SPEED JUNKIE

My Feedback: (14)

Brethren,

I am sick and tired of guessing how fast my ride is trukin' up stairs![sm=confused.gif]

In order to stop being a "guessaholic" I must plunk down the dough so that I can be in the know!

Where can I get a radar gun and which one would be best for fast model aircraft?

I know nothing about the subject matter so I thought I would tap into the Brother Hood for some input!

I am getting one that's not the question![sm=thumbup.gif]

Just fill me up with good info so I can make make the right decision on the right gun!

Thanks in advance!

Rev Bro #118 [sm=RAINFRO.gif]

P.S. I will bring it out for the Brother Hood in So. Cal. so that we all can enjoy it once I learn how to set it up and use it!

(NO MORE LYING ABOUT WHO WON THE DRAG RACE![sm=biggrin.gif])

rmenke

My Feedback: (13)

Our club recently looked into the purchase of a good radar gun. As I recall (poorley) there are two available, one for aobut $200-$250, the other near $500. Research found that the cheep gun just will not pickup the model, so is a waste of money. Go for the good one only. Hope this helps.

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

SPEED JUNKIE....

....take a peek here....[sm=thumbup.gif]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Dave.

daven

My Feedback: (1)

The Stalker Pro gun is the only one I know that works well. If I remember correctly, your looking at over $1000.

bob27s

My Feedback: (19)

http://www.eagletreesystems.com/Plane/plane.html

jon_focal_plane

A retired fellow at our club spent 3200.00 on the one he brings out every other weekend or so. Yes, decimal point is in the right place. I'll post the details if interested.

MadScientist

Bob, How accurate is the Eagle Tree device? Have you used them before?

SPEED JUNKIE

My Feedback: (14)

I guess my $500 must grow to at least $1000 before I can come close to the gun I need.[sm=angry.gif]

NOW TAKING DONATIONS FOR RADAR GUN![sm=thumbup.gif]

Rev Bro #118 [sm=RAINFRO.gif]

bob27s

My Feedback: (19)

Dub and Mike have a system the use for in-air testing.

I have one too..... only flown it as a test in my Edge... but it works as advertised. I do not have the telemetry system - just the hard download version.

Air data is good.... no reason to doubt the air speed indications.

Kinda kewl seeing the flight profile - peak rpm, max V, stuff like that.

Bob

SPEED JUNKIE

My Feedback: (14)

What about this GPS tracking device?

Anybody know someone who has tried it?

http://www.gpsflight.com/

Bob.R

My Feedback: (2)

I've got a Garmin Foretrex 201 wrist watch size GPS unit that I originally bought for windsurfing. It is pretty small and I was able to stuff it in the fuse without a problem. You would need to adjust the sample rate (easily done) because the default sample rate is pretty slow. There is software available for free or a few bucks that allows you to download the tracks to your PC and analyze the data, including speed at each data point. Pretty cool stuff actually. I think I paid about $250 for the unit which includes the download cable. Garmin makes other small units that might be less expensive. I've read internet chatter that the accuracy is questionable in a high speed dive, but I can't verify that. Might be a viable alternative to expensive radar guns.

ptulmer

My Feedback: (5)

bobber, GPS can determine ground speed only. Still, that's pretty cool! I had the earlier model of the Eagle Tree flight data recorder. It was accurate to +/- 2mph IIRC. But, you GOTTA keep it out of the propwash!

Bob.R

My Feedback: (2)

ptulmer - you are right about gps measuring the ground speed. To get something resembling air speed, you would need to download the gps tracks to a computer and average the speed of upwind and downwind passes - similar to what is done with radar. The Garmin unit also displays max speed, but this is sometimes subject to error.

Cyclic Hardover

My Feedback: (3)

As I recall , their is a company that sells a onboard system and not much either. Maybe $100-$150 which has na actual pitot tub and you can install it on your plane to take airspeed and altitude readings. I think it's 'i4c products."

Carlos G

Hi Speed junkie

Have you thought about setting up a speed trap? All you need is a measured distance, a stop watch and a couple of buddies. Fly both ways through the trap and average the time over the distance and you have your speed. Not too expensive and generally you can borrow everything from your buddies. Then you can check your buddy's planes and see who is really full of it :-)

Just a thought...

Carlos G

cobratraxxas69

My Feedback: (31)

You may want to consider the cheap $80-$150 baseball-style radar guns (like the Bushnell Speedster).

I bought a Bushnell Speedster and needed to fly the plane right over my buddy's head (probably about 20 feet above the ground) in order to get a reading. The max range (line of sight) at which I could get a reading was 30 feet. My buddy was able to get a 121 MPH reading on my MVVS .40 Diamond Dust, after many attempts. The police-style radar guns (like the Stalker), give you the advantage of being much further away from the target but are almost 10 times the price..

The Bushnell guns do work, but you need a very brave soul indeed to stand underneath the path of a Extreme Speed Prop Machine.

-Mike


Here's an interesting web-page with many kinds of radar gun.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/radar-guns.html

This one looks pretty cool

http://www.opticsplanet.net/sports-r...un-sr3500.html

Ad Clark III

My Feedback: (8)

Radar guns are expensive,
Problem for me is that I wanted a gun that went above 200 mph. Under the old ama rules you were allowed to if certain guidelines were met. Most sport guns are reasonably priced, but they only go up to about 150 mph. Anyway I found one that goes up to 300 mph and was about 700 bucks. Works great. I take it to the field with me every weekend. Its kinda funny when you hear someone say there airplane goes about 140 and then I "gun" them and its actually only 97. Definately shuts up the BS'ers. Its called a SportsPro. I think they can be found at link]http://www.astroproducts.net[/link]

SPEED JUNKIE

My Feedback: (14)

Exactly which model do you have? It sounds like the one I have been looking for.[sm=thumbup.gif]
Thanks

combatpigg

My Feedback: (3)

CARLOS G, I'm with you, running the plane through a level 1/8th mile with a stop watch and a pair of walkie talkies will give numbers that are hard to dispute.

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

I thought my streamlined Super Kaos moved out pretty good....

....radared at 105. The truth hurts.

FBD.

daven

My Feedback: (1)

That model looks faster Dave, how bout trying an APC prop

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

....i'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

The long stroke RF only turns the 12-8 Zinger 11.4K....

....but it goes straight up like all get-out.

Dave.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Ouch, 6 miles per hour slower and the AMA would allow you to fly your Kaos at night as a "low performance model".

daven

My Feedback: (1)

Is that tuned pipe set for such low rpm?

Why not cut down your diameter and let her spin?

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

.....besides, I packed all my APC's to give to Razor. I also sent him the instructions
on scaling fish, and skinning small game with them.

I also sent the booklet...."Forget the Ginsu."

[sm=bananahead.gif]