PT-17 from eFlite

[Pilotguy]

I have not added weight yet but wanted to get as close as I can before I resort to adding weights. I will try the 2×4 and drill holes same width as pencils. The manual says to check CG with airplane inverted which is what I have been doing but i think i'll also try right side up. I'll also so as you say with the battery forward. Thank you.

[F22trainer]

Thank you black friday sale! I'm trying to balance CG on my new Eflite PT-17 with 3S 2200 Lipo in battery tray. I placed a mark at 86mm back from the top wing LE as recommended in manual. I am placing either AA battery under each mark or a pencil with the eraser touching the marks. I hold the batteries or pencils in hands and lift the airplane upward. I get conflicting results. 1 time the airplane leans forward then when I repeat, it leans aft. I've gone through this cycle 10 times now and it leans either forward OR aft, never consistently one way. Of course if I un-intentionally place the batteries (or pencils) just a millimeter away that could account for the different results too. Perhaps if i buy a CG balancer I will get more accurate and consistent results? No other airplane has given me such a hard time balancing, not the P-51, P-47, Pitts, nor Corsair. I am starting to think it is properly balanced now with these results. What do you think?

That battery needs to go up against the motor mount - I let mine hang about 3/4 in over the end of the tray when it get strapped down. The wires from the motor should get out of the way sufficient to get that battery as far forward as you can get it. Try to get a stand - a 2x4 with holes for the pencils will do nicely. Go for the forward limit of the CG not the middle. Did you add any weight in the dummy cylinders? I use the same batteries, had to add 2.5 oz in the cylinders and a manual adjustment of 5 turns of the clevis down elevator and shetrimmed out nicely. You’ll also want to balance with the cockpit in place

[Pilotguy]

Thank you black friday sale! I'm trying to balance CG on my new Eflite PT-17 with 3S 2200 Lipo in battery tray. I placed a mark at 86mm back from the top wing LE as recommended in manual. I am placing either AA battery under each mark or a pencil with the eraser touching the marks. I hold the batteries or pencils in hands and lift the airplane upward. I get conflicting results. 1 time the airplane leans forward then when I repeat, it leans aft. I've gone through this cycle 10 times now and it leans either forward OR aft, never consistently one way. Of course if I un-intentionally place the batteries (or pencils) just a millimeter away that could account for the different results too. Perhaps if i buy a CG balancer I will get more accurate and consistent results? No other airplane has given me such a hard time balancing, not the P-51, P-47, Pitts, nor Corsair. I am starting to think it is properly balanced now with these results. What do you think?

[F22trainer]

Because this will be your maiden flight of the ST-17, I would be very interested in your reaction to how it flies.
At what level do you consider yourself as a pilot? I'm a novice having soloed the end of September but extremely interested in a bi-plane.
Just do not want to get into one that is "twitchy" as my trainer is an e-Flite Carbon Z Cub. Any info you might offer will be appreciated. I returned from the airfield this morning after discussing the pros and cons of the ST-17 with some of the old timers with much experience and one said it is mello but three others involved in the discussion said it was "twitchy", thus the inquiry asked of a first time flier of this model. Looking forward to your thoughts and personal experience.

See post #42,.
If set up properly it is a docile a kitten and a very smooth airplane. Also see AMA video review of the PT-17 on Utoob.
Twitchy would indicate it is not set up correctly. The AS3X is a great way to start with SAFE mode, but it will limit rudder on take off, which can be frustrating.
I went from the HZ Carbon Cub right to the PT-17, but get some experience help to set it it up and maiden so you do it correctly.
Great airplane and it fits in my ‘Vette!

[Whizzer]

Because this will be your maiden flight of the ST-17, I would be very interested in your reaction to how it flies.
At what level do you consider yourself as a pilot? I'm a novice having soloed the end of September but extremely interested in a bi-plane.
Just do not want to get into one that is "twitchy" as my trainer is an e-Flite Carbon Z Cub. Any info you might offer will be appreciated. I returned from the airfield this morning after discussing the pros and cons of the ST-17 with some of the old timers with much experience and one said it is mello but three others involved in the discussion said it was "twitchy", thus the inquiry asked of a first time flier of this model. Looking forward to your thoughts and personal experience.

[Guy.Caputo@bex.net]

Just put the new PT-17 together and all these post have been great. Very rainy, cold and windy here in Toledo so maiden may have to wait until next season. But this is my first Bipe and she's a beauty. Great thread.

[F22trainer]

https://youtu.be/1cwMOndmNvk

[F22trainer]

I am about one heartbeat away from buying the e-Flite PT-17 and really like the idea of attaching rigging wires. I viewed the photos but do not see how they attach to the plane and am curious what type of wire was used. Really enjoying this thread and will be back to see if any now posts are added. I'm of the age where I remember the PT 17 from our local, rural, airport and have a love of the bi-plane. Have done much checking as I want one but do not want to get one that is so "twitchy" it is difficult to fly thus the PT 17.

Spider wire would be good and is quite light. Don’t know about attaching with mechanical devices though as they could look clunky. I thought about doing it but decided against.
Flies great and is not twitchy if balanced properly. Most need about 2oz or so in the dummy cylinders, and mine needed a bit more down elevator- 5 turns after the maiden. Have AS3X on/off switched.

[Hoomi]

I am about one heartbeat away from buying the e-Flite PT-17 and really like the idea of attaching rigging wires. I viewed the photos but do not see how they attach to the plane and am curious what type of wire was used. Really enjoying this thread and will be back to see if any now posts are added. I'm of the age where I remember the PT 17 from our local, rural, airport and have a love of the bi-plane. Have done much checking as I want one but do not want to get one that is so "twitchy" it is difficult to fly thus the PT 17.

