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Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

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Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Old 05-26-2010, 03:20 PM
  #376  
mmn
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Here's a 2 1/2 minute video of today's flight. Low passes are about 1/2 throttle. OS 1.20 FS, 16x8 APC prop, about 12 oz weight in the nose, 13.5 lbs total.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hEy63TmtSE

Sweet flyer...

Regards
Old 06-03-2010, 08:57 AM
  #377  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Well, after some trepidation and swallowing of pride, I bought the Stearman featured in this thread. Purpose is to get back into flying trim after a 10 year layoff.

Findings: this plane is not built to last for long IMHO. That said, I've made some changes and have some questions.

I'd like to remove the gray and blue monocoat and replace with a like color yellow of the wings. I checked my supply of monocoats and found a yellow more lemon like and doesn't match the color of the wings as shipped. Would that color be cub yellow ??? Additionally, if I recover, it will give me a chance to peer into the fuse for what may be some beefing of structures.

I built and flew a Concept Fleet for years and surely loved the pull pull systems I made. I may duplicate that feature.


I've read about the gear fairing problems and will address that by some bolts and nuts. I'll put on larger tires. Engine is my trusty OS91FS with C&H ignition. Flew that on a 1/4 Cub with great result. I suspect the ignition module up front may help with CG considerations. Somewhere, I read of some weakness in the firewall and stringers area...any comments on that?

All in all, it'l get me in the air soon as the 1/3 Fleet is still being cut.

Thanks for any and all in advance,

Ray W.
Old 06-03-2010, 04:14 PM
  #378  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Well over 150 flights on my stearman now, a regular weekend flyer, I have a big 25cc super tigre on the front swinging a 18x6 prop and have no concerns what so ever with any weakness and expect it to last for a very long time.
Old 06-03-2010, 04:41 PM
  #379  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Good to read of your success.

I was alarmed when I saw the sheet metal screws into unknown ply wood secured by ca. on the servo horns and N struts. I'd prefer thru bolting with backings but thats me. I've seen vibrations wreek havock with time and frequency on ca joints. We'll see.

Ray W.
Old 06-03-2010, 04:45 PM
  #380  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

I sold mine, but it is still a regular flyer and has over 100 flights on it. It is in it's third year flying. Power is a OS 160FX swinging a 18x8. Still just like new. I did rebuild the gear once as the fiberglass split.
Old 06-03-2010, 06:48 PM
  #381  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Ray,

I fly mine all the time. This is a really great plane and fun to fly. It seems to be a very tough airframe and wings. I have a Saito 125 and would say it is not over powered but right about scale. We have a very narrow grass runway and it is hard keeping it in the short hairs sometimes. I bent the aluminum part of the landing gear to give it toe in and the fiberglass cracked. A little thick CA and no problem except that the cracks show. The toe in made a big difference on take offs and landings. I did some recovering also and the yellow is not cub yellow, well at least not H9. I changed out the tail wheel and wire. I also welded the screws on the "L" brackets that attach to the wings for the cabanes . This has really cut down on set up and take down times. Definately larger wheels and I put the switch and remote glow driver in the forward cockpit.

You should really love this plane. Looks great on the slow fly bys!

Good luck, Brad
Old 06-04-2010, 05:46 AM
  #382  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF


ORIGINAL: scflyboy

Ray,

I also welded the screws on the ''L'' brackets that attach to the wings for the cabanes . This has really cut down on set up and take down times.

Good luck, Brad
Not sure what you have done here ? my L brackes are permantly fixed to the N's I then screw them to both wings, total of 12 screws to fit on assembly, cant see how to reduce that without leaving the N's attached all the time to one of the wings.
Old 06-04-2010, 06:36 AM
  #383  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

I think what he did was to fix the bolts on the brackets where the N's attach permantly, this way the bolts won't turn and all you jave to do is tighten the nuts, not a bad idea really
Old 06-04-2010, 07:49 AM
  #384  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Thanks all for the helpful info.

I campeigned my old Concept Fleet for about 5 or so years and retired it and since have missed the slow flybys. That written, I'm looking forward to this bird. I'd still love to replace the grey fuse with a proper yellow. Having 1/3 of construction finished, I don't wish to recover the wings to match the fuse sooooo.

I also replaced the hinges (missing from kit) with Hinge Points and epoxy. Seems to operate more freely and they shouldn't pull out.

My Fleet had all the flying wires and turnbuckles of the real one and they were functional. Easily took 30 minutes to set up at the field. I remember at a past District V IMAA in Va., a rains storm came up and I was more soaked than the plane trying to dismantle it. The N struts and flying wire anchors were screwed into maple mounts with blind nuts epoxied well within the wing. Outer socket head cap screws and lock washers worked well but surely added to the build up time at the field.

Seems the PT 17 has a unique strut stow mechanism that looks promising. I may encorperate something similar on the new Fleet.

