aerobatic kit planes

"F. Baum" wrote in
:

On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of money.
A low performance bipe like that makes a good first aerobatic trainer
because it will be easy enough to do the manuevers, yet difficult
enough to do them well, and a well built one should be just about
unbreakable.

Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?


Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years ago. the
Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics it's
probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady hand during the
initial, scary bits.
The Decathlon is relatively clean an the entry speeds for some manuevers
are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently stronger ( unless
the airplane is a piece of crap), but th eDecathlon will do in a pinch!
It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of course! Even a good second
hand Decathlon wil set you back over fifty grand.
The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are both fine
airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.



Bertie

john smith wrote in
:

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"F. Baum" wrote in
news:02bef7c5-1ee1-437d-a908-b9b6dcfcfdd9
@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:

On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of
money. A low performance bipe like that makes a good first
aerobatic trainer because it will be easy enough to do the
manuevers, yet difficult enough to do them well, and a well built
one should be just about unbreakable.

Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?


Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years ago.
the Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics
it's probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady hand
during the initial, scary bits.
The Decathlon is relatively clean an the entry speeds for some
manuevers are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently
stronger ( unless the airplane is a piece of crap), but th eDecathlon
will do in a pinch! It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of
course! Even a good second hand Decathlon wil set you back over fifty
grand. The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are both
fine airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.

Bertie, you forgot to mention if one's first Decathlon should be a
fixed-pitch or constant speed prop.


Don't really think it matters. It's not that big a deal to use one.
Are there any fixed pitch prop Decathlons? I don't think I've ever seen
one.
Anyhow, with some decent instruction using a CS prop on an aerobatic
airplane is definitely a plus for a lot of reasons. Better perfromance
and better braking if you screw it up!

Bertie

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
john smith wrote in
:

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"F. Baum" wrote in
news:02bef7c5-1ee1-437d-a908-b9b6dcfcfdd9
@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of
money. A low performance bipe like that makes a good first
aerobatic trainer because it will be easy enough to do the
manuevers, yet difficult enough to do them well, and a well built
one should be just about unbreakable.

Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?

Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years ago.
the Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics
it's probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady hand
during the initial, scary bits.
The Decathlon is relatively clean an the entry speeds for some
manuevers are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently
stronger ( unless the airplane is a piece of crap), but th eDecathlon
will do in a pinch! It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of
course! Even a good second hand Decathlon wil set you back over fifty
grand. The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are both
fine airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.
Bertie, you forgot to mention if one's first Decathlon should be a
fixed-pitch or constant speed prop.


Don't really think it matters. It's not that big a deal to use one.
Are there any fixed pitch prop Decathlons? I don't think I've ever seen
one.
Anyhow, with some decent instruction using a CS prop on an aerobatic
airplane is definitely a plus for a lot of reasons. Better perfromance
and better braking if you screw it up!

Bertie
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

--
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
john smith wrote in
:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"F. Baum" wrote in
news:02bef7c5-1ee1-437d-a908-b9b6dcfcfdd9
@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of
money. A low performance bipe like that makes a good first
aerobatic trainer because it will be easy enough to do the
manuevers, yet difficult enough to do them well, and a well built
one should be just about unbreakable.
Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?

Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years ago.
the Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics
it's probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady hand
during the initial, scary bits. The Decathlon is relatively clean an
the entry speeds for some
manuevers are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently
stronger ( unless the airplane is a piece of crap), but th eDecathlon
will do in a pinch! It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of
course! Even a good second hand Decathlon wil set you back over fifty
grand. The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are both
fine airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.
Bertie, you forgot to mention if one's first Decathlon should be a
fixed-pitch or constant speed prop.


Don't really think it matters. It's not that big a deal to use one.
Are there any fixed pitch prop Decathlons? I don't think I've ever
seen one. Anyhow, with some decent instruction using a CS prop on an
aerobatic airplane is definitely a plus for a lot of reasons. Better
perfromance and better braking if you screw it up!
Bertie
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

Come to think of it, I do recall seeing something about Decathlons being
available with fixed pitch props but never ran across one. Ours had the
Hartzel.


--
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote in
:

Dudley Henriques wrote:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
john smith wrote in
:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"F. Baum" wrote in
news:02bef7c5-1ee1-437d-a908-b9b6dcfcfdd9
@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of
money. A low performance bipe like that makes a good first
aerobatic trainer because it will be easy enough to do the
manuevers, yet difficult enough to do them well, and a well
built
one should be just about unbreakable.
Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?

Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years
ago.
the Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics
it's probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady
hand
during the initial, scary bits. The Decathlon is relatively clean
an
the entry speeds for some
manuevers are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently
stronger ( unless the airplane is a piece of crap), but th
eDecathlon
will do in a pinch! It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of
course! Even a good second hand Decathlon wil set you back over
fifty
grand. The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are
both
fine airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.
Bertie, you forgot to mention if one's first Decathlon should be a
fixed-pitch or constant speed prop.


Don't really think it matters. It's not that big a deal to use one.
Are there any fixed pitch prop Decathlons? I don't think I've ever
seen one. Anyhow, with some decent instruction using a CS prop on an
aerobatic airplane is definitely a plus for a lot of reasons. Better
perfromance and better braking if you screw it up!
Bertie
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

Come to think of it, I do recall seeing something about Decathlons
being
available with fixed pitch props but never ran across one. Ours had
the
Hartzel.



