RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

I have a Fuji 43 that I'm planning on dropping into mine.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

fRED, A FRIEND OF MINE HAS EVOLUTION 26GC, i THINK HAS ENOUGH POWER FOR THE STAGGERWING AND BEST OF ALL IT IS NOT BULKY, wE HAVE TO CONSIDER IT?? pLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR COMMENTS,
aLEX

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

O.K. Gang 2nd flight went much better than the 1st. Didn't last too long though as I had a glow plug go out on one cylinder. This 20lb plane actually flies on 1 cylinder (barely though) actually stalled turning base leg, just released back pressure and it recovered nicely. Heres a photo on final.

Denis

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Denis,looks very good,bad luck on the glow and good job on getting it back
Fred

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Great photo Denis. Glad you got it down safely.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

hey guys what do you guys think of a brison 3.2 motor in this plane,maybe two much?the weight is good 52oz with 3.2 cu in.Also Denis if your out there could you tell how you did your flying wires.
thanks Fred

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Fred: Yeah sorry I did say I was gonna show you the wires. What I need to do is take some photos as I assemble the plane. I wont be out again till Monday at which time I'll get a series of pics for Ya all




Denis

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

hey Denis:thanks I will be looking forward to it,What do you think of the brison 3.2 I think it might be a little much,better alittle more then not enough I think.
Fred

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Fred: ya know your gonna find dozens of opinions on this issue. It all boils down to what kind or style of flying you are comfortable with. actually your skill level. you can fit just about any engine you want in that cowel. Some want "speed" as well as something that can haul this plane off the ground in 20 feet. Depends on your "fun" level, or what makes it fun for you. I fly RC cause there are many full size I will never be able to afford to own. So I tend to enjoy what I call "scale" flying. I want them to act and react just like the real aircraft. Thats why I choose the 160 twin. You need full throttle, as well as a bit of runway, learn to use that rudder, its actually quite fun. Climb out looks like about what the real one would do, (I am guessing about 750' a minute climb), level off I go to about 3/4 throttle for scale speed flying. So the Brison 3.2 go for it, especially if you want the safety of extra power. If you are worried about engine sticking out, well after take off you will never see it.

Just remember its a "fun" hobby I love the 160 however there are guys in this thread that would NEVER put something that small on this plane. Actually my 2nd flight, i lost a cylinder and flew it around the pattern on what would be the equivilent of a 70 or 80, wouldn't climb but maintained altitude

Denis

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Hey Denis.....very well said you are right, its all about fun.
thanks man

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Fred: O.K. here's some info and photos of the flying wires: I use "Stretch Magic" bead and jewelry cord 1mm, found at craft stores. I use the "Clear" I wet sand and spray "Testors" model Master laquer Aluminum. Drill a 1mm hole actually two next to each other and place a drop of ca glue stick the end of the cord, let it dry, it wont come out, remember these wires are a "loop". See photos for correct placement of the holes. I used a Staggerwing reference book as a guide. The wire stays are made from 1/8 "Evergreen" plastic rod turned in a Dremel to round at the tips, two holes drilled through for the cord to slide through, The stays are only on one set of wires and just rest on the second set (actually both sets of wires whent through the stays on the real plane) Feel free to contact me if you need further details

Denis

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

hey Denis, thanks for the pics they help alot.still looking for an engine but not in a hurry have time.i will be using your flying wires when i get there i think they look great.
thanks Fred

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Hi Knucklebutt,
Having soloed at 16 in my parents Beech Model 17 and flown a couple of them extensively since, I can give some real world performance figures on the airplane.

The D-17S and G-17S have the same performance for the most part. The G may cruise a little faster because most D's are military airplanes and have a lot of negative incidence in the stab so that it can be three-pointed with the pilot only. G's have less stab incidence and therefore less trim drag at cruise speed. The D cools better in climb than a G and therefore can climb at a lower IAS and attain a steeper climb, however I used 120 mph cruise climb and that usually gets 1000 fpm average or better with a P&W powered airplane. My brother has a B-17R that is re-engined with a P&W and it'll climb a little better, about 1400fpm at 120.

