Best way to win the plane is to buy raffle tickets at the event. 8-)

[link=http://www.hawksrc.org/Main.asp?View=Event&EventID=FourCycle]Hawks 4-Stroke Event[/link]

Looks like a blast -- wish I could make it!

Looking for your opinion:
I already have a Saito 150 engine and was wondering if it could properly fit on the Venus II or in the Excelleron 90, or it will be too large (heavy) for any of them?
Does anyone have experience with this engine in any of these two airplanes?
Thanks in advance.....

I don't see why not. Weight-wise it is similar to the OS 120. But the fuel tank would require some thought, because 1) the 150 fuel consumption would require something like a 20 oz tank -- and Saito fuel consumption is ususally higher than other 4-strokes -- and 2) such a large fuel load would almost require that the tank be mounted at the CG, which would in turn require a fuel pump of some sort.

If you do NOT know how to set up a Saito it will use almost as much fuel as a YS.

IF you DO know how to set up a Saito it can be down right miserly on fuel----and YES that includes the 150 and the 180.

BTW a 20oz. tank is about normal for F3A today-----perhaps more with the DZ's.

The supplied tank is a 420cc so it would have to be changed in any event, and also this model's wingspan is 66 iches, not 2 meters. So a 20 ounce tank on CG is probably at the limit of what this plane could handle.

But the Venus would be awesome with that engine in the nose.

Have installed an OS .91 FX with engine head at the 7:30 position similar to your first install. Very interested in what appeared to be a fueling dot behind the cowl. Just finished cutting and installing my cowl and now wondering how I am going to get fuel lines on and off when cowl is removed or, for that matter, put on for first time. I am accustomed to running the feed line o/s fuse. or cowl but that won't work. So, is that a fuel dot behind the cowl, with an access hole? Thanks.

John

John, I used the Great Planes fueler and made a little bracket from ply to mount it facing up, then made the cowl cutout. The other hole is for the remote glow driver plug. I hate reaching under/behind a spinning prop to remove the glow driver! I didn't take a picture of it when assembling everything, but I will try to remember to do so next time the cowl is off.

Anyone think it would be possible to use a Supertigre 2300? I have two of them laying around and not being used for anything. I have the plane and several .91 four strokes but from reading this forum, it sounds like they may not be a little lacking for this plane. I'm just a sport flyer, but I don't want the plane to be a dog. I can always buy a 120 or 125 but if one of these will work, why not? I doubt the 2300 has the power of a YS 140.
Thanks for any input.

Bill

Sounds excessive, Bill, but I'd love to see the results!

Just make sure the control surface hinges and servo linkages are as tight and slop-free as you can make them. At the speeds you will encounter at full throttle, flutter could be a problem.

And it will be interesting to see how you fit the tank in that skinny fuse.

Bob, Thanks. Did the same thing. Looks good and should work fine. Maiden flight tomorrow.

John

John, do a very thorough preflight and the maiden will go just great! You're going to love the way the V2 flies -- honest and straight!

Bob or Anyone:

Put 5 flights on Venus II on Sat. Took nearly all elevator up trim available for level trimmed flight. About 1/8". Ailerons took a couple of clicks. CG was at 6 1/4", a little forward. Did not think that was enough to explain all the elevator trim required, so checked the engine up/down thrust. Up/down thrust was neutral...zero. Tower does not give a up/down thrust value in the Venus II technical data table. Anyone have down thrust issues or tried flying with some? First step will be to move CG back. some.

John

John, definitely the CG needs to go back some, at least to the recommended 6 1/2 inches. As you probably know, the CG's recommended in manuals are usually a bit more conservative than necessary -- to ensure solid handling on maiden flights -- so your 6 1/4 is very conservative. I would imagine that inverted flight required a lot of push, and that the landings were a bit fast.

Mine is at 6 3/4 and I think it could still go back a bit. On a 45 degree inverted upline it requires a little push so it isn't quite there. However, this might also be caused by wing or stab incidence, so I think I will just learn to compensate with the stick since incidence is not adjustable.

I plan to use YS FZ110-S with Hyde mount Type A for my Venus II and would like to know if it is OK that I don't use a nose ring for the YS since it is not very easy to modify Venus to have a nose ring.


-Mike

Hi Mike,
as I tried the YS110 with the Hyde type A mount I am against it. It vibrates way too much. Although the mount is a non ring type it is much better if you use one. Otherwise think about using another type like Sullivan etc.
Just my 2c

Stavros

Bob,

Thanks. CG is now at 6 1/2. Battery pack is at rear of wing saddle. I'll try that and go from there.

John

I was planning to use the Saito 125 on the stock mount on my Venus, but in order to get the 6 1/4" spacing, the engine will mount almost at the very end of the mount. I'm concerned about this and would like to know if any other 125 users went with this setup, or what was done to correct this situation? I've seen the pictures of the Hyde mount, but I'm gong to mount the engine at an angle to let the stock exhaust point down the bottom channel.
Any help/pics would be greatly appreciated.
TIA
RFan

Just for everyones information the Saito 1.25 fits the same engine mount as
the YS 1.10 , the Saito is just a hair longer at the prop hub. I sold my YS 1.10
out of my Excelleron and the Saito 1.25 was almost a drop in replacement except
for the throttle cable and the spinner gap was just a hair wider.

tommy s

Wanted to share this with others that are using the OS 91FX. I bought the Ultrathrust muffler http://www.pspec.com/results.asp?category=8 and the spacer http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXARP9 and it is working great now. I gained 1400 rpm's by just installing this muffler. I am back on the 15 X 8 and it will go vertical all day long and still slows down fine for landing. The muffler is a bit louder but has a nice tone to it.

hi . i am new to this thread , just want to know has any one tried to put a gas g20 or a g26 in this plane?

I had looked at placing a evolution 26cc in the Venus II sometime ago, but it did not look like a good match.... too heavy of a setup!.... You woul come out at around 10lbs!
The G20 may work just fine.... Some have said that the zenoah 20 will pull the same as the g28? not sure if this is true or not...
not sure of the weights though....
In my experience, I had a evolution 26cc with a tuned pipe on a Funtana 100x and it was too heavy!!
I would say that you will probly be dissapointed with anything in this plane other than Nitro Engines!!

the gooy stuff on the plane and a great flier is much better than a Clean plane and a horrible or sub-par flying plane....
IMHO
Justin

thank for the info , i am comming to the states this winter and looking for a plane or too to get, the rv4 and the venus II in gas nitro is expensive and a pain to get in croatia.

Mine ended up weighing 7.95 Lbs. with a Saito 125 and Du Bro soft mount. Flies like an angel. Turning a 15 X 10 APC @ 8900. not unlimited vertical but with only 3 gallons of fuel through the engine.

Howdy all-

I put the first three flights on my new Venus II this morning, and all I can say is.......

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hats off to Great Planes on this one. It's all that and more. Mine has an O.S. 120 Surpass II w/pump, which provides plenty of power.
I would concur with the other posters that the starting C.G. is a tad conservative, as my plane required a bit of up trim and some forward stick in the inverted. Knife edge characteristics are excellent. Excellent tracking, stable, and a flat glide.

Unless you like stupid-fast ailerons, half the recommended throws. The rudder and elevator throws were o.k.

If you are considering this airplane, do it, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy,
Robert