BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

I am not really sure what led me into this, but it has been a fun burst of nostalgia the whole way. I have been all electric for over 5 years now, but had an original Bridi 70's Super Kaos kit up in the attic of my workshop. I finally hit a lull in my projects and thought I would knock it out. I must say, I have been building a lot of modern laser cut kits, and compared to them the Kaos kit was pretty terrible. The plans and instructions were yellowed, as was the canopy- it kind of matches the gold stripes

Piped O.S. .55, JR 9303 radio with a 770 PCM receiver and Futaba 3151 std. digital servos- HS 81 servo on the throttle. Covered with Ultrakote Pearl White and Pearl charcoal, Mkote trim gold striping. All up dry weight 5 lbs even- it should be adequatly powered [&:] The last one of these I had was powered by a polished / ported K&B .40, and was a rocket. Hope this one flies as well, but lasts a lot longer!

Bill Davenport
AMA 28141

KrisG

Beautiful work, Bill. Maybe you want to post the pics on the "classic pattern" subforum of the "pattern" part of RCU. A lot of guys there will be enthusiastic when they see this nice little bird!

Kris

Bob Yeager

My Feedback: (5)

Beautiful!

I believe the second kit I ever built was one of these. I purchased the kit from Joe Bridi personally at the Lake Havasu Float Fly about 1998. I powered it with an O.S. .32 with a Performance Specialities piston/liner and Ultrathrust muffler. Even at 5000 ft + altitude it was a little rocket. I lost it to a false charged battery. It still brings a tear to my eye. What great little airplanes. Enjoy!

BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

Gotta tell you guys, it flies great with the OS .55, what a rocketship! It has been a very satisfying project. Thanks for the kudos, and if any of ya'll come to Hodges Hobbies in Georgia, ask for Bill and I'll let you try it out.

KurtS

Awesome! I'm had two of those. Lost the first one cuz I was dumb and flew the second for three years before an elevator servo failed and it re-kitted itself across some plowed furrows as it touched down in an nice shallow dive. Neat airplanes!

BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

I have quite a few flights on the Kaos now, and in addition to bringing back memories, it sure does fly good. The other day a group of us just took turns flying it and shooting landings, and everyone agreed that nothing lands or flies like a Kaos. So sweet :-) The only trouble so far was the nose gear coming loose ( the 37 year old wheel collar that held it up in the motor mount ). When I fixed that, I took the opportunity to put Golden Skies nose gear on it. Looks cool and works great.

PointMagu

My Feedback: (11)

Beautiful bird! Your Kaos is exquisite.

Altho mine is larger and I "sinned" by building her as butt-dragger.


PM

Capt. Bill

I am still flying a Super Kaos 40 I built 25 years. My first one was with a K&B 40, the standard engine of the day. Now I am using an OS 46 FX and that is plenty for me. An OS 55 AX would be like putting a 60 on it 25 years ago. I have a Killer Chaos to built and bet an OS 55 AX would fly it fine for sport.

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

That's a beautiful job, Badbill.

What size prop are you using on the OS .55AX?


Ed Cregger

BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

Ed,
I'm running a Master Airscrew 11x7.5. It works good, but I may try a APC 11x8 soon just for fun.

8178

My Feedback: (17)

My Tower Kaos 40 kit modified into a Super Kaos like aircraft http://media.putfile.com/Kaos-40-Kit No pipe yet but it is ballistic! Running a Top Flite 10-7 wood prop. I tried a number of different props but the 10-7 gave the best speed and vertical performance.

kestrel0222

My Feedback: (1)

I have many great memories of flying my Kaos .40. This was my first low wing plane after I learned on a Sig Kadet. It flew great! This was back in 1977, wow, that was a long time ago!! Great memories

evan-RCU

The kaos was and is a great plane. The new Tower version is great too... Good starting point for mods too...

rainedave

My Feedback: (1)

Beautiful examples! I'm finishing up a Super Kaos Jr myself right now. I still have to paint the lettering and clear coat the thing.

maxpower1954

Last year I went through some effort to have the original Kaos .60 made eligible for VRCS events. (I have one built in 1971 I'm restoring.)

