PT-17 from eFlite

[F22trainer]

Good write up - all true and helpful, and made several of those improvisation when I assembled (and disassembled).
Mine did crap a servo (aileron) last weekend, but I got the new one yesterday

[Saltydawg]

What a nostalgic plane. I mean there can't be too many people who havent heard that radical engine and prop sound, and not say, "Crop Duster" or "Biplane". Or, "Oh look that's that old biplane from the movie Pearl Harbor.

Eflite said a dang good job with this one. All the pieces fit right and snug. I can understand some had issues with some installation, but "some assembly is required." I build aircraft for living and believe-you-me not everything fits ie; direct bolt-on.

I'm surprised more people don't have this plane. Sure some people are more like, go big or go home; however, the 1100mm planes are mid size plus you can damn near pack you vehicle with like 4-5 of them versus one or two big ones.

The build was pretty much like all other 1100mm planes. One piece wing(s), two stabs, and fixed gear....(most retracts are already installed) and then set up your radio equipment.

I'm not new to using gyros as I've used A3-Ls and Gavin 6c with SR868 rx/gyro. Now I have a DX8 and trying to learn all the settings, lights, bells, and whistles. Anyway, once you get the "GYRO" dialed in to what performance you like it's a great aid. I'm new to AS3X and SAFE, but the principle is the same. Its NOT AN AUTOPILOT but will help you when flying in crosswinds or those breezy days when out of nowhere you get a gust.

So here are some tips from my build.
1. Light squeeze the wheels together to them around the fuse mounts. Use an extra finger to keep pressure in the cover where the screws go or the spring will pop out the clip.

2. The stabs are a good snug fit. To prevent damaging the edge of the stabs or cutting material just use your finger and gently bevel/chamfer/taper the edge. They are still snug but they fit good and tight.

3. Outer wing struts. Yes this is out of order as to the instructions. Mine were a PITA so put your lower wing on a flat surface and work them into place. Doing so distributed the force of you pressing down on the wing. ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN.....

4. The lower wing is a snug fit too. Since the pins are adjustable I extended them out a bit and put on the wing watching to not get the wires or connections pinched. Just tape then into the recess. Anyway. While supporting the fuse and with my other hand I pressed on the wing. I then used the pins/clips to tighten down the post and secured it with the screws.

5. Put on the top wing and massaged the pins in and done. I actually inverted my plane putting the top wing on the counter so I could use a pressure to get them in but it worked.

[F22trainer]

Well I gave in and bought the PT-17. It is on sale at 25.00 off and comes with the receiver too! Good looking bird! Hope everyone has a great day, and many blessings! ;)

It is a smooth and gentle flyer. You’ll enjoy it. I know one of our club members has one he flies so much it is just going to disintegrate one of these days.

[Hardway]

Well I gave in and bought the PT-17. It is on sale at 25.00 off and comes with the receiver too! Good looking bird! Hope everyone has a great day, and many blessings! ;)

[rifleman_btx]

Possible, could be just alittle over sensitive in the gain.

[bob_stan]

Recently started flying my PT-17, which is a BNF model. I do have SAFE enabled, but I fly in Experienced mode, with midrates set to 70% and 30% expo. When there is some wind, say 5 mph +, the plane seems "twitchy." That it is it will suddenly dip the wing left or right, or drop a few feet in altitude. Could this be due to the default gain settings of ASX3 in the receiver?

[rifleman_btx]

That'll work, to me the best way to use those flight modes

[BluesDragon]

I have the Safe mode on my 'gear' switch. I typically fly with it off and only flip it on when in need of saving and then flip it back off. I do my t/o and land in low rates (with Safe), but do my best to keep in high rate (Safe off) when flying. I have my l/r set at 70% with the h/r at full 100%.

I did set the throws with SAFE off and in high rate...

[F22trainer]

Are you flying with SAFE mode? Low rates?
With High Rates and SAFE off, I get max throw, but when I took off with SAFE, I sometimes did not have enough rudder.

