Pulse 125 - first flights
04-16-2012 | 08:49 AM
#1
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Pulse 125 - first flights
After a lot of time in the shop, I maidened my Hangar 9 Pulse 125 XT a little over a week ago.
Copyright Simon Nadler 2012
It was a hairy experience with high winds, a heavy nose, too much elevator throw and not enough control expo - but I did get it down in one piece. I declined to fly it again at the time, mostly because of the wind - partly because I narrowly avoided soiling myself the first time around and I didn't want to take the chance again.
This past Saturday I was out again. Once again the winds were up, though not as much. From the first flight it was like night and day - the Pulse handled beautifully and was an absolute joy to fly. It's incredibly responsive and performs basic aerobatics with ease.
I'm still getting used to the handling characteristics on the ground - this is my first tail dragger - and during takeoff and landing. On the first landing of the day a prop strike broke the prop. On the second landing I had another prop strike but no damage to the prop. The third was a greaser and the fourth was good, though in both cases the plane flipped up and struck the prop when taxiing back downwind. I think there's still a little weight to be removed from the nose.
Hopefully I'll catch Simon and his 100-400mm zoom lens at the field soon for some in-flight shots. I can't wait to fly this puppy again.
Copyright Simon Nadler 2012
It was a hairy experience with high winds, a heavy nose, too much elevator throw and not enough control expo - but I did get it down in one piece. I declined to fly it again at the time, mostly because of the wind - partly because I narrowly avoided soiling myself the first time around and I didn't want to take the chance again.
This past Saturday I was out again. Once again the winds were up, though not as much. From the first flight it was like night and day - the Pulse handled beautifully and was an absolute joy to fly. It's incredibly responsive and performs basic aerobatics with ease.
I'm still getting used to the handling characteristics on the ground - this is my first tail dragger - and during takeoff and landing. On the first landing of the day a prop strike broke the prop. On the second landing I had another prop strike but no damage to the prop. The third was a greaser and the fourth was good, though in both cases the plane flipped up and struck the prop when taxiing back downwind. I think there's still a little weight to be removed from the nose.
Hopefully I'll catch Simon and his 100-400mm zoom lens at the field soon for some in-flight shots. I can't wait to fly this puppy again.
04-16-2012 | 09:04 AM
#2
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
ORIGINAL: grosbeak
After a lot of time in the shop, I maidened my Hangar 9 Pulse 125 XT a little over a week ago.
Copyright Simon Nadler 2012
It was a hairy experience with high winds, a heavy nose, too much elevator throw and not enough control expo - but I did get it down in one piece. I declined to fly it again at the time, mostly because of the wind - partly because I narrowly avoided soiling myself the first time around and I didn't want to take the chance again.
This past Saturday I was out again. Once again the winds were up, though not as much. From the first flight it was like night and day - the Pulse handled beautifully and was an absolute joy to fly. It's incredibly responsive and performs basic aerobatics with ease.
I'm still getting used to the handling characteristics on the ground - this is my first tail dragger - and during takeoff and landing. On the first landing of the day a prop strike broke the prop. On the second landing I had another prop strike but no damage to the prop. The third was a greaser and the fourth was good, though in both cases the plane flipped up and struck the prop when taxiing back downwind. I think there's still a little weight to be removed from the nose.
Hopefully I'll catch Simon and his 100-400mm zoom lens at the field soon for some in-flight shots. I can't wait to fly this puppy again.
After a lot of time in the shop, I maidened my Hangar 9 Pulse 125 XT a little over a week ago.
Copyright Simon Nadler 2012
It was a hairy experience with high winds, a heavy nose, too much elevator throw and not enough control expo - but I did get it down in one piece. I declined to fly it again at the time, mostly because of the wind - partly because I narrowly avoided soiling myself the first time around and I didn't want to take the chance again.
This past Saturday I was out again. Once again the winds were up, though not as much. From the first flight it was like night and day - the Pulse handled beautifully and was an absolute joy to fly. It's incredibly responsive and performs basic aerobatics with ease.
I'm still getting used to the handling characteristics on the ground - this is my first tail dragger - and during takeoff and landing. On the first landing of the day a prop strike broke the prop. On the second landing I had another prop strike but no damage to the prop. The third was a greaser and the fourth was good, though in both cases the plane flipped up and struck the prop when taxiing back downwind. I think there's still a little weight to be removed from the nose.
Hopefully I'll catch Simon and his 100-400mm zoom lens at the field soon for some in-flight shots. I can't wait to fly this puppy again.
04-17-2012 | 04:14 AM
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From: Tullahoma, TN
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Sure looks nice. You did a great job. I'm very pleased with mine. I changed out my LG gear as well.. Brian
ORIGINAL: grosbeak
After a lot of time in the shop, I maidened my Hangar 9 Pulse 125 XT a little over a week ago.
Copyright Simon Nadler 2012
It was a hairy experience with high winds, a heavy nose, too much elevator throw and not enough control expo - but I did get it down in one piece. I declined to fly it again at the time, mostly because of the wind - partly because I narrowly avoided soiling myself the first time around and I didn't want to take the chance again.
This past Saturday I was out again. Once again the winds were up, though not as much. From the first flight it was like night and day - the Pulse handled beautifully and was an absolute joy to fly. It's incredibly responsive and performs basic aerobatics with ease.
I'm still getting used to the handling characteristics on the ground - this is my first tail dragger - and during takeoff and landing. On the first landing of the day a prop strike broke the prop. On the second landing I had another prop strike but no damage to the prop. The third was a greaser and the fourth was good, though in both cases the plane flipped up and struck the prop when taxiing back downwind. I think there's still a little weight to be removed from the nose.
Hopefully I'll catch Simon and his 100-400mm zoom lens at the field soon for some in-flight shots. I can't wait to fly this puppy again.
After a lot of time in the shop, I maidened my Hangar 9 Pulse 125 XT a little over a week ago.
Copyright Simon Nadler 2012
It was a hairy experience with high winds, a heavy nose, too much elevator throw and not enough control expo - but I did get it down in one piece. I declined to fly it again at the time, mostly because of the wind - partly because I narrowly avoided soiling myself the first time around and I didn't want to take the chance again.
This past Saturday I was out again. Once again the winds were up, though not as much. From the first flight it was like night and day - the Pulse handled beautifully and was an absolute joy to fly. It's incredibly responsive and performs basic aerobatics with ease.
I'm still getting used to the handling characteristics on the ground - this is my first tail dragger - and during takeoff and landing. On the first landing of the day a prop strike broke the prop. On the second landing I had another prop strike but no damage to the prop. The third was a greaser and the fourth was good, though in both cases the plane flipped up and struck the prop when taxiing back downwind. I think there's still a little weight to be removed from the nose.
Hopefully I'll catch Simon and his 100-400mm zoom lens at the field soon for some in-flight shots. I can't wait to fly this puppy again.
04-17-2012 | 06:34 AM
#5
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RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
ORIGINAL: Brian Smith
Sure looks nice. You did a great job. I'm very pleased with mine. I changed out my LG gear as well.. Brian
Sure looks nice. You did a great job. I'm very pleased with mine. I changed out my LG gear as well.. Brian
1 - What landing gear did you buy? Specifics would be appreciated...
2 - I assume it cured the tipping - what other changes did it make to ground handling and landing?
Cheers,
John.
04-17-2012 | 06:44 AM
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From: Tullahoma, TN
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
I got the LG from HH that was on a model that is/was about the same size as the Pulse 125. I can't find the name of it anywhere. It has been discountinued. But I could not be more pleased. It is not angled back at all. Ground handling is superb. With an email address I can send a picture. I still don't know how to load them here. Never had a prop strike.
.. Brian
ORIGINAL: grosbeak
Thanks Brian! A couple of questions...
1 - What landing gear did you buy? Specifics would be appreciated...
2 - I assume it cured the tipping - what other changes did it make to ground handling and landing?
Cheers,
John.
ORIGINAL: Brian Smith
Sure looks nice. You did a great job. I'm very pleased with mine. I changed out my LG gear as well.. Brian
Sure looks nice. You did a great job. I'm very pleased with mine. I changed out my LG gear as well.. Brian
1 - What landing gear did you buy? Specifics would be appreciated...
2 - I assume it cured the tipping - what other changes did it make to ground handling and landing?
Cheers,
John.
04-17-2012 | 05:16 PM
#8
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RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
ORIGINAL: CCFPILOT
If the landing gear is angled back, maybe you could just put it on so it is angled forward. You would have to reverse the wheel pants.
If the landing gear is angled back, maybe you could just put it on so it is angled forward. You would have to reverse the wheel pants.
04-18-2012 | 04:20 AM
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From: Morehead City,
NC
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Reversing gear only works on 60 size pulse. On the 125xt lots guys shim back of gear,either 1/16 or 1/8 inch and solved prob for most part. I'd use plastic or lite ply plate not very wide but full lenght of gear mount.Paint if you want to. Until very used to taildraggers and this plane in particular:
LANDING: roll out to stop,put ele on high rates,taxi in slowly
TAKE OFF: low rate,full up...second tail starts to lift let up on ele about 1/2,if you let up 100% nose over. timing timing timing= practice practice practice
Google for thread here on this plane lot of reading BUT tons of good info
LANDING: roll out to stop,put ele on high rates,taxi in slowly
TAKE OFF: low rate,full up...second tail starts to lift let up on ele about 1/2,if you let up 100% nose over. timing timing timing= practice practice practice
Google for thread here on this plane lot of reading BUT tons of good info
04-29-2012 | 05:56 AM
#10
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RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
I've got the 25e and the 60. I think H9 is very conservative on the CG recommendations. I ended by balancing my 60 about 1/4" aft of the rear most recommended point, and the 25 about 1/8". Neither have the nose over tendency (with the stock gear) that everyone talks about. They both still have a fair amount of up elevator trim for level flight, so I'm thinking the CG could go even further aft. (They both recover from spins when the controls are released.)
I suspect the 120 is no different.
I suspect the 120 is no different.
04-29-2012 | 07:04 AM
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From: Selkirk,
MB, CANADA
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Just my two cents, but especially for a maiden I recommend flying on a calm, calm day. I know it's Canada, not too often that happens but you sure get a good feel of the good, the bad and the ugly of the airplane if there is any of the last two comments. Flying in wind or really high winds on a maiden can cause the aircraft to do somethings that trick you into thinking it's flying great or really bad, trimming the plane can be tricky and lead into thinking it needs more or less trim etc...
Just a thought, that was one of my first lessons that I now live by when doing a maiden.
Plane looks really nice by the way, I flew the Hangar 9 Pulse 40 PNP as my first low wing. It was awesome, can't say enough about that aircraft. It really tought me the basics about aerobatic flight as I wanted to get into some bigger planes later.
Brrzee
Just a thought, that was one of my first lessons that I now live by when doing a maiden.
Plane looks really nice by the way, I flew the Hangar 9 Pulse 40 PNP as my first low wing. It was awesome, can't say enough about that aircraft. It really tought me the basics about aerobatic flight as I wanted to get into some bigger planes later.
Brrzee
04-29-2012 | 09:03 AM
#12
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RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
ORIGINAL: Mustang Fever
I've got the 25e and the 60. I think H9 is very conservative on the CG recommendations. I ended by balancing my 60 about 1/4'' aft of the rear most recommended point, and the 25 about 1/8''. Neither have the nose over tendency (with the stock gear) that everyone talks about. They both still have a fair amount of up elevator trim for level flight, so I'm thinking the CG could go even further aft. (They both recover from spins when the controls are released.)
I suspect the 120 is no different.
I've got the 25e and the 60. I think H9 is very conservative on the CG recommendations. I ended by balancing my 60 about 1/4'' aft of the rear most recommended point, and the 25 about 1/8''. Neither have the nose over tendency (with the stock gear) that everyone talks about. They both still have a fair amount of up elevator trim for level flight, so I'm thinking the CG could go even further aft. (They both recover from spins when the controls are released.)
I suspect the 120 is no different.
ORIGINAL: brrzee
Just my two cents, but especially for a maiden I recommend flying on a calm, calm day. I know it's Canada, not too often that happens but you sure get a good feel of the good, the bad and the ugly of the airplane if there is any of the last two comments. Flying in wind or really high winds on a maiden can cause the aircraft to do somethings that trick you into thinking it's flying great or really bad, trimming the plane can be tricky and lead into thinking it needs more or less trim etc...
Just a thought, that was one of my first lessons that I now live by when doing a maiden.
Just my two cents, but especially for a maiden I recommend flying on a calm, calm day. I know it's Canada, not too often that happens but you sure get a good feel of the good, the bad and the ugly of the airplane if there is any of the last two comments. Flying in wind or really high winds on a maiden can cause the aircraft to do somethings that trick you into thinking it's flying great or really bad, trimming the plane can be tricky and lead into thinking it needs more or less trim etc...
Just a thought, that was one of my first lessons that I now live by when doing a maiden.
Plane looks really nice by the way, I flew the Hangar 9 Pulse 40 PNP as my first low wing. It was awesome, can't say enough about that aircraft. It really tought me the basics about aerobatic flight as I wanted to get into some bigger planes later.
Brrzee
Brrzee
04-29-2012 | 10:50 AM
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From: Billingsley, AL
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Any time the gear is under the leading edge of the wing the plane will tip, at least on grass. Like trying to balance a pencil on its point. The gear is too close to the CG. Seems like they make those racy looking gear legs without any thought to ground handling. Then they put small wheels to go in the wheel pants. Might try larger wheels and no pants.
04-29-2012 | 11:20 AM
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From: SorrentoBritish Columbia, CANADA
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
I have the Pulse 125 and I moved the landing gear forward about 3/4 of an inch..I used the front holes for the back bolts and epoxyed a new 1/4 inch ply plate in the floor of the plane for the front bolts..I put the gear on and drilled the holes,took the gear off and drilled the holes bigger to allow for the blind nuts,then put the blind nuts in with a tiny bit of 5 min epoxy...I have no nose over problems anymore , You still need your elevator just like you should on a tail dragger.. I fly off grass ...This is very easy to do.
05-02-2012 | 03:05 PM
#17
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RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Brian:
These floats are made from the Flybaby Float plans available from RCM plans. The ones on the 60 XT are full size, the ones on the 25e are scaled down a bit.
The Flybaby floats are very easy to build, light, and handle better on the water than any of the ARF stuff I've seen.
These floats are made from the Flybaby Float plans available from RCM plans. The ones on the 60 XT are full size, the ones on the 25e are scaled down a bit.
The Flybaby floats are very easy to build, light, and handle better on the water than any of the ARF stuff I've seen.
05-02-2012 | 05:15 PM
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From: Tullahoma, TN
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Thanks for that Bob
They look great. I'll keep that in mind. I would really rather find some ready to mount units. I have at my old age found myself no longer able to cope with balsa dust or CA fumes. Brian
They look great. I'll keep that in mind. I would really rather find some ready to mount units. I have at my old age found myself no longer able to cope with balsa dust or CA fumes. Brian
ORIGINAL: Mustang Fever
Brian:
These floats are made from the Flybaby Float plans available from RCM plans. The ones on the 60 XT are full size, the ones on the 25e are scaled down a bit.
The Flybaby floats are very easy to build, light, and handle better on the water than any of the ARF stuff I've seen.
Brian:
These floats are made from the Flybaby Float plans available from RCM plans. The ones on the 60 XT are full size, the ones on the 25e are scaled down a bit.
The Flybaby floats are very easy to build, light, and handle better on the water than any of the ARF stuff I've seen.
05-03-2012 | 06:33 AM
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From: Tullahoma, TN
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
Perfect.... LMK how you like the change. Brian
ORIGINAL: grosbeak
I ordered aftermarket main gear from TnT last night. They're not swept back, which should help the tipping issue. And they're taller, which should help the prop clearance issue. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival.
I ordered aftermarket main gear from TnT last night. They're not swept back, which should help the tipping issue. And they're taller, which should help the prop clearance issue. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival.
05-04-2012 | 02:24 PM
#23
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From: Tullahoma, TN
RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
It was LG for a Twist is what I put on my Pulse 125. Just sunk in my thick skull. Brian
ORIGINAL: grosbeak
I ordered aftermarket main gear from TnT last night. They're not swept back, which should help the tipping issue. And they're taller, which should help the prop clearance issue. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival.
I ordered aftermarket main gear from TnT last night. They're not swept back, which should help the tipping issue. And they're taller, which should help the prop clearance issue. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival.
05-07-2012 | 05:56 AM
#24
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RE: Pulse 125 - first flights
ORIGINAL: Brian Smith
It was LG for a Twist is what I put on my Pulse 125. Just sunk in my thick skull. Brian
It was LG for a Twist is what I put on my Pulse 125. Just sunk in my thick skull. Brian
