Easy,

I wasn't aware that Patrick had designed the Cermark Pitts. The same thing happened on the Goldberg Extra, Ultimate and Bucker. These kits were all criticized for being too 'flimsy'. Dave defended his postion by saying (and rightfully so) that they are designed to fly well with the intended powerplants and if you have to over power them or dork them on landing and they break then perhaps you have no business flying them. Those (in effect) were his words. His goal was to have a light, strong airframe. I have built and flown the Ultimate and Bucker and I know what he's talking about. Especially the Bucker. I cringe when I hear about guys sticking 1.50's, 1.80's or even larger on them. The structure is not designed to take the stresses those engines impose on it. I have an OS 90 4-stroke on mine and I think it's a perfect choice. I doesn't have unlimited vertical but neither does the real one. It flies very nicely and does any aerobatic manuever you want with a 90 4-stoke (yes, even a knife edge loop).

The thing with Patrick's kits he has designed is that they are KITS and the builder usually can beef up the structure somewhat during construction when they know (and if they are smart and experienced enough) what sort of powerplant they're intending to put on it. When you go the ARF route on a Patrick designed kit it's best to stay with the engines recommended since if you overpower it nasty things can happen and once it's built it's very hard to go back later and add reinforcement where it's needed. Most guys tend to think more is better. They just gotta have more power. If it means shoe-horning a G62 into a space that only fits a 40 they'll try it in that never ending quest for power.

Look at the issues with the GP Pitts. Everyone has been sticking in wayyyyyy too big motors (let's not debate that here, OK. it's been done to death elsewhere in this forum) and AM Cross has repeated told guys NOT to do it. But there's a difference in the way GP handles issues and the way Cermark does. And I think that's the crux of the issue here. Cermark ought to know what the customers are going to try and do and not be so hostile to them when they do do it. I personally think Cermark has done a poor job in customer relations and service. They could have handled these situations much better than summarily cutting off the user at the knees and basically telling them they are full of s***, tough luck, your problem, good-bye. An irate user is going to try and do everything in their power (if they are able) to get the word out about how bad Cermark's products are. And we all know more people get told about bad service than good service. that's the reason i won't buy a Cermark product. They can be the greatest in the world but if they treat their customers like crap and refuse to stand by their product then I choose not to do business with them.

just my .02 cents.

Jeff