I just got back into flying this summer after a five or six year layoff. I have been flying a kit built Brodak Cardinal with an OS 46 LA engine and after switching out the remote needle valve for a Super Tigre unit things seem to be working pretty good. This is my question. Can you still be competitive with a Sig Chipmunk or similar model if you fly intermediate and you want to move up to advanced ? The Cardinal flies nice but I just have never really liked profile airplanes and I have build a couple of Chipmunks in the past and still have 2 unopened kits. Everyone seems to have gone to bigger airplanes and expensive engines but I just want to stick with the less expensive stuff for now like the 46LA. I have looked at some of the other kits that I think would be suited for the 46LA but having built a couple Chipmunks in the past it is an airplane I think I could build fairly quickly.

Thanks

Rick Henry

There is nothing wrong with using profiles in stunt. Even a built up plane will not help if you don't practice. Ask me how I know. It also takes a good engine. If you have someone to help you it pays big dividends also. But there is not a plane out there to put you in the winners circle without practice and coaching.
DOC Holliday

Most often it's not the airplane, good or bad, it's the nut on the handle! There is a local guy here that worked his way from Beginner to Expert with a single SIG Twister. It was crashed and repaired many times along the way, but he wore out 4 engines during the journey! The goes along the lines of what Doc said about practice. Contest wins are found at the bottom of gallons of fuel. The Chipmunk should serve you well with a OS LA.46. Work to keep weight under 50 ounces and it should be a great combination to get you through Intermediate and Advanced. Guys have used FP.40's, Fox 40's, Fox .35's with some success and St.46's were popular in them also. The Chipmunk wing is a great wing and could be used as a base for your own designs, been done many times before. Work on consistency and practice and you can do pretty well on a limited budget.
Good luck and have fun,
Dan McEntee

Type at you later

I'll second Dan's recommendation: a light, straight Sig Chipmunk with a nice LA 46 will take you into expert class. The Chip has a wonderful pedigree, and is fully capable of making you a better flyer! Build both, so a "spare" is always available...

Bill Hummel

One of the top Australian stunt flyers uses a profile model. He just won the NSW State Champs with it.
HOWEVER, the reason he does so well is because the plane is trimmed well, the OS motor runs well and the most important thing, he practices twice a week with a spotter who he listens to.
If you don't have a good spotter (that you are willing to listen to), you are practicing your mistakes to perfection!

Bandolero

Where would he place at a worlds tho?

Albeit a very accomplished flier highly skilled, also won the nats with a coylady!

Are we saying more about his skill or that of the people he's competing against?

Where's the KA-BOOM? There was supposed to be an earth shattering KA-BOOM!

> Most often it's not the airplane, good or bad, it's the nut
>on the handle! There is a local guy here that worked his way
>from Beginner to Expert with a single SIG Twister. It was
>crashed and repaired many times along the way, but he wore out
>4 engines during the journey! The goes along the lines of what
>Doc said about practice. Contest wins are found at the bottom
>of gallons of fuel. The Chipmunk should serve you well with a
>OS LA.46. Work to keep weight under 50 ounces and it should be
>a great combination to get you through Intermediate and
>Advanced. Guys have used FP.40's, Fox 40's, Fox .35's with
>some success and St.46's were popular in them also. The
>Chipmunk wing is a great wing and could be used as a base for
>your own designs, been done many times before. Work on
>consistency and practice and you can do pretty well on a
>limited budget.
> Good luck and have fun,
> Dan McEntee


Doc and Dad are all correct. There are alot of great profile designs out there and are very compeditive. They build quicker meaning youre out practicing sooner, and are easier to trim. I went from Advanced to Expert with with a Sig Primary Force and an OS25LA, and Ive seen other guys beat out some of the Nats Open Top 20 guys and their piped ships with profiles and low dollar engines. It truely is all about stick time and finding a good coach that knows what hes looking at.

PS If I remember correctly, the SIG Banshee is supposed to fly allot like the Chipmunk. If you can pick one up or borrow one and copy the parts, it would make a great practice airplane as well as a backup.

CHEERS!!
Sean McEntee

Rick,
Search around on SSW and Stunthangar looking for additional Chipmunk threads. On one site there was a recent installment by Dave Fitzgerald that outlines his Senior Championship (USA Nats) Chipmunk mods. His looked great and flew even better.
Chris...

Chris McMillin