That gear needs some MOJO so I may make some bends and not worry about the fairing. Larger wheels are on the list.

Thanks to all,

Ray W.
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Old 06-04-2010, 07:52 AM
  #385  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

The L brackets are left on the wings with the N strut screws attached, spot welded. I used locktite on the L brackets to the wings. Did not want to take a chance and strip one of those blind nuts inside the wing. Then the N's just slide on the screws that are all welded in place. Nylon lock nuts with a small nut driver and those 8 are done in a few minutes. The N's or L brackets sould not vibrate loose! I have a small bag of 4-40 nylon lock nuts and a bag of the 4-40 socket heads for the center cabanes just in case I drop one. Set up time was the only negitive I had with this plane. Now it takes me longer to get it out of the van than it does to set up. Less headache to me. I am sure there are several ways to skin this cat.
Ray W., we have a fly in at WCRC this Saturday. Bring a plane!

Brad
Old 06-04-2010, 08:31 AM
  #386  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Taylors , SC eh? Here on the Coast, 2 clubs I'm signing back up with after a long absence for starting up a bizz.

Sounds like the weather may give you fits on Saturday but Sunday is promissing as I told the wifie we'd go boating.

Y'all ever made the trip to Eutawville? I used to CD that IMAA thingy we used tohave.

Ray W.
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Old 06-17-2010, 09:35 AM
  #387  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

ORIGINAL: dafid

My ole stearman still going strong.

Dave
Still going strong, Flown Sat 5th June 2010
Heres a vidio i stuck on you tube. Link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjD8Ne-PfKo
Old 07-18-2010, 06:55 PM
  #388  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Bring an update to my Stearman. I wasn't at all happy with the gray and blue so off it came and on went Cub Yellow. An afterthought, I could have thinned the trailing edges of the rudder and elevators but didn't. I got rid of the steel pushrods and subbed sub golden rods and provided couplers. Robart horns installed with backing plates.

Bigger wheels (Sullivan super lite) but did experience problems with spraying cub yellow Luster coat over the gray cowl and gear. Seems the gray is enamel of some sort. I primed the cowl with Aerogloss flat white with plenty of time to dry between coats. Success but I should have used the same treatment on the gear. Rushed job and the result was paints that didnt' agree with each other. Had I taken time between coats, I would have had better.

That written, I elected to leave the N struts and windsheilds the gray.

Adding the ingition module and battery well forward helped the balance. Further balance will be performed when I can get to the project again. Seems I'm doing more for others at the moment.

Adage... money can't buy everything, but it keeps your kids close.

Ray W.
Old 07-18-2010, 07:29 PM
  #389  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Daves,

That looked like fun. Thanks for sharing!

Brad
Old 07-18-2010, 11:13 PM
  #390  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

pics of mine recently built and flown
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Old 07-18-2010, 11:49 PM
  #391  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Nice job.
Old 07-24-2010, 08:16 PM
  #392  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Well, %99 done with setting up the throttle linkage to finish it off. Perhaps , this week for the maiden flight. That written, 97 f. at the field does not lend well to these old bones.

OS/91 on the old CH throttle coupled spark advance. With the extra battery and module up front, It balances the 5.5 inches LE top wing. Hinge points installed, new IMAA legal cranks and linkages.

To top it off, I just couldn't hang with the gray and blue stuff. Went to larger wheels as well.

Ray W.
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Old 07-30-2010, 01:26 PM
  #393  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Started lusting for a Saito Radial. Decided that the 170R would go onto the wishlist. Then started looking for a suitable plane. This one is the obvious choice! Looks like others agree.


Time to start saving....
Old 08-01-2010, 11:26 AM
  #394  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

What a fine choice.

Ray W.
Old 10-18-2010, 02:07 PM
  #395  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Hello Stearman thread participants!

I want to get the Great Planes PT-17 - but first, I need to know if it will fit it my car.

Can anyone tell me what the measurements are for two things on the completed model...

>> What is the height from the ground to the top of the rudder?

>> With the wings off, what is the height from the ground to the top of the plywood carry handle that sits on the top of the center cabane struts?

Either this baby will fit in my car or I will need to get a new vehicle (& maybe a divorce attorney). =(8o]

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

–DJ
Old 10-18-2010, 05:10 PM
  #396  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

roughly- top of rudder is 16", top of carrying handle is 19"
Old 10-18-2010, 05:45 PM
  #397  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Hello Ray!

She's gonna fit!  She's gonna fit!

TYVM!

DJ
Old 10-18-2010, 06:07 PM
  #398  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

enjoy
Old 10-18-2010, 08:10 PM
  #399  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

has anyone found a way to stop the bouncing on landings, I have a rv-4 that has the same problem unless I use full flaps to slow it down, I am thinking of some type of shock with axel to gear.....
Old 10-19-2010, 07:04 AM
  #400  
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Default RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

Dubro inflatable tires will take care of most of the bounce. Run low air pressure.

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