help with engine size
 

I bought a half finished pitts biplane with an 80 inch wingspan ~ 40%. I dont know who was the designer of the airplane plans. I do know from the building that the individual cut out the formers by himself. Basically I have two questions 1st with all things being built normally would a g62 work on this plane ...suggests please. If any of you know or have a 80 inch pitts what engine do you use. 2nd Who may have produced planes of this size plane? And do they have a web site? Thanks all

RE: help with engine size
 

answer: it depends

if this is a lightly built plane to fly easy scale like flight, then a G62 might be fine.

on the other hand, if you are looking for presicion aerobatic or 3D, flight...forget it. 40%'ers usually would have something more like a DA150 in them....


David S. - Tampa, FL

RE: help with engine size
 

Maybe a DA 100 but no way on the 150.

Guys at our field have a 52% Model 12 Pitts that weighs 51 pounds with a DA 150 and it flys great. It lacks a little power for hovering (engine is brand new)but will do basically anything else. Personally I think it has the wrong prop on it and if they changed props it would hover fine.

RE: help with engine size
 

I would think that the G-62 would be weak no matter how it's built. I had a GL ulitmate 80in and used a 3-120. There are a lot of choises out there BME 110 Evo 116 or a 3-w120. A lot depends on the finish weight. Bips have a lot of built in drag and the only way to over come the drag is with power. Use lower HP and you'll never be happy with the plane. 3-w 105 would be the least I would consider. My Uilmate now is H-9 46% at 44lbs with fuel and smoke. I'm useing a 3-w150 with 3-w new 3D prop and have more then enough power, only use 1/2 throttle most of the time. The prop made all the difference going straight up. Dennis

RE: help with engine size
 

All this input is grest please keep it coming folks

RE: help with engine size
 

I'm with DadsToys in this. I'm one that believes you will need something in excess of 100cc. The way you want to fly and the weight of the plane will factor into the final choice to a very great extent. A fair reference would be the World Models site since they have several sizes and weights of the Ultimate. Not the same plane but looking at the suggested engines for the size of the planes would provide some thoughts.

RE: help with engine size
 

The choice of a engine in this plane if it were mine is the biggest i can get in without making it a lead sled. You must look at the finished weight. Before you finish the plane tho you must know what engine is going into it so you can balance it correctly. That means you have to have the engine mounted. If you look at the BME 110, the are very light so you may have to use lead or big batts to balance or use a heaver engine and then smaller batts in the tail. Your choice. Dennis

RE: help with engine size
 

You're looking at size and DRAG....... I have had two 82" Christen Eagles.....One at 23lbs with ZDZ 80 one at 29lbs with a 3w 100...Identical designs The LIGHTER the weight ...the better the flying characteristics..... Perhaps you could post a pic to give a look at the design.....There are ALOT of Pitts plans out there

RE: help with engine size
 

Depends on weight as mentioned. At 25lbs, or about, a G62 would be fine for sport flying, big loops, and the like. And it could be done, but that is big for a Pitts.

I have a scratched Ultimate that I built from my own plans, 80inch span, all up weight is a little over 25lbs. ZDZ 80 in that, and it will 3D it. A G62 would pull it fine, sport flying :D

RE: help with engine size
 

will it do a torque roll?