Pike Perfect

[BrianSmith]

Are there different weight/strength versions of the PP.. I can't seem to get the web pages to come up.. For those of you actually flying one, what is the all up weight? Thanks Brian Smith

[tomcat5109]

Hi Brian,

The Perfect I just purchased has an auw of 77 oz with a 5 cell AA Eneloop NiMh pack, 3 JR 3421 and 3 Airtronics 761z servos. Skip tells me it is constructed with carbon 68 cloth and that it is the most widely distributed type of Perfect in the United States. The only other two types I've read about are the Perfect "Lite" and a Perfect with a carbon 80 center panel with carbon 68 tips. Don't know their stats.

Tommy L

[sleep4]

Brian:

I believe the Perfect comes in two weights. The full carbon 68 comes in at 2150-2200 gm. The lite version comes in at 1950 gm. I'm not sure about a 2.4 friendly. If you call Skip Miller he can tell you.

John

[Bro]

Howdy;
the Perfects are imported in 2 flavors... Carbon 68, and light..

Carbon 68= 76-77oz
Carbon Lite=67-69 oz.
We will now offer the 2.4 fuses... I brought in 2 "test" fuses for Larry and Craig. The results were very good! So now, they will be available upon request.

All the best!
Bob

[Daryl Perkins]

Bob - I got mine used, and was told it was a "SL" I think. It was 67 after swapping out battery packs and yanking some nose weight. What's the difference between the 2 versions other than weight? How are they shaving 9-10 ounces? That's a huge difference. What are they leaving out? And if the light one is strong enough... what's with the heavy version???

TIA

D

[Bro]

Howdy D;
the main difference is the spar strength. Like the Superior lite, they claim 80% spar strength, and say "not for windy conditions".
BUT, I saw you ping the hell out of yours at Visalia, so I guess one's mileage may vary... ;)

B

[tonyestep]

I have both versions. My SL weighs about 69 oz (no, Daryl, it's not 2 extra ounces of noseweight, it's the 3421s in the wing), my standard about 79. For whatever reason, the SL is just nicer to fly even than the standard, which is itself a wonderful plane to fly. As far as I can tell, the SL will withstand any TD winch launch you can give it. Our club has real-balls winches mounted off the ground, and my SL wing flexes not at all with a full-pedal launch into a 12 mph wind. Of course, the full-strength F3J version can take an even harder launch -- it was built to withstand two gorilla-size linebackers towing into 25 mph winds.

The difference in layup is not only the spar strength; they tried to lighten everything. The fuse is lighter, the hatch is lighter, the ballast arrangement is lighter, the wipers are tape instead of molded fiberglass, and the paint on the stab is virtually non-existent.

Brian, if you had a Pike SL (well, probably any Pike for that matter), you would be deadly.

[BrianSmith]

Would I be as good as DP?? I may order "TODAY"!!! :D
Thanks for all the info guys.. Brian


I have both versions. My SL weighs about 69 oz (no, Daryl, it's not 2 extra ounces of noseweight, it's the 3421s in the wing), my standard about 79. For whatever reason, the SL is just nicer to fly even than the standard, which is itself a wonderful plane to fly. As far as I can tell, the SL will withstand any TD winch launch you can give it. Our club has real-balls winches mounted off the ground, and my SL wing flexes not at all with a full-pedal launch into a 12 mph wind. Of course, the full-strength F3J version can take an even harder launch -- it was built to withstand two gorilla-size linebackers towing into 25 mph winds.

The difference in layup is not only the spar strength; they tried to lighten everything. The fuse is lighter, the hatch is lighter, the ballast arrangement is lighter, the wipers are tape instead of molded fiberglass, and the paint on the stab is virtually non-existent.

Brian, if you had a Pike SL (well, probably any Pike for that matter), you would be deadly.

[glderguy]

You still getting the Supra Brian? Sounds like you may have a little bit of interest in the Perfect?
Walter

[BrianSmith]

Hi Walter
I had a friend or two suggest I should'a got/look at a PP but the Supra "is" on order.. Brian

You still getting the Supra Brian? Sounds like you may have a little bit of interest in the Perfect?
Walter

[tewatson]

FWIW, I flew Superiors for 4+ years...the first two with a "SL" which, like the Perfect SL, was said to have the weaker spar and came in at ~68 oz. On a hard launch, the wing would flex slightly, but not enough to cause worry. It was fine even in moderate wind (at least off of a winch). The only drawback, and the reason I switched to the Carbon 68 version at 73 oz, was the lack of ballast capability for the SL. On a related note, an east coast pilot bought the SL and reportedly had issues in the (stronger) winds out there.

