BlueJay UFO
 

Just wanting to give kudos to BlueJay...

I am currently building their Dirty Birdy. At the moment I am wrapping up the wing.

What a joy to build this kit! Everything has literally fallen into place! I haven't needed to adjust a single rib and the wing has almost fell into place. Everything is perfectly straight, and if you know anything about me at all... I am VERY anal retentive on this issue! I have had to put ZERO effort into over thinking anything in this project. This is the first wing I have built where both wing halves match perfectly in the center!

What a pure joy!

I want to know if anyone has framed up their UFO??? After this experience... Gotta get one for sure! Having a BLAST building the DB....

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Hi Brian,
Thank you...you have just helped me make a decision. I have been considering getting a BlueJay UFO and after reading your post...I am gonna do it.
Back in the 70's I flew pattern and really loved it. I got back into R/C about 5 years ago and have been thinking of getting a "vintage" pattern plane.
I have a couple of good 3D planes...but I fly mostly pattern style with them. Ever since I saw Wolfgang Matt fly his Super Arrow at the TOC, I have been drawn to the idea of keeping the engine and pipe on the center-line.
What engine will you be using on your UFO?
Best Regards
JC

I don't always fly R/C...but when I do, I fly FASST. Fly well my friends.

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

I have been sold on the new NovaRossi 61... The new Purple Head Speed 13 series seem to be where the most Hp is at... but the blueheads are no slouch.

Yeah. Definitely Novarossi.

The Arrows are sweet... If I weren't such a Bridi diehard, the Arrow is where I would be... well, that and the Tipo, the LA-1, Blue Angel, Truoblemaker, Mach One... Hmmm/// All of 'em I guess! Ha!


Post LOTS of pictures of your build!

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Always thought Norm Page's Mach One was the best looking pattern plane ever. It just had great lines.
I never got to fly the Mach One. My personal best pattern plane was the Vertigo II with a piped Rossi 60 Blackhead.
Rossi put the "BALLISTIC" into pattern flying.
Best Regards
JC

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Although I am not (yet) building a UFO, I have 5 Bluejay kits under my flying belt. All were a true joy to build and flew even better. I have never hesitated to recommend a Bluejay kit. I have not yet met a Bridi design that didn't fly well.

Steve Barnett
CBRC
Arnold, MD

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Well, I went and did it.

I should find a BlueJay UFO at my doorstep fairly soon... I also have the correct 22 inch canopy on the way.

I have a goal in mind, and it is sort of silly. I want to collect all the Bridi Pattern Planes from the Sunfly 4 thru the Great Escape... I would like to line them up and see the evolution of the Bridi design at full scale. But also be able to understand how the flying characteristics change between each new upgrade.

So far:

I am flying the Super Kaos (w/retracts!)
The Dirty Birdy is on the build board
The UFO is in the mail to me now
I have an Escape I am collecting items for to build.

I have plans for:

the Sun Fly 4 (and 5)
The Kaos
The Great Escape

Need to purchase the Sunfly and XLT from BlueJay yet...

The things I do... LOL!

Topping that off, I have J-Bipe I am eager to build, and a Side Pocket.

I think I need to stop for a while... and just build and fly!

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

I have been trying to contact BlueJay via email and phone. No joy so far.

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Yeah... I doubt you ever will. Pretty much have to order on line... thru the website.

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Brian,
Do you know if BlueJay offers balsa sheeted foam wing cores?

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

They sell foam cores with their XLT, but the rest seem to be built up kits.

If you need foam cores for any project, I highly recommend Don Turnock at Eureka Aircraft. www.eurekaaircraft.com

Check out his replacement core options. If you ever need anything, he can custom cut it for you as well- that goes for kitting a model too. Short kits or full kits. He choses great wood.

Don has recently gone to a CNC cutter for his wings. A few years ago there were some inconsistancies, but this machine seems to have fixed that. I highly recommend Eureka.

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Brian,

I posted some pictures I thought you'd like to your thread over on RCG.

