OK guys, after 130 flights on my last Bobcat my rudder servos were still working without a failure, that was untill I threw the batteries out of the canopy in a couple of intesne inverted snaps. Rates were 10% gain with the gear up, 50% gear down, all done with dual 4.8 volt batteries, a single 950S reciever, both rudders and nose wheel steering coupled into the 450 gyro. Also the gyro adjust was done using the gyro adjust menu (44, I believe) in the 10X radio.

As for the fault lying in the design of the Bobcat, I doubt that. The Bobcat was designed with ease of building and maintenance in mind. Designing the Bobcat without flaps and with the thought of guys using a six to eight cahnnel radio to get it in the air, equalled easier and cheaper for the entry level customer. With that ease comes compromise, believe me I see it in full scale military fighters as well. The main gear speedbrake paddles are needed to slow the bird down during approach and make it easier to land. that brings in the gyro due to the "Karman Vortexes" coming off of them. If we would have had to hinge flaps, add two more servos, etc, complications go up as well as cost.

I am firm believer and lover of JR equipment. Lets face it guys, if everything worked perfect and correct the first time out this would get a little too easy. There have only been a small number of problems/failures in this area. Give JR time and I am sure they will come up with an answer as to why this is happening. Also I am sure BVM is checking into the problem as well. BV is more concerned about sucess and safety than a few guys here might believe. Those of you who know BV, know he is here to support and deliver the best products possibly with todays technology in the model field, without compromise and with all safety concerns as well. We also know JR is commited to the same.


I am still wokring feverishly getting my newest Bobcat into paint by hte end of next week. Probably won't make it for St. George but I am trying.

John Redman
BVM, Jet Cat USA Rep