When I installed the rigging on my Dynam Waco, I used fine actuator wires that I found at a surplus. I used small springs from Ace Hardware at one end of each one, and cut staples down, bent them into a 'U' shape, and glued them into the foam to attach the lines. Worked pretty well. There are photos in both the Dynam Waco topic, and the Callies Custom Graphics topic.

[Pilotguy]

To get the recommended throws dont overlook the part in the manual about Control Horn and Servo Arm Settings. This pic is from the eflite Pitts. You might have to move the servo arm control rods to a different hole.

[Whizzer]

I am about one heartbeat away from buying the e-Flite PT-17 and really like the idea of attaching rigging wires. I viewed the photos but do not see how they attach to the plane and am curious what type of wire was used. Really enjoying this thread and will be back to see if any now posts are added. I'm of the age where I remember the PT 17 from our local, rural, airport and have a love of the bi-plane. Have done much checking as I want one but do not want to get one that is so "twitchy" it is difficult to fly thus the PT 17.

[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.

[F22trainer]

Get ya some glider wing tip skids for LHS.

congrats on finding the bird so much fun. I had to add some down elevator adjustment after maiden. I have the AS3X on switch A. Not good for takeoff but helps an landings, Andy yes the winds are fun.
Get some touch paint made up at Home Depot or such, then once you master the Xwind landings you can touch up those scrapes.
Have Fun!

[Saltydawg]

Well I got her maidened today and what a blast it was to fly. The first flight was really nothing more than trimming it out with an Admiral 3000mAh battery. It still needed quite a bit of down elevator, so I may do the bird shot trick to even things out. Overall it's a blast to fly. I flew most of the time with about 45% throttle just chugging along and making nice somewhat flat turns using the rudder.

Y'all were right about the nice wide loops, lazy rolls and sweet barrel rolls. I was even able to do a vertical prop stall. You could hear the prop chopping go grab more are. She does float when landing. During one cycle/event of flying all I did was touch and goes figuring out the best approach to landing. I will say that when landing with a crossing it will test your ability to use your rudder. I'm not gonna like as I did scrap the wing tip once with fighting the crossword. I may add some yellow tape or bush on some lacquer on the tip to protect it.

So I'm new to AS3X, it works, but with my other gyros (Detrum and A3-L) I can have the elevator and rudder with more gain/movement. Of course, I have only had my DX-8 for about two weeks now and still learning the ropes so to speak.

Lastly, I was getting like 6-7minutes on 3000mAh. I again was using mixed throttle with just a lot of good lazy flying. I practised some dead stick too. As long as you have about 10-20' altitude you can more her over and gain some speed warlord her right in for a good landing. I ACTUALLY SUGGEST TO EVERYONE TO PRACTISE "DEAD STICK LANDINGS WITH ALL YOUR PLANES. After all poop does happen, props break and get spun off, or your battery decides to poop the bed.

Great plane, I may even get another down the road or find one scratch and went for sale. The second will become Boudreaux's Crop Duster service....lol

Happy flying y'all and have a great week

[Saltydawg]

Well the deed is done. I pulled out my sausage/boudin making scales and weighed out 3.5 ounces. Wish I would have thought bout the bird shot first, but i havent any here and really didn't feel like going to Wally mart.

Anyway, I get her in my CG contraption measured put at 86mm. At first i just laid the weight on the cylinders to see how the tail would do. With 3.5 it was pretty level but the tail was still lower than I liked. So I added a tad more and the tail perked pretty level at 86mm. At just 2 more mm 89 it was spot on level and at 90 the nose slightly dropped....

I'm done with CG until I maiden her which will be this weekend winds permitting.

[F22trainer]

I actually have no issue with adding weight to get the CG right. The only planes I have that don't have some kind of CG weights is my Dynam Hawk Sky, Dynam B26 and Dynam A10 which is crazy nose heavy. Just gor stuff the battery way back. I'm gonna put the weight in the cylinder heads like most of y'all. Thinking about using the bullet shaped artificial fishing worm weight. WOW WHAT A MOUTH FULL.... Read that again....lol

But yeah with that lead weight I can work it into the cylinders and just secure it with some CA.

SNip the fingers off a latex glove, fill with bird shot - probably 2.5 oz. and 2 fingers - wrap with tape or tie off. They stuff nicely into the cylinders. No messy glue.

[bob_stan]

It is just soooo much fun flying this thing in slow rolls and big wide loops!!! Still working on my grass field landings to get the tail down immediately after touch down so it doesn't flip/

[Saltydawg]

I actually have no issue with adding weight to get the CG right. The only planes I have that don't have some kind of CG weights is my Dynam Hawk Sky, Dynam B26 and Dynam A10 which is crazy nose heavy. Just gor stuff the battery way back. I'm gonna put the weight in the cylinder heads like most of y'all. Thinking about using the bullet shaped artificial fishing worm weight. WOW WHAT A MOUTH FULL.... Read that again....lol

But yeah with that lead weight I can work it into the cylinders and just secure it with some CA.

[rifleman_btx]

I've been eyeballing this plane for a while :)

[Hardway]

Salty, all the same with my build here. Had to add 2.5 oz to the dummy radial to get the correct CG with an Admiral 2600 3s pack. Flies great. Doesn't want to land. Usually the drag of a bipe with no power brings it down fast. No so much with this one... That is OK, just had to adjust the pattern for landing....:Cool: