bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

Phantom Driver,

You may only want 45 degrees flaps. A bunch if us in the Northwest are only using about 40 degrees with great success. However, I've seen other use 60 degrees and they like it. Your choice.

Bob

speedbrake

Phantom Driver,
I attached the flap hook up portion of the R54 plan. This should provide all the information you need. Notice where the flap control horn is attached to the flap. Hope this works for you. Keith

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

Thanks speedbrake, I have not flown my R54 yet so I don't know if 45 or 60 degrees works best, but I wanted to set my flap switch at 45 and 60 so that I could try both. I will look at the set up again tonight, but I already have the flap control horn, and the servo control horn set as the instruction picture shows. Maybe my servo is turned backwards relative to the plan?

speedbrake

Phantom Driver,
Don't worry about which setting (45 or 60 degrees) to use. As you have read, people are using both settings with success. The real secret is the airspeed....you have to slow the Reaction down. Once you are comfortable with the landing speed you can decide which of the two settings is right for you. Enjoy that first flight....the Reaction is a fine machine. Keith

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

Speedbrake, I like the finish on your R54. Looks great.

Ron Stahl

My Feedback: (12)

I have mine set for 60 degrees with 1/4 inch of up bias ailerons for crow. I also fly from a short filed and this allows me to pin point my landings everytime.

causeitflies

I have mine set up for crow but always forget to try it.

We have some trees at one end of our runway. They aren't real close but close enough that I make sure I'm well above them on final. The pilot stations are about 350' to 400' from that end so it's not easy to judge the end of the runway. To be safe I stay high till I'm sure I'm over the threshold and drop it in. The 60 deg. of flaps keeps the speed down even if you have a steep approach. Try that with 45 deg. and it picks up speed and floats right on by.

So if you have no obstructions you may not need all the flap but it sure does what it's supposed to do when you need it.

DP01

My Feedback: (1)

I've found that 45º landing flap combined with 7/16" crow allows the Reaction to slow to a crawl without any tip stalling tendencies. You can see the crow in the attached photographs. It will stop (without brakes) in less than 20 feet on grass. Incidently, 15º of takeoff flap shortens the takeoff roll considerably too.

Dennis

maxvertical

Hey Bob, you're not flying from Shelton are you??

Am just about ready to go with my 54, but am still at a stage to be thinking of flap settings. Both for takeoffs and landings

speedbrake

Dave,
What's the latest on the speed brake? Did you pursue the upper fuselage speed brake idea?

Keith

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

My linkage is set up correctly, transmitter servo travel set at full, still only about 45 deg. on the flaps. I am using a Hitec 645 instead of the hitec 5645. Is that it maybe ?

speedbrake

How long is the servo arm? The aileron servo is next to the flap servo...does it have the same amount travel? Also, does your transmitter control the amount of travel? Check that?
Keith

speedbrake

I just re-read the instruction manual and it says to use the small metal control horns....are those installed on the flap? I use the 5645's because I can program them with a Hitec servo programmer. But I'm not sure if that is the problem or not...it seems to me the servo isn't getting full travel. If all of your servos are getting the same amount of travel then check which holes are being used on the control horns. If it turns out the servo is getting maxium travel then hook up the control rod to the outer hole on the servo arm and the inner most hole on the flap horn, ensuring there is no binding during servo travel. I hope this helps. Hopefully somebody reading this thread has the answer. Keith

causeitflies

What radio are you using? Make sure your flap throw is not "single sided" or only from center in one direction. Use full throw from 100% pos to 100% neg. At one extreme the flap should be full up (level with the wing) and the other extreme full down.

the throw of the 645 and 5645 should be the same without programming.

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

I am using the JR 10X. I have the servo travel set at 150% pos. and 150% neg. It must just be something that I am over looking. Thanks for your help.

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

Mybe you are on to something causeitflies. I am full up level with the wing from the center( neutral) point in the servo and travel down flap deflection in only i/2 of the servo motion.

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

I am not sure how to set the servo to travel as you describe.

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

My JR instruction manual indicates on page 53 that the flap system has two settings. One at 15deg. for take off and one for 45 deg. for landing. Maybe that is all I can get?

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

I am going to try using the sub-trim to increase the deflection of the flaps. I am not sure how much that will get.

Redline7000

My Feedback: (2)

DPO1,
What's the roundel diameter on your 54? I'm doing a "Red Arrows" scheme and I like what you've done. I'm glassing the fuselage, tail feathers and using Koverall on the wings.

bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

Maxvertical,

I fly at both Shelton and at Whidbey Island. BTW, I have friends who live in Hillsboro.

Do you have a waiver already, or are you just starting out?

I'll be coming thorugh your way Tues. on my way to Cal-Jets in Buttonwillow next week.

Bob

maxvertical

Bob,
don't have the waiver yet. Brian Richmond from up your way is helping along with Al Watson. I made the attempt last year with a friends Boomerang that we just couldn't work all the bugs out of. "was someone else's problems so to speak". This year I'm doing the waiver with my own ship, a nearly completed R54 with P-70 power. My friend is doing his with a Skymaster Hawk, so this year no excuses. The Oregon boys were planning on going to Best of the West this year but looks like I have to work. Not sure what the other guys are doing. I am with the BAM group over in Central Oregon, don't have a flying home yet here in Hillsboro, but am thinking of looking. We will have four new Jet guys in Oregon before long. I'm just happy to have made my choice of aircraft the R54. Was an awesome build and now am having tons of fun getting all the electronics in and fitted before paint. The entire ship is glassed and will be painted with PPG or House of Kolor. Robart struts, Trim wheels & brakes, Smart Fly regulator and power expander powered with twin 3800Nimh. Can you tell I'm getting excited!
Hope you have a great time at Buttonwillow Bob.

MaxV
Christopher

As for my excitement,
Thanks for the RUSH Bruce!

DP01

My Feedback: (1)

Redline 7000:

The roundel is 3½" Diameter (Blue) 2-3/8" (White). My R54 is an Ultrcote overcast with Monokote trim sheet for the roundel and blue striping and lettering.

Dennis

rcguy!

My Feedback: (69)

Dennis,
Great looking model!

Dave

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

Hi guys, I've recently joined in on the Reaction 54 club. I bought a "pre-owned" one, P-60 powered. I was originally going to fly it as-is, but I'm sort of incorigable when it comes to modifications, customising, etc. There was also a few wear and tear items I wanted to get perfect and one thing led to another. I'd like to tahnk a few Reaction 54 guys out there like Mark Palmer and Warren Hunter for their help in getting me a few photos of their previous mods, etc. Here are a few pictures so far... I'm really burning the midnight oil on this project, I'd like to have it flying again by California Jets next week, in primer ( glass fuselage mod.) and new monokote for the wings.