Jim<br type="_moz" />

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

UFO: http://www.bridiairplanes.com/hangar/ufo.html

Spring Air retracts: http://www.retracts.com/images/102HD.jpg

RCaiir Outline correct 22 inch fiberglass canopy: www.rcaiir.com

NovaRossi R60F SE Combo: http://www.smtdistributing.com/R60F-COMBO-R60FCOMBO.htm

Spektrum DX8 : http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...servos-SPM8800

Pull-Pull Rudder: http://www.servodatabase.com/servo/savox/sc-0252

Ailerons and Elevator: http://www.servodatabase.com/servo/savox/sc-0352

Oh yeah.... She will be sweet.

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

VERY COOL! :D

RG

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Brian,
Just curious...why have you decided on the UFO rather than the XLT? Does it have certain flight or design characteristics which you prefer? Was the UFO Joe Bridi's last vintage pattern plane design or did some come after that?
Best Regards
JC

I don't always fly R/C...but when I do, I fly FASST. Fly well my friends.

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Hi John!

Well…. That is a great question actually. Let me try to explain the nonsense that rattles around in my brain!!! Lol. 

In my opinion… and that is all it is, the XLT is a great airplane that I have an intention to build one- someday. I own an Escape kit that looks similar to the XLT and is completely different all the same. (I think the XLT actually stands for something like X’tra Large Turkey… or Turd. Something like that. This is 2nd or third party info so don’t hold that as absolute. ;) )

In my understanding, the last pattern airplane that Joe Bridi can completely claim as his own design is really the UFO. At the time, it seems as though Bridi was intrigued with Kimbro’s Deception and also the LA-1. He appreciated the flight characteristics and wanted to try to design that into his airplanes. You will notice the influence of those aircraft from the Mamma Mia thru the Great Escape. That is the history of it as I understand it. Maybe someone else can clarify or correct me if I am wrong…

The consecutive order of his pattern ships over his sport designs, sail planes, Scale stuff, etc. is as follows:
Sun Fly3&4, Kaos, Super Kaos, Dirty Birdy, UFO, (Mama Mia was a bust) XLT, Escape, Great Escape.

Now, Why the UFO over the XLT?

Simply put, I like the looks of it better.

To me, it seems to be the pinnicle of Bridi’s genious… It is simply a Hot Rod ready to break the sound barrier… (That may be difficult considering the thick airfoil of the wing and the hoizontal stab)

The XLT seems to be a UFO fuse with a new airfoil and wing configuration. The outline is eerily similar. Anyone is free to set me straight on this if they wish. It is just my opinion.

Bad answer? 

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Brian,
Good answer and thank you. I appreciate your thoughts on the Bridi designs. I also like the looks of the UFO. Does Blue Jay offer it with foam wing cores? Another question: Are the airfoils the same, or nearly the same on the UFO and the XLT? The thing I like about the XLT is the set-up for a rear-exhaust engine with the pipe coming back through the canopy. Keeping the engine and pipe on the centerline would seem to offer certain advantages. Assuming retracts, the center-of-thrust, the lateral CG and the center of drag would ideally all be on the centerline.
JC

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

JC,

if I may chime in, if you like the setup for the RE engine and pipe under the hood, build an Escape or a Great Escape (the latter were Cunningham mods to the design nothing to do with Joe). I think the XLT was notorious for coming in a bit heavy (~10 lbs) and it wasn't one of Bridi's best designs - hence the Escape where one can see the rethinking to bring it in lighter. Actually, even the Deception is an option with the latter probably being the easiest fuse to build. While I like all of Bridi's designs, I don't find that his design approach was necessarily the easiest to build. Awkward things like laying up tristock atop fuse sides were done and the infamous trilaminate of balsa sheet up front is always something to contend with too. The shallow height up front is also something that is always tricky when it comes to fitting fuel tank and nose gear as well. Naturally all this can be changed to suit to make things easier to frame up but it does require a little thinking to sort it out.

