Reaction 54 Jet Kit
07-09-2012, 01:03 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
hi Bob,
nice pictures, amazing what you see when you really look!! missed the mods to rudder and elevator on previous posts, very clever.
Grant
nice pictures, amazing what you see when you really look!! missed the mods to rudder and elevator on previous posts, very clever.
Grant
07-09-2012, 03:35 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Its the large diameter Xicoy LED ring with their controller. Its very visible in flight, even on a bright sunny day. I got a LOT of comments about it from spectators at the airshow.
Well worth it!
OTOH, the running lights and rotating beacons dont really show up that well, and I dont think I would bother to do that again.
Bob
Well worth it!
OTOH, the running lights and rotating beacons dont really show up that well, and I dont think I would bother to do that again.
Bob
07-09-2012, 03:52 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Grant,
I went to dual elevators with separate servos. I just like redundancy on a plane like this. Once I had that, and was about to glue the tail on, I decided to do the anhedral, which I think worked out well. The planform is slightly different from stock also.
I widened the aft fuselage to get both elevator horns tucked inside the fuselage, with straight linkages.
The vertical tail was reshaped, but mostly shifted aft a bit. There is a rudder post that goes down to the bottom of the aft fuselage, and the rudder horn is now along side the elevator horns with a straight linkage to the servo.
I am pretty happy with the way it all came out.
And I now have a Jets-Mund VT-80 engine installed, so about 18 lb thrust vs the 14 of the prior Wren 54 Mk 3. Its also lighter and faster throttle response. Quite a bit better climb performance!
With the flap and crow that I have, the plane needs over 50% throttle for level flight in landing configuration, so from there to full trust is well under 2 seconds... really not much different from a somewhat rich glow engine. I was doing touch and goes with it last week and on most of them, I was back in the air before getting to the midpoint of a 550 ft runway... and I was making sure I had good steering control with good position and heading on the runway after it was down, then going to takeoff flap setting, and THEN opening the throttle, wait a bit for more thrust and then take off again. Very nice!
Bob
Bob
I went to dual elevators with separate servos. I just like redundancy on a plane like this. Once I had that, and was about to glue the tail on, I decided to do the anhedral, which I think worked out well. The planform is slightly different from stock also.
I widened the aft fuselage to get both elevator horns tucked inside the fuselage, with straight linkages.
The vertical tail was reshaped, but mostly shifted aft a bit. There is a rudder post that goes down to the bottom of the aft fuselage, and the rudder horn is now along side the elevator horns with a straight linkage to the servo.
I am pretty happy with the way it all came out.
And I now have a Jets-Mund VT-80 engine installed, so about 18 lb thrust vs the 14 of the prior Wren 54 Mk 3. Its also lighter and faster throttle response. Quite a bit better climb performance!
With the flap and crow that I have, the plane needs over 50% throttle for level flight in landing configuration, so from there to full trust is well under 2 seconds... really not much different from a somewhat rich glow engine. I was doing touch and goes with it last week and on most of them, I was back in the air before getting to the midpoint of a 550 ft runway... and I was making sure I had good steering control with good position and heading on the runway after it was down, then going to takeoff flap setting, and THEN opening the throttle, wait a bit for more thrust and then take off again. Very nice!
Bob
Bob
07-09-2012, 05:10 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bob,
looking forward to getting it finished, staying pretty well with the standard build, just adding your duct detail. pretty well finished the Fuselage, trial fitted the servos, retract lines, air-tronic valves,they are holding air pressure over night, need to tidy a bit on the retracts and sheet the top of the wing. fix ducts on, more sanding, just takes time eh.
Grant
looking forward to getting it finished, staying pretty well with the standard build, just adding your duct detail. pretty well finished the Fuselage, trial fitted the servos, retract lines, air-tronic valves,they are holding air pressure over night, need to tidy a bit on the retracts and sheet the top of the wing. fix ducts on, more sanding, just takes time eh.
Grant
07-14-2012, 01:28 PM
#3007
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Here is the latest Reaction. Delivered it this morning, I was responsible for paint. The first pic is me and the owner Don (I'm on his right). PPG Deltron DBC basecoat, Shopline JC661 clear.
Dan
Dan
07-15-2012, 09:46 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Thanks guys. Here are a few pics of mine, almost ready to go. My buddy Berk is finishing the install for me, my time is tied up with other peoples stuff. Pics taken at a mall show my club did last month.
