Cracking on. Need to sort out where the MAP filler tube will go and start working out airline routes.

Dw

good job guys...

yesterday i worked on vampire...
turbine & accesories installed...
remain to fit the rx , ecu battery and nose ballast..

Here is something you won't see every day. Eric is working on a plane.
Please note he is still in his Bark-0-Lounger but he is working.
We have all the hinges done and servos installed now we are starting to add the extras.
As you can see Eric has installed the canopy frames and is drilling out for the Tail Light.
Below are a few photos from the last few days.

Looking good Bill.
I finished my air install last night and have had the gear working for the first time. Wiring next!

Dw

just finished...

nose ballast = 850g

Christian

Cool...

Dave

We got a little more done today.
Eric spent the day finishing the install of the running and landing lights.
I got he rudders installed and mounted the engine rails and mounts for the smoke tanks I made out of an old set of tanks I had around.
Here are a few photos.

Another Vampire for a UK customer.

Dw

saturday no maiden... due to turbine problem...
i must to change precharge bearing load... [:@][:@][:@]
then maiden flight next week..[][]

turbine test ok...

i see that the front gear suspension spring is very very soft...need to change? yours vampire need change this?

I've been flying the stock nose gear spring now since the beginning, both on grass and pavement, with no issues. Break out force is straight back, and your right to think it compresses easy and doesn't always extend that quickly while taxing, but the Vamp rotates on takeoff so easily I really haven't found the soft spring as an issue. The good thing about soft nose gear springs, they won't launch the plane back up following a not so perfect touchdown.
Jim

many thx jim....

easy to transport

Down to the last part, radio is completely programmed, and fitted except Rx packs. Just need to install a turbine and fit the leg doors and we are ready.

Dw

Looking Good Dave.
Work has continued on Eric's Plane. You can see in the photos below I removed the steering servo mount and moved the servo to the front side of the bulkhead.
This made for room to install the UAT up front and under the cockpit.
Since we will have a sliding Canopy I installed the air valve close so we can have short runs for air line to the canopy.
Also we are using a Smart Fly EQ10. I love these things. Its like having 10 matchboxes in your plane.
The wood the air valve and solenoids is mounted to serves as a stop for the tanks to keep them from sliding forward.
We have an EV5U mounted under the left side of the box under the cockpit and the Fuel pump and smoke pump will be mounted under the right.
I am trying to keep as much stuff in the nose of the plane as possible to reduce the nose weight we will need.
More to come soon.

finally done!!!

add 200g ballast on nose ...total 1kg

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGXzXb51ZwQ[/link]

Missed a shot of the JetTronic brake valve position. Like Bill I'm trying to get as much forward as possible to help with the balance, for ref I have heavy duty velcro on the back of the tanks (which are flat) and on the bulkhead. This retains the tanks along with the UP3 valve plate and MAP mounting base. All three Li-Po pack go in the nose 2 x 4200 and 1x 5200 2s all from Graupner.

Dw

Chrigui,

What happened to the front leg ? Why did you not fly with retracts down ?

Nice flight...

Jean Philippe

hello ....the first flight all gear up..
second flight noge gear fail only in flight (test after flight ok)

it need slighty modify rounding the sharp edge like previous photo
(i did the modify only main gear mechanism)

Christian

Congratulations on the test flights.

Dave

Christian:

Bravo. . .first flight looks very good. The Vampire has such great presence in the air.

We have taken the weekend off. . .work resumes on mine Monday am. . .target date is to have it ready for the First in Flight jet rally during memorial day weekend.

Job well done.

Cheers,
Eric

OK good ! What about DERJET ?
Did they plan to make this upgrade on the mechanics of the landing gear ?
It could be interesting to tell them this issue...

Regards
Jean-Philippe

JP

DerJet read this thread and react to comments very quickly and quite well!

Both Eric and myself talk with them regularly about improvements in what are already very good products.

Regards

Dave

Maiden on Friday Dave?

Christian,
Congradulations on your successful test flights, now get out there and enjoy the Vampire. I've got 16 flights on mine and am enjoying it more with each flight. Saw you put all the drag out for landing, flaps and air brakes, man with just flaps alone I'm carrying power all the way in to the landing flare, though I fly off something like 2000' of paved runway. I see you found the Vampire sets up for accurate short field landings well, you sure hit the mark nice on that landing. Landing gear, the devils in the details.
Jim

To Dave :

Ok, this is a good thing to know you send your feedback to Derjet company !
Definitely this Vampire seems to be a success ! [sm=thumbs_up.gif]

I wish you an happy maiden flight.....

Jean-Philippe