Pitts s1c good for competition ?

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Murf
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Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Murf »

Hi, i would like to know if a s1c with a 135 hp engine with a 789 lbs empty weight is a good deal to do sportsman and intermediate at a good level ?

Thanks for your anwser!
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looproll
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by looproll »

I think 135 is a little weak, but it's more the pilot than the plane because even a C is very capable. An S-1C with 135hp would be great for sportsman. Intermediate would be a good challenge too, but the judges will be straining their eyes as you climb up and turn that potential energy into kinetic! There is no replacement for displacement!
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cgzro
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by cgzro »

how heavy are you? if your light should be fun.

at thiose levels its who flies most not the mount so much.
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Murf
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Murf »

I,m 140 lbs so very ligth weigth :p, and if in 2-3 years I want to change the wings and engine which wings and engine you recommend me ?
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cgzro
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by cgzro »

145lbs- perfect, dont change anything for a year.
Then id upgrade to 180hp fixed pitch.
Fly till the wings / fabric need work and only then think about a fully symetrical airfoil wing.
There is a Canadian and US company that make kit wings.
Join the biplaneforum and ask lots of questions..

Get copious amounts of spin training including inverted accellerated flat etc.
Hop on a plane go see CS or Harvs etc. for some training those little buggers wind up very fast when mishandled.
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Murf
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Murf »

What is the advantage of a square tips wings ?
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cgzro
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by cgzro »

cosmetic mostly, a more modern look!
important things are airfoil and stiffness/ strength.
one good mod is a plywood leading edge vs aluminum.
makes a D tube shape
which is much stiffer and stronger than Al sheet.
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Murf
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Murf »

I see 3 compagny that makes wings, steen , raven and wolf . Same things or more performance for wolf i see its set a higher price , i know thats its a better craftmanship .
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Murf
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Murf »

Do you thinks this one is good....and can be imported? I note that the registration is expired...

http://www.biplaneforum.com/f27/fs-pitt ... pics-9960/
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cgzro
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by cgzro »

by a flying plane only, nothing expired - you want one that flys 30 min a week min except winter and has a few hundred hours minimun TT and
has seen some light competition, beware very few hours and infrequently flown. beware fabric older than ~15 years, recover is big $$
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Murf
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Murf »

Thanks for the hint
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Colonel Sanders
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Colonel Sanders »

As Peter says, buy a flying airplane -
not a project that hasn't flown in years,
which will require a lot of extra time
and money to get flying again.

By the time you overhaul the rusted-out
engine and put new fabric on it, you are
out tens of thousands of dollars and probably
a year, more realistically two. Plus an import
is going to cost you at least another couple
thousand dollars (for a homebuilt) for paperwork.

Suddenly that project airplane doesn't
look so cheap any more.

There was an S-1S out in Fort MacMurray
for sale. Lots of recent flying. Already
C-registered.
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Engine Guy
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by Engine Guy »

At that HP level you will be OK with sportsman but not so much with intermediate. To complete a intermediate sequence you will likely have to take one out to gain some altitude back.

There is a very nice Ultimate Biplane for sale in the the saskatoon area that is cheap. Low HP well built plane.

PM me if you want info.
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cgzro
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Re: Pitts s1c good for competition ?

Post by cgzro »

There is not much energy difference between sportsman and intermediate, what they do is throw in some negative stuff and give you the occasional up or down 1/4 roll. I suspect that starting nice and high and with care in the cornering G it can be done. However if you need a break so what, still fun to compete and an inexpensive way into the sport and there are lots of mods you can do to upgrade later.
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