Yeah, Might have been an option that nearly everyone took up. I think
you could get a Citabria with one IIRC. They're making them again now
and they're slightly different spec to the old ones, I think

Bertie

On Dec 17, 3:42 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
Dudley Henriques wrote :







Dudley Henriques wrote:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
john smith wrote in
:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"F. Baum" wrote in
news:02bef7c5-1ee1-437d-a908-b9b6dcfcfdd9
@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of
money. A low performance bipe like that makes a good first
aerobatic trainer because it will be easy enough to do the
manuevers, yet difficult enough to do them well, and a well
built
one should be just about unbreakable.
Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?

Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years
ago.
the Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics
it's probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady
hand
during the initial, scary bits. The Decathlon is relatively clean
an
the entry speeds for some
manuevers are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently
stronger ( unless the airplane is a piece of crap), but th
eDecathlon
will do in a pinch! It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of
course! Even a good second hand Decathlon wil set you back over
fifty
grand. The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are
both
fine airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.
Bertie, you forgot to mention if one's first Decathlon should be a
fixed-pitch or constant speed prop.

Don't really think it matters. It's not that big a deal to use one.
Are there any fixed pitch prop Decathlons? I don't think I've ever
seen one. Anyhow, with some decent instruction using a CS prop on an
aerobatic airplane is definitely a plus for a lot of reasons. Better
perfromance and better braking if you screw it up!
Bertie
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

Come to think of it, I do recall seeing something about Decathlons
being
available with fixed pitch props but never ran across one. Ours had
the
Hartzel.

Yeah, Might have been an option that nearly everyone took up. I think
you could get a Citabria with one IIRC. They're making them again now
and they're slightly different spec to the old ones, I think

Bertie- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

IIRC in the early days there was a Decathlon with 150 HP fixed pitch
and then the Super Decathlon with C/S prop. There is a late 90s
Decathlon made by ACA that is for sale in my neiborhood for under 100.
I have checked and it will fit in the hangar with my other
plane............. Gonna make an offer after the holidays.

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
Dudley Henriques wrote in
:

Dudley Henriques wrote:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
john smith wrote in
:
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
"F. Baum" wrote in
news:02bef7c5-1ee1-437d-a908-b9b6dcfcfdd9
@b1g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
On Dec 16, 8:18 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
I see a lot of Acrosport IIs on Barnstormers for not a lot of
money. A low performance bipe like that makes a good first
aerobatic trainer because it will be easy enough to do the
manuevers, yet difficult enough to do them well, and a well
built
one should be just about unbreakable.
Bertie- Hide quoted text -

How does it compare to the ACA Decathelon ?

Never flown an Acrosport, but I did display in a Decathlon years
ago.
the Decathlon is a good airplane, but for a beginner in aerobatics
it's probably not the best choice unless you're under a steady
hand
during the initial, scary bits. The Decathlon is relatively clean
an
the entry speeds for some
manuevers are fairly close to the redline. Biplanes are inherently
stronger ( unless the airplane is a piece of crap), but th
eDecathlon
will do in a pinch! It's nto a kitplane or anything like one, of
course! Even a good second hand Decathlon wil set you back over
fifty
grand. The Citabria even more so, but having said that they are
both
fine airplanes, providing their spars haven't been damaged.
Bertie, you forgot to mention if one's first Decathlon should be a
fixed-pitch or constant speed prop.

Don't really think it matters. It's not that big a deal to use one.
Are there any fixed pitch prop Decathlons? I don't think I've ever
seen one. Anyhow, with some decent instruction using a CS prop on an
aerobatic airplane is definitely a plus for a lot of reasons. Better
perfromance and better braking if you screw it up!
Bertie
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

Come to think of it, I do recall seeing something about Decathlons
being
available with fixed pitch props but never ran across one. Ours had
the
Hartzel.



Yeah, Might have been an option that nearly everyone took up. I think
you could get a Citabria with one IIRC. They're making them again now
and they're slightly different spec to the old ones, I think

Bertie
I know I've seen and flown several and never seemed to come across one
with the fixed pitch prop but I'm sure there must have been a few out there.
We leased one back from a guy on the field to use for basic acro
introduction. If I remember right, there was a hefty AD issued on the
wing that cost a damn fortune for the owners.
I liked the airplane for what we did with it.

--
Dudley Henriques

On 2007-12-17, Dudley Henriques wrote:
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

I had a '79 with 150HP and a fixed pitch prop.

--
Doug Carter

Doug Carter wrote:
On 2007-12-17, Dudley Henriques wrote:
I don't remember ever seeing a Decathlon with anything but a constant
speed Hartzel on it.

I had a '79 with 150HP and a fixed pitch prop.

--
Doug Carter
Solves that question. Thanks!


--
Dudley Henriques

wrote in message
...
What are the kit or plans built planes that people use for aerobatics?

What kind of aerobatics do you want to do? Simple loop/roll kind of
maneuvers? Harder stuff like gyroscopic maneuvers?

Do you need cross country ability (say 150 mph cruise with at least one
passenger and bags)?

There is a full spectrum of options out there. For a good compromise
aircraft that loops and rolls well and offers good cross country ability,
the RV series is hard to beat. If your need is more biased towards hard
acro, Pitts and One Designs are very capable. If you want to learn acro,
there are several good choices listed elsewhere in the thread.