Skymaster Avanti XXL Build Thread
02-09-2015, 09:09 AM
#177
Thread Starter
Cool, congrats on the maiden and I really like the XXL sticker on the side. How did the the thust vectoring feel, could you deff tell when it was active? How about those struts with full fuel?
Mine is done and balanced and ready for flying, I took the tail off so I can move it down stairs plus i will do a final one over on everything to make sure its all tight. No idea when I can get it test flown, no place here local to fly.
Mine is done and balanced and ready for flying, I took the tail off so I can move it down stairs plus i will do a final one over on everything to make sure its all tight. No idea when I can get it test flown, no place here local to fly.
02-10-2015, 01:36 AM
#180
1) I pumped the struts to 130psi and they are fine with full fuel and smoke tank, no bottoming out and they were pretty stable in a taxi turn. ie the outer wing did not hang low and stay there after straightening out, my pet peeve with my Hawk
. I also used my hand pump to inflate the tyres a bit as well, not hard but just firm.
2) I set up 2 rates on the vector, one around 10% which probably gives me around 10mm movement at the end and the other as much as I could get, not sure how much but its around 40 degrees at a wild guess. The pipe did restrict any further movement but it looked enough for my purpose.........
I spent the first few flights checking CG and setting up the throws and expo. The throws as per the manual are good, I just reduced expo on elevator to 12% and ailerons to 15% ( I had set them to 30%) which got rid of the initial "dead duck" feel. I have 40%expo on rudder as the rudder is very effective but i like the recommended throw ie. 40mm for knife edge and rolling circles etc. without switching a dual rate.
I tried the nozzle on the 4th flight and I did like the low speed pulls and pushes over the top of the humpty's etc. using low rate, as it seems to "drive" it over without losing direction, I believe this low rate will help straighten loops, rolls etc. for nice constant low speed aerobatics. I think it has potential to be used in a precision sense rather than a full on 3D sense for this airframe, which I would rather leave to the Eurosport and J-10 gang. The full throw nozzle will be fine for flat spins, tight stalled loops etc. which is about as far as I am going to go in that direction, without a gyro. I'll hover my Yak 54 rather........
I built this Jet specifically for Jet aerobatic competitions and after 4 flights I can feel it's more than capable of being a precision, constant speed, aerobatic machine.
Pretty chuffed to be honest.
. I also used my hand pump to inflate the tyres a bit as well, not hard but just firm.2) I set up 2 rates on the vector, one around 10% which probably gives me around 10mm movement at the end and the other as much as I could get, not sure how much but its around 40 degrees at a wild guess. The pipe did restrict any further movement but it looked enough for my purpose.........
I spent the first few flights checking CG and setting up the throws and expo. The throws as per the manual are good, I just reduced expo on elevator to 12% and ailerons to 15% ( I had set them to 30%) which got rid of the initial "dead duck" feel. I have 40%expo on rudder as the rudder is very effective but i like the recommended throw ie. 40mm for knife edge and rolling circles etc. without switching a dual rate.
I tried the nozzle on the 4th flight and I did like the low speed pulls and pushes over the top of the humpty's etc. using low rate, as it seems to "drive" it over without losing direction, I believe this low rate will help straighten loops, rolls etc. for nice constant low speed aerobatics. I think it has potential to be used in a precision sense rather than a full on 3D sense for this airframe, which I would rather leave to the Eurosport and J-10 gang. The full throw nozzle will be fine for flat spins, tight stalled loops etc. which is about as far as I am going to go in that direction, without a gyro. I'll hover my Yak 54 rather........
I built this Jet specifically for Jet aerobatic competitions and after 4 flights I can feel it's more than capable of being a precision, constant speed, aerobatic machine.
Pretty chuffed to be honest.
02-10-2015, 09:59 PM
#184
Tks Jan. Yes Morne, if I could get the correct size pilot I promise you it would be in there.
Fender I think this aircraft can handle a pretty wide range of CG, within reason of course. I set mine up at 320mm, (middle of the suggested range) dry. With a full smoke tank it was definitely nose heavy, but not badly so if you know what I mean, If I recall correctly I had 1 click of up trim from centre. It grooved around very predictably with a nice push in the inverted stuff.
When I had run out of smoke fluid i had a full flight ie, from take off to landing with no smoke fluid in the tank and it became what I really wanted, a pattern ship. Very neutral but still with a slight but comfortable push on the inverted 45 deg. uplines which is where I like it. We all have our preferences, and that's just mine. ......
