GP pitts
 

Open the box!


Sorry Galen I just had to,I should get mine in a day or two.
I have a 3W 60 for it.
Roy

GP pitts
 

Thanks!!
Shudda thought of that!!!! Now I can get started.

A member of our club has a DA 50 in his and it's great. Your 3W 60 should be outa sight!!!
Galen

keep in touch
 

Galen,
make sure and go to the great planes site and print ont the upgrades. They are at the same place you can download the manuel.
Roy

GP pitts
 

Roy,
I will do that. I got mine through Chief Aircraft. They said it had the latest fixes but it won't hurt to check and make sure.
Good Idea. Let's do keep in touch.
Galen

GP pitts
 

booker


Congratulations. I was thinking the same as 76.ta, but just couldn't make myself do it. :D This thread does provide a wealth of info on this airplane. It has helped me more than once. Good luck and let us know how it goes. I am working on my second model of the Pitts. Ran into a few DA-50 engine mounting issues. Arrgh! The engine on the mounting box is to long for the cowling with the stock spacers. Hoping DA can provide a set in a shorter length.

RE: GP Pitts
 

Well, I'm considering the Pitts as my next plane and now I'm having second thoughts... But one thing that concerns me is that all the issues listed seem to revolve around engine installations that are not recommended for this aircraft.... I was just wondering, IS ANYONE FLYING THIS AIRPLANE WITH THE RECOMENDED ENGINE? It's not advertised as a 3D aircraft but it seems thats what everyone is trying to do with it.

rcgear

RE: GP Pitts
 

RCGear:

The Pitts is not a 3D airplane with any size engine. Never has been, never should be. The full scale Pitts aircraft are originals and in a class by themselves and should (IMO) be flown to the standards set by Curtiss Pitts and his aerobatic pioneering followers. The full scale Pitts was designed to handle +10 and -8 G's.

Installing a gas engine of a cubic inch displacement larger than the suggested glow engine displacement is necessary to match the power output of the glow motor. Properly supported, it's not a problem. I cannot see a large displacement glow motor remaining on any better than a gas motor without a little additional work.

Another reason for installing a larger gas motor is for realistic flight performance. A current generation full scale Pitts S-2-S will perform a descending torque roll and then slowly climb out of it. The manufacturers suggested glow engine version of the model will not. Period.

The G/P Pitts (imho) has, or had, some problems. Some serious, some not so serious Investing the time and effort to relieve those problems is well worth the effort. The Pitts is a great looking and superbly performing aircraft if set up properly. Overflying any plane from any manufacturer will always eventually bring disaster. Just keep them within limits and enjoy.

RE: GP Pitts
 

This was/is a great thread series on the Pitts from over the past year or so. I know I sure learned alot from it and really appreciated the help from all the people who offered their suggestions. My new Pitts-II is finished and was hoping to do the maiden flight tomorrow, but it appears all the nasty weather from this week is heading our way. Rain and wind in the forecast beginning tomorrow. Thats ok, I will get an opportunity to test out the new engine and make sure the smoke system is working properly and all the tweaking thats necessary before the maiden. If you haven't seen it already you can see the new model on this RCU link.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/G%25...1265113/tm.htm

Silversurfer - well said. Frankly, now that I am on my second Pitts project I can't imagine flying this airplane with a 160 as recommended by the Mfg. Even the recommended gas engine is too small IMHO. I had a Fuji 50 in my first Pitts and it was plenty of engine. I set up Pitts-I much like the MAN review article in the Feb 02 edition, but used different servos. The Fuji 50 was plenty of engine for my kind of flying. I decided on the DA-50 for Pitts II. Just a bit more power and less weight. I also wanted to go with an electronic ignition in the new model. I have the Megatron Starter which was much needed on the original run Fuji 50, but understand the newer model has updates that make it easier to flip start. I have not seen one or tried one, but this is what I understand by the advertisement. Regardless, I bit the bullet ( Spent the money) and went with what I am confident will be a good engine choice.

rcgear - Even with the larger gas engine I still don't fly the airplane 3-D. I like the more scale aerobatic maneuvers. Just my preference. Likewise, when power is needed I don't want to wonder if I will have enough. I can always reduce the throttle, but then if needed, you can only get what the engine will give. Obviously thrust to weight ratios play a big part in the decision to go gas or glow. Having now flown 1/4 sclae and 1/3 scale airplanes with gas and glow, I have to give the nod to a 50cc gasser or bigger for this airplane. As for the mods, don't let this scare you away. Any ARF has weak spots that require attention, especially when converting to gas. The Pitts is very normal in this sense. If you follow the miltitude of suggestions on this thread, and others you can't go wrong with this airplane, if you are looking for a beautiful ARF that is fun to fly. IMHO.

