rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

R-C Jet Models is out of business and whatever issues you had/have with Wagner are beyond the scope of this thread.

I resurrected this thread because it was the original thread for the prototype which I purchased. Not only did it contain a lot of info on the plane as well as having video links, but it shows the prototype as it originally built. This would be a good reference for comparative purposes as I knew I'd be doing a variety of modifications (landing gear mounts, struts, assist cylinders, gear doors, removeable fin, fuel tanks, structure, turbine mounts, component installation).

Sorry for your lost $$$, but if you want to issue a warning to potential buyers (though I don't know why as the R-C Jet Models site doesn't even work), please resurrect one of the Wagner/FeiBao threads.

Regards,

Jim

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Well, I think that weak link in the flight control system was the guy holding the transmitter. [&o] This jet is about 10 lbs heavier than the heaviest jet I've ever flown so it was a learning experience for me and I definitely got behind the power curve on landing. "sinking like a hot dog cart" - that's hysterical and rather accurate. I really wish I'd been a bit more on the ball as far as throttle management; I sure would have liked to see that greaser that Vin was talking about. Instead I got a gonger!!!!

Wayne shot video during the flight, but the priority is getting the new bellcranks made, the C.G. shifted aft, and the H-stab neutral adjusted. I'll try to get over to his place this week to pick up a copy of the raw footage and put together a video of the highlights/lowlights.

Please note that the video won't exactly be a Steven Spielberg epic production. I kept the plane at altitude for a lot of the flight and flew a basic racetrack pattern. I trimmed the plane as much as possible (ran out of elevator trim), did one or two rolls to check aileron sensitivity, and a couple of mid-level smoke passes.

The landing wasn't pretty and certainly looked worse than it was since the only damage was the broken bellcranks (and a ventral fin broke off at the glue joint). After the initial hard touch down on the gravel short of the runway, the right gear strut rotated (breaking the belcrank) and the jet bounced a few inches into the air with the right gear hanging out all wall-eyed. It touched down again and slid for about 50 feet in a great cloud of dust and up onto the runway. Upon contacting the lip of the runway, the left gear strut rotated (breaking the left belcrank) before sliding another 50 feet past the runway threshold. The jet came to a stop with the gear all twisted up underneath it and facing the opposite direction. Here are some photos of the landing sequence so we can all have a good chuckle.

Nothing else broke and the jet was sitting back on it's gear a couple of minutes after I got it on the bench in the pits.

Regards,

Jim

uncljoe

My Feedback: (8)

Great flying Jim . The HOT DOG Cart is a "Classic DiFabbio" quotation , Those of use who have seen a "HotDog Cart" can relate to the amount of Lift it has . Again liked the use of smoke on a maiden......Only a Canadian [sm=omg_smile.gif]would test fly against the pattern...[X(] Again Nice flying !!!! looking forward to the next session .....
Semper Fi
Joe

RCISFUN

My Feedback: (44)

Those photos are great... hang on, it's going to get bumpy!

Jim, I bet you're glad you didn't paint her yet!

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Back in business with brand new machined bellcranks thanks to master modeller Wayne Layne!!!!! He's the ULTIMATE shop accessory! Thanks Wayne!

RCISFUN

My Feedback: (44)

Hey Jim, did you perform the heart transplant yet?

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Not yet, as the new heart doesn't ship out until today. That was one reason why the next flight was pushed out until next weekend. I see that you guys have a break in the weather and the forecast for Erie, PA is 67F and partially cloudy tomorrow but back to more rain Sunday. You going flying tomorrow?

Jim

RCISFUN

My Feedback: (44)

No..I have been playing with my new toy so I'm not ready yet

thumbnstick

My Feedback: (169)

I don't have Rich's worries about new toys.
I still have my old toy in hand! And content with it too! ( Ok Boli.... be gentle now)
Hoping to get in the air tomorrow afternoon again.
Glad the F-1 is going to be ready again.

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

I performed the heart transplant tonight. The P160SX should provide more than enough Get-Up-And-Go! It'll be a hillclimber for sure!!!!

On closer inspection of the airplane after the hard landing a week+ ago, I found that both nose gear mounting rails were broken. Hardly surprising due to the hard touchdown, the weak plywood, and that the reinforcing layer of glass was installed on the bottom (where it does almost nothing to strengthen the rail). I ordered some .060 carbon fibre plate which will be laminated to the top surface of the replacement new 1/4" thick nose gear mounting rails.

Flat spots were filed on all the appropriate spots of the MLG strut steel core and it was reassembled with RED loctite. I also filed the flats on the nose gear pin (D-oh).

A fuel check revealed that, after the first flight (about 6:30 minutes), there was 45oz of useable fuel on remaining board as much of the flight was at 1/2 to 2/3 throttle. Should have plenty of fuel for the 160 with long flights with lots of full throttle hill climbing.

Regards,

Jim

RCISFUN

My Feedback: (44)

Hey Jim did you have a chance to confirm the drawings I have made of your "GASP" "Jet Cat"...oh that was hard to write

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

I sure did Rich and I marked up the drawing and dropped in in the package for you. The markups were pretty simple....

The mount was oriented like in your first attachment. The fore/aft placement of the mount is such that the lower band (with the mounting extensions) has to straddle the head of a cap screw in the turbine body. The upper clamshell (without the mounting extensions) on the P120 is oriented with the thin part forward in order to align with the hole for the kerostart plug (see photo 1). On the 160, the thick side is forward (see photo 2).

