Welcome to Club SAITO !
BTE - Flyin' King
It appears that Bruce Tharpe is shutting down, what a shame, I am lucky, I have a Flyin King ready to cover, one of the nicest flying planes I ever flew. I powered it with an early high compression Saito 80. This one will be powered by a Saito 100 with CHI, simply because I have a 100 that is sitting in it's box.
It appears that Bruce Tharpe is shutting down, what a shame, I am lucky, I have a Flyin King ready to cover, one of the nicest flying planes I ever flew. I powered it with an early high compression Saito 80. This one will be powered by a Saito 100 with CHI, simply because I have a 100 that is sitting in it's box.
Hi there, can I ask you a question? Ive had a few different Saito engines through the years, the largest being a Saito 72. In recent times ive thought hard abput buying a Saito 100, but ive read a lot about vibration issues due to the Saito 100 having a long stroke. This results in the engine shaking the life out of the plane. Is there any truth to these statements or is it all a bit far fetched? I have a brand new 60 size Escapade 61 and I was looking at a new Saito 100 for this plane. Many thanks and kind regards Aidan.
The FA-100 I had on my Sig 4*60 was a perfect match. I only got to fly it a handful of times because someone at a fly-in just HAD to have it.
I've had a couple FA-100's and didn't notice that they vibrated more than similar size 4 strokes. Just prop it for 9K to 10K rpm on the ground and you'll be fine. It's good to keep in mind that overly rich mixtures can cause excessive vibration.
The FA-100 I had on my Sig 4*60 was a perfect match. I only got to fly it a handful of times because someone at a fly-in just HAD to have it.
The FA-100 I had on my Sig 4*60 was a perfect match. I only got to fly it a handful of times because someone at a fly-in just HAD to have it.
I have built three of the Four Star 60 kits. The first was powered by a Saito FA-91. Seemed adequate at the time. Next one was fitted with the newly released YS 91AC. The differences were amazing. Not just the massive additional power but the transition and idle were were awesome and like no other engine of that size. I decided to build a third one a couple years later, this one was a clipped wing version with reinforced stab and elevator, also a scaled up, balanced rudder. Of course, another YS up front. Soon became the favorite Four Star.
If I come across a Four Star 120, I would like very much to build one. I would likely power it too with a YS-91AC with CDI . No doubt a good match for the way I fly now
That Four Star with an FA-100 will be Superb plane. They do quite well with a wide range of engines.
If I come across a Four Star 120, I would like very much to build one. I would likely power it too with a YS-91AC with CDI . No doubt a good match for the way I fly now
That Four Star with an FA-100 will be Superb plane. They do quite well with a wide range of engines.
Last edited by Jesse Open; 06-17-2024 at 03:23 PM.
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I have a Four Star 60 (71"), I have not finished fixing it LOL. I have been wondering a long time if my Saito 100 T is too heavy for it. I have had one good pilot tell me it is not too heavy for it. seems to me it is, what you guys think.
Don't know how the 100T would balance.
Senior Member
I have always considered the 100 to be a smooth engine, but due to it's light weight and strong power pulses it's torsional impulses will either rock the engine a little or rock the plane if the plane is light.
If this carb is set up the same as the FG 41, the HS/main needle goes in the empty hole.
If this carb is set up the same as the FG 41, the HS/main needle goes in the empty hole.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 06-18-2024 at 02:40 AM.
Or, better still a YS 63
Back then, I was having a ball with the YS-91. It started 90 times out of 100 with a single thumb and forefinger back flip on the spinner nose. You could idle super low for 10 to 20 minutes and never skip a beat, rock solid idle. Slap the stick forward at any time for a snap instant transition. Very tractible . At any speed setting the RPM was very steady, Fuel tank location was anyplace of height you wanted. Even back then I rarely used full throttle but the other qualities were priceless. It did weigh a (small) bit more than the Saito but it was a lot smoother and easier on the airframe.
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Four Star 60 with a Saito 100:
I have seen the plane with the FA100 on you tube, and it sure goes. and because the FA100 is the same weight as the old OS 61fx (550g less mufflers), the plane still could be a floater when the pilot asks it to be.
Lonnie, I'm like you. I like to screw with things. you know, like that 82 you hopped-up. when I was working on my crashed Four Sar 60 I moved back the cockpit. maybe a bit too much. not as far as the GeeBee R, but enough. the Dashboard is about 1,125" behind the wing's trailing edge. the upper front deck is really long and looks so cool. it makes the plane look old, real old, like the first-effort built speedster. I will get a pic tomorrow.
