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Joe Cunningham · 02-19-2007, 02:48 PM

With the Toledo show fast approaching I was thinking of purchasing a
Balsa USA EAA Bi-Plane....

Has anyone have first hand experience with this aircraft

:
Although not a bi-plane I was also leaning towards the Balsa USA Citabria Pro...

cassat · 02-19-2007, 03:33 PM

The Citabria Pro is a nice flying airplane with a 90-120 four stroke on it.
Loops and rolls are very majestic and the airplane is always easy to see because of its size. The only downfall might be the large one piece wing for transporting.

Cassat

Wayne22 · 02-19-2007, 10:42 PM

I've had both...

The Biplane is a bit on the small side (for me) but a great flying plane. Surprisingly for a biplane, it almost glides!! It is small enough to transport in one piece to the field, but it is a pain taking off the wings if you need to break it down.

The Citabria Pro is a great flying plane as well. In spite of the huge elevator and short fuselage, it is surprisingly gentle to fly. A 91 will fly it decently, but not authoritatively. a 120 4 stroke is a bit crowded in there unless you build it up around that engine (I added it on later..) It makes a really nice float plane too! Biggest pain, outside of transporting an 80" wing, is that assembly at the field requires 14 bolts, and it takes quite awhile to get everything together and aligned....

Guest · 02-20-2007, 01:07 AM

I still have my Citabria Pro. I powered mine with an OS 1.08 and it had plenty of power. Flew solid even in cross winds. I could drag the tail in so it touched first if I wanted to with the mains a couple of inches off the runway. Three pointers were easy. Watch that rudder it has plenty of authority. Bump up the throws on the ailerons for a faster roll rate as it helps in the snaps. I left the wing struts attached to the wing so there was only 6 screws to attach the wing. I have flown both I would pick the Pro first. If you are building this to scale be sure to order the picture pack from Bob Bankas Scale Resource. There was only one built and it looked pretty crude in real life. They carved off the cabin on a Citabria and made it a open cockpit 2 hole. Problem was the C of G was so far off it had to be flown from the front cockpit and the rear was kept covered and used as a luggage bay. The performance of the real one was worse than the full cabin Citabria however it was rated the same so scale maneuvers would be the same as far as any competition would go.

Dennis

ronm · 02-20-2007, 01:17 AM

Nice history article here:
http://www.joeld.net/citabria/history.html

02-19-2007, 02:48 PM	#1
Joe Cunningham RCC Junior Contributor Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London Feedback: 0 / 0% Posts: 114 Total Props: 0	Balsa USA - EAA Bi-Plane & Citabria Pro Remove this ad - become a site supporter! With the Toledo show fast approaching I was thinking of purchasing a Balsa USA EAA Bi-Plane.... Has anyone have first hand experience with this aircraft : Although not a bi-plane I was also leaning towards the Balsa USA Citabria Pro... Attached Thumbnails __________________ MAAC#68663 Forest City Flyers, London, Ontario If you can't reach it. It's too high!
	.

02-19-2007, 10:42 PM	#3
Wayne22 RCC Supreme Contributor I am: wayne b Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sh. Park, Ab Feedback: 11 / 100% Posts: 2,318 Total Props: 13	I've had both... The Biplane is a bit on the small side (for me) but a great flying plane. Surprisingly for a biplane, it almost glides!! It is small enough to transport in one piece to the field, but it is a pain taking off the wings if you need to break it down. The Citabria Pro is a great flying plane as well. In spite of the huge elevator and short fuselage, it is surprisingly gentle to fly. A 91 will fly it decently, but not authoritatively. a 120 4 stroke is a bit crowded in there unless you build it up around that engine (I added it on later..) It makes a really nice float plane too! Biggest pain, outside of transporting an 80" wing, is that assembly at the field requires 14 bolts, and it takes quite awhile to get everything together and aligned.... __________________ There aren't enough days in the weekend. -- Steven Wright Last edited by Wayne22; 09-15-2008 at 06:05 PM.
	.

02-20-2007, 01:07 AM	#4
Guest Guest Join Date: Sep 2002 Feedback: 0 / 0% Posts: 0 Total Props: 57	I still have my Citabria Pro. I powered mine with an OS 1.08 and it had plenty of power. Flew solid even in cross winds. I could drag the tail in so it touched first if I wanted to with the mains a couple of inches off the runway. Three pointers were easy. Watch that rudder it has plenty of authority. Bump up the throws on the ailerons for a faster roll rate as it helps in the snaps. I left the wing struts attached to the wing so there was only 6 screws to attach the wing. I have flown both I would pick the Pro first. If you are building this to scale be sure to order the picture pack from Bob Bankas Scale Resource. There was only one built and it looked pretty crude in real life. They carved off the cabin on a Citabria and made it a open cockpit 2 hole. Problem was the C of G was so far off it had to be flown from the front cockpit and the rear was kept covered and used as a luggage bay. The performance of the real one was worse than the full cabin Citabria however it was rated the same so scale maneuvers would be the same as far as any competition would go. Dennis Attached Thumbnails
	.

02-20-2007, 01:17 AM	#5
ronm RCC Supreme Contributor I am: Ronm Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mission, B.C. Radio of choice: Futaba # of RCs: 10 Feedback: 0 / 0% Posts: 5,625 Total Props: 0	Nice history article here: http://www.joeld.net/citabria/history.html __________________ Ron Mattiuz Flying Tigers RC Club "Flying an airplane is just like riding a bike...except it's harder to put cards in the spokes"
	.

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02-19-2007, 03:33 PM	#2
cassat RCC Supreme Contributor I am: Dave Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: P.River,Alberta Radio of choice: Airtronics Aquila,Taranis,DX7 # of RCs: 12 Feedback: 211 / 98% Posts: 7,363 Total Props: 11	The Citabria Pro is a nice flying airplane with a 90-120 four stroke on it. Loops and rolls are very majestic and the airplane is always easy to see because of its size. The only downfall might be the large one piece wing for transporting. Cassat
	.

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