Great Planes Slow Poke Sport Arf

Something isnt right. My father built one of these and has a .52 four stroke engine on it. We have only flown it once and it flew great. The only problem we had with it was getting the thing to set back down on the ground. Just kept floating along till we ran outta runway. The manual shows the CG at: 4 &5 /8 inches back from the leading edge. Is this where yours is? As I said we only flew it once but I remember it as a nice, sedate flyer. Was certainly a mellow plane to fly! It just has this tendency to float along on the ground effect or something about a foot off the deck even after dropping the engine to idle. Plane was undamaged when it got to the end of the runway, it just hasnt been flown since.

I have to side with Dan, I have had the same good times with the Slow Poke that I set up and test flew for a friend. This one had an O.S. .52 four stroke. The engine came from an old plane of mine, the Slow Poke was new. At low rates that thing was slow and predictable. It was his first low-wing and I think it was a good choice. We also had some fun trying to get it to sit down. Dan's right, once in ground effect into a slight breeze, the plane went into anti-gravity mode. Never had a bad thing to say about it. I think something must be up with yours, although I haven't a guess what it might be.

John

Thanks for the information so far from you guys. I am bewildered on this plane. It sits on my CG machine right now perfectly balanced at 4 5/8 from the leading edge upside down. You guys said that yours floated in on landing, well mine stalled on both flight attempts with some minor damage to the front ( torn covering). I am starting to think that I have my first bad airplane in 11 years of flying. I fly the Top Flite P-51 without stalling it but I can't fly a Slow Poke LOL. The comment on the throws is dead on also I think. In my tense minutes of flight the controls where mushy and the plane wanted to pitch down all the time making me think that I had a nose heavy plane. I tried a roll or two during my flight and it almost was not able to pull out of it from about 100 feet high. Right now I am afraid to fly this plane again esp if there are any people around. I am thinking of just writing this one off and taking a very nice engine and radio off to put in something else while they are still in one piece. Thanks, Brad

appreciated.

If you are sure of the balance point, I would check for a possible incidence problem or engine thrust issue.

John VB

Brad wrote:

I think Anne Marie Cross is devoting her time to rescuing horses as opposed to RC these days.

Just found this thread and thought I'd throw my $.02 in.

I built a Slow Poke 40 ARF last year. Had a new Saito .50 that I ha never used (I think the current one is bored out to a .56). Balance on a GP CG machine. The plane is a real pussycat. The Saito .50 get if off the ground easily and I flew it all last Fall at about 1/ throttle. It does like to float on landings. I had one of the guys a our field fly it who's much more adept than I am. He did hammerhea stalls, rolls, loops and even had it inverted. Control throws are al set per the instructions. I've totally enjoyed this plane. Can't wai to get it to the field this year.... if it'll stop raining and lose th

20 mph winds we seem to get on my days off. lol Bo

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20 MPH winds!!!!!!!!!! Fly dead into it and start backing off the throttle. At a certain poin, the plane will start flying backwards. Take your throws and increase them after you are comfortable with it and it really gets to be fun. I am using a Tower Hobby .46 with a 12x4 and I can get it to hover. Wont pull out though. Another fella at the field has one with a 60 size 4 strock. The plane will hover, torque roll, you name it. Just a bunch of fun to fly.

I'll have to give that a try..... at least 15 mistakes high though LO

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The wind is blowing 10 with some gusts today. I am gonna go see if my slowpoke will double as a glider. I just wish it was easier to land. Ground effect is bad on that plane.