beaver180

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The first flights on it were hairly indeed! Just a complete dog to turn... heaps of rudder then opposite aileron to try correcting the roll.

Talking to a very experienced flyer he said that on a flat bottomed wing section such as this the CG should be between 20-25% of the cord, not the about 1/3rd the manual states. Sure made a heck of a difference.

Having those tyres on is awesome too for the landings. Just have to watch the landing gear... it's a bit soft and will bend quite easliy. I'm used to doing long approachs on finals and have been dropping way short this one into the long grass No worries taxing out of the rough for me Bit more air time and I'll have it sussed.

A 150 four stroke will easily fly this Citabria too by the way my Saito 180 hauls it around... mostly I'm flying at just a third throttle.

Will take some photos to describe my build mods real soon.

Chow for now, Paul

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Hiya Andrew,

Dunno if your going to have much influence on the next batch but... Here's some of my recommendations

1, The CG needs to be change from 115mm to 80mm back from the leading edge ( a little note there too that this plane needs to have the rudder used on turns would be helpful to the less experienced builder/ fliers )

2, Throw out those silly little puenny 2 1/4 inch foam tyres and at least replace them with the ones off the KMP Beaver, more practical for grass field flying and look better on the wheel pants... if used.

3, If poss get the air scoop on the cowl wided by an inch... this will then be able to accomodate any engine. also if it could be flatten and extended further forward.

4, The under carriage legs are drilled back to front

5, The under carriage cover would be better made de-attachable as I had to do because the spacer was accidently glued in. This will add to the appearance of the plane and will stop exhaust juices and other crud getting up and into the 8 big unsightly holes to which the undercariiage and struts are screwed in through.

6, Windows, especially side one will not and do not fit. Clear ones like the ones I've added are easier and more practical to afix. Front screen and wing top one's are ok though they need alot of trimming.

7, I beefed up all my control rods to 4/40 size as the stock ones seem too light for this application... I think most experienced builders would swap out this type of gear for their preferred methods anyway.

Other than these this KMP Citabria went together very well.... wings ( main and tail feathers ) fitted extremely well. My covering job was pretty good all around, only a little tightening was required.

Very Stable in the air ( turn with rudder use! ) and looks great! Infact I will get another one, so let me know when you've got them back instock OK Andrew?? Will also want a set of the KMP Beaver Float to put on it too! Cool

Chow for now all,
Paul

steve2972

My Feedback: (2)

Hi Paul,
I`ve just discovered this thread!!
I bought one of these kits a while back,going to convert to electric! Your suggestions will be very helpful.

Should start the build soon,I`ll post on this thread if thats ok?

Cheers

Steve

beaver180

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Hey Henry, you got one yet? Here's some more pictures to tempt you further

steve2972

My Feedback: (2)

Hi Paul,
Finished the Citabria over the weekend,will take some pics hopefully next weekend if its not raining.Cg is right on the main wing tube,this about right?

The only prob I had was with the wing struts.There`s no way of knowing what you`re drilling into on the wings to fix the screws.Ended up drilling into the balsa skins before I located the hardwood spars! [>:]

I programmed in 30% differential and also 30% aileron to rudder mix.

Cheers for now,

Steve

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Hiya Steve, just before I pop off to work....

There should have been some blind nuts under the covering, I managed to feel them ( a dimple ) when I ran my finger over the area to bolt ( with the struts in place as a guide ).

Make your CG 80mm back from the leading edge NOT where manual says.

Chow for now, Paul

aerolou

My Feedback: (3)

I was just reading about the problem you were having turning this plane.

It has been my experience that you need differntial on the ailerons on this large scale flat bottom airfoil aircraft.
I would set the aileron thro at about 2/3's more up than down. as an example 2" up and 1" down. This puts a little more drag on the inner wing.

If you have equal up and down thro when you bank right the left aileron is actually creating more drag. This would pull the left wing back making it very difficult to turn right without using a lot of rudder. It would probably turn better using only the rudder with the thro set equally up and down.

Also these larger scale high winged aircraft tend to want to be flown in a more scale manner. Such as being flown using both the aileron and rudder to make coordinated turns.

I like the looks of this thing. How wide is the cowl?
I have a 50CC twin I might want to try yo stuff in one of these.

Lou

aerolou

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subscribed

rc2007

Why dosen't this plane have flaps? Real one dosen't?

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Real one's, from the pictures I've seen on the net show two versions.... some with flaps and some without. Bit like J-3 Cubs and Super Cubs? as a rule J-3's don't and most Super Cub do.

This Citabria looks easily convertible, to cutout the TE of the wing to make it have Flaps. I will do this later I think

Will take some pictures of a good modification that great helps with internal access in the nose.

Aerolou... yes that was the first thing I tried ( aileron diff ) and it didn't help in my case. Mind you I haven't re tried it since bring the COG way further forward, just have rudder ( about 7% ) mixed into ailerons.