RE: GP Pitts
 

I was thinking of purchasing the gp pitts.Have any of the mods you guys keep making to the planes been addressed in the current kits on the shelf.If so how can I tell a current kit from one that has been on the shelf for a while?

RE: GP Pitts
 

crash pad If the plane is at your LHS, open the box and see if it has 'update' stamped in the ribs. More than likely it is an updated version unless it has been sitting around for a looooonnnngggg time. Mine is an updated plane and I still had to make mods to brackets, redrill holes, etc. It's made overseas by people that probably don't even know what a Pitts is and don't know what the consumer does to the plane. Also keep in mind that some of these mods may not necessarily be needed. The only mods I did were done to build the plane. The only 'beef up' I did was to pin the engine box/fire wall. If your flying style is 'try to tear the plane apart' figuratively speaking, then you may need to do additional mods to ensure the plane stays together. Its a good plane, flies good and gets attention.

RE: GP Pitts
 

Hi Roger,
Did you get to fly the new Pitts? How's the power compared to the Fuji?
I had a little mishap with mine about a month ago. I haven't been able to get it to flat spin right side up. The inverted ones were fine. Well I guess I got it just right as I went into it and the thing spun like crazy only it wouldn't pull out. It spun to the ground from over three hundred feet up and hit some really tall brush and grass. I was incredibly lucky and found only a cracked wheel pant one monokote puncture and a broken flying wire on the wing. I used to think this planes upper wing was mounted weakly.
I built a new rudder that is about 60% larger and foiled it. Now this bipe will flat spin easily and knife edge with minimal rudder input. What a difference! My pitts is from an old Pilot kit that builds exactly the way the GP Pitts is built. Could you please measure your rudder at its widest point and let me know what that is?
I just ordered a pull scale to test the props I have. I still use the 19X8 MA simitar.

RE: GP Pitts
 

R/CDragonfly-RCU - yepper, had Pitts-II on her maiden flight this weekend. The DA-50 is supreme. Engine runs just as reported on multiple RCU threads. I had to set set the low and high end to 1/8 turn to rich to adjust for elevation in Al. vs. Az. But all went very well. Here is a complete report on a thread I posted for my new Pitts-II after the maiden flight. Added a few pictures as well. I have the Pitts tucked away in the trailer, but tomorrow I will get her out and measure the the rudder for you. Sorry to hear about the mishap and very glad to know the damage was minimal. Lucky! I have read several post about the Pitts not recovering from an inverted flat spin. Same story with the same results only you walked away with hardly a scratch. I don't think I am going to try an inverted flatspin with this model. I have already lost one and want to keep this one for a while ;)

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/G%25...1265113/tm.htm

RE: GP Pitts
 

FUJI 50 propeller question finally answered. I tied my pitts to a pull scale and wound it up. I tried four props and found that the Fuji 50 really does need high rpm to deliver power.
Thrust with a Zinger 22x8-14 was 15 lbs.
Thrust with a dynathrust 20x8 was 17 lbs.
Thrust with the master airscrew simitar 19x8 was 19 lbs.
Thrust with a Zinger 18x6-10 was 18.5 lbs.
This motor and this plane just keep getting better. Yesterday I did my first knife edge circle. With the larger rudder it only takes 1/4 throw and the roll coupling is much less also.
The wind finally died so I was doing lazy eights 30 feet off the ground right over the runway.
Flat spins upright or inverted no problem now.

RE: GP Pitts
 

Congrats on your success R/CDragonfly-RCU. Sounds like the master airscrew 19 8 is the answer. I have never done this and need to do the same experiment once I get the DA-50 broke in. I'm curious what prop will provide the best performance once I get things settled down.

How are you doing flip starting this engine now that it's broke in? I had a terrible time flipping mine. I could never find the right touch. The DA starts easily from a cold start, but after it's ran for a while I find it a bit challenging. Still trying to figure out the perfect formula for choke and throttle after warm-up. One guy suggested rotating about 10 turns with ignition off and choke on. Then pull back to low idle on the throttle and choke off. I haven't tried this yet, but will do so next time out at the field if the weather ever calms down.

Sounds like you have the controls on the Pitts mastered. It's a great airplane. I wanted to fly mine this weekend, but the wind is up due to a cold front that came through that brought rain and wind. Now it's just cold and windy.

RE: GP Pitts
 

Hi Roger,
I put a hole in my cowl and prime directly into the carb. Six to ten hard flips and she starts.
I 've had a warp in my right bottom wing and have flown with right aileron trim. Yesterday I spent the whole day trying to twist it out and resetting the incidence. I found that my lower wing was set with 1/4 inch of negative incidence and the top wing had about 3/16 of positive incidence. I made new front cabane struts and shimmed the rear of the bottom wing. I aimed at the generally accepted ideal of 1 degree of neg for the top and zero for the bottom. Before I redo the entire wing saddle I'll fly it.
The plans say that the bottom wing should be zero and the top should be at one degree. (My pitts is the old pilot kit that I believe Great Planes bases their ARF from.)
Does anyone have a trick to warp a wing like this one? Mine just twists right back.

