Kyosho Pitts goes down on maiden flight/Video
07-24-2004, 03:54 PM
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Kyosho Pitts goes down on maiden flight/Video
Well, went out this morning to maiden a new Kyosho Pitts Special, I chickened out, as I've never flown a biplane before, so I asked one of the more experienced pilots at the field to take it up for me, and this is what happened. As soon as it got off the ground the pilot knew right away that it was tail heavy. As you can see in the vid he was fighting it all the way. Unfortunatly, my buddy who was operating the video camera lost sight of the plane so impact wasn't caught on tape. Whats not seen in the vid also is how the pilot was able to actually set it down alot softer than we thought. (Hats off to him, he's actually really good) We were all pleasently surprised to see an intact, upright plane sitting in the desert after we took a couple minute walk out to the crash (hard landing) site. Only damage is a cracked cowl, easily fixable, an aileron pulled out a bit on one wing, slightly cracked firewall, and of course a broken prop.
Now,...the problem...too heavy on the tail, which I don't understand. Instructions say CG should be 130mm back from leading edge. I had to add an ounce of weight to tail end to achieve balance at that point, and the CG machine said it was balanced. Its powered by an O.S. 46 FX.
Anyone else have problems with balancing this particular plane?
Heres the vid.. http://home.dc.rr.com/maurie/Pitts%20Maiden.wmv
Now,...the problem...too heavy on the tail, which I don't understand. Instructions say CG should be 130mm back from leading edge. I had to add an ounce of weight to tail end to achieve balance at that point, and the CG machine said it was balanced. Its powered by an O.S. 46 FX.
Anyone else have problems with balancing this particular plane?
Heres the vid.. http://home.dc.rr.com/maurie/Pitts%20Maiden.wmv
07-24-2004, 09:17 PM
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RE: Kyosho Pitts goes down on maiden flight/Video
What wing did you use to check balance?
130mm on what wing? An measured from where?
Those two can make a lot of difference...
130mm on what wing? An measured from where?
Those two can make a lot of difference...
07-24-2004, 11:26 PM
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RE: Kyosho Pitts goes down on maiden flight/Video
Yes...top wing...upright...130mm back from the leading edge...used a Great Planes CG machine, which I've used to balance 6 other planes..had no problems at all with them
07-25-2004, 03:33 AM
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RE: Kyosho Pitts goes down on maiden flight/Video
I hate crashing, even if its not bad.
Gamerboy is right, you should take out the weight in the tail and let it be nose heavy. All of my planes are now nose heavy, but nly slightly and they fly mcuh smoother and more gently than on the reccomended CG I find. Thats just what i find, everyone is different.
Fly-guy
Gamerboy is right, you should take out the weight in the tail and let it be nose heavy. All of my planes are now nose heavy, but nly slightly and they fly mcuh smoother and more gently than on the reccomended CG I find. Thats just what i find, everyone is different.
Fly-guy
