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Reaction 54 Jet Kit

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Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Old 11-21-2006, 09:50 AM
  #1326  
speedbrake
 
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Yeah, I hear you about not changing a good thing. Would love to come fly with you guys and see what you are doing that I'm not. Until I got the flaps at 60 degrees, I had a heck of a time making good landings.

I'm curently building my second Reaction and decided to go with STOL tips. Not sure they will make any difference in performance but it has been fun following through with making them. The wing tip is now at R13, did away with the angle tip and R14. Hopefully the tips will enhance the stability of an already stable design.

Speedbrake
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Old 11-21-2006, 12:55 PM
  #1327  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Dean Wichman of Helijet taught me a nice way to land - Fly downwind about 150 ft altitude, when the R54 is approx. at a 45 degrees to you, turn base leg, reduce some power, let the plane descend, turn final and reduce power to idle and glide to a landing right in front of you. Strength of wind may alter your power settings however.

Your plane looks cool. Post some pictures when it's finished - it would be nice to see what the finished product looks like.

Bob
Old 11-21-2006, 01:25 PM
  #1328  
JohnVH
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Hey Bob, that is similar to how we do it full scale wise.. and how I try to fly my models..
Old 11-21-2006, 01:34 PM
  #1329  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Hi John - how's your R54 progressing?

Bob
Old 11-21-2006, 01:36 PM
  #1330  
JohnVH
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Haha, its not... only worked on it a couple days, but will get back to it soon I hope.
Old 11-21-2006, 01:52 PM
  #1331  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

If you guys want to see how NOT to land an R54 I'll post a video on a landing gone bad[:@]
Old 11-21-2006, 01:57 PM
  #1332  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Lets see.. get too slow and bounce?
Old 11-21-2006, 02:16 PM
  #1333  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Not exactly, more like swirling crosswind, bad approach, force it anyway.
Here is part of the sequence...
Old 11-21-2006, 04:01 PM
  #1334  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Would you be willing to share the video?
Old 11-21-2006, 04:10 PM
  #1335  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

As soon as I get a chance. Those were stills from another camera.
Old 11-21-2006, 05:46 PM
  #1336  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

OK, here's the video.
My excuse (and I'm sticking to it): strong cross wind swirling around the pavillian next to the runway and over the huge crown we have in the runway, plus a pretty bad approach[sm=red_smile.gif]

http://vidcache.rcuvideos.com/flv.sw...t=true&fs=true
Old 11-21-2006, 07:33 PM
  #1337  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Well it is down and not broken, Thats a good landing!!!


Regards
Old 11-21-2006, 11:43 PM
  #1338  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

The touchdown looked awesome - great save!!

Bob
Old 11-22-2006, 09:35 AM
  #1339  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

You don't know the history of bad landings. I do.

That one was in the mediocre range.
Old 11-22-2006, 05:49 PM
  #1340  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Id say good save.
Old 11-22-2006, 09:38 PM
  #1341  
phantom driver
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit


I ran my turbine for the first time today. I have been setting my plane up for the past week or two and today it was ready. Uneventful in that nothing went wrong, but very eventful with excitement for me. I ran it three times. I am excited about fly now, but a turbine(JetCat P-70) running seems very powerful.
Old 11-26-2006, 11:25 PM
  #1342  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

FINISHED TOO!
Built and setup was completed yesterday. Started the P-70 (kero start) last night in the dark and it ran beautifully! We put Nav. lights which really made it look cool taxiing around the drive way in the dark (I hope I don't hear from the home owners association[X(]).
Hope to do our maiden this coming weekend.
Here are some pics,
Steve and Andrew Morris
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Old 11-27-2006, 12:05 AM
  #1343  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Samo,
Nice scheme and install. Good luck with the maiden.

Marty
Old 11-27-2006, 08:19 PM
  #1344  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Great looking re-build. I was thinking about you guys today as I drove through Boise this afternoon. Didn't stop as I wanted to beat the snow. Stuck in Pendleton tonight waiting to see which way will be the best way home due to the snow. Good luck on the maiden.

Roy
Old 12-03-2006, 12:46 AM
  #1345  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

We flew our maiden today in 25 degree weather!
Had trouble with the kero start. I'm not sure exactly what the problem was, whether it was weather related or battery. It takes a lot of JUICE to light up the kero plug and I don't think Nicad or NiMH have enough kick to do the job - especially in the 20's. We did manage to get one flight in and were able to trim it and get a feel for the R- 54 with a P-70. Take off was with ease. Flew at 1/2 throttle most of the time. With a 72oz tank, 4oz header and the P-70 which only burns 8oz. per minute, flight time is increased to 9-10min. The landing was easy and SLOW. Our previous Reaction with a P-60 seemed to be real "floaty". With the P-70 and the extra weight associated with it, it seemed to settle better and stick once it touched down. What a beautiful airplane. It's the best of all worlds: sport jet + trainer jet + steroids + excitement = REACTION 54/ P-70 COMBO.

Thanks everyone for your contributions to this thread. It has been very helpful in the build process.
Thanks Roy for your help and tutoring.
Thanks Bruce for creating an awesome jet that has fed my obsession with this sport!

Steve Morris
Old 12-03-2006, 01:23 AM
  #1346  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Congratulations Steve. 25 degrees?[X(] Talk about knee knockin'.


Marty
Old 12-03-2006, 02:54 AM
  #1347  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Congratulations!! It has been a long time coming but sounds like it was worth the time to put it back together.

Roy
Old 12-03-2006, 10:25 AM
  #1348  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Steve and Andrew - Fantastic! I'm really happy for you guys! Sounds like another vote for the P-70 Interesting comments on the heavier version landing better than when it was lighter. I've heard this before, several times. Do you know your R54's current weight with the P-70?

Wish I coulda been there to see it, but 25 degrees is a little chilly for me... Let us know if the starting situation improves with warmer outside temps (my guess is it will).
Old 12-03-2006, 11:58 AM
  #1349  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Congrats Samo,
I have the same setup as you and I can't wait to try it out. I have a few loose ends to tie up and I will make arrangements to fly at a small airport about and hour and a half away, or at a friends property that has a grass field. I am glad to hear that you report very good flying characteristics and a slow landing speed without the floating.The floating that has been reported by people with P-60's has had me concerned, because my flying field is only 400' long.
Old 12-04-2006, 11:49 PM
  #1350  
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Default RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit

Thank you,

Looking forward to many more flights. Bruce, It weighs in at 18.5 lbs dry and approx. 23 lbs wet.

Steve


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