Composite-Arf 33% Gee Bee R2 - First Flight - Pics - Videos - L@@K
09-02-2013, 10:07 AM
#1553
Here some other flights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1dRA17MFlQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElbL1G9tfIo
Hannes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1dRA17MFlQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElbL1G9tfIo
Hannes
09-07-2013, 07:48 PM
#1557
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The weather gods did not favor the weekend with too high winds so the CARF Gee Bee did nothing more than a few taxi runs. Amasing how much a strong crosswind on the strip affects this plane even on taxi runs. I am hoping next Saturday everything will fall into place and finally get the big R2 in the air.
It was great to get both my petrol Gee Bee's together to compare the sizes.
It was great to get both my petrol Gee Bee's together to compare the sizes.
09-09-2013, 06:19 AM
#1558
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Thats unlucky about the westher. Best of luck for Saturday. Your going to love it. The scheme on the smaller one looks aawesome. Wheres the cape though????? Ha ha
09-22-2013, 01:42 AM
#1561
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Well after a long wait for the stars to align I successfully maidened the CARF Gee Bee today.
I gotta say this plane sent my tiny brain into overload as I have not flown anything anywhere near like it before. It flew beautifully in its own special way, sounded and looked awesome but very different to anything else in my hanger. As it was the maiden it was more getting a feel for what it is like in the the air and only towards the end of the flight I felt as though it was coming together. I cannot see how you could fly this baby without rudder input, it also drops into a knife edge so fast. One thing I was surprised at was I ran out of elevator trim trying to get the nose from dropping so a little bit of work on the elevator adjustment is needed.
Took four approaches to land, the first was a hit and bounce off the gear the next two was trying to get the approach angles rights then the fourth it lined up nicely with a more shallow approach with a little more speed.
The only issue that came up was the side door popped open though the latch is tight. This I guess is from the bounced landing attempt with the flex causing it. Before the next flight I will add a couple of magnets and use clear tape on the door as a safety precaution.
The last two months I have been flying my 30cc size Gee Bee R2 as a warm-up to this and that little thing is like a Gee Bee trainer compared. Though the faster approaches with it were good practice.
I have some video up though not super exciting like Hannes as it's going to take a little bit of time getting it dialled in and me getting used to it so I feel more comfortable bringing it lower around our tree lined field.
https://vimeo.com/75128786 Jaz
I gotta say this plane sent my tiny brain into overload as I have not flown anything anywhere near like it before. It flew beautifully in its own special way, sounded and looked awesome but very different to anything else in my hanger. As it was the maiden it was more getting a feel for what it is like in the the air and only towards the end of the flight I felt as though it was coming together. I cannot see how you could fly this baby without rudder input, it also drops into a knife edge so fast. One thing I was surprised at was I ran out of elevator trim trying to get the nose from dropping so a little bit of work on the elevator adjustment is needed.
Took four approaches to land, the first was a hit and bounce off the gear the next two was trying to get the approach angles rights then the fourth it lined up nicely with a more shallow approach with a little more speed.
The only issue that came up was the side door popped open though the latch is tight. This I guess is from the bounced landing attempt with the flex causing it. Before the next flight I will add a couple of magnets and use clear tape on the door as a safety precaution.
The last two months I have been flying my 30cc size Gee Bee R2 as a warm-up to this and that little thing is like a Gee Bee trainer compared. Though the faster approaches with it were good practice.
I have some video up though not super exciting like Hannes as it's going to take a little bit of time getting it dialled in and me getting used to it so I feel more comfortable bringing it lower around our tree lined field.
https://vimeo.com/75128786 Jaz
09-22-2013, 02:02 AM
#1562
Congratulations, it´s back in one piece!
Looks exactly like my maiden flight some years ago!
No worries, you will learn to handel this beast, it will take time, but it´s possible**
Greetings from Germany,
Hannes
Looks exactly like my maiden flight some years ago!
No worries, you will learn to handel this beast, it will take time, but it´s possible**
Greetings from Germany,
Hannes
09-22-2013, 08:10 AM
#1563
Jaz,
NICELY DONE! It looked like your Gee Bee was yawing left at anything approaching full throttle, so more right rudder/throttle mix will help you a lot. I found that delaying the mix until about 50% throttle was close to ideal, such that your rudder does not start moving right until you are at about ½ power, and then you do not want more than 1-2mm maximum right rudder deflection.
Do you know your exact CG location? How many mm from the leading edge?
Your RC field looks quite confined… BRAVO at being able to get this monster off and back onto terra firma in one piece!!!
NICELY DONE! It looked like your Gee Bee was yawing left at anything approaching full throttle, so more right rudder/throttle mix will help you a lot. I found that delaying the mix until about 50% throttle was close to ideal, such that your rudder does not start moving right until you are at about ½ power, and then you do not want more than 1-2mm maximum right rudder deflection.
Do you know your exact CG location? How many mm from the leading edge?
Your RC field looks quite confined… BRAVO at being able to get this monster off and back onto terra firma in one piece!!!
09-22-2013, 02:21 PM
#1564
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Thanks guys for your comments. It was sure a buzz to fly and now that I have calmed down completely the sheer joy of flying it has really set in. When weather permits I will put another couple of flights on to get both myself and the plane sorted out.
You are right Richard, it did feel like it was yawing a bit. On the left to right knife edge there was zero rudder input and it was holding perfect. I did program in a small amount of rudder input on a curve over 50% throttle and with it switched on it did not feel like it did much and needed a touch more deflection programmed in. But that said with the way my concentration was on that first flight it was hard to get a real feel for what was going on with so much happening. The next flight will be better for sorting out as there wont be so much tension.