I will leave it just as it is.
Fender I think this aircraft can handle a pretty wide range of CG, within reason of course. I set mine up at 320mm, (middle of the suggested range) dry. With a full smoke tank it was definitely nose heavy, but not badly so if you know what I mean, If I recall correctly I had 1 click of up trim from centre. It grooved around very predictably with a nice push in the inverted stuff.
When I had run out of smoke fluid i had a full flight ie, from take off to landing with no smoke fluid in the tank and it became what I really wanted, a pattern ship. Very neutral but still with a slight but comfortable push on the inverted 45 deg. uplines which is where I like it. We all have our preferences, and that's just mine. ......
I will leave it just as it is.
02-11-2015, 09:27 PM
#189
Correct. There is a knack to it but its very handy to keep it removable. Just make up a bracket to hold it in place so it doesn't come loose unintentionally.
I attached my weight, ECU and smoke battery to it so they easy to remove and charge if needed.
I attached my weight, ECU and smoke battery to it so they easy to remove and charge if needed.
02-13-2015, 01:53 PM
#193
Thread Starter
Due to my power system being so far forward mine being removable would be more a pain than its worth. I use ions and liFe packs so charging in the jet is some what safe.
02-21-2015, 12:01 AM
#194
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Let me know how you get on installing the horns. The supplied horns are short with hardly any rake on them. You can't get the pivot point over the hinge rod as the support block appears to be set further back in the surface. I had to 'lean' mine forward as best I can. Not ideal but not gonna make a huge difference so long as both sides are in the same position.
Will post pics etc of mine over the weekend
Will post pics etc of mine over the weekend
I agree with the horns being too short so I replaced them with what's on hand in the shop.
I used spare long servo horns from hitec and cut the center part away. I also drilled glue pockets on the improvised horn.
They're thick,strong,lightweight and rock solid when hysoled to the control surface.
Mounting the horns with the aid of a cardboard template added precision on the location and also used a vertical balsa jig to give equal and accurate angle or lean while drying the installation.
Hope this would be of value to those who doesnt want some down time while waiting for aftermarket control horns. thanks
02-21-2015, 04:35 PM
#196
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Hello disco wings!
They're very robust with the long post plus the "glue rivet" with the large holes locks them permanently with a solid foundation esp when a canal has been scraped at the bottom of mount. Mine has dried and would rip off the control surface if given excessive force.
with the post almost equal size of the external horn im sure it will hold whatever load a 3d pilot can feed the avanti.
Im very paranoid about linkage and structural failures so im pretty sure you his is better than what was supplied. 😊
thank you for the concern discowings!
They're very robust with the long post plus the "glue rivet" with the large holes locks them permanently with a solid foundation esp when a canal has been scraped at the bottom of mount. Mine has dried and would rip off the control surface if given excessive force.
with the post almost equal size of the external horn im sure it will hold whatever load a 3d pilot can feed the avanti.
Im very paranoid about linkage and structural failures so im pretty sure you his is better than what was supplied. 😊
thank you for the concern discowings!
Last edited by PLANEINSANE1; 02-21-2015 at 04:36 PM. Reason: Typo
02-21-2015, 10:26 PM
#197
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Ok hope it works well and you have a safe flight.
I will plan on starting mine soon, its still in the box, but I need to sell some exsisting jets, plus I want to see if anyone else has gone with a BF300 and how it will fly.
I will plan on starting mine soon, its still in the box, but I need to sell some exsisting jets, plus I want to see if anyone else has gone with a BF300 and how it will fly.
02-22-2015, 04:29 AM
#198
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Hi everybody,
to reduce weight in the noze, all my equipment are forward as possible. The result with the "natural" CG balancing is coming in few weeks. Here some pictures with the different trays.
1) The removable front tray with 5 AQ
2) The lateral pneumatiic trays
3) The RX tray
4) The small equipment tray
Olivier (France)
to reduce weight in the noze, all my equipment are forward as possible. The result with the "natural" CG balancing is coming in few weeks. Here some pictures with the different trays.
1) The removable front tray with 5 AQ
2) The lateral pneumatiic trays
3) The RX tray
4) The small equipment tray
Olivier (France)
02-22-2015, 08:33 AM
#199
Thread Starter
Ol I moved everything I could as far forward as possible and still had to add a pound. If I would have used the smoke tank and added a smoke system I think it would have balanced with out any weight.