I was curious if anyone is currently using the Saito 150 Golden Knight AAC:GG engine in a Showtime 4-D 90 plane. Trying to find out about performance, mounting issues, CG issues, and last but not least, firewall / airframe structure re-enforcement needs. I've pretty much ruled out using the Saito 100. I have heard the 125 Saito is pretty good (power wise). Deff. gonna go with a Saito...but trying to make my 1st engine for the plane the right one. Any info or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I am running a Saito 150 in my Showtime... Performance rocks, unlimited vertical and it pulls out of a hover with no questions asked. I had to shave the inside of the engine mounts to fit the crank case between them while still using the stock blind nuts in the firewall. CG was not a issue, I mounted the rudder servo in the tail and I have the tank and battery on the wing tube. Get the 150 for sure dude, you will be happy you did!

Hey Nick,

Thanks for the reply! Was hoping to hear something good about the 150 engine use. Would have been a real disappointment to get an under powered engine. They're not exactly giving the Saito's away for short money, lol. Wanted to make sure I was buying the right engine the 1st time. I take it you were NOT referring to the pull-pull set up on the rudder. I wasn't really wanting to set mine up that way either. Was the factory build around the fire-wall sturdy enuff for the 150?, or did you do any re-enforcing to that area? The RCU review had made claims to a weak landing gear block assembly...have you had any issues with yours? Well, thanks again for the reply. Glad to hear your enjoying your plane!! Looking forward to completeing mine and getting it in the air also.

-- Paul

Yeah tell me about it, Saito is not the cheapest option but they are good engines. On the rudder system, I mounted the servo in the tail and DID NOT use the pull-pull system. Balanced perfectly...

The firewall held up great with my 150 until I pancaked it in on a harrier and the landing gear went flying off and my muffler is sticking straight down and it pulled the top of my firewall out... That wasn't due to the engine though... I crashed. Before that crash the firewall held up fine. I just used gorilla glue to put it back in, it came out clean at least lol.

On the landing gear. Definitely reinforce this area, I did pull out the landing gear mount once. What I did was double up the former that the landing gear block attaches to and I am using (4) 1/4-20 nylon bolts so now the gear will shear away instead of tearing out the bottom of the plane. This is working great for me. Thats what happened when I pancaked it into the runway on a harrier, the gear came off clean with the nylon bolts. But definitely reinforce this area.

Since the new 150's have a rear exit exhaust I had to cut a notch in the firewall for the muffler to come out the bottom. Then just carve a block of wood to make it so there isn't a hole into the fuse.

I have some pics flying my showtime in my RCU gallery also. Check em out

Hey Nick,

Thanks for the tips. It's appreciated. I did check out your pics after your 1st reply back. Very nice. Plane looks great! Deffinately gonna re-enforce the landing gear area, and the nylon bolts is a great idea. If and when i crash, it's more like when, lol, keeping structual damage to a minimum is always a good thing. If ya get lucky enuff! Did the 150 motor fit in right side up? or did you have to mount it upside down? I don't remember seeing any mention about a fuel pump in the 150, i take it that the fuel draw is still ok with the tank mounted that far back? My plane is pretty much at the electronics/ engine build stage. Haven't had any real problems up to this point. Only problem i had was in the rudder/ elevator clearance on one side. I got everything lined up/ gapped right, but if behind the plane...turn the rudder to the left and lift up on the elevator, they hit together at max throw. I still get real good throw, but at the max, they hit. I think i'll be ok when setting up the throws, and if not, guess i'll deal with that issue when i cross that bridge. Thanks again!

-- Paul

I don't have the problem with the rudder hitting the elevators... Maybe your rudder throw is more than mine. I mounted my engine upside down, you couldn't do it right side up or the cylinder would be out the top of the cowl looking like a dragster I don't have any fuel draw problems either and I have my tank on the wing tube. I've hovered for minutes at a time and haven't even had a hiccup in the engine because of fuel draw. You will have no problems, good luck getting it into the air! Let me know if you need anything else and let me know how it goes on the first flight