Cant cope with those big pics

Dennis

RCU! Click on view image and they seem to reduce!

Dave

Well it looks like the Torus won't make it up this weekend. All week the weather report had shown 54 degrees and sunny for today.. Woke up this morning to 40 degrees and rain-all day and Sunday too it looks like.

Gosh darn it dang nabbit!

You think you have problems, now the snow has melted we sink up to our ankles in mud, that's the trouble with flying on marsh land. LOL

Mike

You should be ok in a couple of days. Latest reports have YOUR snow coming my way for the next couple of days!!!

Didn't know the weather systems had reversed, normally we get the US weather about seven days after its dumped on Manhatten.

Mike

You are technically correct but I have to blame it on somebody!

Mike

I had the chance to fly Alan's own production Sport scheme Torus today while helping him with his new radio set (11 Zero X) ready for Classic Jets on friday. This model does not have the tip tanks fitted and I notice the faster roll rate and crisper stops on the snap manoeuvres. This model has a 130N turbine and still goes near vertical, so a P120sx would fly the Torus no problem. This model sits slightly nose down so needs a tug to get it off our wet grass today, he's going to shorten the mains a fraction.

Landings need a tiny amount longer to scrub speed without the tanks for drag, though I think most people will fly with the tanks.

Dw

Finally!!!
Had a decent break in the weather this afternoon and got the bird in the air.

Put in 5 flights and nothing fell or blew off so all was good. This thing is definitely different from my other two jets. Very agile but felt kinda slow till you get the throttle up tad bit over half and then it seems to move pretty smartly. I didn't get any speeds because my bud with the Stalker was out of town. Took a couple of clicks of down elevator and a click of aileron and that got it close. Way to much elevator first flight. By the third I had it close. I don't know about the C/G just yet. After the third flight, I took 6 oz out of the nose. Couldn't tell any difference. Inverted required a slight push on the stick but very little, I would think with the airfoil it has this would be the case even if it was dead neutral.

At full throttle it wanted to nose down a hair. Trim to level and it wanted to climb slightly at lower throttle settings. Next chance I get to fly will put the weight back in the nose and see if that helps. i was really worried about the weight and that verticals with my JC Super Eagle would be lacking. However the vertical was very good with this motor (30 LBS) especially if you get a little run on before pulling up. Rolls really well on the up and down lines. I think I might have too much rudder however as for me in knife edge it wanted to roll out. That could be an indication of an not quite where it needs to be C/G.

I have a little window of opportunity in the morning to keep a couple of more flight s in before rain moves in and then it looks like Xmas before the weather is decent around here again. As I get a more definite feel for the control throws I will post them here. I like this plane, flys fast, flys slow, looks very nice in the air. Just gotta trim out a few things.

I have a short Video that I am compiling from one of the flights today. Its not going to be very good as my son is very heavy on the zoom and keep losing the plane but it does show that it flys. Will post it soon. EDIT: Video should be here now. Will get a better one later.

More later.

mike

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5MYDMnfsnY[/youtube]

1/2" up, 1/2' down seems to work well for the elevator throw for most flying, need to set up a second rate with a bit more to tighten up my rolling circles. I have 20 degrees on both sides of the ailerons and seems comfortable. Currently 20 degrees both sides of the rudders, but will try some more.

To me the the plane feels the best with the c/g 1/2 inch behind the front wing tube. I've been back further but what is happening to me is that the plane starts to feel a little darty in the vertical plane on high speed passes and at lower throttle settings would balloon slightly. Could possibly do a throttle/elevator mix to offset that but moving the c/g just a tad forward takes care of it just fine. With the suggested c/g on the wing tube the nose tucks slightly in rolls and takes a bit of down elevator push inverted.

Here is another video. Once again I apologize for the quality. Need to quit buying planes and buy a better camera.


Be safe!

mike

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZWnclwEKoA[/youtube]

Nice to see someone flying more than just left hand circuits! Good Job!

Christmas Cheers!

PaulD

Mike,

Looks like you were really enjoying your Torus. Nice flying!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZWnclwEKoA for a full screen view.

Alan

Thanks guys, I'm starting to enjoy it. Still kinda figuring out control throws and fine tuning.


My biggest problem now is figuring out whether to fly with the tanks or not. Plane looks really good with the tanks but it flies a bit more nimble without them. Still aerobatic but just not as crisp. On the other hand I bought the dang thing cause I liked the tip tanks!!

Oh decisions, decisions!!

take care
mike

Got some radar readings today using my Jet Central Super Eagle turned up to its full thrust of 30 LBS

Using a Stalker Sport radar gun and not diving at the gun, with about an 4-5 MPH headwind got readings of 164mph, 165mph, qnd 168mph.

