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Old 04-24-2002 | 09:49 PM
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Tom Antlfinger
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From: Fond du Lac, WI
Default HS Angle of Incidence

I've been flying HS for 2 years. Never bothered to measure. I have Robarts with Glennis 3" mains and 2 1/2" nose(2 3/4" will also fit the Robart lower strut). This gives slight nose up incidence.

I fly off grass most of the time, and the nose gets a bouncing during takeoff quite early and increases the incidence. I can pull it off grass in 150 at most. I am using a P-120 at max thrust with a speed limiter.

On asphalt, it takes about 200 feet max, but decreases to no more than 125-150 if I hold the brakes, and yank it off slow.
At FJ 2001, Torrey Ward took the challenge of a Bandit getting off quick. Torrey would go full throttle on his P-120 with brakes on, let loose when they started to slip, and yank it off in no more than 100 ft., pulling up to about 85 degree upline.

I would recommend getting a speed limiter and letting that RAM 1000 sing at max power.

Only problem you might see with 5+ degrees incidence is on windy days, when you want that nose down to kill all the lift of the wing as soon as possible. So it will be a tradeoff.

By the way, my plane is set up identical to Bob Wilcox's plane that Jason flies with a P-80.

One difference I notice is that you carry 105 oz fuel, all in front of the CG of course, whereas I have the GWM/JetCat USA 2500cc or about 83-84 oz. That is almost 1.50 lbs more fuel in front of the CG for takeoff than I use or Wilcox uses. That would slow down rotation quite a bit. It does take a while for those short-coupled elevons to really get a bite, even with full up during the early part of the Takeoff roll.

I still get 6-7 minute agressive flights, with enough fuel for 2-3 go arounds if necessay with the 2500 cc tank.

Tom