sonicboom

Hi there

I'm looking for a new 1/5 size jet.. I'm thinking the Skymaster F86, Panther or Cougar.

Any thoughts, bad habits, build issues ect.

Cheers

Newton5019

Can't comment on the f-86 or panther, but I've god the cougar, superb to fly, merlin 160 is more than enough power with full stores hanging off the wings. Easy to set up at the field. Wouldn't hesitate buying another if I had too

toby

IFLYBVM2

My Feedback: (360)

From everything I have read and heard, you would be hard pressed to find a better project than the Cougar. They seem to have very nice slow speed handling as well.
My thoughts-
Mike O.

JackD

My Feedback: (4)

Go with the Cougar! Flies perfectly, very precise. Very good slow flight capabilities.

And the other plus is that it is extremely easy to operate: 1) all the hardware goes in the nose and fully accessible 2) landing gear is on the fuse, so it travels on its wheels. 3) one screw, one cable and wing is installed... total of 30 seconds per wing

THe only negative: you won't want to fly anything else

patrnflyr

My Feedback: (7)

I love my Cougar although it's a BVM PNP. Flies super, easy to see and lands super slow.

Springbok Flyer

I fly the F-86 and it is the most treasured jet in my fleet. Currently I am building the Cougar and can confirm what Jack G has said as I saw him and his Dad operate theirs recently.

The F-86 is definitely a heavier jet and requires more grunt than the Cougar. From what I have seen and experienced, the Cougar is the more user friendly, but poses a few more challenges during the build. If you decide to go with the Cougar follow Jack's advice and let him guide you through the many small modifications.

Cheers,

Jan

JackD

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Jan... this is Jack Jr.

Actually, I have not build the F86, but the Cougar was super easy. 2 months from getting the kit to maiden (my previous build -BVM Mig 15- took me 10 years, so im not a fast builder )

There are very few mods, I would definitely do: 1) Landing gear reinforcement kit from BVM and some "Boxing:" of the front gear former 2) make the front trays as big as possible and 3) flap linkage mod, which is in some thread here in RCU (I can post pics of mine).

Other than that, a good mod is changing the anchor point of the airbrakes cylinders. I havent, but will some day

Other than that, very straight forward build

Good seeing you at BITW. Let us know when you fly yours

Jack G

sonicboom

Thanks for your replies.. I assume the Panther is similar in its flying characteristics? I have seem many cougars but no panthers it it personal preference?

JackD

My Feedback: (4)

I would expect very different flying characteristics. Cougar is almost a Delta. I would expect the Panther to behave more like a T33.

I have not flown a Panther, but I doubt is as forgiving as the cougar at low speeds. The Cougar excels at .this.

And compared to the F86, the F86 could be the easiest landing airplane ever (from flying BVM's 63 and 80", have not flown a SM). The T33 is easy until it isn't, so with similar straight wings, not sure how it will behave on landing

Hopefully someone with experience will chime in, but don't assume they are similar. It does look very cool!!!!!

Craig B.

I cannot comment on the Skymaster panther but I do have their cougar to build. I fly an Airworld Panther and I have done a lot of research on the stall characteristics of the panther vs cougar. Sung Kim lost his at the WJM in Hungary when it tip stalled and if you look at the video of that it did not seem to be going that slowly (obviously hard to judge air speed on a video though).

I have learned (on one occasion the hard way!) that the panther has quite an aggressive stall and will drop a wing. The cougar seems to have very sedate and predictable low speed handling. Not surprising considering the wing platform. If I had to chose one I would go for the cougar for that reason. If you get a bit slow with the panther it is going to bite you hard. Some of the most experienced guys on the planet will probably tell you the same.

Springbok Flyer

Hi Jack G,

Yes was good to finally meet you and catch up again with the best jet pilot (your Dad) in the world at BITW.

Your tips on the Cougar are going into mine right now. Must say, I was rather surprised to see how much weight need to go to the front - much more wood, all the radio and retract stuff, and still some extra lead too. And with all that your cg is still a long way back from the SM position.

I love both my SM T-33 and SM F-86 and can honestly say that they both fly great. The F-86 has been a very stable platform since day one. The T-33 (with your Dad's help) is now the same.

We have two Panthers flying here, by good pilots, but they do not 'sit' and 'present' the same as the Cougar in the sky. I think you and Craig B are both correct in our assumptions regarding the Panther stall characteristics.

For me the choice (if it has to be a choice ) will not include the Panther - it will only be between the Cougar and the F-86.

Cheers,

Jan

sonicboom

Thanks guys .. Looking
like the cougar is top dog!

csandt051196

My Feedback: (35)

What about a cockpit for the smaller SM Cougar? There is not one made for it.

What at did you guys do?

Scott

pilot tw

some customer use the small F-86 cockpit fit to small Cougar ,

Rliebl

Hi,
here is the small Cougar with some of the F86 cockpit parts