Great Planes PT-20
This little jewel is an economical way to get started in this hobby. It and
it's big brother the PT-40 are acclaimed to be great trainers. However, I didn't
think that either were all that great for learning to land. Course that could
just be me.
I started out with a foam model that was powered by an OS .20 engine.
It really didn't last all that long. Since I had the small engine I decided
to purchase the PT-20 to continue my efforts. It was my first kit since I was
younger and building control liners. I was disappointed. There was/is lot's of
talk about getting things straight and true. Well it is really difficult to do
that with warped wood. But we prevailed.
The wood I am complaining about is the pieces of light ply that is used in the
construction of the fuselage. I also had this same problem with the Easy Sport
that I purchased later.
This was also my first experience with MonoKote. All of my previous models had
been covered with silk and dope. MonoKoting can be quite challenging and it can
also be fun. Fortunately my wife is artistic and the decorations looked pretty
good. In fact a couple of guys wanted me to monocote their planes for them. Made
me feel pretty good.
Then came the flying. I learned rather quickly that you don't have to move the
sticks very far and the plane will respond. Now flying around in a circle and
trying to keep the plane level is quite and experience. However, I had a good
instructer. (John Brewer) He really harped at me about getting into this pattern
and learning to control the plane. Sometimes I think he harped to much but then
that is another story.
Now taking off was not to much of a problem. After all with the proper lift, these
things just jump in the air when you give them enough power. However, landing was
another story. It seems like everytime that plane came around all I could see were
the dollar signs and I couldn't relax. The closer it got to the ground the worse
things got. No matter what, I had a hard time landing that little craft. Then I
learned about incidence and I changed it so that it wasn't so positive. I did a
lot better at landing after that.
I flew this plane all summer and it was fun. My last flight however was not good.
For some reason my ailerons did not work. I was still to green to think about using
the rudder and the plane turned into the ground on take off. It didn't destroy it.
Just a broken wing tip. Well a little more than the tip. I still haven't repaired it
yet but I plan to and either fly it myself or donate it to one of the new club members.