RE: GP Pitts
 

Nearly had a mishap today on a topic I have been warned about. Darn, I almost had to learn the hard way. Two out of three of the CA hinges on the rudder sheared off with a clean break like someone took an exacto knife to them. I have never had this happen before any any of my planes. In fact, several guys with 20 and 30 plus years experience said the same thing. They had never had a CA hinge fail. I had read post about this, but felt guys had just installed them incorrectly. These things just cut without me doing anything wild and crazy. Fortunately I was able to get the airplane down without any problem, but this could have been very bad. I am going to replace all the movable surface hinges once I figure out exactly which ones to use. I was warned about this, but didn't listen and took the path of least resistance and nearly lost the airplane. Arrgh! very lucky!

RE: GP Pitts
 

I had the same thing happen to mine. I was lucky enough to find the problem on the ground before anything happened to the plane. Every control surface had at least 2 hinges cut into. I spent one evening cutting off all the control surfaces and replacing the hinges with Dubro 1/4 pinned hinges. I highly recommend that anyone with CA hinges in theirs replace them. I also fly the GP 1/4 Patty Wagstaff Extra 300 that I purchased after this and I also put Dubro 1/4 hinges in it instead of the CA hinges.

RE: GP Pitts
 

Hey Roger I lost two of three hinges on my rudder a few weeks ago also. Pretty scary stuff. Glad you got away easy. I did too. Thats when I replaced and enlarged my rudder. Could you tell me how wide yours is?

RE: GP Pitts
 

R/CDragonfly-RCU - My rudder is 5.5 " at the widest point. Sorry about not getting this back to you sooner. Hope this helps. By the way, how much did you enlarge your on the new one? Have an updated picture of the finished product so we can see how it looks with the mod.?

You know, I am still very puzzled why the hinges broke. I wasn't doing anything wild and crazy. I was just flying around trying to get comfortable with the airplane and to allow the engine run time to get it broken in. These things sheared right off with a clean cut. I couldn't have done any better with a knife. Do you think they snapped from too much CA and the cold weather? There was no binding or tightness in them. They moved freely and the angle on the control rod was positioned so there was no binding. Think it was flutter, vibration from the motor? How about all of the above? :D

RE: GP Pitts
 

I think they can break with to much CA.
I am a little worried myself now too, since I put the CA hinges on the ailerons of my Christen Eagle. Was planning on putting hinge points on the elevator an rudder, so this confirms that I definitely will go that route. Let's hope the CA hinges hold on the ailerons.

RE: GP Pitts
 

I've never used the CA hinges. I had my nylon hinges ca'd in place without pinning them. I learned my lesson cheap. Now all my hinges have been pinned with toothpicks.
Roger, my new rudder is 7 inches wide and the old one was like yours, 5.5 inches. I also thickened the rudder just a hair over 1/16 inch and foiled it. The rudder authority is much better now. My computers are giving me fits. I'll put up a picture as soon as I can reinstall my card reader.

RE: Hinge Update
 

Replaced the rudder CA hinges in the Pitts rudder tonight with 6 Klett Flexpoint hinges. My good friend Chuck helped me with the installation since I had not used these before and he has used them for years. Really like how easily they installed. Used large hinges in case anyone is interested. Had to snip small portion off the end of each hinge to avoid going through the wood. Used think ZAP CA to hold. Very easy installation and solid as a rock. With six in place I shouldn't have this problem again. Going to replace the elevator hinges next. Still thinking about the aileron hinges. Probably will replace those as well while I am at it.

Texas3D - who are you going to get to make the stand off spacers for you? Glad your engine finally came in.

RE: Hinge Update
 

Roger, I'm unfamiliar with the Klett hinges are they flat nylon ones with holes in them>
My nylon hinges pulled out one by one. I had CA'd them in and they felt really solid on the ground but air loads pulled them out. I eventually pinned them each with round toothpicks from the bottom surface so that you can't even see the fix from the top. This isn't too hard if you use a T pin to pilot your hole first and make sure the hole goes through the holes in the hinges. Push the toothpick far enough to penetrate the hinge and then some. Then I scored the toothpick and broke it off.

RE: Hinge Update
 

I ordered mine from Roger at Aerografixs.
The engine actually actually never came in. I was lucky to find one at minnesotarc !

RE: Hinge Update
 

Hi Roger,
Finally convinced one of my computers to work. Here's my new rudder.