cluzeauu

Yes...some X-tra fuel in tank 😊

roalddogge

I just got a phone call from the courier that my Xcalibur+ is on the way for delivery :-D


I am planning to install a P160SX and Futaba gear using S-Bus. No Powerboxes and such.


Just one question: Did anyone successfully install electric landing gear already ? I was wondering how much work it would take to make it fit. I did not choose anything yet but was thinking of Electron ER40’s



Thanks in advance

Ro

Dave Wilshere

Just charging the Xcalibur+ for this weekends JMA meeting. You will all love the Plus when you start flying it, its like an F3A model in smoothness!

Dave Wilshere

Another great weekend flying the Plus. I had the standard size one out too and the bigger one is definitely even smoother (all big models are!) Hopefully PB took some flying shots today.

Paul0088

Dave Wilshere

P

Top job as always.

D

roalddogge

Hi,


Looking for electric landing gear now. Can someone tell me what the tire sizes are in the standard kit ?


Ro

Dave Wilshere

3 1/2"
But I'd still go air every time!

roalddogge

Hahaha, I was expecting that answer ;-) Thanks for the dimension info


Actually I am still doubting, but my experience with air systems has not been so great. Especially as I fly very irregular I found that when systems get older they become quite a headache. Leaking tubes, cilinders etc etc.

On my smaller jets I have everything electric and I just love the reliability, the lack of compressor to drag along and the super smooth proportional braking.


Guess I will have to sleep a few nights about it.....;-)

Dave Wilshere

Air system just needs some silicon oil every other flying session and its good for years.

Small electric is great, tolerance is poor so it does not jam :-)
Better stuff that jams part way means a wrecked unit when you land on a big leaver that rips the unit apart!
Xcalibur gear is great, mine holds air for weeks, it fit perfectly...its a no brainer for me ;-)

Dave

Fly Mower

Dave, Very Interesting!

Exactly how do you do this on a closed / built system? I assume a few drops in the fill valve before adding air?

Cheers,

Lee.

Dave Wilshere

Lee, basically yes. The air pumps produce moisture, without a water trap it will eventually dry out and increase corrosion in the tanks and cylinders. So, I have a small bottle of buggy shock oil which lasts years (first one lasted me 8!!) I have a festo connector next to the pump outlet and I split it there before a session, into the tube I squeeze 3-4mm of silicon oil. That vaporises into droplets. I also sometimes add a drop into the fill valve on some systems (lots of gear doors)
i have been doing this for years and I can count my fear failures in binary numbers :-).
obviously there are other influences, but it's surely a big part.

Dave

br1anj

Dave, is there any chance you could post a picture of the oiler for your air system. I'm having a hard time picturing it in my head and would really like to do my system like that as it sounds like a great idea. Thanks

Pttcrisp

All you do is buy some silicon oil in a aerosol can and every now and then you spray a little in the air fill line. It will distribute itself around the system

Dave Wilshere

I'm in Scotland at the moment, but will post some shots when I'm back next week.

Dave

br1anj

Okay, Thank You!

Jimonline99

Hi Guys,

Wondered if I might pick your brains, my father and I are currently building the 98 inch Tony Nijhius Vulcan and have purchased the new Wren 100 I Kero for it, as this is our first adventure into turbines I am debating getting an Xcaliber to hone our jet skills on a slightly more robust and somewhat more expendable model.

The debate is whether to go with the standard or the plus, unfortunately the Wren 100 falls right in the middle of the power ranges for the two models, bit big for the standard but bit small for the plus. The plus would be the ideal as I would have room to test the Powerbox/gyro setup planned to go in the Vulcan, wouldn’t mind experimenting with some smoke systems also. Standard would fit in the car bit easier.

Has anyone had a go with a smaller 100N ish turbine in the Xcaliber plus yet? If 100N is not enough for the plus will I get away with it in the standard airframe if I avoid high throttle?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Terry Holston

My Feedback: (1)

You can never have too much power.................If the 100 K is too much , throttle back.............

