GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

I am going to build a Great Plane Super Skybolt. I am planning on putting a Saito FA-100 in it. Will this provide ample power, or do I need to move up to the FA-120?

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

The 100 will be fine but I have the 120 in mine and the power is great. I'm at 1/2 throttle most of the time, even at take off.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

So will be better with the 100, less money and less weight?

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Well with the 120 the plane balanced perfect without any nose weight. I had to place the battery right on the CG. I'll trade power for lead any day. Also I mounted my Saito inverted, I didn't want to much motor showing.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

I've got a YS 91AC in mine and the power is great. I think the Saito 100 would be plenty.

Next time I get to Chicago, I'll have to try flying one with a 120 :D

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Mike , I'll lay out the red carpet for you.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

The 100 will be enough motor, maybe even preferable because of prop sizes IF you lighten the rear part of the fuselage and build the tail feathers as light as possible removing material and lightening where you can. If you dont you will probably end up putting 6 oz of lead in the nose. It's an old school kit and it builds pretty heavy by todays standards. There is little to no room in the nose to get your battery very much forward of the cg because of the closed front/tank design. Do everything you can to keep this baby light, they tend to build heavy (repeated for emphasis) They are very good looking and flying bipes when finished. My biggest complaint was it roll coupled in knife edge, but then virtually all bipes do to some extent. If I had to do it again I would also go with pull pull on the elevator and rudder, (ala DP ultimate) that would keep the heavy pushrods out of the tail and save 2 ounces right there

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Thanks for all of the input. I think I'm going to go with the FA-100.
Smallfly (or anyone), how do I set up a pull-pull system? I know what it is, but not sure what kind of hardware it takes.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

just double the horns on the control surfaces ( 1 top 1 on bottom ) and use a dual arm servo arm and dubro makes really good pull pull setups with the hardware to make it work roughly like this

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Anyone,

What is the advantage of pull pull vs. the standard setup other than weight? I hear a lot of people are doing this. Is there a performance improvement? like increased throw or faster input reaction?

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Yea, there is an increase in performance but you don't need to go through all this work for a Skybolt. It's an aerobatic plane but it's not designed for 3D. I have nyrod push rods in mine and I've put it through all sorts of aerobatic manuevers with out an issue.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Ditto, I really wring my Skybolt out, and I have all stock control rods.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

How did you fit the muffler of the Saito 1.20 inverted?, can you upload a photo to see it, did you think I can fit the Saito 1.20 in the side position?, could be the muffler in the cowl in this position?,

Thanks.

Marcelo

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Marcelo, with the Saito mounted inverted the muffler just hangs out the bottom of the cowl. I thought about mounting it sideways but to much of the head would stick out of the cowl. The 120 is a very tall motor.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

If you try to mount a large saito 4 stroke horizontally in a Skybolt you will be cutting out a lot of cowl. The inverted mount is the best overall. You will not have any problems starting or running if you use an OS Type F glow plug. The muffler and pipe just hang out and down the back of the engine.

Smallfly,
It's nice to find someone that finally agrees with me on the Skybolt coming out tail heavy if you don't take draconian measures to lighten the tail. After building 3 of them I thought it must have been me when all the new guys said there's came out well balanced built per plans. I redesigned the fuselage side assemblies, the tail group laminates, and everything else I could do, and it was still hard to balance with anything less than a 91 4 stroke. It actually worked out better with 1.2 four strokes.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

The pull pull is for weight reduction in the tail in this purpose, not more responsivness, sure it's only an ounce or 2 but that translates to 3 or 4 ounces on the nose. Here is a pic of my old skybolt with the saito 120 on the side mount

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

rc_sport-RCU

The carb is lower than the fuel tank ouput in the inverted position?, did you use a fuel pump to regulate the fuel flow as Cline regulator or other?,

regards

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Acro, the carb ends up in the center of the fuel tank when the motor is inverted. I don't have a pump or a regulator and the engine runs very smooth, even the idle is very relliable.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

I put the engine over the plans and looks fine inverted, thanks

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Yep, thats what I did.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

You need the 350 grams of the 120 engine to get it balance, or just install the 100 and add 350 grams in the nose.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Man I cant wait to get my Skybolt built. I ordered it yesterday so it will be in next week. It looks like I came out alright having the Saito 120 lying around. Thanks for all the info guys.


Kevin

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Junkman, I Had to install the battery on the CG because it balanced perfect without it installed.

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

I lift the nose covering, made a hatch, install the 1400 mAh battery under the fuel tank and strech and iron the covering again, no one can tell something happen

RE: GP Super Skybolt Saito 100 or 120?
 

Thanks, I'll remeber that. Was there any trouble putting it on the CG? Also what prop should I use with the Saito 120?

Thanks.