Cruise is about 190mph true at 23 gallons per hour (lean best power), 165 at 15 gph (lean of peak). The B-17R and Duke Vincent's G were cruised at high power for fast cruise and 35 gph with 215 mph true airspeed performance available (wide open and 2200 to 2300 rpm makes about 27 in hg at 10,000).

I flew a D-17S through an aerobatic routine where it's high empty weight necessitated a lot of power. We typically used 34 in hg and 2200 rpm which is about 400 hp for the routine. Loops, rolls, spins, hammerheads, cubans, and the like were all done with smoothness and moderate G loadings. Anything more than 3 1/2 really dissappated energy but I've seen nearly 6 on a downline for some recoveries (whatever it takes to stay out of the dirt). The airplane is draggy, yet accelerates downhill to very high speeds because it is heavy at 4250 lbs gross. A balance of energy is essential in flying aerobatics in it safely. I saw an old dramatic film about a ficticious woman pilot that flies a Staggerwing and the filming was of Paul Mantz in his C-17B in which he snap rolls numerous times for the camera ship. The rotation was pretty rapid for that size airplane, Paul seemed to have a good feel for stalling the wing without "digging in" too much. Those are the only autorotational maneuvers I have seen with the Beech, besides the spin training I gave while operating the airshow Staggerwing.

I gave rides in that one too, and dropped jumpers. I always tried to take off and land into the wind, and learned that the ailerons were good for directional control as the down aileron has enough drag at low speeds to aid in directional control after the rudder stalls. A burst of power can aid mightily the rudder's effectiveness at low speed, and the brakes are used for directional control at low speeds on roll out in concert with the rudder and ailerons. A quartering tailwind in a Staggerwing can be really exciting and should always be avoided if possible. Take offs are easy, just push the power in to 36 in hg and add some rudder to keep it straight, though not much is needed. I never "raise the tail", I just let it rise to about 6 inches or a foot and let it fly off tail low and accelerate while the gear retracts as the gear speed is a low 115 mph, though I use 100. Landings are the reverse, I approach at 90-95 and cross the fence slowing, pull the power while flaring to a tail low attitude so as to touchdown with the tailwheel about a foot high and then continue to lower the tail as it decelerates. The Staggerwing has three distinct touch downs, wheels touchdown, then the upper strut lands "land" on the springs (it doesn't have oleo struts), then the tailwheel touches down. It must be flown all the while and especially tended to on roll out. I have gone around out of landings in which I fully intended to make a full stop because of "directional uncertainty". Better safe than sorry.

I have ridden through crosswind landings where my Dad was flying it that I would've even consider (40 mph direct x-wind at Torrance comes to mind, as well as some sporty Fla-Bob landings), so the airplane is very capable in the right hands; then again Dad gave me dual from the right seat into Meadowlark where I had the throw-over yoke and the only brakes over on the left. He is an incredibly talented pilot.

Love seeing these models, I sure hope that my bro gets his going with the radial (A-17F with fixed gear and big, fat pants, Bob Perlick in the 1937 Bendix style...).
Chris...

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Chris I certainly appreciate all that info. Thats the stuff I attempt to find when flying my models. My fun comes from flying "scale Like" I also try to build true to scale. Not sure how True to scale this staggerwing is though. I learned to fly in 1976, out of the "Colton" airport which closed right after my check ride. Instead of moving up to the high performance/ twins, I wnet looking for a J-3. Which I found at Fla-Bob. Never left, cripes I have no idea what to do with a "Constance Speed Prop. Been in to Torrance bunches O times (Nagel Aircraft) for part for my Luscombe and Stinson. We might have crossed paths at one time. Never been in the Beech though, buts thats why I build and fly scale, gives me the opportunity to fly something I never will be able to in full size.

Thanks again fro that info. I gonna take those numbers and info and see how it applies to the model


Denis

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Chris:

just a note . I remember very vividly that movie where Paul Mantz snap rolls that Staggerwing, Cant pull out the name, but there is also a scene where a Girl is trying to land a Stinson Voyager, its all over the runway (probably Mantz at the wheel as well)



Denis

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Hi Guys!

If anyone is looking for a new-in-box one for your hangar...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=578501

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Ohhh boy.....

