My latest project is the new Aeroworks 50cc Pitts Python!

Follow along as I put this thing together! If you have any questions about the build please post in the forum or email me directly joe@norcalrc.com!

Part one-Unpacking the plane and strapping the servos in

This first thing that I noticed when I recieved the airframe was the insane attention to detail! Rocco really thinks of EVERYTHING when he kits a new plane! The plane comes with everything you need to finish it! Wheels, Pushrods, Pull-Pull cables, Fuel Tank, nice free spinning ball joints and more! Even the canopy is bolted on for you! I could go on and on about how nice this plane is, but I NEED TO GET TO WORK! Additionally, considerable thought has been given to the shipping carton that these airframes come in! The plane is packed in a heavy-duty cardboard box and that box is packed in a second-wood lined box!

OK, so time to put some servos in this thing! We'll be using 4 Hitec 5945 servos in the wings, one 5955 on each elevator, one 5955 on the rudder and one more 5945 on the throttle. I started off by opening up all the servos and installing the supplied grommets and brass liners. I always make sure to put the flanged side down on the brass liners. This keeps the liner from digging into the servo mount and makes for a very secure servo to mount fit!

I ended up using 24" extensions on all the wing servos. This way I'll have enough wire left over to cut my aileron leads and install Deans 1003 3 prong connectors! More on this later. When installing the wing servos I found that Rocco had already routed some strings to help pull the extensions through the wings! Awesome!

After the extensions were routed, I drilled the mounting holes using a 1/16" drill bit.

Next, I ran a servo mounting screw in and back out of each hole to cut some threads.

Then, to harden the threads I applied roughly three drops of thin CA to each hole.

After all the glue dried, I bolted each servo in making sure to keep each grommet as straight as possible.

I then put the supplied correct length pushrods together using the kit balljoints and mounted the included pre-drilled control horns using the same process as when I mounted the servos. So far everything has pretty much fallen together! All the holes line up and all the hardware is sized perfectly! Sweet!

I found that the shorter Hitec servo arm and the outer hole on the horn provided the best geometry. The final pushrod lengths will be dialed in later when I program the servos.

After the wing servos were in I moved on to the tail group. The first thing to do was glue the tail feathers in so I busted out some 30 minute epoxy and stuck the robart-style hinges in their pre-drilled locations. Before I glued the hinges I made sure to apply some teflon grease to the hinge points so the glue wouldn't jam them up!

Part Two-Horsepower!
For this build I'll be installing a trusty DA 50!



I started by grabbing a set of 2 1/2" DA standoffs and then I drilled and tapped them for 1/4"-20 bolts. Why 1/4"-20 bolts you ask? 'Cause! That's why! Actually, these standoffs were already drilled out on one end so instead of throwing them away and getting a new set I just took the time to set them up this way. 1/4"-20 has to be better than stock anyway...doesn't it? hehe.

Step two is to drill the firewall using the supplied DA engine template! There's also a 3W 55-I template included!

I then used some large fender washers to spread the load out on the firewall. One of the washers I tuned up on the shop grinder so it wouldn't interfere with the throttle arm hole.




I then applied some blue threadlock to all of the bolts and installed my standoffs.



While I was tightening the firewall side bolts I noticed that Aeroworks has taken the time to cut slots for mounting my ignition with the INCLUDED straps and foam! (Just behind the firewall) It just keeps getting better and better folks!!

Here's the pic of the throttle linkage!  All of this is included with the kit!  Just cut the pushrod to length and solder on the brass end. As always, make sure to use a good quality silver solder. Most of the time, I use Deans brand silver solder.  Not that stuff that comes from the computer shop! lol

And here is a pic of the finished DA 50 installation.  This whole operation took about 1 1/2 hours.  It only took that long because I took the time to drill and tap those engine standoffs!  This whole deal could have been done in about 20 minutes if I just used some stock standoffs!

Part three-Wiring

With the engine mounted I can turn my attention to wiring this bad boy!

I'm using twisted extensions from Airwild and all my switches and regs will be Fromeco.  While I was routing my elevator extensions I got to take advantage of the super convienient routing strings and extension holders.  In that pic you can also see the white RX antenna tube-installed at the factory of course!

If you recall earlier in this review I mentioned that I installed 24" extensions in the upper and lower wings.  That's because I like to install Deans 1003 connectors for my wings and elevators on removable stab airframes.  Aeroworks engineered a spot in the top of the fuse next to the cabane struts for the top wing extensions to go through.  How's this for a sano installation?!?

Bolting those cabane struts on was easy as pie!  Just two bolts in each strut and everything lined up perrrrfect!  Once again, I busted out the threadlocker blue.

And, since I already had the wrenches out, I went ahead and strapped the landing gear on! This thing has a pretty hardcore landing gear plate system in it!  Perfect for those harrier landings Monkey loves so much!

All of the axles, wheels, locknuts and collars are provided by Aeroworks along with these finely crafted fiberglass wheelpants!  Aligning wheelpants always makes me nervous (I'd hate to have the plane look funny sitting on the ground with whacked wheelpants! DOH!) but, the wheelpants are drilled and have blindnuts installed at the factory so all I needed to do was strap 'em on!  

That's all for today, Monkey is taking the night off.  His favorite TV show is on!  He can't be disturbed!

Quick update before work--I went ahead and strapped the flying wires on!  It's not everyday in the aerobatic world that I deal with flying wires!  Well, check this out!  Rocco and the Aeroworks gang have taken all the guesswork....actually they have taken all the work out of a potentially time consuming project!  SCHWEEET!  The wires come totally done with the proper brass ends and all the nuts and bolts you need to just strap them on!  The packages are even marked "U" for "up" meaning install those wires on the top of the plane and "D" for "down" meaning of course to install those wires on the bottom of plane!

Installing the flying wires took maybe 10 minutes total!