Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Hi Heraldo,

I was flying my B300F powered SM 1/5 F-16 with Jeff this weekend. Got several nice flights in. I do not notice any trim change at all with the SB open. I usually extend the SB with the gear as per full scale when I remember. I forgot two times last weekend however and opened them on landing roll just for looks. However the main reason I would use them is to create drag to allow the power setting to be higher while in final turn and on final so as to reduce the spool up delay in case you need power quickly for a go around or to stop a sink rate. I found flying my final turn and final at a higher AOA and pitch attitude but slower airspeed helped keep the landing speed slower and roll out shorter. However it requires power all the way down and into the flare. I never came to idle before touch down all weekend. On two landings I was adding a little power in the flare to soften the touchdown. We were flying on a beautiful 200 acre sod farm so it was easy to "find the runway". It was everywhere and soft! It made me look better than I was!

Jeff kept me out of trouble with his great spotting and coaching calls also.

Best of luck with your next project.
Gary

General Jake

That is Text book! Did you get any video to share? I'd love to see that! Chris

jws_aces

My Feedback: (33)

Here is one of Gary's flights I recorded live on FB. Sorry no way to save and convert to youtube. I hope you can watch it.

This link will not work but you copy the address.



www.facebook.com/jeff.stubbs.71/videos/10208833885994326/

General Jake

I wanted a Number "5"...LOL Thanks for the link!

General Jake

Here's a copy of my "Viper" checklist...
Viper Checklist with Jetcat P200

Pre-flight
1. After setup – Walk around check
a. Control Surfaces
b. Wing tip secure
c. Vent plugs installed
d. Wheels
e. Tail cone secure
f. Vertical Fin and Rudder
g. Stabs
h. Gear Doors
i. Intake Clear of FOD

Fueling
2. Remove vent plugs
3. Remove and charge turbine battery
4. Attach jet A overflow
5. Attach Smoke overflow if using
6. Close fuel Valve
7. Close Smoke valve
8. Fill Jet A tanks and check for leaks
9. Fill Smoke tanks and check for leaks if using
10. Fill propane tank

Engine Start
11. Safety Team Briefed and ready
12. Check both Rx batteries voltage
13. Turn “on” Transmitter
14. Check Transmitter Voltage
15. Check Trim Settings
16. Check Transmitter model setting
17. Turn “On” both Jet switches
18. Fill Air Tanks 100 psi
19. Test Retracts
20. Refill to 100 psi
21. Reinstall Turbine battery
22. Confirm the following switch positiona. Gear Downb. Lights offc. Gyro Offd. Smoke offe. Airbrake offf. Canopy Upg. Brakes off
23. Fire Extinguisher ready
24. Leaf blower nearby
25. Fuel “On”
26. Smoke “On” (if using)
27. Nav Lights on
28. Set Turbine Trim for start
29. Engine Start set high throttle
30. After start set low stick confirm LED goes to “Green”
31. Smoke Check – Set 50% power turn on Smoke, turn off smoke
32. Run up turbine to 100% and return to idle, confirm After burner comes on
33. Remover Jet A hopper tanks
34. Remover Smoke hopper (if using)
35. Close Canopy – confirm Locked
36. Control surface check
37. Idle up brake check
38. Landing Lights on

Takeoff
39. Taxi into position and adjust nose wheel if needed
40. Confirm Gyro is off
41. Turn on Timer
42. Throttle up – Thunderbirds Gooooo

Shutdown
43. Note fuel level
44. Note PSI
45. Shutoff lights
46. Check intake for FOD
47. Shutdown turbine
48. Cool down with leaf blower
49. Turn off fuel valve
50. Turn off smoke valve
51. Remove and charge turbine battery

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Hi Jake,
Nice checklist. Mine is very similar. Mine started 16 years ago when I forgot to remove the vent plugs after flipping jet over to change turbine glow plug, and then took off. Pump caveated after TO, dead sticked ok. Came back with checklist the next day.

I just sanded my "1" off and repainted the white. Then put a upside down vinyl "5" in the circle.

Good luck on your jet.

Gary

General Jake

Hi Gary, I thought of doing that with the number...nice flying! Chris

Desert Fox 1

Hello All,
Sharing a video of Joe Rafalowski flying his BVM F-16 1/5 PNP




Cheers!
Desert Fox 1

heraldoboldrin

What CG are you using? and how much flap to land?

Desert Fox 1

heraldoboldrin,
Not my jet, I just videoed it flying at our field.

Cheers!
Desert Fox 1

lavi rider

My Feedback: (6)

no flaps needed reason for that is more complex it involves the lack of LE flaps....
the Cg is 1cm behind the factory mark on the fuselage wing root ( it actually falls on the rear part of the circle mark there).

jeff sewell

My Feedback: (1)

We have moved the CG to 1"/25mm from factory and it could potentially go back further. As my friend says - no flaps needed really (it slows down very quickly).

Have fun...

