Staale, you need someone in the office saves on the nose weight I also tinted the canopy.

Did you build a tray into the nose section or mount something off the front bulkhead ?

Rob.

Yes. I will probably add some interior to the "office" as you call it at a later time. Wish someone made nice cockpit kit for it...

I built a tray for the batteries that is screwed to front and rear nosegear bulkhead. The tray reaches a little bit forward so the batteries lay just where the nose cone meets the fuselage. I did it that way so I could benefit from the shorter fuse when the nosecone is removed (long b@stard). Should I need to, the tray comes out in 1 minute by loosening 4 screws.

The lead is in the nosecone on a tray I glued to the floor. The airbottles is in the nose too with FESTO quick connectors.

What scheme did you pic on your new Lightning? Still going with the M-160?

Thanks Ehab and Staale, informative pics. On my original I built a sliding tray system into the nose section, carrying all batteries plus airtanks. Not what to do this time, I am leaning towards a removable cantilever tray as you have done Ehab (I can't fit the fuz in my Audi at full length).

I went for the popular JR scheme and I have the Jet Central Rhino in this one but same performance as the Merlin which I have in other jets.

Would appreciate if you can keep us updated of flight progress Staale when you move the CG.

Rob.

Hello Staale,
congratulations for your maiden flight. [sm=thumbup.gif]

Just a short answer, cos i am on hurry to the german fair in sinsheim.
Antenna1 is close to the card-slot
Antenna2 is close to the battery cabel

You have heared right
On thurthday we announce a new version of the dual receiver
The 12-26R with 2 gyro and GPS
And btw next week a new firmware will be available , ALL Dual Receiver can be upgraded to 12 channels (ppm) for free.

Alwin / weatronic support

Thanks Alwin!

Then I have the whip antenna on ant. 1 just as I was hoping for

What a great news that the receiver can be upgraded for free! Can the 2nd gyro be installed if the receiver is sent to you for a uppgrade (for a price off course)?

Thanks for reading this thread.
I really think you guys have made a great product and I'm looking forward to using it a lot in the future!

Sir, Not sure what you mean by ppm in this context. Can the Futaba 9C, 12Z and 14Mz use all of their respective channels (9, 12, 14)?
Thanks
Edgar

Hi Alwin:

So for 12 channels, one must run the Transmitter in PPM mode, right? Can one still run 10 channels in PCM in a JR or 9 ch in PCM Futaba AFTER this upgrade?

Also, please consider a module for 2.4 Ghz in your future developments...

I had a fairly in-depth discussion with Alwin and Rolf about the Weatronic at FJ. They are indeed working on a 2.4Ghz version of the RX. They are also just finishing up the software for door sequencing to be built in. Lots of good stuff on the horizon for Weatronic. I for one am simply blown away from the features offered in these units... phenomenal device!

Congrats on the successful maiden Staale!
Todd

Any recommendation on the cockpit? I am told the Blue F15 ones are out of stock, so any ideas are appreciated!

For the cockpit we have gone semi scale with a Dragon Models pilot, used the standard basic abs cockpit moldings with stick on instruments and a tinted cover, looks OK [sm=wink_smile.gif]

Rob.

For me as a prospective customer it is difficult to judge the right time to step in and buy a unit because of the development work which continues at a pace

It will be great to be able to take advantage of the full 12 channels on PPM but does the unit still give a failsafe facility in this mode as with my current Mpx synth IPD Rx's ?

Rob.

Good morning, Rob[8D]

Yes. Fail safe is availiable in PPM mode also

Thanks Staale

Does anyone know if the 12-26R is available in the UK now?

Rob.

By the way.
Here's two screenshots from the analyzing of the 2nd flight.

Staale:

Who's throws did you use? and how much Expo? Did you set the CG per plans?

Do you think the plane pitched down at full flaps due to the extended air brake action on top of the wings when the flaps are fully deployed? as you know, the take off flaps show very little air brake hence the pitch up, but at full flaps the top section of the flaps creats a lot of drag!!!

I used my own throws based on the throws in the manual. I would say a mix between the two. Recomended flaps @ 40 deg., a little less ail and elev than Marc with 30-35% expo. Felt spot on, just a little sensitive on the elev, but that will be OK when I move the CG forward. My initial CG was approx 2 cm behind rec. position and I think that had a lot to do whith strange behaviour with flaps.

Here's the video of the maiden flight.

Nothing fancy, just doing some laps to feel the plane out.
Notice the pitching when flaps are lowered and retracted.

Right click and "save as"

http://www.jetsofnorway.com/Video/Eg...le11032007.wmv

Should the link not work, [link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noq5foEmBO8]try here[/link]

Staale,

Your data treadout from the DR is interesting in that you say you have the whip on ant 1 but the RSSI 2 is actually stronger almost for the whole flight.

I have always assumed a whip to give better reception (it certainly improves ground range) but it seems the ordinary aerial, Ant 2, results in a stronger signal strength, thus contradicting a long held belief. Of course it possible that RSSIs are not directly related to the antennae, anyone got any comments ?


Your readouts almost exactly agree with my own readings.

Weatronics DR no 2 arrived yesterday and this will be tested in the SM Hawk and then readings compared with the original DR currently installed.

Another couple of points that some may have missed:

1. It is no longer possible to read out data from the internal memory (with the latest firmware) it has to be read from the SD card. (Advice from Weatronics)
2. A DSC function is now enabled with the latest firmware. , plugs into the ummarked socket. (revealed at Jet Power by Weatronics but DSC cables are not yet shown on the web site.


Regards,

David Gladwin.

Stunning - smooth and great landing for a maiden, credit to you.

Marc

Hi Sap,
Nice looking jet you have and as usual your building job is clean.
Thanks for posting this for us.
Take care,
Miguel

Hi Miguell!

Thanks!
How are you doing? Any new projects on the building table?

Got two more flights yesterday.

Everything is working well and the Lightning is a real joy to fly. Need some more flights "to get it in the fingers" since the flying style is different from what I'm used to. This plane really eats up the airspace, so I need to practice a slower and tighter flying style and dear to slow it down more on downwind, base and final.
We had quite strong gusty winds yesterday but the Lightning barely noticed it at all and was flying like on rails.

Some stats from the weatronic yesterday:

Top speed: 346 km/h
Max alt: 466 m
Max distance: 695 m -from pilot
Highest signal: 1: 0,63 2: 0,62
Lowest signal: 1: 0,22 2: 0,18
Valid frames, min/max: 46/35
zero fail-safe frames.

what turbine are you using?? how much weight ??