Dan
Dan
08-19-2012, 05:24 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Finally, I have maiden my Reaction 54. In fact I have ten flights and have earned my turbine waiver.
What an amazing jet, smooth, predictable, quick and easy to work on. WOT is an awesome experience. Video and pictures soon.
What an amazing jet, smooth, predictable, quick and easy to work on. WOT is an awesome experience. Video and pictures soon.
08-19-2012, 06:34 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I really appreciated your help Terry. Flew three times today with great landings.
Hopefully we will be able to fly this week. I want to put some time on this jet to help chase away the butterflies!
Hopefully we will be able to fly this week. I want to put some time on this jet to help chase away the butterflies!
08-22-2012, 11:23 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Also want to mention how well my Wren 75 engine pushes the Reaction around. Flies it with amazing authority! Thanks to Ron Ballard at Wren Engines in Indiana for all of the setup help including the kero start. Ron took me from knowing absolutely nothing to at least having a clue. His cookouts are great too.
Have to admit, my first wet kero start was pretty exciting but I have managed to avoid those since then. Love the simplicity of it now.
DRS
Have to admit, my first wet kero start was pretty exciting but I have managed to avoid those since then. Love the simplicity of it now.
DRS
08-28-2012, 05:36 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hey all, I am considering selling my R54. It only has 6 flights or so on it. Life has just got in the way and the plane has been sitting in my shop. I now have a little one on the way and I fear that the plane is just going to sit some more. Let me know if there is any interest out there. It is powered by the Super Bee 2 that Ibought brand new so the warrenty is transferable.
08-28-2012, 01:41 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
hi all,
NZ Reaction 54 is nearly finished, waiting for turbine to arrive, summer is on the way. Next Jet met is September, test flight time is not far away. a couple of pictures showing finished model
Grant NZ
NZ Reaction 54 is nearly finished, waiting for turbine to arrive, summer is on the way. Next Jet met is September, test flight time is not far away. a couple of pictures showing finished model
Grant NZ
08-29-2012, 01:53 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
hi Bruce,
the retracts and struts are Pro-link from Intairco, extended well wheel out 15mm, made a new retract base from aircraft 5 ply, pics on posts #2976 #2983 #2985 #2988. simple mods, fitted the 3/4 triangle as per your plans. will add more pics to this post. Jet- Tronics valves run the retracts and brakes. Elevator to be fitted. decals to be stuck on, work in progress. Jet Cat will power it. JR 11x TX with a 12RX. Hitec servos as per build manual. afterburner fitted. Fitting the turbine will be final challenge.
cheers Grant
the retracts and struts are Pro-link from Intairco, extended well wheel out 15mm, made a new retract base from aircraft 5 ply, pics on posts #2976 #2983 #2985 #2988. simple mods, fitted the 3/4 triangle as per your plans. will add more pics to this post. Jet- Tronics valves run the retracts and brakes. Elevator to be fitted. decals to be stuck on, work in progress. Jet Cat will power it. JR 11x TX with a 12RX. Hitec servos as per build manual. afterburner fitted. Fitting the turbine will be final challenge.
cheers Grant
09-16-2012, 04:53 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Forgot to add my video for my first solo flight. Again, a huge thanks to Sean Saddler for getting me set up and started and my friend Dave for the camera man work.
Notice the carrier deck landing at the end. Going to have to work on that.
I couldn't figure out how to embed the video link. If someone could give me a how to embed youtube links for dummies lesson I would be grateful:
I couldn't figure out how to embed the video link. If someone could give me a how to embed youtube links for dummies lesson I would be grateful:
09-17-2012, 06:23 AM
#3025
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
FWIW.
On my R54 I have to land with high rate on the elevator with a lot of expo to have enough authority to get a flare on landing. If I forget to turn on high rate elevator my landings look like yours in the vid.
Just had the best week ever with my R54, put about 8 gallons of kero thru it. 18 flights!! The grass at the field in the start up area may never be the same again........
On my R54 I have to land with high rate on the elevator with a lot of expo to have enough authority to get a flare on landing. If I forget to turn on high rate elevator my landings look like yours in the vid.
Just had the best week ever with my R54, put about 8 gallons of kero thru it. 18 flights!! The grass at the field in the start up area may never be the same again........