I have seen the plane with the FA100 on you tube, and it sure goes. and because the FA100 is the same weight as the old OS 61fx (550g less mufflers), the plane still could be a floater when the pilot asks it to be.
Lonnie, I'm like you. I like to screw with things. you know, like that 82 you hopped-up. when I was working on my crashed Four Sar 60 I moved back the cockpit. maybe a bit too much. not as far as the GeeBee R, but enough. the Dashboard is about 1,125" behind the wing's trailing edge. the upper front deck is really long and looks so cool. it makes the plane look old, real old, like the first-effort built speedster. I will get a pic tomorrow.
Senior Member
The silver throttle lever on the FG 50 is the travel limiter for the throttle, you can see the blade that the lever hits in this shot.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 06-19-2024 at 02:31 AM. Reason: Add content
Senior Member
That was my second build, an RTC Tower Trainer 60 was my first. The V 60 wore a Saito 72 GK. The Tower Trainer wore an Irvine Q 72 which I still have.
http://btemodels.com/venture.html Sadly, the current status of the Venture 60.
http://btemodels.com/venture.html Sadly, the current status of the Venture 60.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 06-19-2024 at 02:47 AM. Reason: Add content
They have been pretty much out of production for quite a while. Sad to see.
My first kit was a De Bolt Livewire Champ in 1960, the second was a Goldberg Junior Falcon quite a few years later. The Champ first flight used a 3 tube "Bramco" receiver. The Jr Falcon had a Min-X Galloping Ghost radio. Both radios were made in the Detroit area. John Krauer, the designer of the Min-X was in our club. The Bramco designer was Dick Branstner, of "Color Me Gone" funny car fame. He was a friend of my sister.
https://www.modelaviation.com/history-of-rc
My first kit was a De Bolt Livewire Champ in 1960, the second was a Goldberg Junior Falcon quite a few years later. The Champ first flight used a 3 tube "Bramco" receiver. The Jr Falcon had a Min-X Galloping Ghost radio. Both radios were made in the Detroit area. John Krauer, the designer of the Min-X was in our club. The Bramco designer was Dick Branstner, of "Color Me Gone" funny car fame. He was a friend of my sister.
https://www.modelaviation.com/history-of-rc
Last edited by Jesse Open; 06-19-2024 at 04:02 AM.
My Feedback: (1)
My Feedback: (1)
OK, so here are more pics of my 4Star, my God, the digital really show up, the table is not really that dirty to the eye. I have got to get to work on the plane.
My Feedback: (1)
hey Dave. you said you wanted a story. so here's a short one.
my Daughters youngest is 4, she's a joker,,, so. I call her "the Joker", every time she come her she comes over to me smiling. I get a kick because I know what she wants. she wants me to turn her upside down, so I do. she loves it.
EDIT. I had to come back and start up my computer. the Joker showed up right after I shut the computer down. she showed up to get a snack from Grammy. and of course I had to pick her up and turn her upside down again. she left with a smile LOL.
her older sister is 8, she's an artist. she loves sculpting with clay, and of course paper and tape. she loves tap.
my Daughters youngest is 4, she's a joker,,, so. I call her "the Joker", every time she come her she comes over to me smiling. I get a kick because I know what she wants. she wants me to turn her upside down, so I do. she loves it.
EDIT. I had to come back and start up my computer. the Joker showed up right after I shut the computer down. she showed up to get a snack from Grammy. and of course I had to pick her up and turn her upside down again. she left with a smile LOL.
her older sister is 8, she's an artist. she loves sculpting with clay, and of course paper and tape. she loves tap.
Last edited by the Wasp; 06-20-2024 at 10:38 AM.
My Feedback: (1)
Piglet: yes, I am guilty. I was going to put him in my Four Star 120, but I am going to sell it, it's too big for my car. to fit it in the Rav-4 the wing tip goes between the front seats. LOL want to buy it, it had only 6 flights LOL
Senior Member
As you can see below this Saito FA 40-a has some serious time on it. Mostly on an RCM 40. It will no power an OSMW SpadPort bipe. The top wing is complete, the bottom port wing is complete, I just had to jump ahead and mount the engine. The RCM succumbed to a tank bung hole splitting and soaking the entire noose from the wing forward.
Not my actual RCM 40
I have the graphics for thois.
Last edited by 1200SportsterRider; 06-21-2024 at 05:35 PM. Reason: Add image