Pilot Dolphin Review and Build
03-19-2015, 03:34 AM
#176
Join Date: Sep 2013
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I will be seeing Tony next week in his factory in Southern China (I live about an hour away from his factory) and return to the states on the 29th. If anyone needs a part let me know and I am sure Tony can arrange it and I will bring it over. By the way I am going to use electric retracts and brakes in mine.
03-21-2015, 02:32 PM
#177
Finally was able to get everything put together for the final CG check today. The CG was perfect. By putting the flight batteries in the compartment in front of the nose gear and putting the UAT up against the front bulk head (lower deck) the CG balanced perfectly with a K140. Total weight with the UAT full but no fuel in the main tank was 25 lbs 14 oz. With 100 OZ of Jet A weighting in at 5.3 lbs that puts my take off weight around 31lbs 3 oz. The K140 is rated around 31 lbs of thrust so i don't think I'll be short on power
I'm now just waiting on some decent wx for the maiden, I'm really stoked!
I'm now just waiting on some decent wx for the maiden, I'm really stoked!
03-21-2015, 03:26 PM
#178
Join Date: May 2007
Location: west sayville,
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HelloTip, I can't wait to hear how your first flight goes, I love your enthusiasm! I am also setting up my Dolphin with the K140. Would you be able to give me your all up battery weight and maybe a picture of what you are describing? Thanks so much, Stan
03-21-2015, 03:57 PM
#179
Stan,
I will take some pictures and post them tonight or tomorrow. My batteries in the nose compartment in front of the nose gear are two Fromeco 2600 mah Li-ion (round cell type). My turbine battery is a li-fe 2100 mah 3S and is mounted on top of the nose gear box.
I will take some pictures and post them tonight or tomorrow. My batteries in the nose compartment in front of the nose gear are two Fromeco 2600 mah Li-ion (round cell type). My turbine battery is a li-fe 2100 mah 3S and is mounted on top of the nose gear box.
03-21-2015, 05:21 PM
#180
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Thanks Tip, My Battery set up is completely different. 2-2cell 2100mah lipo for reciever and 2-7cell 2300mah NiMH for turbine. That's why the weight is important. I may have bulked up too much anticipating the need for nose weight.
03-22-2015, 09:21 AM
#181
Stan,
Here are a couple of pictures of my setup. The blue battery strapped to the nose gear box is the 3S 2100mah LiFe for the turbine. if look closely at the picture of the nose gear you can see where I routed the wires for the two x 2S 2600 mah li-ion batteries. I will have to remove the nose gear to get the batteries out so they are in there to stay for a while. I normally do not like to charge li-ion batteries while they are in the aircraft due the danger of fire but i have no choice in this case. The Turbine battery will be secured with a velcro strap for easy removal (the tie wraps in the picture are only temporary.)
When I checked the CG I had zero fuel in the main tank, since I never plan to land with a totally empty tank I'm going to re check the CG with a third of a tank of fuel because it might work out where I can pull my two flight pack batteries out of the nose and mount them next to the turbine battery for easy removal when charging. In the meantime I have validated that is possible to setup this aircraft with a K140 and not have to add weight to the nose to get the CG right.
Update: when I checked the weight yesterday I forgot to subtract out 7 oz for the weight of the strap, so my actual dry weight is 25 lbs 7 oz and my takeoff weight will be around 30 lbs 12 oz. On a standard day (15C/59F) it will have slightly more than a 1:1 thrust to weight ratio at takeoff
In addition to using electronic air valves from JetTronics for the brakes and retracts I also added a third air tank for a little extra air capacity.
This makes my configuration about 1 lb 11 oz heavier than Jason's configuration. The numbers work out to around a 7% increase in weight for a 40% increase in thrust. I attribute most of the weight difference to the larger turbine (K140 vs K100) and the larger wing (trainer wing vs. sport wing).
Here are a couple of pictures of my setup. The blue battery strapped to the nose gear box is the 3S 2100mah LiFe for the turbine. if look closely at the picture of the nose gear you can see where I routed the wires for the two x 2S 2600 mah li-ion batteries. I will have to remove the nose gear to get the batteries out so they are in there to stay for a while. I normally do not like to charge li-ion batteries while they are in the aircraft due the danger of fire but i have no choice in this case. The Turbine battery will be secured with a velcro strap for easy removal (the tie wraps in the picture are only temporary.)
When I checked the CG I had zero fuel in the main tank, since I never plan to land with a totally empty tank I'm going to re check the CG with a third of a tank of fuel because it might work out where I can pull my two flight pack batteries out of the nose and mount them next to the turbine battery for easy removal when charging. In the meantime I have validated that is possible to setup this aircraft with a K140 and not have to add weight to the nose to get the CG right.
Update: when I checked the weight yesterday I forgot to subtract out 7 oz for the weight of the strap, so my actual dry weight is 25 lbs 7 oz and my takeoff weight will be around 30 lbs 12 oz. On a standard day (15C/59F) it will have slightly more than a 1:1 thrust to weight ratio at takeoff
In addition to using electronic air valves from JetTronics for the brakes and retracts I also added a third air tank for a little extra air capacity.
This makes my configuration about 1 lb 11 oz heavier than Jason's configuration. The numbers work out to around a 7% increase in weight for a 40% increase in thrust. I attribute most of the weight difference to the larger turbine (K140 vs K100) and the larger wing (trainer wing vs. sport wing).
Last edited by Tip22v; 03-22-2015 at 09:26 AM.
03-22-2015, 03:41 PM
#182
Join Date: May 2007
Location: west sayville,
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Thanks Tip, I'm sure the answer to my question is in there somewhere. Anyway the important thing is the fact that you confirmed The Dolphin can be balanced without additional nose weight using the K140. You are a great help, Thank you
03-23-2015, 04:05 PM
#184
I balanced with the landing gear down and the main tank empty. I'm thinking about balancing it with a 1/4 tank of fuel since that will likely be my landing config. How does everyone else balance when it comes to a fuel tank not centered on the CG?
03-28-2015, 07:04 PM
#187
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Originally Tony from Pilot R/C wanted to use 6 to 8 kg turbine but the exhaust tube will not work with a 8 kg or at least Wren and KingCat. Looks like 6 kg will be the only way to go or the Wren 44. I like my Wren's.
03-31-2015, 06:40 PM
#188
I got out this past weekend and was able to do some taxi testing. Everything went well except for the brakes, I've been in contact with Tony who is going to send me some parts to hopefully address the issues.
As soon as I get the brake issues worked out I'll be ready for the maiden flight!
Big thanks for Jordan for help and advice.
Tom
As soon as I get the brake issues worked out I'll be ready for the maiden flight!
Big thanks for Jordan for help and advice.
Tom
Last edited by Tip22v; 03-31-2015 at 07:46 PM.
03-31-2015, 06:58 PM
#190
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: zhongshanGuangdong, CHINA
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Hi Tip22v
sorry for the brake problem. can you please give me your shipping address, phone. I will send you a set of new brake parts.
I will appreciate if you can take the video to send to me about this probme. and take out the brake parts to take some photos and send to me by email. it will help us to promote our product. my email: [email protected]
thanks
tony
sorry for the brake problem. can you please give me your shipping address, phone. I will send you a set of new brake parts.
I will appreciate if you can take the video to send to me about this probme. and take out the brake parts to take some photos and send to me by email. it will help us to promote our product. my email: [email protected]
thanks
tony
04-01-2015, 01:08 PM
#194
Petroleum jelly was the first thing I tried, no luck though. I have three other sets of air brakes on other planes, including another jet, they all work pretty well, not so with these brakes though. Hopefully, Tony will get me fixed up soon.
My struts are also too soft, they bottom out just sitting there. I brought this up two months ago with chief and Pilot-RC but never got anywhere.
My struts are also too soft, they bottom out just sitting there. I brought this up two months ago with chief and Pilot-RC but never got anywhere.
04-06-2015, 06:51 AM
#195
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The struts seem to be low, and they are. I never had an issue with them bottoming out though. But my plane was just under 24 lbs dry. The plane settles in on them nicely with a clean landing and with a hard landing they actually do soak up a lot of what would normally be a bounce. I think this was Tony's idea behind them being set up like this. Guess we will have to see once guys are flying with more than 100 oz of fuel and the 140's. I am building another one right now with a Cheetah in it and a custom made JetTech 125 oz. tank for a customer. I will post pictures of it soon. This one is one of my "nice" builds. The test one I built was ok but not up to my companies standards as far as appearance and wire management. So I'll post some pictures soon of the finished product.
04-07-2015, 07:24 PM
#196
Hi all, new to this forum and thread, just got mine ( Thunderbird scheme) today, was missing the belly pan from the fuse.
Looked all over the box, did anyone else have a similar problem?
Looked all over the box, did anyone else have a similar problem?
04-08-2015, 05:02 PM
#198
Trying to get her up next week, will most likely put a temp panel in place.
Installing: new JetCat 140 RXi, the fuel pump is internally located in the turbine, one less item to install.
Royal Power Box SRS w/ built-in Gyro, binded to DX-18
Has anyone pondered the idea of adding an additional 32 oz tank for either smoke or as additional fuel tank? The Dubro will fit nicely above the stock tank.
04-08-2015, 05:06 PM
#199
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I have been installing these from Jet Tech. Extra 25 oz and on a Cheetah that's pleanty of run time. I run the Royal SRS in all my Jets. You will enjoy that, great equipment. This is one I am building for a customer and will deliver at Joe Nall. It's is a very nice set up as well.
04-08-2015, 05:22 PM
#200
The struts seem to be low, and they are. I never had an issue with them bottoming out though. But my plane was just under 24 lbs dry. The plane settles in on them nicely with a clean landing and with a hard landing they actually do soak up a lot of what would normally be a bounce. I think this was Tony's idea behind them being set up like this. Guess we will have to see once guys are flying with more than 100 oz of fuel and the 140's. I am building another one right now with a Cheetah in it and a custom made JetTech 125 oz. tank for a customer. I will post pictures of it soon. This one is one of my "nice" builds. The test one I built was ok but not up to my companies standards as far as appearance and wire management. So I'll post some pictures soon of the finished product.