[BluesDragon]

So, I was having issues getting the rudder throws to maximum suggested input (28mmH / 22mmL). I was maxing out on the high rate at 15mm! So last night I decided to cut the rudder off and insert the Dubro nylon hinges. While doing so, I just had to paint my tail red... was hard to match the red perfectly, but close enough for me. With the hinges, I was able to give the rudder a little bit more spacing and achieved my (manufacturer) specified throws. Once the winds calm enough for me, I'll get a flight test in and see how much difference it actually makes.

[Hoomi]

When I encounter these folks, I cannot help but think of this:

https://goo.gl/images/g4isbB

amazing how many experts have learned nothing...and then I have to drive home with them in traffic.

I think we had that one on our Demotivator Calendar one year. We have several years' worth stashed at work, and regularly put the images up just for laughs in our work lab.

Our all-time favorite, though, is, "Customer Disservice: Because we're not satisfied until you're not satisfied."

[F22trainer]

It was almost amusing to read a review of this plane on one site, where the reviewer claimed to have been an RC flyer for over 25 years, and then admits to knowingly flying this model tail-heavy, such that it crashed catastrophically. His review was scathing in its criticism of this model, but I just kept going back to the fact that he KNEW it was tail-heavy before he flew it, and even as inexperienced as I am, *I* know better than to try and fly a tail-heavy model.

This was on my short-list of candidates for my next plane, along with the RocHobby Waco and Staggerwing, and the Dynam Waco. It is a great looking plane.

When I encounter these folks, I cannot help but think of this:

https://goo.gl/images/g4isbB

amazing how many experts have learned nothing...and then I have to drive home with them in traffic.

[fhhuber]

Reviews of the old Electrifly appx 30 inch span WWI models all said they were great and just dropping in the equipment that was recommended would result in perfect airplanes. I bought the whole set and the average needed 3 ounces in the nose to get the CG to a location appropriate for flight. Only the Fokker D-VII was flyable with less than 2 oz of lead in the nose.

I still have all except the DR1.

Never trust a magazine review. They are almost all paid advertisements.

[BluesDragon]

It took a few ounces up front to get balanced out right... and that was with the 2200 as far forward as I could get. Personally, I love how well it flies.

[Hoomi]

It was almost amusing to read a review of this plane on one site, where the reviewer claimed to have been an RC flyer for over 25 years, and then admits to knowingly flying this model tail-heavy, such that it crashed catastrophically. His review was scathing in its criticism of this model, but I just kept going back to the fact that he KNEW it was tail-heavy before he flew it, and even as inexperienced as I am, *I* know better than to try and fly a tail-heavy model.

This was on my short-list of candidates for my next plane, along with the RocHobby Waco and Staggerwing, and the Dynam Waco. It is a great looking plane.

[BluesDragon]

Between the high winds and house hunting, there hasn't been much time for flying. So last night I finished up Woodstock II. Just a few coats of polycrylic and some light painting. Makes for some nice yard art... and a photo op for today! :bluehappy

[rifleman_btx]

That's very cool sir, and I hope to see the one you modify here, that would be awesome!

[BILLY BOY]

Back in the 80's I had a job arranging fly in appearances by the Red Baron Squadron. We would assign either 2 or 4 airplanes for the appearance, depending on the population of the town or city. It was a great advertising promotion as it almost always gave us front page newspaper exposure where ever we went. I flew one of the airplanes briefly on my one and only flight. I had more opportunities but I would always give my ride to someone who had never experienced it before. One day I hope to modify one with the Red Baron paint scheme. I did make a few changes to mine. The leather trim around the cockpit, I painted brown. I added the rigging and made a few small paint additions. Those pilots were a special breed of cat (one rolled his own smokes). We went out for dinner and drinks one night and it turned out to be a pretty wild night. Once one of the aircraft experienced a small oil leak and we had to follow the squadron around with a 5 gal. can of oil to finish the weeks schedule. Thanks for letting me reminisce.

[BILLY BOY]

Why thank you ever so much!!

[mcriley2]

Welcome to Hobby Squawk BB, glad you could bring your experiences to us.
Oh, nice collection you have there ...:Cool: