, but I would hate that to happen on landing.

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

thanks for the input waagbuck. Im from your neighborhood as well maybe we could fly ours together

lWhere do you fly?

waagbuck

My Feedback: (1)

I fly at LCAA.

Textanker

I just picked up a used and almost finished GP .40 Cap 21. It was covered to look just like th above photo. I also have plans and the manual. Let me know if I can be of any help.

AJF--2

My Feedback: (119)

YEP-- had one of them. Had 6 take offs-- 5 landings

AJF--2

My Feedback: (119)

BTW-- The little boy in the picture is a senior in High School (just so you get the time frame)

rodneyk1

what is the wing span on the cap? I just built a kit 60 size and it has a 72" span I have all the paperwork. Let me know.

SunShyne

My Feedback: (68)

can you post the CG in your manual for it?

deckerv

My Feedback: (21)

I built the 72" GP cap 21 years back.. my 3rd plane I ever built, and I still have it.. Flys nice for me..but I did turn the ailerons up a hair to simulate washout.. Still flying good though.

cap10b

Looks like a GP 60 size Cap 21
I'm not into Cap bashing since I have a 96" Cap 21, the 88" Cap 20L (Original NIB) and Yellow AC Cap10B and
the Model Tech Cap21 and we flew the GP Cap 21 .

The Yellow AC was 19lbs with a 2.4 and smoke
the GP Cap 21 was 8 lbs with a Webra .90
the model Tech was 9lbs with a YS 120
the Zimpro 96" Cap 21 3.2 Sach at 18lbs.
and the the Cap 20L is not built.

Needless to say I have a few flight on Caps. All you gotta remember is do things Sloooooowly .. dont be yanking or jerking on the stick. Get the CG on the button a Cap fly's almost as bad nose heavy as tail heavy.
If you can install flaps do so all the snap a low speed goes away on landing. If you use to much paint and your 14 lb plane comes out 19 lbs just install a bigger motor and use flaps.

Caps are easy to fly you just have to respect them and fly in the envelope they like. which is not too fast
not too slow and big manuevers.

Good Luck

JDS

nitro wing

My Feedback: (1)

I had a model tech that looked identical. wood cowl and foam wing.had 91 surpass.good fun,found it stable with proper Cg sold mine after 2 seasons in 1995(?)

PE2fan

My Feedback: (8)

Cap10b,
Do you have any info on the model tech one? CG, wing area. I just purchased one with a OS Surpass 91 in the nose. I need to know how this is going to fly. Did you ad flaps to it? Maybe flaperons will help?

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

LSP972

My Feedback: (13)

Lion Models produced a 60 size ARF in the 90s; I suspect the ModelTech is that one. I had one, and it lived up to the nick-name "SNAP 21".

I understand that the GP kit had a better wing in that regard; but on that Lion Models offering (I had a 91 Surpass on it) you had better keep some throttle on until all three wheels were firmly down.

cap10b

mdlnewman
No sorry it was so long ago I threw all the documentation away. If you dont have a CG point a good starting place
is 25% of the mean cord of the wing back from the leading edge.

Good luck

jds

v-snap

My Feedback: (18)

Built up wings equal GP. I had and still have and was given another modeltech 40 size cap-21...The first one is from 1985 has well over a thousand flights on it without injury (S.T. S-60) that you can ring the oil from the foam wing...Stripped it of its covering and realized it most likely can't be cleaned up. My model tech new in box will have a bunch of lightening holes added to fuse, stab, rudder, and wing and I will use a saito-72 for power. Love these planes, they fly fast and if you learn how to fly them you can slow them down just as will as any other plane. You just need to learn how to fly them.
Good luck