After quite a few revisions, I've finally settled on the design of my prop jet, and have all but a few details of this design done.

It's basically a combination of the F/A-22 and F-35 fuselage design, with a slightly modified wing and tail planform based on the Mig 29. It'll have a completely enclosed (.60 size) pusher engine, and will be approximately 68 inches in length, with a 50-inch span. I'll be making a molded fuselage, with sheeted foam wing and tail parts. The landing gear design will allow it to rotate to 10 degrees AOA on the ground, with a 12" prop, and the airfoils were planned around an an expected level flight speed of approximately 125 mph. NACA inlets near the tail will allow cooling air for the engine, which will exit just below the prop. (not clear in the CAD images) Inlets in the front are faked, graphically, to reduce drag. It should be able to accomodate an internal tuned pipe, if you're so inclined.

My personal version will also include "gadgets"... retracts, flaps, leading edge flaps, and some experiments with an integrated control system, where several flight controls activate at once, as on the actual F/A-22. A little over 800 sq. inches of wing area will give it a wing loading of about 23 oz./sq. ft., if built heavy at around 9 pounds. (extra servos for LEFs and twin verticals, etc.)

If any of you want to follow along with the project, I've created a new page at http://www.nextcraft.com/j47_sportjet01.html There's an animation of a slightly earlier prototype at http://homepage.mac.com/mikejames/rc.../rcmovies.html

Here are a couple of images. I'm finishing the CAD model in the next month or so, and expect to have it flying in spring of 2004. If possible, I'll make some "short kits" available. It'll be affordable, since the whole idea was to produce something for us poor non-turbine folks.