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Pike Brio Production Version

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I'll do this properly soon, but for now here's the facts without the frilly bits.

  • Moulded prototype weighs 2640 g RTF, my production model weighs 2450g RTF.
  • The production version is noticeably stiffer.
  • Smaller aileron movements are needed for the same response - control surface and wing stiffness is excellent.
  • The brakes are amazing - I have witnesses who saw the nosecone fall off when I hit full brake on a steep approach - no shit!
  • The new fuselage is better for launching and has a much stronger inner nose to fuselage joint.
  • I've flown the production version on two days.
  • Day one. Really light lift, no one else stupid enough to launch. I thermalled off the slope for 30 minutes until the lift totally died. Ended up catching a thermal almost as I was about to start my approach to land out. The shadow was really big! Even the paraglider pilots congratulated me on working it back up, but it wasn't me, it's just that kind of plane.
  • Day two was the very next day and at the opposite end of the conditions. Had work to do so had to get up early to get to the Wrecker - worth it, greeted by 25mph NE and big thermals. As others arrived they allowed me the frequency and the best bit of the hill all to myself, over on the left. Those that fly with me know I have a pretty low boredom threshold and seldom fly for more than 10 minutes. Today I flew for 2 hrs, almost non stop. I must have done hundreds of F3F runs and I know I did some pretty stupid aerobatics. Compared with the prototype the production model is definitely stiffer - there is no aileron fade when going very, very fast.
  • Pluses over the prototype - stiffer wing, lighter, stronger fuz, generally shinier, auto-locating wing to fuz wiring.
  • Down sides - addictive (just couldn't say no to another few passes), anyone can get one, I have to go on holiday for 2 weeks and won't get another chance to fly it before the UK Nationals.
  • If I said the Brio was the biggest single advance in F3F models since the Ellipse 1 would you believe me? Do I care? Do I care if you care? Suggest you find someone with a Brio and blag a go to make your own mind up.