vahpr

My Feedback: (3)

Flying wires on the gear and tail

vahpr

My Feedback: (3)

Couple more

dasintex

My Feedback: (10)

After an extended delay in finishing my Citabria a quick question; back when I was building mine, the issue of the soft landing gear surfaced and Great Planes sent out a replacement to all, not before I modified the original on mine by doubling the gear and adding a metal rod to the underside of the gear to beef it up; to those who have installed the replacement gear, how is the replacement gear standing up?

Thanks.

drdoom

My Feedback: (9)

I have a dozen flights on the new Gear. You can't bend it. it is Flawless and works Great. A great airplane made better. Mine has the DLE 35RA. Match made in heaven.

drdoom

My Feedback: (9)

I have the Onboard EL Starter on mine. Works flawless. how about yours?

dasintex

My Feedback: (10)

To avoid buying yet more props; I already have the following in my collection of props, all New, Never used, Zoar Wood props: 18 X 8, 18 X 10 & 20 X 8

Of these 3 that I have, which would work best with this Plane and a DLE 35RA?

Thanks.

dasintex

My Feedback: (10)

What Prop Brand & Size you using?

vahpr

My Feedback: (3)

I'm using a 20x8 Xoar with a new EME 35 - pulls great, I won't go smaller.

Drdoom, the starter worked great the 1st few tries then apparently died. Problem was my crap soldering on one of the leads to the motor. Reheated, resoldered, now it works. I'll say, they don't give you much of a tab to solder to, wish it were a little longer.

dasintex

My Feedback: (10)

ONBOARD STARTER QUESTION:

What Size and Number of cells you guys using for your onboard starters?

vahpr

My Feedback: (3)

At the recommendation of Gus from magnumrc.com, I'm using a 2s-2100 lipo. My buddy uses a 3s 2100 without issue.

dasintex

My Feedback: (10)

Cowl Venting for Cooling

I am finally finishing mine, have to balance and test run the engine; as far as cowl openings for cooling, I have a 3" X 2" Square hole cut out on the bottom rear area of the cowl, this is where my twin exhaust tubes exit as well; not sure what others have done, would appreciate some feedback if this should be enough of an opening for adequate cooling. Additionally if needed, a 3" X 2.5" Louvered Cooling vent painted white (like the ones on Yak Cowls) could be installed in front of that cooling hole I have already made, this vent would be slightly rear and below the cylinder head.

Appreciate any feedback.

iampilot2

Your cutout size will be fine. This photo is mine with OS 33

The plane flys nice but it is time to move on, going to sell air frame.

liam_irish

I have several flights on this airplane and I love it! I would like better ground handling on takeoff though. I have a hard time adjusting the springs on the tail wheel tiller to get the plane to track straight down the runway w/o quite a bit of rudder input. As soon as the tail lifts and the rudder takes over, the plane wants to turn quickly and I end up overcorrecting to keep a straight line. I am thinking about replacing the springs with some pushrods and ball links that can be easily adjusted to keep the tailwheel straight. Anyone have advice/photos/guidance on such an endeavor? I would be interested to see what kind of hardware others have used for a project like this.

Gbee

What are you all using for flap travel? The manual calls for 5/8" and 1". I can get a lot more travel. Just curious what travel works well for slow landings?

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Use the recommend flap travel from the manual, it doesn't look like much but it is just the right amount, as it is this airplane floats with a light
Wind.

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Liam

I Had to shorten the springs by a 1/4 of its length in order to have more control of the wheel, I also increased the expo on the rudder from 25% to 35% to make it softer .
Another thing you could do is to use 1/2 throttle for the TO run, I do not experience the hard to control tail wheel anymore.

davegenet

Hi All, will a 19" prop clear? I understand the 20" won't, but GP recommends and 18x8. However, my preferred power system would work best with a 19" prop. Just picked one of these up. Looks like a great model.

Dave

nappyroots2182

My Feedback: (1)

first off did you get it used or new from tower? this plane had many issues and was pulled from production to get revamped. I always used a zinger 20x8 on a dle 35ra and it was fine. but the landing gear was weak and would bend on every landing. the firewall needed braced from the vertical supports next to the gas tank as they split too. it was a fine flying plane once the bugs were worked out. any other questions just hollar

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

What he said, 20" is fine, using 19" to seat the new O ring after the 20" comes on, plenty of clearance for the 20".

I said it before, 18X8 if you are flying something like a mustang, 19X8 if you like your Citabria to go fast with good vertical climb, 20X8 if you want excellent vertical climb and slower level flight.

davegenet

Thanks guys. I have a new kit. Just got it. So hopefully the landing gear will be good. Going electric and thinking to use an Eflite Power 160 on 10S with a 19x8 or 19x10 prop. Sounds like it ought to clear just fine.

Dave

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Dave

The gear on your new kit should be fine, I wouldn't loose any sleep on that, on the other hand you will find out that the firewall will need some support on the top end of it for gas or electric engine/motor.

Enjoy building and flying the Citabria, it is an awesome airplane.

davegenet

Thanks Carlos. I'll check out the firewall. I saw your video on installing the wings. Very helpful.

How do you transport your wings? Do you have to completely remove the struts to use a wing bag?

I know the Hempel Decathalon struts will lay flat.

Dave

Gbee

I believe everyone leaves the wing struts attached, so you can't use a wing bag. I am still building my Citabria, but I am curious about this post by "mlholtman" from Texas on flyinggiants.com

quote: "Hi Everyone I built one of these planes for a friend and to make installing the wing onto the fuselage easier i replaced those little brackets that mount onto the wing that the struts bolt up to with small hinges. It worked great. You can leave the struts on the wing and they fold down so you can slide them into a wing bag. When installing the wing onto the plane the struts hang straigght down if you havr the plane sitting on the edge of a table.No more puncturing your monokote on the fuselage. I also changed the allen head bolts with button head so the heads wouldn't dent the wing when folded up"

I am not a member of flying giants so I didn't reply, but a couple of pics would be wonderful...

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

I read that also, in my case I have enough room in my vehicle to carry the wing in one piece or in two pieces if needed, because of that I haven't explore how to fold the struts but it shouldn't be that difficult to make them to fold since it has been done already.
About wing bags they can be made to fold close in between the struts with Velcro but the struts will still be fix to the wing.

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

There are all kinds of hinges out there that will be suitable for this application.