Sport CARF Pitts - Engine Upgrade

[reyn3545]

I'm still trying to get my undies cleaned out... that was not a fun landing.

 

[Jetpainter]

Yep, airplanes that are overly nose heavy fly bad. Planes that are overly tail heavy crash!

I love when you ask a new guy with a new plane, "Did you check the CG?" and you get that deer in the headlights look.

 

[reyn3545]

The resident smart-ass at our field waited until after that landing to ask me that question... Duh!

 

[49dimes]

It would have only been better if you had forgot to dial some expo in. Then you could have cleaned both sides of your undies.

Like the 9ers at Levis lol

 

[dhal22]

I've forgot to balance a 25% Cub last year, damn that plane would hover easily. In hindsite I should have tried to land like that as a conventional landing didn't work.

 

[reyn3545]

I got the CG done... but I may change a few things up still.

I knew the 3W with cans would be heavier. I didn't figure into the equation the extra weight of canister mounts, headers, couplers, etc.. The plane with the Moki had 45.5 pounds on the main wheels. With the 3W, that went up to 48.75... an increase of 3.25 pounds!

The only place to offset 3.25 pounds is on the tailwheel... it had 4.25 pounds on it to start with, and to balance the plane, it needed 4.75 pounds on it. To get that 1/2 pound increase, I had to add 11 ounces of lead shot in the tail tube.

By the way, if you've ever had to add tail weight, the tail tube is a great place to put it, if you have something that will go into the tube. Luckily, I still have some old shotgun shells from back in the days when it was OK to fill a duck full of lead... so I just cut the shells open for some free lead! These shells are so old (probably 30 years) that I wouldn't dare shoot them, but the shot works well for stuff like this.

Anyway, it's balanced out, soft of. I still need to add the baffling, but that will have to wait a month or so for the new cowl to show up.

I may move the battery tray back in the fuse, if I can. I remember gluing it in place, but I may be able to dremel it loose an move it. We'll see.

The good thing about this is that the plane is still under the 55 pound limit... With the extra weight in the tail, it comes in at 53.5 pounds.

 

[49dimes]

Really a good looking bird. Just can't determine if the scheme is patriotic or rebel rouser. Hmn ...Lives in Atlanta.....I think the latter. Oh and by the way I thought those four red heads screamed for more pretty well.

 

[reyn3545]

Well, technically, its supposed to be an American flag, but CARF does call it the "Stars N Bars" scheme, which is another name for the rebel flag down here south of the Mason-Dixon..... You decide!

 

[49dimes]

REBEL

 

[reyn3545]

Spoken like a true LA rebel!

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk