Took the Pitts to the field today for the shakedown cruise. RS Engines "BRUTE 45" with Biela 20x8 CF prop ran flawlessly! Only had to richen high needle about 1/8th of a click. This engine beats the pants off of anything in its class!!! Pulled the Pitts off the ground in less than 25 feet! All manuevers done at 1/2 throttle. Wing incidence set at 0 degrees bottom wing and 1/2 negative degrees top wing. Plane weighed in at 16 lbs.

1st flight take off straight down the runway and a steep climbout. Engine ran a little lean on top end so we landed and adjusted.

2nd flight resulted in awesome vertical. Rolls very axial with very little elevator required. Upon landing found two screws loosened. One on center cabane strut and one on right wing strut.

3rd flight plane was flying well when I noticed an unusual tendency to want to roll right. I handed plane over to chief test pilot and he got her down without a scratch. Upon inspection found two out of three lower aileron ca hinges had broken, probably due to flutter. We were very lucky to get this plane safely back on terra firma!

Got plane back to work shop and repaired aileron with new ca hinges. Will seal all control surfaces with clear ultracote which should help prevent this type of problem in the future. Other than this plane was rock solid. Thanks to Great Planes for putting out a great product and to RS Engines for a terrific engine!

Happy Flying!

LOOPMAN

Nice tip Loopman, thanks for the heads up.

Congratulations in more ways than one Glad you got her down in one piece. Thanks for the heads up about the hinges.

No offencebut why on earth would uoi use c/a hinges on a plane that size? I have several gas planes that shke njust sitting there idkingwhen I way this i too it homr and installed Klett 1/4 sc hinger so no if it skakes I am not to worried about it....it will sure me nice when they can get the gassers not so shake. this is is just my own personal onservatio and I don' mean any sirespect at all.

Proteus,
If plane was a shaker I'd agree with you. However, this engine does not shake the "be-jeezus" out of the airframe.

Happy Flying!

LOOPMAN

Say What?!?

BTW, nearly a hundred flights on my Pitts, and have no hinge problems, so they are pretty good hinges.

LOOPMAN,
Are you using 4 aileron servos, or 2, with connectors? I have 4, and have not had a flutter problem. Just a thought.

Loopman , was wondering what the weight on yours came out at ready to fly ? Anybody else have RTF weights and any comments about weight vs flying characteristics ? What does anyone think would be getting too heavy for one of these?

Mine is just about 16# with a 2.4. Flys very good.

My Pitts came in at 16.5 lbs. No added weight either. TLH101, I have two Hitec 5625's on the lower wing driving the upper ailerons via slave rods. Plane flies great and has no bad slow speed tendencies! Hope to fly again this Wednesday!

Happy Flying!

LOOPMAN