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Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 11/26/2003 3:26:53 AM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online 		OK gang I finally got the PC-9 and got some good flights on it. here is my little review of it.


Initial Feelings

I opened the box and was impressed by the quality of the covering and the lack of wrinkles on the plane. Some small ones but I let them slide. Parts were clean and seperated into neat organized bags. Found the manual to be pretty concise and thorough. Easy reading. The scheme of the plane is outstanding. It is modelled after the Australian Air Force's "Roulettes" air show team. Very authentic looking on the ground and in the sky


Construction

Very straight forward bild up of this ARF. One very nice thing is the hinges on all the surfaces are already done for you! Very nice job and very cleanly installed. I pulled on them to make sure they were in there and yes they were! Fit and finish is very good all around. I used the supplied hardware and everything seemed ok in that dept. I will eventually take the plastic clevices out and replace them later after I get some more time with it.
After running the rods and mounting them to the control surfaces I went ahead and installed the engine. The motor mount is already mounted and I tightened the bolts to double check. Engine goes right in and the front gear is very similar to any trike setup i.e a trainer. Wings were glued together in typical fashion and the servos run through them. It is nice with 2 servos in the wings. So far no complaints! Did I forgoet to mention the tail section? Nothing fancy here either, line them up, check incidence, mark and then glue into place. Simple as cherry pie! The canopy and the pilot are included and already installed!! talk about easy! Supplied spinner is nice and accents the cowling nicely. The cowl requires some cutting becuase the stock muffler is used with the engine. It's not bad at all. Once installed it doesnt interupt the planes line too badly


Flying

The motor gave me some trouble as it mounted upside down and the engine itself was brand new. The cold weather didnt help either so after fiddling with the needles for a bit my pal and I finally got it dialed in. Still needs more breakin time but it will fine im sure. Once the motor started up I range checked and made sure throws looked good and it was off to taxi. On the rollout it handles very well and responds to rudder input niceley. Plane tracks pretty straight so not much steering is needed. Rotate up and the plane lifts of gently. Got some laps of the field and found very little adjustment was needed on the trims. That was a nice suprise. Slight left aileron dip was corrected and we had a nice smooth flying plane hands free. Wind was a bithigh so it required both hands on the wheel at all times ;0
After some circuits I did some basic loops and rolls and the plane is very responsive and agile. Not exactly a monster but for its class its more than enough to have fun. I was up with many of the newer planes like the Funtana, UCANDO and few bipes and sport flyers and everyone had a compliment on how nice the plane looks in the air. I have to admit myself this one the prettiest planes on a flyby. Looks magnificent! Once time was up I brought it around for an approach and it was a little hotter thn im used to so I went around to try again. This plane is pretty quick and requires some real estate to slow it down before you get on the final leg. With that said the slow speed characteristics are nice. Doesnt really drop a wing but kind of mushes forward. Nice feature if you ask me Lined it up and did a 3 point landing. Got some comments on the landing too
5 flights later I had a grin on my face that I coudlnt get rid of. I was up for a while and even had time to play with others with some psuedo formation flying. Good times and the plane tracks nicely.


Conclusion

Flying the plane reminds me what "fun" is supposed to be when you leave the expensive planes at home and just have a go with your buddies in the sky. Doers basic aerobatics easily and has decent speed to cruise around with. Construction is great and looks are even better. My ONLY complaint is there are no retracts. Yes the plane is only about $130 but it would have it made one the best ARF's in its class for me easily if it did. The planes value for money to fun factor are hard to beat. Overall a good plane and purchase. I got many compliments that day from onlookers and were impressed with its flying ability and for its good looks. Enough said! Hope you find this info usefull


Setup

Engine - OS 46FX with a 10x7 prop
Radio - Futaba 6 channel RX and TX with Futaba 3004's and 148's in the wings
Throws - standard throws recommended by manual



Regards

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/4/2003 2:18:34 AM   
jrotor



Posts: 271
Joined: 7/24/2002
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Status: offline 		We appreciate your helpful review and pictures.
One question, I'm shopping for a second plane and wondering
if this plane would be easy enough to land.
Thanks.

Jake.

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/4/2003 4:47:46 AM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online 		Greetings Jake!

well..I flew it more this past weekend and the more I fly the more I love it. Its not a complicated airplane at all but is very capable. It surprisngly does a very nice knife edge which shocked me! Can it be a good second plane? I think so but it all depends how much stick you have on your trainer. This plane with a 46fx can really haul and that can take some getting used to if you have flown fast planes. It can be flwon like a low wing trainer or a semi aerobatic plane all depending on your style.

Landings with this plane can be a little fast, you really have to ease back on the throttle way early than what Im used to. The first few times I can in really hot and adjusted by throttling down all the way to idle on approach and it helped alot. Its a bit hot still if you ask me but a joy to fly!!

Let me know if you have any questions about, I would love to help you out.


kind regards

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/4/2003 5:40:54 AM   
jrotor



Posts: 271
Joined: 7/24/2002
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi DiabloKid,

Thanks for the reply.
I'll be practicing more with my current trainer before I fly my second plane but need
something to build meanwhile.
I think I'm pretty close to buying this plane.
I learned that it's inverted engine, and it's my first time dealing with such engine configuration.
Do you think it'll be a challenge ?

THanks.

Jake.

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/4/2003 5:52:29 AM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online 		Jake the inverted engine installation is a breeze, actually the whole plane is almost too easy to put together. I enjoy the looks and flight performance so it was an easy choice for me. I would def look into it, something alot of other flyers choose is the Sig 4 Star, good flying plane! I wanted something different and this fit the bill for me. Construction is a breeze, dont worry about that.

The only issue I had with the engine was the low end needle needed to be leaned out a hair as it had a tough time idling. It was a new engine and I ran the break ins in extreme cold weather so it made it harder than it actually was.

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/4/2003 6:26:20 AM   
rcflyertwo



Posts: 96
Joined: 12/1/2003
From: Niagara Falls, NY, USA
Status: offline 		I have built and flown this plane, love its looks, cowl was very well made, instructions were a bit lame, my fuel tank seems small only getting 5min flights with a super tiger 45 , for great turbo prop looks I put an evolution 3 blade prop on it, painted the tips yellow, the squarded off prop tips look very realistic!!!! I had some problems with the front wheel turning sideways on grass fields, installed a thicker push rod and it seems fine now, plane looks great in the air, flys very nice, the 3 blade prop slowed it down a bit but that is ok as it is a fast flying plane. Its winter up here so I have it hanging in the local hobby shop just for display. I am looking forward to flying it again next summer. Butch in Niagara Falls. NY

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/4/2003 6:34:26 AM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: rcflyertwo

I have built and flown this plane, love its looks, cowl was very well made, instructions were a bit lame, my fuel tank seems small only getting 5min flights with a super tiger 45 , for great turbo prop looks I put an evolution 3 blade prop on it, painted the tips yellow, the squarded off prop tips look very realistic!!!! I had some problems with the front wheel turning sideways on grass fields, installed a thicker push rod and it seems fine now, plane looks great in the air, flys very nice, the 3 blade prop slowed it down a bit but that is ok as it is a fast flying plane. Its winter up here so I have it hanging in the local hobby shop just for display. I am looking forward to flying it again next summer. Butch in Niagara Falls. NY



Welcome to the forums! Excellent suggestion with the 3 bladr prop, Im getting one now too!

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/15/2003 1:46:58 AM   
Druce



Posts: 79
Joined: 1/6/2002
From: Edmonton, AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		I've had mine for about 2 years now, and still fly it I have a webra speed 50 on it with a 11x4 prop I think it's the best flyer I had. I bought it because it had the Austraila markings on it .. great plane ..

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 12/19/2003 6:22:36 AM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: Druce

I've had mine for about 2 years now, and still fly it I have a webra speed 50 on it with a 11x4 prop I think it's the best flyer I had. I bought it because it had the Austraila markings on it .. great plane ..



good to hear it still flies. There was a thread over in the ARF section where epople bashed it becuase of elevator flutter issue. I have flown it flat out and have yet to have trouble.

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 1/5/2004 9:07:27 PM   
stuk_at_work



Posts: 1392
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Oceanport, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Matt,

We seem to have similar taste these days!

I could not resist picking this plane up when I first saw it. I haven't assembled it yet as I have a couple of partial builds/repairs to get to first, but I too was impressed with the general quality of this plane, especially considering the price! The covering job is first rate.

The firewall attachment looks a little bit on the light side, so I may reinforce it a bit, and depending on how much of a pain it is I may turn the engine sideways and run it with a pitts style muffler to minimize the amount of engine exposed. Probably be a TT 46 Pro, as I sold my 46 FX to someone you may know!

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Jersey Coast Sport Flyers, Exec. Board

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 1/5/2004 9:29:36 PM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: stuk_at_work

Matt,

We seem to have similar taste these days!

I could not resist picking this plane up when I first saw it. I haven't assembled it yet as I have a couple of partial builds/repairs to get to first, but I too was impressed with the general quality of this plane, especially considering the price! The covering job is first rate.

The firewall attachment looks a little bit on the light side, so I may reinforce it a bit, and depending on how much of a pain it is I may turn the engine sideways and run it with a pitts style muffler to minimize the amount of engine exposed. Probably be a TT 46 Pro, as I sold my 46 FX to someone you may know!



Greetings Stu!! Happy New year to ya!!

I would recommend installing the engine upside down. I would hate to chop into that beutiful cowl anymore than it needs to but im sure you can make it work

My friend wants one now so when he gets his we will fly some formation

BTW the engine I got from you was the TT 46. Its in my Kyoshso Spitfire that overdue for some fly time as soon as this mid atlantic weather clears enough

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 1/5/2004 9:43:27 PM   
stuk_at_work



Posts: 1392
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Oceanport, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Hmm , Ok. So who did I sell that 46 FX too? So many trades, so little time!

I haven't run a 46 Pro inverted yet, my only experience so far is with a 40 Fx inverted in an elder-40. Verrrry finicky on idle, had to lean the low end quite a bit to keep the engine running at low RPM. I have an onboard glow driver that I originally purchased for the elder, but I don't thing the PC-9 can stand the extra weight ... almost 3 oz. It would have been a wash on the elder because it needed 3 oz of weight in the nose to balance out (I didn't build it!).

Did you have to add weight to balance this plane out, or were you able to balance it by moving stuff around?

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RE: Seagull Models Pilatus PC-9 Review! - 1/5/2004 10:07:57 PM   
SunShyne



Posts: 3763
Joined: 12/25/2002
From: Centreville, VA, USA
Status: online 		Stu-

I run the 46fx stock upside down and was able to balance it with simply moving the battery around the "cabin"

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