I was sooo close in pulling the trigger ..................

FOund a Brand new IN box OS 1.60 twin gemini w/ C&H IGnition..... on ebay.....

If I HAD been paying attention to the ending time, I would have bid on it, but I was wating for a responce from the seller
just to make sure it was indeed a NIB engine....

Not sure what I would have done with 2-1.60 twins on Ignition??? I guess I would have been FORCED to buy a Top Flite Beech Staggerwing!....

ahh well.....

I might pick up one anyway, and get a Siedel 7-35 All Aluminim. 7-cyl radial....
I will have one of their 7-70's when I hear back from them on Monday....

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

kochi
I am waiting for my second delivery of a TP stagger wing.
First one was beatup pretty bad, Tower is replacing it, should arrive tomorrow.
Then this one goes back.
If you want one better hurry up, they said it looks like they will not be selling them after their supply is gone.
I asked about this when I noticed in their parts section that the bottom wing is now discountinued.
I was going to do the retracts but now that I will not be able to have a sure supply of parts and the retracts are a single plane unit, I see no reason to spend the money.
I asked for a price to buy the damaged plane and save them the cost of return UPS ($70.00 +) but they were not interested. I was interested in it as a source of repair parts, I think they are also.
Left a bad taste in my mouth.
They said they checked this one over and it is perfect, will see, the box on the first one looked like it went thru a war and had a second shipping slip envelope from a car parts business in IL from a Parts supply place in Elmira, NY.
This was on a box that was said to be from NV.
Seemed strange.
George

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

You should have got the OS 1.60 with the ignition on eBAY!!:D.....

......Nice plane...

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Welll guys,,,,You are now reading from the guy who purchased the LAST stagerwing from TOwer hobbies!....

After my order went through there wasn't ANY AVAILABLE!!!........

I really hope all goes well with the shipping..!??[:'(]:(

I always seem to get the cowls CRACKED...... never fails....Can't tell you how many I have recieved with cracked cowls....

Wish me luck.....

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

I would like to buy a staggerwing kit (with or w/out retracts), preferably NIB, but possibly any stage. I'm looking at a precut kit64" span. Anybody that's flown the T/F's have an opinion of a builtup fuselage compared to the fiberglass one of the T/f as far as being lighter, stronger, or less tail heavy than the T/F ?

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Well I got the second one yesterday, damaged upper weing half, damaged cowl.
Was able to swap a wing from the fiorst damaged one so that took care of that problem.
They are sending another cowl.
They mailed me a return shipping label and said to call UPS and they will come and pick it up, I said to her that UPS charges to pick up, she said no that the contract they have with UPS says they will not charge to pick up.
Well I did as she said and UPS will not pick up without charging $6.30 to pick it up.
I called Tower and asked about this and differnt lady she this was how it was but I could load it in my car and take it to a UPS store, I told her "lady this thing cost me $70.00 to ship it to me because it was so big it does not fit in my car" she said to see if I COULD GET A FRIEND TO TAKE IT IN A TRUCK, This is how you treat a customer ????
So I asked who was going to pay me the $6.30 I will be paying to return their product, She said no one.
Now this was not a cheap purchase in the first place, it was not my fault the first one was damaged or the second one and now it will cost me $6.30 more to boot.
So if a damaged Staggerwing shows up in Tower's bent & dented section contact me and I will tell you the true damage it had when it left here, who knows how much more it will get in the next trip back.
And yesterday was my 65th birthday, darn.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

This is why I support my local hobby shop. Luckily there's still a hobby shop nearby that's in business to support. I know they're disappearing at an alarming rate. Sorry for your difficulties. Happy birthday anyway.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

If you can keep it light, the built up version will fly better. The TopFlite is heavy for its size. The fuse is HEAVY fiberglass. It's strong and it's a gorgeous piece of glass work, but definitely done at the price of poundage. If you want a light Staggerwing with a fiberglass fuse, find yourself a Byron. It's a couple inches bigger than the TopFlite and lighter and flies like a dream. They show up in the classifieds from time to time and I just got a terrific deal on one. I'm planning on taking all three of my Staggerwings to Joe Nall this year.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

You didn't just buy the one from the classifieds?