Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

I have done a search and read everything I can find on this plane. It seems to have a split personality both in quality and flight characteristics. I suspect that a few things have changed now that the plane has been around for awhile. Some have said it is twitchy to fly and land. Some have said the covering is some kind of cheap stuff that delaminates. some have complained about the quality of fit and assembly. And some have said it is great.

I would really appreciate some comments for those that have been flying her for a while and from anyone that has just recently put one together. thanks. This is a beautiful looking plane and I really would like to put together a real nice .45 size bipe.

PS: why do you suppose there are so many of these up for sale; there are at least five in the classifieds forum right now?

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Steve, mine just arrived today from Tower's sratch-and-dent (minus aileron servo hatches). It looks VERY nice - perfect finish job all over. I'll keep you informed on the progress. It will take some time, but I'll get it in the air in the next few months. I, too, am reading all I can find.

I think I'll take the Saito 72 off the Morris Knife and put it on the Pitts. The profile fuse lets the 4-stroke vibrate so much the carb mount breaks when you try to adjust the needle valve.

Do you think the 72 will be too much torque for this little bumble bee on steroids? Should I get a 56?

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

I have both a .56 and .72 that I fly on a Kyosho Majestic. The .56 works fine. the .72 works GREAT.

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

<<... so many of these for sale...>>

In my profession, we call that a clue...<G>

What's this, anyway? Didn't you just get a DP Ultimate? Got it built already?

Steve

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Hehehehe.... So true.

But there are plenty of people flying them with no trouble. The plane is beautiful. I just gotta think that it's all about the setup. Eliminate flutter; get the incidence right, nail the CG, dial in some expo and it should be a fine airplane.

Looks like I'll find out. Beside, the scratch and dent price was great (minus aileron servo hatches - I can make those up in a jiffy.)

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Got mine in December and it fly's great with a .48 surpass.Lands great and is a great little bipe.The covering has been no problem.I am selling mine to move up to large gas planes,if I didn't need the money to move up,I would keep it.Get it balanced properly and it will perform great.

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

How is the performance with the 48 surpass? Folks say that a .56 4-stroke is enough. I already have a .72 which I can use, but if a .56 is enough, then I can leave the .72 on the knife. But, then I may want some extra umph. The other concern is the torque. A .72 may make the take-off more "interesting" if you know what I mean.

Does OS make a .48 surpass? Or did you mean .52?

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Update: I just checked Kyosho's catalog. They now list "4-stroke .50 - .70 cu in" whereas the box says ".50 4-stroke". I'll be dropping a .72 in the pitts. ;)

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

I've been flying mine for a while, and I'm almost finished with my third engine installation. I have removed the FX .46 and have installed an OS .52 FS. The cowl certainly has a fine assortment of little round holes in it now. :)

As far as flying this plane, it is pretty much a love/hate relationship. Why? Well, I think most people discover right off the bat that you must constantly fly this plane, and it does have a potentially fatal tendancy to snap with too much elevator input. Combine this with a very poor glide ratio and you have a plane that will not tolerate ANY panic moves... Think ahead, fly, think some more, fly... Constantly. It is not a relaxing flyer.

It is my opinion that many people that get this plane are simply not ready for this type of flying, and either bury it on the first few flights, or sell it.

Landing this plane is very surprising. It doesn't seem to matter how I bring it in, (hot and fast or slow and mushy) it ALWAYS stays on the rubber, which is kind of unusual for a bipe, especially a small one.

Personally, I really like the plane now that I know it's tendancies. It is a very capable aerobat, even with a relatively low power .46. I think the .52 4 stroke will perform in a similar fashion, but the extra torque will be useful in getting a little more prop on the plane. It will be ready to fly with the new engine next weekend.

Dave

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Dave,

Thanks for the info regarding the flying. Interestingly enough, you described exactly what I'm expecting. For a lazy flyer, I'll take the big Cub out. ;) I've played around with the Pitts in G2 for a bit and it was a blast. Although I don't expect this plane to be exactly like that, if it's close, it's just what I'm looking for.

Your notes on landing are a bit of a surprise - a nice surprise.

thanks

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

You're welcome, bgi. I would suspect that the Pitts in G2 is the 1/3 scale GP? If so, you might expect a little bit more of a handful with the Kyosho just due to it's smaller size.

I was quite surprised with the landing charactaristics myself. My brother has a Kyosho Super Stearman, and it seems to be on it's top wing as often as on the rubber. Similar size, but obviously different geometries.

Have fun. :)

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Oh, yea. :) I've seen guys at my field with .25 sized ultimates. They are a handful on the runway! Left - no Right! $#@$^%$

A guy I just bought a Midwest Giles from has the Stearman. It looks nice. That would suck on a paved runway!

Folks with the 1/3 GP Pitts say the G2 sim doesn't slow down like the real thing. I'm going to edit the GP pitts in G2 to reduce the size and scale up the frontal area to increase the drag. This should get me something close to the Kyosho.

Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

I just wanted to drop my 2c out there.

I bought a Kyosho Pitts 40 ARF 2 weeks ago... spent a few days assembling it, and made it's maiden flight last sunday.

Negative points
- the engine mount provided is crap (one mount was bent)... had to buy a monobloc one.
- yes, the covering needs to be looked after, but with an iron that's OK.
- you need to unmount both wings (or at least the wing stays) in order to access the radio stuff.
- vibrations tends to make the cowling screws pop off in flight (fixed it with some silicone glue)

Positive points :
- after a few hours fixing all the glitches... IT FLIES LIKE A DREAM. It's been la little hard to tame on the very first flight, but as you get used to it, that's only happiness from take-off to landing ;).

RE: Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

Hey All,

I am buying a Kyosho Pitts and wanted to put a Saito .56 in it. Will it fit in the cowling or is there cutting to be done?

Thanks,

Jim

RE: Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

I have a .52.Surpass four stroke on mine and had to cut out room for the head to stick out.I think the Satio will stick out a little futher.

RE: Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

How was it with the .46?

I have been looking at these for a while. I have 3 options for power. I can take my GP Extra 300 offline and use its .46. I have a Saito FA50 without a home, or I can by a new engine.

I have 9 flying planes one on the board, and two in the box, so Im thinking of taking the Extra offline. To many planes, not enough weekends to fly them all.

RE: Re-Visiting the Kyosho Pitts S2C
 

I have a friend who flys his with a .46 and it flys great.You can also use any .50-.56 four stroke and it will perform fine.