Thinking of buying a ModelTech Calypso.

Has anyone any experience with the different engines it takes?

I have an ST 90 with pipe and an 'old' OS91 Surpass but I was hoping an OS 61 FX with pipe would suffice (gives me an excuse for a new engine, hehe... :stupid: )

Question is, will it be unlimited vertically with a piped 61 or do I need enroll my trusty ST 90 once more? Or hang on, OS has a new .91 FX....hmmmmm

Any info appreciated, thanks :-)

Jon

Who did you get if from ? Has anyone tried the ARF? I would put a 91 FS on it , I flew it with a OS 61 was very nice.

I have one with a OS91FX, very nice. I have about 200 flights on it. The plane weights 6lbs 15ounces. I've never flown it with a piped OS60FX but I suspect it would be a smoother, cleaner flying plane. The plane feels over proped with the 91. With the 60 you could run a smaller prop and also the pipe would get some engine related mass further back.
The piped ST90 might be good , but you'll still have to swing a lot of prop with this engine. Depends on what you want to do, fly pattern or do rocket launches.

Mine had a YS45 with a pipe and good performance with a 11/3 and 11/4 prop--WOW -- that was a long time ago-------

I had one of those about 10 years ago, and it really flew well. Best performance with me was with a YS .61 LS and tuned pipe, but it was flyable with a YS .45 and straight muffler. (Did that briefly while my .61 was being fixed)

Mine weighs 8 lbs dry with a .61 FX and flys great, not unlimited vertical but the planes speed will carry it almost out of sight.

The .61 is plenty for this type of plane; pattern not 3D. I am not sure why you want unlimited vertical but if that's what you want go with the .91

Very nice info, thanks guys

I don't 'really' need unlimited vertical performance, as I'll mainly use it as a low wing sport plane and pattern trainer, If it flies allright I may compete in a novice class with it next season.

It's so cool to see it go all the way out of sight, maybe stop on the way up, hover a bit and then continue straight up

Still I'm leaning towards getting myself a new OS 61 FX, but I may wait until I see how big the plane really is, how thick is the wing etc.

Thanks again,

Jon

Sounds like you really want a .91 in that plane

For the price of a .61 and a pipe you could have the .91 and no pipe and use the stock muffler (no baffle).

Be careful about the prop clearance, 11 inches is all that I can fit on my Calypso. Someone else built the plane for me so I am not sure how tall you can make the gear/retracts.

Still not sure what to put in it, but I'm thinking about finding some carbon fibre main gear to replace the std wing-mounted wire gear, that should allow for more clearance.

Jon

My Model Tech Calypso came set up for retracts. I put Hobbicos in it and they work fine. With the 91 FX I'm using a 13/8 3 blade master and have plenty of ground clearance. I originally used a 13/10 APC but I couldn't keep the airplane slow on down lines and had to set up for landing starting in the next county. The 3 blade fixed that. The plane is smallish (for pattern) and very clean. The wing is also not thick.

So the wing is ready for retracts huh? Cool, maybe I'll go that way :-)

Never liked mechanicals, do you think an air-tank would fint in there, or is that wishful thinking?

Jon

Mine was built with mechanical retracts and they work great. Not sure of the brand, I bought the plane already built.

Don't forget, if you start by competing in sportsman you'll have to leave the retracts down.

Is sportsman the lowest class in the US? I'm from Norway and we fly only three classes, beginner, Nordic and F3A. What we call Nordic used to be called sportsman, hence my confusion. It may be so over here too, but I've never heard of that rule?

What do you think is the reason for such a rule?

Jon

I am no expert. I don't even compete, yet. My understanding is Sportsman class is a way for anyone to get involved in pattern competition without having to spend a lot of money. You can compete in sportsman with a $200 fixed gear ARF and won't have to go up against someone with retracts. Once you are hooked on pattern you can spend tons of money on larger planes with retracts

LOL, sounds good! Our novice program is just:
takeoff
procedure turn
loop
stall turn
roll
immelman
Landing.

I think our rules concerning planes is that we use the FAI F3A competition rules for all classes, meaning you can go to town with a ZN line 2x2m plane in the novice class, but at events nobody ever does that

The novice class program mentioned above is actually easier to fly with a normal low-winger, or even a 4 channel trainer. The roll has a high K factor so high wingers don't score as well but it's no problem to compete with one ifyou want!

The Nordic program gets very serious so it's a huge step up from the novice class, although I have never competed I'd wish we had something in between.

Jon