I recently switched to the Perfect (Carbon 68 version) at 77 oz. Since I only have one TD ship, wanting the ability to ballast kept me from the SL.

Tom

the main difference is the spar strength. Like the Superior lite, they claim 80% spar strength, and say "not for windy conditions".

[jojoen]

SL is max 3-4m/s winds on a F3J launch with no big thermals. Most TD launches are not any problem. A thermal on the launch and a correct setup might get you huge tension without touching the pedal so beware.
The SL is probably strong enough for most flying but they can not guarantee anything. It might be considered stronger than some other models on the market... It is not about bending but sudden failure and also flutter. The SL version is only made for early morning / late evenings or very calm days flights.

Most models are 68 version. Those that like a bit more rigid models choose the 80 and for heavy launches on winches and very windy F3J you can order extreme (gives you higher launches).
One can also order something in beetween or special ( I do )

[Larry Jolly]

Daryl and guys,
I have all 3 versions.
The SL first clue is No extra paint,ballast tube, and the ailerons have tape seals. The model is noticably softer and is for early morning late evening low wind conditions.
The normal versions either 68 or 80 gram center panel and 68 gram tips.This is the most common variant.
The Double Carbon 85-90 ounces dry. This is the Dave Hobby version and is made for the Aussies who think it is fun to use F3B winches in wind and buzz the aileron servos out of soft models. I like the heavy model it is much easier to come home with and is not a super disadvantage in active conditions. I ordered the heavy version after the Masters Contest, where I was tired of pushing for 3 days.
The 2.4 fuselage is now available for all variants. If you really want to improve the Perfects handling get some Kolb 5 degree tip joiners from Skip they definitely help the Perfect circle better. Ask Ben what he thinks of these. Larry

[BrianSmith]

I find all these comments enlightening.. Great of you to take the time to make this info known to me and others also. Brian Smith

[maxer]

Same..... I have all 3 versions...well not quite..i have the SSL(Skip Super Light..new old blue...the one that got 15 when no one else could at the team selects...not that it changed my personal result..still missed the team)

SkipMillerModels sells all 3(there actually is a 4th,carbon 80 center with 68 tips)

but here is the HOT NEWS!!! The Kolb PERFECT JOINERS..(Philip designed the PERFECT) are 5.5 degrees, not 4.5 like the originals, and are hollow boxed I beam carbon, made from Torayca M46 fiber for the cap material. The result," less flex, or better said ,equal flex because of the same modulus of the spar...."the wing flexes over the length, not at the joiner.....and the most amazing part....if you haven't flown the 5.5 degree joiners..you haven't flown the PERFECT...Ben told me this at the Team Selects and he is right!(flew mine for the 1st time two days ago)

SkipMillerModels is the exclusive Philip Kolb distributor in the US, and joiners are at this moment in stock, and more on the way!(Philip does oversize so you do have to sand the bottoms and sides to fit the joiner box just right)

The MANIAC, The SkyMax 4, and now joiners!!!!whats next ..miller mod?...Airtronics 2.4!

skip

[s2000]

So how many $ are those joiners Skip? I can attest to how they change the model, flew Larrys and it seemed to track a liitle nicer on landing approach. (not that it is bad with the old 4.5 joiners).

[webbsolution]

Sorry for the poke at the US dollar but I have been taking a lot of abuse over the years over our under rated loonie :) It feels good to be on the blunt end of the stick for a change.

I just finished my standard Perfect which costs me 1600 CDN.

It came in at 73.4 Oz. I used 761z servos (with frames!) and a 5 cel battery. I am going to rebalance it with a 4 cell AA pack tonight which will drop .35 Oz and potentially some nose wieght sine a 4 cell pack will put more wieght up front as compared to a 5 cel inline pack. So at least from my aircraft it would appear that between the SL and the standard there doesnt seem like enough of a wieght spread to justify reducing the spar strength and going with the SL unless the SL is even lighter now ......?? Has anyone built a Perfect SL form the last run around September? Let us know how much it wieghs in at all up and flying... First flights on the perfect were....perfect :)