One run with the wind netted 175 mph.

This was with the tip tanks installed.

My PST Reaction by comparison was flying in the mid 180's with the same motor. So a little bit of a loss but not too bad for a larger airplane.

More later.
Take care and happy New Year!
mike

Mike,

I'd be interested to compare the speeds with and without the tip tanks.

My guess is it will make a difference of close to 10MPH.

I wonder what Torus will do with a P160 or similar? I don't have an accurate speed gun that will pick it up more than one time in ten tries.

Patricia and I are planning a free all Boomerang big hospitality tent at Florida jets. As it's for pilots and their models, Frank has been good enough to promise us a spot near the flight lines. Any Boomer Flyers care to join us? It'll be "on the house" to the Boomerang Gang! Reply here or contact us at [email protected]

Hi Alan.

We did just that yesterday, got some speeds with the tip tanks installed.

But I am afraid that you are going to be disappointed.

The tip tanks only accounted for a 2-4 mph loss. Pretty insignificant and pretty surprising as I was thinking like you.

Maybe its your pointy front, blunt rear design that works better than the more conventional way tanks are mounted.

But everybody that sees the plane comments on how much better it presents with the tanks on. So back on they will go.

As far as the speed with the 160, I don't know right now but my plans are to purchase a Jet Central Rhino by springtime and then maybe I can find out.

The radar gun that I use is a STALKER Sport that I purchased several years ago when I was hot and heavy into RC boat racing. Our club at the time purchased a STALKER Pro after comparing several different units and finding out the Stalkers where the only gun at the time that would pick up a boat at a safe distance consistently. several others required that the boat get so close at high speed before they would pick them up that it was dangerous. Stalkers ain't cheap but they work. I recently purchased the gun back from another club member that picked it up from me couple seasons ago.

I want to make it down to Florida and hang out with you. I just have to find some one close by to go and share gas and motel with me. My wife and I will actually be in Daytona 3 weeks before for the Daytona 500 race for our anniversary. But to make two trips down there within 3 weeks of each other is just a little bit to much on my own. If I get a travel partner though I will be there and will have the radar gun with me if some one with a 160 size motor in a Torus shows up.

Take care
mike

Mine is getting a IQ-Hammer 170+ so no problems in the thrust dept.

I do have access to a speed gun but the likelihood will be that it will be February before I can get the aircraft, speed gun and suitable weather all in one place at the same time.

Having said that, I am not building this combo to break speed records. I already have a jet that will do well over 200 without breaking a sweat and really want this Torus to be a everyday go to plane. If I get 180 with the 170+ turbine I will be very happy.

PaulD

Paul
I was really worried that my 30 pound eagle was not enough for this plane but it does well. You will like it.

I have actually been toying with going with a Jet Central Cheeta rather than the Rhino. its only a pound more thrust than my Eagle but it weighs 1-1/2 pounds less and is better on fuel at WOT than the Eagle. The lighter motor on the rear would allow me to take a few oz off the nose. I'm thinking a 2lb savings overall will make a little difference in flight performance and less fuel burn means more fly time.

On the other hand the rhino would make this a truly short field airplane. And throttled back to the performance level of the Eagle might be a little better on fuel. But with the extra performance @ WOT comes the bugaboo of more fuel burn.

6 more pounds of thrust is not going to get this thing to 200 MPH

But 185 mph sure sounds more impressive than 165 mph!!

Of course it would be nice to fly for 9 minutes rather than 8 minutes before having to do a gear check.

But for right now the Eagle is it. And trust me, its not embarrassing at all to fly.

That Hammer should put you right where you want to be.

Take care
mike

Just got off the phone with Patricia. I've got a sport scheme headed this way! Gonna put a Rhino on the the tail & use it as my "as often as possible, flyer". I usually fly scale but this one will be something to just burn holes in the sky with.

David S

Dave,

You'll love being a member of the Boomer family, and you will fly it often. Will we see you at Desert Jets next month?

Chris "Farmer" Balling

Chris,

God willing & the creek don't rise, I'll be there!

I might even have something with me that will look familiar to you.


David S

And there were three....

David, good to someone else chiming in here. Kinda surprised that there haven't been more.

I'm just completeing the turbine install in mine, then on to finishing off the receiver wiring installation and fuel system plumbing.

I managed to find a nice big smoke tank to install between the formers in front of the main tank. Smoke On!

Cheers,

PaulD

Dave Wilshere,

I noticed in the picture above that the servo control surface mounts are installed quite far back from the hinge line. Rationale?

David S