Cheers guys.. standby for the pictures

mimoore67

My Feedback: (51)

If your asking does this plane have flaps, then answer is yes and no. It depends on the model. Look at this page and it will show which models do. When the original Citabria came out in the 60's it did not have flaps, however the Super Decathlon and 8GCBC have flaps.

http://www.amerchampionaircraft.com/newac/newmain.htm

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Pictures below include my cockpit where I have a 950cc Fuel tank mounted right on the CG area, I'm running a cline pressure reg so I could do this. My flight battery is in the nose where the stock tank is supposed to go.

There's a picture too of my "door" and of my refueling points... the pullout one is the tank vent, other is the fueler. Also shown is a real Citabria pic that gave me the idea of the removable hatch and engine compartment air venting.

Chow for now,
Paul

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Lou, there's 195mm of width to get a Twin in the cowl. Think just your spark plugs will protrude???

Here's some pictures showing my nose/ engine cooling mods ( got the idea from a belly shot of a real McCoy flying overhead ) .... Really simple to do and it gives your engine heaps room for cooling air to escape plus the bonus of nearly unlimited nose access to fit fuelling points, onboard glow system and throttle control rods etc and my large Sub-C 4.8v Flight pack.

Hatch is easily removed by two screws.... what you guys think??

Enjoy

Bass1

Hmmm.. could be a coincidence but my old Bud Nosen 105" span Citabria's plans called for the CG to be about 1/3 of MAC also. Guys were having a hell of a time controlling their planes (if they could control them at all) with this recommended CG setting. It was finally realized the plans were off and 25% of Mac was about ideal as mirrored with the KMP Citabria. Makes me wonder where the KMP design came from[sm=72_72.gif] I also had the same issues with aileron differential and the absolute neccessity for rudder in turns as per full scale version. As a matter of fact in the instruction booklet for the Nosen Citabria they recommend using rudder only for turns for the first few flights. Just curious but can someone measure the fuse length of the KMP from the back of the rudder to the front of the cowl for comparison to my Nosen Citabria? Mine is 62 and 1/2inches. Here is a shot of my 105" Bud Nosen Citabria.

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

From tail to spinner mine is 1650mm.

Yours looks great! Love a closer or bigger picture if you wouldn't mind pm'ing me. Who is the pilot bust you have in there?? Superb

Cheers, Paul

AKondor

hi Guys:

Thanks for the great suggestions made. I will forward all of them to the factory.

MAC540513

Hi guys,

I am building a KMP Citabria and have it almost ready for the first flight. Thanks for the tips on the CG, I calculated the CG location based on 25% MAC and found it to be about 96 mm. I will set mine at about 90 for its first flight.
With regard to the blind nuts for the wing struts I too poked a couple of small holes before I found them, on the next kit that may have them I will use a magnet to locate them.

Happy flying

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Hiya,

I my experience, I would try starting with your CG at 80mm back from the leading edge... You will save yourself from any real unpleasant behaviour. Once you have the "feel" of it in the air maybe move the CG back to about 90mm.

Hope all goes well with yours, mine is still like new and flying great. Keep me posted ( as yours will be the second KMP City I know airbourne )

Chow for now,
Paul

Zippi

My Feedback: (10)

beaver180,

I was looking at the KMP Citabria last Fall and I opted for the Sig Rascal 110 instead. I put a G26 on the Rascal and it flys it very well with a XOAR 18X6 prop. I'm still looking at the Citabria to put an MDL 28cc on. Just can't seem to make up my mind .

MX240

My Feedback: (4)

Looks nice......My question is....is this plane covered with that CHINA COAT covering.
It's that awful covering with clear film that is over the top of the color layer???
It would be a deal breaker if it has that plastic covering.

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

Just Nike the Citabria Zippi ( nike as in the sport shoe... motto, " just do it!! " )

You'll be pleased I'm sure.

Paul

beaver180

My Feedback: (10)

I know the crap you're talking about,

This covering seems to be the good stuff... shrinks good when I had some wrinkles.

Cheers, Paul

MX240

My Feedback: (4)

Thanks Paul about my covering issue. I am glad this nice looking Citabra has the "good" covering.
I will have to follow along on this thread and think more about buying this one.
Jim

MAC540513

Paul

I just finished setting the CG on my Cetabria, I had to add about 30 oz of lead to the firewall to get to about 91 cm. I have a Zenoah 26 ei and cheched the diffrence in weight between it and a 50 cc engine and found it to be about 40 oz so the 30 oz is probably about right. How much weight did you have to add to get your cg to the 80 mm point? If all goes well and it quits snowing here I may get to test fly it this weekend. I will let you know how I make out. I added about 5 mm differential to the ailerons to start with, if that s not enough for control I will adjust it some more.
Talk to you later.

Keep your wings level.

Merv

MAC540513

Paul

I just finished setting the CG on my Citabria, I had to add about 30 oz of lead to the firewall to get to about 91 cm. I have a Zenoah 26 ei and cheched the diffrence in weight between it and a 50 cc engine and found it to be about 40 oz so the 30 oz is probably about right. How much weight did you have to add to get your cg to the 80 mm point? If all goes well and it quits snowing here I may get to test fly it this weekend. I will let you know how I make out. I added about 5 mm differential to the ailerons to start with, if that s not enough for control I will adjust it some more.
Talk to you later.

Keep your wings level.

Merv