Fly Mower

Lots of us using 100N size Turbines in the standard Xcalibur without any issues at all (read through the standard Xcalibur thread on here!)

The build manual actually acknowledges and allows 100N Turbines the only proviso is not to use full power on the down lines as you may exceed the speed rating of the air-frame. Perfectly okay to use full throttle on level and vertical flight.

My Xcalibur (standard) is my first Turbine model and I equipped it with a Jets Munt 100XBL - I just love the way it flys...........

Dave Wilshere

The plus would fly more like the Vulcan as that is draggy, a 100N turbine in the standard Xcalibur would be normal, most of the ones flying have a 100 in, but other than teaching you about turbines the flight performance is a lot greater than the Vulcan will be. Although I still have not found time to fly the Plus with a JetCat P-100, I know it will fly it from turning the larger JetCat down to 85N in testing. Its not a true gauge as the smaller high rpm 100's exhaust gas velocity is higher exiting, so slows quicker as it expands.
Depends how long the build is going to be, you'll have more fun flying the smaller Xcalibur with a 100, it has room for the iGyro and smoke can be fitted.

DW

Jimonline99

Huge thanks for the super quick replies and excellent advice, most kind. First time I've posted, anywhere, and found it very useful. We're off to investigate a new club at the weekend as our local field is sadly rather anti-turbine on noise grounds. I believe there are one or two Xcalibers in operation there so will investigate further. I think I'm leaning more towards the standard one as will be easier to move about/store and likely fit in my car hopefully with booms on, flight times I'm guessing will be a lot better with the stick not near max most of the time.

We had been hoping to have a go with one of the powerbox royal srs units with built in gyro, cost is not much different than powerbox plus separate IGyro but suspect this might be a bit of a squeeze in the standard Xcaliber (unit is 130x80x20mm) any thoughts?

With a 100N in the standard and therefore likely using the lower end of the throttle range especially on finals would you expect throttle lag will be more of an issue, spool up time form low rpm I suspect is quite a bit longer than from 50%, have you found this to be too much of an issue if a go around is required.

I'm also thinking if we can master a more twitchy smaller model then the the Vulcan should be less of a handful.

Many thanks again for your input, its gold dust for the newbies ! Now off to scour the standard Xcaliber threads.

Dave Wilshere

Both models have decent flight times, even with a low power turbine in the Plus it will do 8+ minutes, as its a huge tank. With a 140 I fly the plus 10-12 minutes with plenty spare.
If you add a plate across the two existing plates it will fit in the std model. Weight is not a problem as the small one needs a little weight normally.
Its not silly over powered with the 100 (std) its well powered, you fly a normal jet throttle stick position, your Vulcan and a Plus, you will be much more on the gas even in the landing phase. We all fly the std model from 100m (300') strips and even the inexperienced jet pilots cope fine.
Spool up time is an obsession with some, I don't worry, even the slowest turbine is fast enough if people watch the aircraft, rather than listen to it! The Xcalibur range is all lightly loaded, and aerodynamically clean, so it does not need much to get it going again (your Vulcan will need a decent period of time to accelerate from a deep stall, but like I said the slow accelerating turbines are producing thrust at about the same speed the drag is coming off.

None of the Xcalibur's are 'twitchy', but it will be a hoot to fly for sure. The Vulcan will be more about energy management.

Which Country you in?

Dave Wilshere

One of my customers here sent me an email and some (poor quality) photo's of his RAF Plus. Said its his favourite jet and very relaxing to fly. Shows an idea of the scheme!

rcbidder

My Feedback: (4)

Can we get a side by side pic between the standard and plus, a visual of how much larger the plus would be greatly appreciated.

rcbidder

My Feedback: (4)

Jose,
did the container clear customs yet, I've ordered one of the Plus , Union Jack scheme, thru my LHS.
they're telling me, still waiting on customs to clear, please keep us updated.