Brit-In-Taiwan

Hi Ali,

Its a small world, and yes, you gotta love the A45 inbound to Wellingborough at knock off time, Northant's biggest car park!

I did some flying in the U.K, most of it was prop and Heli stuff, then I got a second hand Wren 44 and and all built up balsa trainer and flew it from the surrounding fields.

At one point me and a couple of the other prop flyers were close to approaching Santa Pod race way in Podington to see if we could use the race strip, again Santa Pod is on the old RAF/USAF WW2 bomber airfield and the strip is part of one of the old main runways, it is a 1/2 mile away from the little village so no issue with noise etc upsetting people.

Not sure if it is still an option as last time I was back the council was trying to build some wind turbines up that way, but it had failed to go through.

Keep up the excellent work Ali and I cannot wait to see the pictures.

Gw

P.S: Has anyone seen any 'good' pictures of armed Saudi etc F.53 Lightnings with over and underwing rocket pods, bombs etc, I have only found one grainy picture of a Lightning showing all arms it could carry? they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth, most common is the rockets mounted to the fuselage sides.

Andrew Bird

Here's a pretty good place for some material - http://www.lightning.org.uk/11sdrn.php


Steer clear of those overwing tanks - Not a good look!

Brit-In-Taiwan

Cheers Birdman!!

Agree on those wing tanks [:'(]

Keep-um flying

Gw

3D Trev

Can any one let me know were the CG location is on the lightning. I will need a measurement if from the leading edge back then also of the total length of the wing root so that I can get an percentage. I am bussy with a 1/5 scale Lightning for twin aplication.

Thanks

foodirectr

I have a Airworld EEL with twins. When do you need to have the CG. I will need to put the wings back on and find out where it is. My EEL first two flights were flown by Tomas from Airworld and he said the CG was perfect. So if you can wait I will help you. I can get to it in about two weeks.

3D Trev

Thank you very much for the assistance. Two weeks will be just fine I will not be ready for another few months.

Thanks again

foodirectr

I have the CG for my EEL 1/2 inch behind the larger tube. Draw a line down at the fatest point of the tube and its again 1/2 inch toward the back of the jet. Hope this helps.

foodirectr

Front the front of the wing root its 26 5/8 back

gunradd

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Ok guys Barry bought that pre production prototype back at KY jets and I am getting her together for FLjets.

Our plan is to install 2 of the new K160s. These are smaller then the K140 and burn less fuel with more power. Also in case of engine flameout she can make it back safely.

I am looking for the CG and also control throws. I see the CG in this very old thread on this very plane so I guess I can go from that but still need control throws. Already installed the radio system and got the gear working good also fixed many other airworthiness issues. Installed a cortex also. Its a very nice plane and looking forward to seeing it in the air. Barry will have some fun on the sticks with this one!

It had the biggest rats nest I have ever seen inside Got it all cleaned out and installed new servos and servo wires. I am now hearing about problems with the new spektrum servos so going to remove the new ones I just installed and install some JR servos. I have most of the fuel system reinstalled and added afterburner lights on the back also.

These pics show what I started with lol.

The probe that screw onto the front is missing and if anyone knows where I can get one that would be great. Emailed airworld and herd nothing back...

George

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Look like fun Kris!!

I knew the original owner and even worked on the Merlins that were in it one year a FJ.

It it is a nice plane and I think Barry will enjoy it. And you just don't see it that often or at all, so it makes it that much better!!

TheEdge

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Hope you share some video of her when you have it dialed in.

gunradd

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Barry will be flying this one. I am sure someone will get some video

DrScoles

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Holy **** what a birds nest!

Please share pics Kris, cool plane.

PowerBoxDanny

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OOOOOOhhhhh when I see wires like that I think of a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs! Don't know wether to work or get some mozzarella cheese and sprinkle some in there! I like this bird and looking forward to seeing it at Florida Jets Kris!

By the waty Kris, where do you fly? I'm up in Jax now and theres no jet fields so wouldn't mind coming down and flyin with ya!

gunradd

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Danny I fly at ocala. Omfc

You are more then welcome to join me anytime. One of the best fields in Florida to fly at.

TheEdge

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This may be a good source for answers to questions https://www.facebook.com/Lightning422/photos_stream

gunradd

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Thnx for the link

gunradd

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Finally got the lightning airborne! Barry did a great job on the maiden flight. He had his hands full and did a great job piloting the lightning. Aircraft was very nose heavy at the factory CG. Aircraft was running out of elevator during landings and takeoffs. I have pulled out almost 3lbs so far from the nose and now its really coming alive. She needs a ton of gyro gain dialed in but then flies very well. The twin K160s have been great and push the plane very well. Ali got to take her for a spin a few times at FLjets and he loved it. I got to get in a little stick time also when we had a gear problem from a gear door leaking the air pressure was not enough to get the mains down with the wind resistance. so after doing over 10 mins of flight was heading down wind over the trees preparing for a gear up landing one engine runs out of fuel and flames out. Went full throttle and the little K160 pushed the lightning around with gear and flaps out and got her back to the runway and just as I was getting ready to touch down the main wheels locked and all went well. While the lightning was rolling out after landing the last K160 ran dry. Was a close one lol.

Still working on some brake options. The gear and brakes it has are not airworld and we dont know who made it. It has a weird seal with a brake disk that leaks like crazy. Might try and mod the system to electric brakes or something.

All in all Barry has himself a winner and its a good plane!

gunradd

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pics

gunradd

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flight video from FLjets

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v8sEPHrsmuI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

HarryC

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Gorgeous, utterly gorgeous, and well done!

HarryC

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I have a solution for you to consider.

I have the Mick Reeves Lightning and while I was building it I learned that it was common for the main gear to only come part down on a gear pass due to airflow over the big wheels on long legs that lie at a flat angle to the airflow, but not to worry because at the slow speed on short finals the airflow was slowed down enough to allow the mains to come fully down and lock.

I had intended to fit a Tam's gear failsafe but it occurred to me that it would be no use, since the gear struggles to lock down at 120psi and by definition the failsafe could only try to put the gear down at some reduced pressure it would lower but not lock the gear. Therefore I took up an idea of David Gladwin's published a couple of years ago in RC Jet International magazine. An extra air tank is fitted, with its own valve, and it feeds to a T in the main supply, with a one-way valve between that T and the main tank. If I select "down" and it fails due to lost pressure, I flick the emergency switch on the Tx and it opens that valve from the emergency tank and blasts a big shot of full pressure air into the system. The one-way valve between the T and the normal main tank prevents the emergency air simply filling the main tank or bleeding out of a leak on that side of the system. If you have a huge leak in the gear side the emergency tank may not overcome that enough to lock the legs down, but it will be enough to get the legs down and locked against small leaks so it does protect you from a lot of potential failures.

TheEdge

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Superb

meadowhay

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone have pictures of the horizontal stab mechanism on the Airworld Lightning?

gunradd

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The one I have is Barry's and is a prototype so not sure if its the same on the production models. I will try and look on Monday. If I don't have to remove the engines and pipes I will get a pic but pretty sure I would need to remove everything for a pic.