For some reason, the P160 body seems to sit about 1/4" farther aft than the P120. You can see that the phone cable doesn't have quite as much curve on the P160 photo.

This puts the rear mounting hole ~5" from the aft end of the nozzle. The overall length of my P120 is about 11-1/16. The P160SX starter housing is almost 1/2" longer. Dimensionally the metal parts seem to be the same; it looks like the difference is in the starter motor housing and you can see the P160 housing protrudes farther out the front of the FOD screen.

Regards,

Jim

P.S.: That's a really great drawing that shows a lot of professionalism. Indeed, it's ALMOST indicative of pride-of-ownership. Careful....the 'Cat is calling you!!!!

Daleroger

My Feedback: (39)

Thats's what he does at work with the door closed. At least one of the things.

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Test flights #2 and #3 happened today and were pretty successful. I'd moved the C.G. back about 5/8" and reset the H-stab neutral incidence at -3 degrees with respect to the wing.

The P160SX was awesome and really gave the bird the power it needed. Rotation was smmmmoooothhhh with a nice climb out. Did a few trim passes and then started getting the feel for how she acted. Still a bit nose heavy (9 clicks of up) with a full load of fuel and about 6oz of smoke juice (just a bit for fun). There was no significant pitch change with the flaps in either the up, landing, or down positions.

Tony Quist spotted for me and did a great job coaching particularly for approach and landing power settings. I still need a bit more AOA on the approach and the flare wasn't quite enough so it touched down a bit firmly. Flight time was 6 minutes from gear up to gear down. 30oz of fuel remained on board so most of the flight was at 2/3 throttle.

I must be lowering the gear when the plane is still flying too fast: the airflow is putting enough force on the door to break the control horn mounts for the gear doors over the main struts. (That, or the P160SX literally has the power to "blow the doors off"). I put 3oz of lead in the tail to move the C.G. back another 1/8" (now 3/4" back from the original of 213mm) to 232mm and changed the elev rates to give a bit more authority during flare.

The second flight was a bit more fun. Now in trim, the rotation and climb out was really smooth with wings level. I took out some up trim (now 6 clicks total) thanks to the added tailweight. Now it was time for some with a bit of big vertical and some low low passes. The plane felt a bit more comfortable but I still need a bit less expo in the elev rates. The approach was not my best work and a bit too fast. It touched down, bounced, and seemed a bit precarious for a second or so there but got it down and stopped OK. I'll give it a good going over to make sure everything is OK.

There is a bit of a learning curve on this plane (at least for me) but next week I'll put in individual flight mode trim and that will help establish a higher AOA for landing and it should come in the groove quite well.

My buddy Jack (the previous owner of this F1) was on vacation out west and came into town to fly. It was great to see you again, Bud, and thanks for taking the drive. I'm looking forward to tearing it up with you, Rich, and the rest of the guys (even that Boli dude) at Kentucky.

Many thanks to Uncljoe for the photos, Tony for spotting, and all the guys in Vulture's Row cheering it on!!!

Regards,

Jim

AndyAndrews

Man, she looks awsome Jim! The F1 probably has the coolest looking gear of all jets. I love them. Congrats on your successful Flights!

olnico

Well done !!!!
Now enjoy the flights and get us some nice videos

RCISFUN

My Feedback: (44)

Jim it's looking great, I'll bet Jack was itching to give it a try

The afterburner ring looks great, you've got a month before KY Jets to get her dialed in for some pitcher perfect landings! (Oh I mean Kentucky Jets in case Dom is reading )

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Pierre,

CONGRATS!! The jet looks great and well done with the flying.

See all of you clowns next month!

Beave [sm=bananahead.gif]

afterburner

My Feedback: (18)

Dang that hurts....I guess[:@]

Marty

Vincent

My Feedback: (61)

Great job Jim!!! You are getting into some heavy iron and i am going backwards test flying a 9lb (wet) P-20 powered Tams F-16...
You will get the landings down, some of my jets take 30 flights or more before i feel comfortable with the complete flight from a-z. Don`t worry as you always have Wayne on standby...
Vin...

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Two more flights today before it the crosswinds got too gusty. Added another 3oz of tailweight to bring the C.G. back even farther and reduced the elev expo from 35% to 20% so it has a lot more positive "feel" to it now. The landing for the second flight was the best one yet. Once the C.G. is settled, I'll move the batteries rearward and eliminate the lead in the tail.

I'll fly it again tomorrow morning; hopefully uncljoe can get some more pics which I'll post. The bird looks great in the air and I look forward to flying it at Kentucky.

Jim

sskianpour

My Feedback: (2)

Sweet Jim! Absolutely awesome. Those landing gear look like Eagle Talons extended to strike at a fish right above the water.
Awesome!
Shaz

Rafale Sport

Re-opening this thread, just curious if more people have experimented the Mirage F1 recently and if all the required changes have been implemented by Feibao (landing gear issues).
Thanks

Rafale Sport

Resurrection of a very old thread ! finally decided to make it a try (after a long gestation time) and pretty satisfy with the result.
Certainly not the greatest commercial success from Feibao, a pity in my opinion as the F1 looks amazing on the ground and in flight



Video of the maiden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfQLDSijMaI