Pitts S1-S by EMHW
06-01-2015, 02:25 PM
#4951
John M,
06-05-2015, 08:16 AM
#4955
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Hi Robert Ive been following your build of the Pitts from day one and and admire your skill and tenacity.....I check daily waiting for the Maiden ? Any updates ?
Doug
Doug
06-05-2015, 08:27 AM
#4956
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Technically the maiden has been done. I am trying to get back out and do an actual flight. After the maiden I had to add 1-1/2lb to the nose and 2oz to the right wing. Going out tomorrow so well see.
06-08-2015, 02:32 PM
#4957
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I finally made it out today for another maiden flight. I consider the first few flight's the maiden as well because of the changes being made to the airframe such as adding weight of which changes the flight characteristics. So, I arrived this morning in high spirits of another flight. Only to have them squashed like a bug. Flip after flip of the prop yielded the engine to being so flooded gas was dripping out of the cowl. After checking as much as I could there at the field I finally conceded to packing it up. After arriving home I unloaded the plane from the trailer, removed the prop and cowl. Everything was plugged in so I removed the plugs, they were still wet with fuel. I dried the plugs, snapped them into the caps, turned everything on, and flipped. Arggghhh, no fire! What the hadez, I thought to myself and comensed to checking the electronics via a tester. I had power all the way up to the ign module. Now, being as there has been nothing that would have caused the module to just go out I was getting pretty angry by this point. Deciding to sit and have a smoke whilst cooling the head sounded good, about the time I reached for the smokes a light went off. OMG, really, could it be that? Shiet! Remember when I had to remove the tele module to re-download the program on my LT? Well, when I re-installed it into the airframe I reversed the harness for the rpm. The harness is modified at the module end but normal at the other and by reversing it I essentially cut power to the module.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
That's all folk's! Will try again tomorrow.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
That's all folk's! Will try again tomorrow.
06-08-2015, 03:24 PM
#4959
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well, at least it was an easy fix. It will fire right up tomorrow and fly like the dickens. Or was it chickens? either way, im sure every flight will get more and more enjoyable.
06-08-2015, 03:28 PM
#4960
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Thanks guys. This one has a few more bells and whistles which lends to more headaches but I'm sure it is par for the course. I am sure sooner or later all the bugs will be worked out and I can begin to enjoy the ride. Sooner would be nicer but I would rather it all be right and true.
06-09-2015, 09:47 AM
#4965
I'm guessing by now Robert, you must know how Charlie Brown feels when Lucy pulls away the football at the very last moment!
Frustrating to say the least. You know what they say, "If you're not making any mistakes, then you're probably not doing anything!"
You're certainly gettin' more accomplished than I have been lately
Just keep on keeping on!
Frustrating to say the least. You know what they say, "If you're not making any mistakes, then you're probably not doing anything!"
You're certainly gettin' more accomplished than I have been lately
Just keep on keeping on!
06-09-2015, 11:45 AM
#4969
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Ok guys, here's the flight report. But first the what was done since the last one, 1-1/2lbs added to the nose, 2oz added to the right wing, a tad more air in tires. Ok! It went much better today, the engine started right up, and with a tad more air in the tires it rolls much easier. Then the roll out, tail wheel still not what I want, manageable but not absolute control. The take-off was far better, it did not want to balloon up or roll right like before. Took two circles to trim it out and minimal at that but will play with the weight a little more to get closer to neutral input. Landing approach was a little hot but like last time, maybe not quite as bad, the hands were having at it so it was get it down now. Roll out looked good initially but then it appeared to take a bow. Just before entering the pavement I could tell something gave with the gear so I killed it there.
Needless to say I did not get to a second flight of which I really wanted to do. So I loaded it up and took it to the friends garage. Turns out the springs I bought from Ace Hardware stretched, pieces of junk they were. So I ran home and got the bungee that came with the kit went back and wrapped it up real well. While having it open I also moved the nose weight further forward and added 2 more ounces to the right wing.
I am very happy with the flight today, it felt more like a Pitts and was much more controllable in pitch. I do need to get a higher pitched blade as the one on it is a power house but very slow in flight.
I can't wait to get back out Friday and get a couple more flights in. Really looking forward to doing some rolls, loops, flat spins, and cranking on some smoke. But the wringing out the bugs come first, hopefully today was the last of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q8j...ature=youtu.be
Needless to say I did not get to a second flight of which I really wanted to do. So I loaded it up and took it to the friends garage. Turns out the springs I bought from Ace Hardware stretched, pieces of junk they were. So I ran home and got the bungee that came with the kit went back and wrapped it up real well. While having it open I also moved the nose weight further forward and added 2 more ounces to the right wing.
I am very happy with the flight today, it felt more like a Pitts and was much more controllable in pitch. I do need to get a higher pitched blade as the one on it is a power house but very slow in flight.
I can't wait to get back out Friday and get a couple more flights in. Really looking forward to doing some rolls, loops, flat spins, and cranking on some smoke. But the wringing out the bugs come first, hopefully today was the last of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q8j...ature=youtu.be
06-09-2015, 12:39 PM
#4970
Well done Ace!... she took off real nice this time... hot landings are better than too slow, you definitely don't want a tip stall at this stage... you'll get her dialed in, just take your time.
Her knees gave way under all that weight, lol... you'll need to get you some automotive rear brake return springs, you won't stretch those easily
... to bad you don't have a aircraft surplus shop local to you, you can get all types of high quality springs there.
John M,
Her knees gave way under all that weight, lol... you'll need to get you some automotive rear brake return springs, you won't stretch those easily
... to bad you don't have a aircraft surplus shop local to you, you can get all types of high quality springs there.John M,
06-09-2015, 01:23 PM
#4972
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And lucky for you I can pass those worked out kinks along to yours. I have already pulled the springs and did the bungee wrap. If I find a source for better springs I may change mine back and see. If done in time I will switch yours back to springs as well. But for now you and I have bungee's. Also with the addition of 1-1/2lbs of nose weight you may want to consider changing your battery location to under the tanks, just a thought. Normally I don't mind the weight but with this one coming in at 49lbs I really did not like adding more to it but had no choice without breaking out a saw.
Last edited by acerc; 06-09-2015 at 01:26 PM.
06-09-2015, 01:43 PM
#4974
.John M,