Modeltech P47, finally first flights...
 

I finally got a chance to fly my Modeltech P47. I replaced the brittle nylon mounting for the tail wheel with a Sullivan unit at the end of the fuselage. I replaced the main wheels with some Dubro 3" wheels and added more supports for the fiberglass cowl. I gave up on a new SK 80 ring engine after several attemps to get it to run properly and replaced it with a TH 75 with an APC 12.5-6 prop. After 2 tanks I was getting about 11,500 rpm. and decided to try some taxi tests. The plane ground handling is almost as easy as a trike gear due to the long fuselage and the large tail wheel. The wire gear is not as bouncy as I thought it would be on the grass field. Take off was very easy as the plane lifted off by itself after about 50 feet and climbed out smartly when I added elevator. The roll rate is a nice speed, not super fast but not slow either. The plane gains surprizing speed, enough to make the air start to whistle around the plane and I throttled back to half to get used to it. Landing was easier than I expected. The plane slows down nicely even in dead calm but you do have to give it some room. It remains controllable at slower speeds which makes it easy to line up on the runway. It lands faster than a trainer but not faster than any other sport plane. Once it touches down the plane slows down quickly with no problems of nosing over. It doesn't fly like a trainer, it does fly like a nice sport plane. During the 3d flight I found out that the plane is also a very good flyer when the wind whips up. Solid in the air and the solid glide path wasn't altered by the high wind gusts like a lot of the other planes at the field. Flys a lot like my Sea Fury which is a good thing! This plane is a keeper!! :D

RE: Modeltech P47, finally first flights...
 

How did you balance it with the TH75? Did you need any nose weight?

RE: Modeltech P47, finally first flights...
 

Ya, I had to add 6 pieces of aluminum bars that are used to slide into the bottom of fabric louver curtains under the fuel tank. I am guessing they add up to around 7 oz. The good thing is theres lots of room in there so I taped them together with electrical tape and then used rubber bands to hold foam around the weights. Stuffed the weights in and then added more foam behind it to keep them from moving around. I forgot to mention that I also had to open up the covering on one wing to add about 1 1/2 oz. of weight to lateral balance. I can't remember which side off hand. I checked the tank that came with the kit and it hold 15 oz. of fuel. Checked it after an 8 minute flight and I had a touch under a half tank left which will give me lots of reserve even after 10 minutes. [8D]

RE: Modeltech P47, finally first flights...
 

Okay, that sounds reasonable enough. I have read other threads where most of these planes are powered by Magnum 91 four strokes and still have to add lead to the nose. Mine will be powered with a Magnum 91 FS as that is what I have been planning for it. It's good to hear that it flys well on a 75 two stroke.

Cheers!

RE: Modeltech P47, finally first flights...
 

The Magnum should be a good match and I think you will really enjoy the plane![8D]

RE: Modeltech P47, finally first flights...
 

I have an OS 1.08 and still had to add a tad of weight up front