While filming the landing of this F-4's maiden, it veered slightly our way and made for an exciting moment. Gave the crowd a thrill to say the least, not too mention the 2 of us filming almost had to change our shorts afterwards. Went over my shoulder about 5-6ft. away. The pilot is one of the best I've seen and seems to really have a handle on these things. Check the vid here, rather large but you can't substitute size for quality. [link]http://colorado-rc.com/[/link]


Enjoy

Shane

Can't get the video - web site is WAY too slow... [&o]

Bob,
Try it again. I'm getting 500+kb/sec transfer rate. Downloaded the 141Mb in 4 minutes.


Shane ,
Did you guys just drop to the ground? I didn't here any words spoken. That looked pretty close. I guess you were like deer caught in headlights.

Marty

Marty,

Nope. I'm getting only 40 Kb/sec here at school and was getting less than 5 Kb/sec at home [&o]

Bob

Shane
like the use of the STILL photographs. in the leader & half
Semper fi
Joe

Very nice!

We have one here that is in line to be built some time this summer.

Which F-4 is it? Nice video, good editing and production values. One suggestion: when you're shooting the video turn off the auto focus and set the manual focus to infinity, which is around 15-20 feet to infinity, depending on the camera. By doing this you eliminate the video going in and out of focus.
BRG,
Jon

Very Nice. I believe it is a SM F-4? What engine is installed?

Thanks - Adil

That sure looks like the SM f-4E. It looks like it flies like a dream, a testament to the pilot's skills. I wonder why the pilot was dive bombing the runway on final? Did it feel like it wanted to fall out of the sky? It sure didn't seem like it.

Another good thing is that the airplane sticks to the tarmac.

How about some more info like CG or engine choice?

Raf

Hi,

Wow. That was hot. Seems like a really hot landing, too. Is that the SM Phantom?

Hay guys this was at 5200 ft, not as much air here. The approach is what Eggs does. He is used to flying big warplanes. He is a good pilot and does a real good job with his jets. The landing speed is what it takes at 5200 ft. George

Any landing that doesn't break stuff is a great landing!!

What kind of F-4 was it? What engine did it have? What CG did "Eggs" use?

Raf

nothing like a little chin music for the video guy huh?

that thing looked like it was hauling the chili!!! what motor is pushin' it around? looks sweet

The doors don't look like the SM doors, and the nose doesn't either. I am interested as well as to whose kit it is.

On my maidens, I spend very little time with the gear up ... just enough to get the trims and check CG and throws. Most of the time is spent on slow flight and practicing approaches. Nothing worse than dorking your beautiful bird on the first landing cause you are running low on fuel and didn't spend the time getting it set up right for a good approach.

Notice the smoke from the mains during the first landing!! I was there and they really smoked both mains laid out blue smoke notice just before coming to a stop. It was better than seeing a drag chute come out!

The turbine is JetCat P-200 setup just for Egil. Not sure who manufactured the F-4, but I can tell you from seeing it up close it's nice. I'd say it's an 8 or 9 on a scale of 10.
Lee

From long-stroke nose gear and wheel rims, this is a SM bird.

it is indeed a SM.....I did part of the build.....

I don't believe Eggs would mind if this photo or commentary is posted....Note below a clear view of his new SM F-4.

Egil is a devoted scale R/C model pilot. He enjoys the best that can be produced of any product, is a very accomplished R/C pilot. We all enjoy flying, but few of us are as devoted to Scale Jet model flying as Egil has been for the last several years.
A Friend,
Lee

I really enjoyed editing this video. It was even better being there to watch this plane in action on it's maiden. I still have to get ahold of Egil to see if he wants a hard copy of the video.

Thanks for the suggestion Jon, I'll try that next time we're out at the field.

From what Egil said, the plane started to really sink fast when he pulled off on the power. Wish we would have been able to get that thing on video standing on the nozzles flying across the field it was quite a sight.

James

Cool - as long as the "crew chief" doesn't have to resort to holding the tires on with tie-wraps all is good. [8D] I think the only other F-4 to even think about getting airborne at Chatfield was Ed Val's JMP twin-fanned VX-4 bird a gazillion years ago ... but I don't think it happened.

Mike

If that is the turbine I think it is, it is quite special.

Hi Matt,
It is the one you've got in mind..... Talk about standing on the tailpipes!
Mr. Bob did magic
Lee

Hello Mike,
Nope, these wheels, tires and brakes are made to hold up to real World heavy Jet action! This aircraft / engine combination produces a Colorado high......oops handels Colorado high altitude very well. You should have seen Eggs F-4 stand on the pipes during the maiden flight first approach go-round Mr. Bob's turbine saved the day!
Lee

Lee, I am really happy for the Eggster in two respects: 1. He had the cajones to step up and commit to fly that gorgeous beast at our flimsy altitude, and 2. he actually pulled it off with an assist from some visibly stout JetCat (?) thrust. Judging by the approach and how it "settled" on the runway, that SM airframe is one tough sum*****! Maybe Jim E. will be inspired to get hot on his (BVM) Rhino now ...

Mike

Not to sidetrack the thread but here's some added info ... I got to thinking:
That characteristic has to do where the main gear footprint is relative to the CG. Every RC version of the F-4 that's worth building/flying has its main gear in the scale location. (There's really no place else to put it.)
Most know that for sweet handling both off of and on to the runway, the relation of a trike gear's foot print to the CG likes to be at an angle of ~15 deg. But the full size and RC size birds end up with the CG in totally different locations. And with the model, because it's happier with a more forward CG location, that ends up pushing the wheels aft of the dynamic CG. That's why the increased AOA (and lots of scoots) from the extended nose strut often helps in more predictable/smoother rotation. Just the opposite on recovery - once that bad boy hits the tarmac it will remain stuck. You can see the compression of the nose oleo in one of the still photos.

Gawd, what a gorgeous jet. (the short nose version flown by the MARINES' Warlords/VMFA-451 is my favorite) Anyway, excuse me I've got this giant woody; I gotta go to the bathroom.