Per VRCS rules, I contacted Joe Bridi himself out in CA, where he confirmed that not only the original Kaos, but the Super Kaos and Super Kaos Jr. all first flew prior to 1970. Joe sent a a letter affirming this to Ron Baddorf, he approved it and now all three Kaos designs are on the VRCS eligible list. I'm re-finishing mine to look like Joe's first one - red with black and white trim. Russ Farris

BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

Hate to ressurect a thread this old, but I will anyway :-) I am still flying this baby 6 years later, now with 2.4ghz. Had so much fun with it today I thought I would put up a new picture. Oh yeah- also radared it today at 132 mph [:-]

N1EDM

My Feedback: (2)

That's a nice airplane and a nice finish... Is that a built-up fuse or is it glass?

Bob

BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

Balsa, from the original Bridi kit.

N1EDM

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the reply, BadBill

Bob

stuntflyr

Hi Bad,
I love the Kaos. I've got a couple of Kaos 40 ARF's from '09 and they're still going strong. 46 AX and 55 AX, stock mufflers, super fun. Thanks for resurrecting the thread as I'd never seen your beautiful masterpiece. Looks as good now and in the first pics!
Chris...
P.S. Could you measure the tail moment from wing trailing edge to elevator hinge? I'd love to the know the difference on the Tower ARF. Thanks!

BadBill

My Feedback: (89)

10 Years later, almost to the day The Kaos is still flying great, put seven flights on it yesterday. The OS .55 has never missed a beat, what a great motor. The plane is getting a little bit long in the tooth, going to touch up and replace some of the covering this week.

8178

My Feedback: (17)

Looking back on the thread, I think we both started flying our Kaos airframes about the same timeframe. 2004 for me. Still flying it and went through a Irvine 53, so a few years ago changed to a OS 55.

The Futaba gear went away a few years ago when I upgraded to the FrSky telemetry system. Flying it with a FrSky Horus X12S system since March.

Mike

EloyM

My Feedback: (194)

Real modelers don't fly ARF's. foamies, or (*&^$# drones. They build and fly Kaos'es. or one of Joe Bridi's many designs.
Good/sad news guys. Joe is still with us, somewhat older but only physically, his mind and memory are sharp as ever. He can discuss in detail every one of his designs, the contests he flew and, and how he placed and who else was there. If he ever met you personally, the chances are he will remember you and what you were flying.
Sad news is that Joe has poor eye sight, and is now in a home in California, close to San Jose where a daughter lives. If you would like to send him Chistmas greetings, and possibly a few words about which if his airplanes you enjoyed, you can do so at: 1136 S. Mary Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Eloy Marez, AMA1995; Orbit, Model Builder Magazine, RCM, Airtronics,.....USAF!!!

8178

My Feedback: (17)

How true and Joe's kits were excellent.

My Kaos was built from a NOS Tower kit and modified to the Super Kaos shape. It is sure passing the test of time. Three engines and four different radio systems since 2004.

Mike

Mark Bliss

Yeah, it's old. But....

I built and flew a Great Planes super Kaos 40 back in the early 80's as my first "pattern trainer" with an OS Max 45 ABC w/pipe etc.
Never flew anything like it before or since. Just a nice balance of sport and aerobatics.

​​​​I recently was motivated to search out a replacement kit and was more than a little let down to find it, Q500's and most similar kits have gone the way of history to be replaced by ARF's and such. Too bad. Not eager to relegate it to my pile of Super Tigre combat engines, McCoy Red Heads, etc.

So my question. What's the closest substitute? Bridi?

Next up, Top Flite -Flite Streak C/L kit? That old Super Tigre needs to fly again.