As far as the surfaces go, producing foam cores for any of Bridi's designs is not project stopping. It does require setting up some airfoils (root and tip) for cutting but otherwise some of these cores can be sourced from Eureka or simply custom cut to your airfoil specs. Brian even has a set of perfectly symmetric CAD plans I drew up for the Escape wing and stab (airfoils included) and he's welcome to share them with anyone he likes.

I think a foam core wing/stab combination with a wood fuse is a very nice way to go as it is light and true assuming your fuse is well setup when you build it. One can even use 1/8" or 3/16" fuse sides for lighter construction. The wood fuse also gives you easier options for gear installation as you don't have to custom cut special contour plates to span the round fuse on the inside. Just take a look at Ralph's (R_G) UFO scratch build for any incentive and frame up niceties.

Last but not least, Escape glass canopies can be had from Scott who kindly laid up a mold (thanks to Brian providing the original). Scratch it and it can come in nice and light with your own wood selection.

If I were on a mission to build all of Bridi's designs, the XLT might be the last one I'd build but like Brian says, this is also just my personal view.

David

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Hi David,
You have supplied lots of good information....Thank You. Where can I see some pictures or plans for the Escape and Great Escape? And you said Scott has the Escape canopies. How do I contact Scott?
Thanks again for your information.
Best Regards
JC

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Pictures.... Escape photos... Can't find my Great Escape photos...

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Brian,
I am asking myself: "Am I once again trying to reinvent the wheel?"
Brian you have a lot more experience with the vintage pattern planes and better knowledge than I regarding what works best and why.
If you like the UFO best, I figure the UFO is probably the best way to go...and I really do like its lines.
So I will seriously consider the UFO.
Your info and advice is much appreciated.
Best Regards
JC

PS Any hints and building tips you might offer would be very welcome.

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

JC,

If you are interested in the Escape, read through this thread -http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_82..._1/key_/tm.htm. You'll see a couple of posts by "billtulsa". That's Bill Cunningham who made this model popular and contributed many mods that really woke the plane up. rainedave posted CAD drawings of the last mods Bill made to the Escape in that thread.There's also a picture of Bill with his Escape toward the bottom of the first page. I have a paper copy of the plans but not an electronic copy.

I'm also attaching a photo of four Escapes at a contest during the 80's - the orange and white one is mine. It's one of two I built over the years. As David mentioned, they did tend to come in pretty heavy. Much of that was due to Joe Bridi's wood selection, not to mention the fact that the plane was grossly over designed IMHO. It could have been built much more lightly.

You can contact Scott through his website -http://rcfoamy.com/.
<br type="_moz" />

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

John- If your heart is set on the XLT... I would NOT settle for the UFO! All of will be here to cheer you on... and I know that is true from experience! After all, I built a Super Kaos and everyone here made me feel like I was the most important person in the world for building it! (see pics below)

Those are just opinions of mine. Truth is, I want to see you happy. I think your heart is set on an XLT??? You should absolutely build one! Do a build thread so we can all see it go together!!!!

I apologize if I am steering you away from your preferences. I hope not to do that. Lord knows, there is a shortage of XLT pilots in the world! We need more!!!

The picks above show Scott's XLT and Escape canopy. EXCELLENT workmanship!!!

Brian

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Brian,
Wow....that is a great looking airplane. I really like the purple and white color scheme. I just checked the BlueJay website and apparently they don't offer the UFO. Who makes these? Where can I get one?
JC

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

:D I am fond of the Escape too!

UFO:
http://www.bridiairplanes.com/hangar/ufo.html

Jim Oliver should post pics of his Escape! [8D]

I have the Escape AND Great Escape plans on pdf. I will edit this and insert a link to them for you.

Brian

btw- doxilia knows his stuff... A great person to learn from!

EDIT>>> You should be able to download the plan from here....

http://www.4shared.com/dir/BLXELjXn/_online.htm

JC- The Great Escape would not co-operate with 4shared... So I sent you an email. :)

If you notice, my avatar is a Great Escape.

RE: BlueJay UFO
 

Very Eager to start this... but my Escape must come first!!!

Anyone interested in seeing what's inside the box?

Brian