Jeff

lavi rider

My Feedback: (6)

Some of us went back to 25mm ... it does have some draw back when flying at this setting though...
the model becomes more sensitive in pitch especially if one is operating on a windy day .. especially on flare or close to flare point when a gyro isn't used.
But when using a gyro it is a preferred CG point .
Im flying mine at one cm back to keep the model more stable , has an easier steerable glide ratio in case the gyro is off ( otherwise in a rewarded CG one will need to trim the model for a proper hands free glide ratio).

Any way the model is a real delight to fly .

jeff sewell

My Feedback: (1)

No gyro but getting the C/Pro fitted. Can't say it felt twitchy personally, but each to their own!

lavi rider

My Feedback: (6)

True and does have a lot to with ones set up as far as throws and expo set up .
From what you're writing here i feel you're flying on higher expo precentege .

jeff sewell

My Feedback: (1)

Yeah, I set it up similar to my 1:6 G2 F16 which I had flown for about 21/2 years so I was pretty confident that it would be okay. I used about 42% pos expo but reduced this as, even at the more rearward CG, felt a bit numb around the middle and actually harder to land smoothly! My 1:6 G2 had a very neutral CG position but the landing attitude was great and so predictable. It's taking me a while to dial the bigger one in as I've only had about 20+ flights so far.
Great model, as you say....

General Jake

Question for the guys flying with the Demon Cortex gyro - I have 4 flights on my BVM 1/5 scale F-16 and only turned on the gyro for a quick flight test. I was told not to use it for cruise and high speed flying, I was told to only use it for takeoff and landing, is this true?

I have the Gyro installed and setup so my slider switch is Off to On, but "on" is Amber only mode, and never goes to Green mode or "heading Hold".

I don't have the USB cable, so am using the factory settings.

My question is, are you guys using the gyro during the entire flight (High Speed) or just takeoff and landing.....

Thanks,
Chris

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Chris,

I use my gyro full time, take off to landing. I do not use heading hold, only normal mode. I adjust the gain from 0-100% with a rotary knob in the Amber only normal mode. I have been normally flying between 20-40 % with full time gyro. Works great and really helps in gusty wind.

Gary

General Jake

Gary,
I have the Cortex set on my LS switch so it's either off or 0% - %100 on AMBER only...I'll try it next time I fly for the entire flight...So far I'm loving this jet...BTW, I am getting 10 minutes with reserve with my P-200!

Thanks for the response, Chris

rob200970

I have now had approx 20 flights on mine and it gets better and better every flight. Have the Demon Cortex Pro fitted and running 35% gain which smooths everything out very well especially on landing approach. I have it enabled in normal mode only from take off to landing and it has made a huge difference. I can not fault the model and it flies superbly (just the pilot needs to improve!!) I never use flaps for landing but might experiment with the speed brakes next time out just for an added bit of realism.
With the PBS TJ20 fitted I have the timer set at 8mins and always have plenty left in the tanks which gives confidence should I ever need to overshoot or hold off landing for any other reason.

Viper1GJ

My Feedback: (20)

Can some one tell me the fuel capacity of the main tanks. I can't find that info anywhere. Are the fuel tanks on the CG or forward?

Also I read above that the smoke tanks have 2.4L each which makes 4.8L total. Is this correct? That is over 160 oz of smoke fluid capacity if I understand it correctly.

Thanks,
Gary

Mark Vandervelden

Hi Gary
Main tanks have a total capacity of 5.2lt as per post 36.
I've found this plenty for my Jets Munt M200 giving 7+ minuets with the fuel level going down to the turbine rails, there is then a further 2lt left at that point.
They sit very slightly behind the recommended factory (JL) CG but as far as I know everyone including myself has moved the CG back and they are now right on the CG.
The smoke tanks are indeed 2.4lt each so a bit OTT and are also quite forward of the CG.
One or two guys have re-plumbed them to use one as extra fuel, my self I simply removed the both as I am not a big fan of smoke.
Hope this helps, Mark V

General Jake

The retracts, and air brakes consume a lot of air, and the manuals states to fill only to 90PSI...What are you guys filling your tanks too?

All my other jets I always went to 100PSI, not sure why this one requires less?

Also, weight is your weight, minus fuel?
Chris

jws_aces

My Feedback: (33)

I added another large air tank on mine. I had some issues with the solenoids no working against to much pressure about 100psi. A tip is the lines from the holding tanks to the distribution block are bigger than the 2mm and no locks on them. I had one of mine get hard and leaked. I replaced those air lines with the robart type that stays softer and stays on. No leaks at all. I was having a door up solenoid hanging up all the way down to 85 psi. I simply switch airlines and connectors with another to find one that would function above 90psi problems solved. I taxi out with 95 to 96psi on the box. I can cycle the gear 3 times and still be above 75psi, I like the higher one time retract becuase it will hold the front door closed better in flight.
Great system just takes a little playing with it to get it perfect.

General Jake

Thanks Jeff!!