1/3 scale Piper Pawnee Brave towplane

[Pilatuspc12]

Hello Folks,

Tom Martin was working on a 1/3 scale Piper Pawnee Brave a little while ago but I have not heard how that project is coming along. I was wondering, do you think it would make a good towplane with a DA-100 in it? I would like to make it the turbine version just to be different.

Randy

[Len]

Randy, I love the plane. I visited with Tom at the JR Aerotow last weekend and forgot to ask him about the Brave. I know he follows this forum, so maybe he will chime in here and let us know.

The plane would certainly fly with a 100, but I would be tempted to push a 120-150 into the nose if it will fit. The Hangar 9 Pawnee flies with a 100 very well.. And towed a 95lb sailplane..( very carefully ) but with a 120 in the nose, it would be PERFECT.

Lets see if we can get Tom to update us all.

LEN

[Asher Carmichael]

Randy,
I agree with Len, a 120 or BME 116 or BME 150 would do better in the 1/3 Brave. A DA 150 should work but will require some clearance holes for plugs I would think. The BME 150 has the same footprint as a DA 100 so will fit under the cowl. If it is true 1/3, it will be a pretty big airframe. You probably will have trouble fitting a boxer twin in a turbo version without cylinders sticking out but a good in-line will work nicely, or better yet, put a big turboprop in! I'm very interested in this plane because of the simplicity(no struts, wires) and the higher LG stance (ground clearance) over the Pawnee. Having said that, My old Bruckmann Pawnee was pehaps the best towplane I ever flew.
Here's a link to Tom's progress.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1387055
Asher

[Len]

Excellent info Asher, what do you know of the BME motors?

LEN

[Asher Carmichael]

Excellent info Asher, what do you know of the BME motors?

LEN

Len,
Here's what I know. The BME 150 is the smoothest running 150 I've installed so far(King's, DA's, 3W's.) I haven't flown it yet but it fits perfectly in the Hempel Decathlon and purrs like a kitten at 6500 with a mejzlik 26/10 3-blade. The stroke is a bit shorter than a DA (hence the smaller footprint) and it uses a pressure feed in the carburetor. Tom at BME works at his own pace but is solid and reliable. BME's require solid tuning, good baffling and avgas for peak performance but deliver more power than others in return with a smaller, lighter stance.
Asher

PS:
The BME 150 is a custom built engine and can take up to 3 months to get. It is based on Stihl double ringed cylinders with plugs mounted at 45 degress off the head. The 116 is available immediately from several dealers and is stock production. They have a devoted fan base and you can find out more over at Flying Giants.

http://www.bmeengine.com/

[Len]

Thanks Asher, I didn't know that.

LEN

[Pilatuspc12]

Thanks for the info Asher. Len, I'll E-mail him and see where he's at. This would be a cool towplane with the turbine version because the cylinders for the DA-150 would be in about the same position as the exhaust stacks on the PT-6A! Or, you could make it electric if it was light enough, maybe.

Randy

[Tom]

We use a BME 116 on our local tug and it is a rock solid reliable engine.

[Pilatuspc12]

Cool,

This will be a great Tug to fly.

[Pilatuspc12]

Tom,

as long as we don't have to crop dust with it while we're towing!

Randy