The CG is set at 75mm exactly. I made a balancer in the style of the EZ Balancer with the pivots on ball bearings and it is really accurate. The Gee Bee inverted needed only the smallest amount of down elevator to fly level. I was surprised how much up elevator was required to get it near level and I ran out of trim. It is still a little out of trim on the elevator but it does not need much more to have it flying level at 3/4 throttle.
Our field is bigger than the video makes out. It has a lot of trees plus a big hill with tall trees on the right hand approach. The left approach is level and a lot more open. You get used to it after a while.
Am so excited about this plane, just cannot help it!
You are right Richard, it did feel like it was yawing a bit. On the left to right knife edge there was zero rudder input and it was holding perfect. I did program in a small amount of rudder input on a curve over 50% throttle and with it switched on it did not feel like it did much and needed a touch more deflection programmed in. But that said with the way my concentration was on that first flight it was hard to get a real feel for what was going on with so much happening. The next flight will be better for sorting out as there wont be so much tension.
The CG is set at 75mm exactly. I made a balancer in the style of the EZ Balancer with the pivots on ball bearings and it is really accurate. The Gee Bee inverted needed only the smallest amount of down elevator to fly level. I was surprised how much up elevator was required to get it near level and I ran out of trim. It is still a little out of trim on the elevator but it does not need much more to have it flying level at 3/4 throttle.
Our field is bigger than the video makes out. It has a lot of trees plus a big hill with tall trees on the right hand approach. The left approach is level and a lot more open. You get used to it after a while.
Am so excited about this plane, just cannot help it!
09-22-2013, 03:34 PM
#1565
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Hi Guys,
The photo is the amount of elevator trim needed that was put in to get the R2 to fly close to level hands off at 3/4 throttle.
How does it compare to your planes?
Jaz
The photo is the amount of elevator trim needed that was put in to get the R2 to fly close to level hands off at 3/4 throttle.
How does it compare to your planes?
Jaz
09-22-2013, 05:03 PM
#1566
Additional flights will help you become familiar with the airplane and better analyze what it is doing, rather than having to concentrate so much on just keeping it in the air ;-) We have all been there and done that... and some of us STILL get quite nervous, even after 50 flights! It IS, after all, the most notorious air race plane ever built.
Your CG is good. I have flown this plane from 73mm to 80mm and 80mm is too far after. 73 - 75 is ideal.
Best of luck with your next flights! :-)
09-25-2013, 05:41 AM
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Good job jaz. Well done. It certainly takes it out of you for the first flight and its just as exciting for the second.
Hey Richard. Im coming to the USA to your field in two weeks to compete at the masters. Make sure you come and find me and say hello. It shouldn't be too hard to pick me out as ill be the only aussie there. Looking forward to meeting you. Ill be flying a two tone blue thunderbolt so be sure to come find me.
Hey Richard. Im coming to the USA to your field in two weeks to compete at the masters. Make sure you come and find me and say hello. It shouldn't be too hard to pick me out as ill be the only aussie there. Looking forward to meeting you. Ill be flying a two tone blue thunderbolt so be sure to come find me.
09-25-2013, 08:16 AM
#1569
Good job jaz. Well done. It certainly takes it out of you for the first flight and its just as exciting for the second.
Hey Richard. Im coming to the USA to your field in two weeks to compete at the masters. Make sure you come and find me and say hello. It shouldn't be too hard to pick me out as ill be the only aussie there. Looking forward to meeting you. Ill be flying a two tone blue thunderbolt so be sure to come find me.
Hey Richard. Im coming to the USA to your field in two weeks to compete at the masters. Make sure you come and find me and say hello. It shouldn't be too hard to pick me out as ill be the only aussie there. Looking forward to meeting you. Ill be flying a two tone blue thunderbolt so be sure to come find me.
I was asked by the CD, Jeff Lovitt, to do a Gee Bee demo during this event.. However, he asked me AFTER I had removed the 3W157 from my Gee Bee and installed it in another aircraft. I am in the process of installing a DA120 in my Gee Bee. This (as always) encompasses far more than a simple engine swap as the reduction of 4 pounds of nose weight requires I completely re-engineer the guts of the aircraft as well as converting the Elevator to a pull/pull cable arrangement. Since CARF 'skin hinging' does not allow a center pivot point, I am also re-engineering the elevator hinging. I doubt my Gee Bee will be ready to fly by this event and I may be flying my 9 cylinder Mr. Mulligan (not nearly as thrilling, but a neat airplane
What T-bolt are you campaigning?
09-28-2013, 10:02 PM
#1570
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Yeah that sounds like a fair bit to do on it before next week. The jug im bringing is the Robart thunderbolt and im only flying in th Pro Am Pro class so no static judging for me. Ha ha ha. I flew it at top gun this year and I am lucky enough to have left it over there which has enabled me to compete. But anyway I am looking forward to it and catching up.
10-04-2013, 08:47 PM
#1573
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Well it looks like i have been stalling long enough, time to maiden mine tomorrow ( gulp ).
i hope i'm am as successful as everyone else. fired up the Moki 215 today ( i think just to listen to it ) dam
that thing is smooth running. i should just hang the airplane up in the shop just to look at it.
ready or not here i go
steve
i hope i'm am as successful as everyone else. fired up the Moki 215 today ( i think just to listen to it ) dam
that thing is smooth running. i should just hang the airplane up in the shop just to look at it.
ready or not here i go
steve