Flying High
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- Aug 28, 2009
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This forum is one of the best resources for Pitts owners that I've come across so I'd like to add to it what I can, here goes.
I know this has gone around a few times but thought I'd add my experience for others who are researching these topics.
My aircraft is a Pitts S-1S with angle valve I0-360. 4 into 1 exhaust, 10:1 pistons and fixed pitch 3 blade Catto propeller 72/62... very loud, oh and Grove Spring gear.
I've been using the David Clark H10-60 with the Oregon Aero upgrade and still found my ears ringing at the end of a flight. About 2 flights ago I wore ear plugs under my headset, what a difference. I have to turn the radio up a bit but the pain is gone out and I find it easier to hear the radio.
I've found that a lot of the noise comes from the exhaust collector under my feet, after all it's only separated from me by a lexan panel.
I'm too close to the canopy for a helmet and I'm thinking about trying the in ear headset soon, the Clarity Aloft or Halo, I'll let you know how that compares.
As for landing speeds;
I've experimented with different speeds and profiles and found 75kts with a profile that requires a little bit of power works really well. I'm entering the flare at 70kts and find the aircraft plops onto the runway nicely and stays there. At 80 to 85kts and a steeper approach I was finding that as soon as I touched the aircraft would skip back into the air and I was committed to fixing a bounce or going around.
When I went from a constant speed to fixed pitch prop it changed the landing characteristics significantly. With the CSU, as soon as I pulled power I'd stop flying as the prop went into full fine and I would settle onto the runway even if I was a few knots fast. With the fixed pitch I find when I close the throttle I keep flying a lot longer and excess speed will just cause a long float, who knew a Pitts would float !
This is all on tarmac runways, I've never landed an S1 on grass but I've been told it's a lot nicer.
On the subject of Propellers;
When I bought my machine it had a MT constant speed which was time ex so to save some dollars I installed a Catto 3 blade fixed pitch.
The constant speed was good for all the usual reasons but it was 23kg plus governor, the Catto is around 6kg. I've found take-off and climb performance almost the same with the Catto. I get around the same top speed so I don't really miss the CSU that much.
The Catto is so light that I miss some of the vibration dampening that the heaver prop gave me but I'm sure that will be largely resolved when I get around to dynamically balancing.
Lots of people like the look of the Catto, it sure makes my Pitts look fast.
If you've read this far I have a few questions other might help me with.
Best stuff to polish spring gear legs with?
Anyone have experience dynamically balancing their props?
I have Doug Dodge cowls on mine, does he still make them?
Cheers for now
Edited by: Flying Ant
I know this has gone around a few times but thought I'd add my experience for others who are researching these topics.
My aircraft is a Pitts S-1S with angle valve I0-360. 4 into 1 exhaust, 10:1 pistons and fixed pitch 3 blade Catto propeller 72/62... very loud, oh and Grove Spring gear.
I've been using the David Clark H10-60 with the Oregon Aero upgrade and still found my ears ringing at the end of a flight. About 2 flights ago I wore ear plugs under my headset, what a difference. I have to turn the radio up a bit but the pain is gone out and I find it easier to hear the radio.
I've found that a lot of the noise comes from the exhaust collector under my feet, after all it's only separated from me by a lexan panel.
I'm too close to the canopy for a helmet and I'm thinking about trying the in ear headset soon, the Clarity Aloft or Halo, I'll let you know how that compares.
As for landing speeds;
I've experimented with different speeds and profiles and found 75kts with a profile that requires a little bit of power works really well. I'm entering the flare at 70kts and find the aircraft plops onto the runway nicely and stays there. At 80 to 85kts and a steeper approach I was finding that as soon as I touched the aircraft would skip back into the air and I was committed to fixing a bounce or going around.
When I went from a constant speed to fixed pitch prop it changed the landing characteristics significantly. With the CSU, as soon as I pulled power I'd stop flying as the prop went into full fine and I would settle onto the runway even if I was a few knots fast. With the fixed pitch I find when I close the throttle I keep flying a lot longer and excess speed will just cause a long float, who knew a Pitts would float !
This is all on tarmac runways, I've never landed an S1 on grass but I've been told it's a lot nicer.
On the subject of Propellers;
When I bought my machine it had a MT constant speed which was time ex so to save some dollars I installed a Catto 3 blade fixed pitch.
The constant speed was good for all the usual reasons but it was 23kg plus governor, the Catto is around 6kg. I've found take-off and climb performance almost the same with the Catto. I get around the same top speed so I don't really miss the CSU that much.
The Catto is so light that I miss some of the vibration dampening that the heaver prop gave me but I'm sure that will be largely resolved when I get around to dynamically balancing.
Lots of people like the look of the Catto, it sure makes my Pitts look fast.
If you've read this far I have a few questions other might help me with.
Best stuff to polish spring gear legs with?
Anyone have experience dynamically balancing their props?
I have Doug Dodge cowls on mine, does he still make them?
Cheers for now
Edited by: Flying Ant
