This is my second Sig Cap 232 I have assembled. The first one lasted three years before I flew it into the wind sock (dead stick). My old cap was powered by a Saito 150 and landed great. I could just float it in, and make a three point landing. No snap tendencioes at all. This Cap has a new OS160 and is very snappy (snaps left). The OS w/Pitts muffler weighs about 7 ounces more than the Saito. I can't believe that the 7 ounces makes that much of a difference, but I can't seem to slow this plane down enough to land before it SNAPS HARD. I would be happy to take most of the blame on my landing technique but I've been flyin for about 10 yrs. Anyone else have this combo? Ideas on landing?

Many Thanks.

I don't have that plane or combo, but it sounds like you just need more speed to land this one. Some planes just snap at low speeds-usually due to the large engine's torque. It sound like you're trying to "float it in". Land it like a war bird.

I don't have this plane, but have been flying a H9 cap for quite a while with a saito 180. I used to have a snapping problem, but made a few changes, and now it flys a lot better. It will still snap, but is a lot better to land. I read an article in the AMA magazine I think, back when they were doing the series on the project extra. The article talked of a dead range on elevator travel that results in bad snapping tendencies. I think it was when your travel wis between 27 and 37 degrees. So I checked mine, and I was right at the low end of the range on low rates, and pretty close to the high end on high rates. I changed my lowe rates to 25 deg and my highs to 45 deg, and the snapping tendencies went a way. It will still snap, but now it seems a lot more stable. On landing I basically line up and it settles in. It is suprising how slow it will come in now. This is something you may want to check into, it worked for me.

-Ryan

Ryan, Thanks for the info. I will measure the degrees and see if I need to make any changes.

Mark

I received a new muffler for my Saito 150 last week and switched engines in the CAP.
I took out the OS150 with a slimline pitts mufler and compared the weight with the Saito and new muffler. The difference was about six ounces. WHAT A DIFFERENCE THE SAITO MAKES IN LANDING!. No more wing tip stalls, cartwheels, etc.. The planes stalls perfectly for 3 point landings. The difference was night and day.

I have the Sig Cap 231 and it has no snap tendencies at all. You might want to check you CG. Also check you ailerons at the neutral position and make sure they are both aligned with the wing. If they are on the low side that could aid in the plane doing a snap. If you have a computer radio you can program in having the ailerons a little on the high side during approach. Between trying that, CG and elevator throw you can experiment at high altitudes to see what combination works best.

Hey flyinrain, what kind of power do you have on your cap?

I too have the Sig cap 231 with a Saito 150 and slimline pitts muffler. This plane has no stall tendencies at all. I can slow it way down for a nice 3-point landing with no wing drop or anything. When I assembled the plane I did have to add weight to one of the wings to get it to balance laterally. Maybe your lateral balance is off so when it starts to slow down it drops a wing.

I have a OS 120 with pump swinging a 16X6 prop and 15% fuel. The engine weighs 32oz which is close to what the Saito 150 weighs. Even with that I still had to add about 7 oz to the nose to get the CG correct.