Sabre XLT A large scratch built flying wing sport jet
02-20-2018, 05:16 PM
#226
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This is the first test flight after the repairs and redesign of the turbine mounting and tail pipe on Feb 9, 2018. It was a very successful flight with a landing and TAXI BACK!
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 02-20-2018 at 06:21 PM.
02-20-2018, 05:20 PM
#227
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This is the third flight on Feb 9, 2018. It was made using a SoloShot robot camera. The tracking was pretty good but the camera ducked and missed the landing.
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 02-20-2018 at 06:18 PM.
02-20-2018, 06:17 PM
#228
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Sabre XLT flights 4, 6, and 7 by Soloshot robot camera will be linked as soon as I can get to a high speed wifi connection and get them uploaded to YouTube.
Gary
Gary
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 02-20-2018 at 06:22 PM.
05-06-2020, 04:43 PM
#232
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Here is an update to the Sabre XLT project.
I flew the jet regularly up to March 2019. I lost count of the number of flights. It was always fun and reliable. I made a normal flight at the Jason Jordan Jet Jam in SC and made a normal approach and what looked like a normal landing. To my surprise at touchdown both main gear broke out of the foam wing and departed to the rear. The jet slid to a stop, nose gear steering still working, and turbine at idle. The left gear took a chunk out of the left ventral fin. Other than this there was no other airframe damage. The Sabre XLT sat in the penalty box for about 14 months until last week. I finally got it repaired and ready to fly again.
I think the problem was a poor gear mount design that I had been using and had to repair twice before. This time I changed the gear mounts to some large hardwood mounting rails. I hope this design will give more surface area to bond into the foam wing and keep the gear from popping out so easily. I also reinstalled the smoke system that I took out to save weight back in 2017. The following photos show the mods and repairs.
I flew the jet regularly up to March 2019. I lost count of the number of flights. It was always fun and reliable. I made a normal flight at the Jason Jordan Jet Jam in SC and made a normal approach and what looked like a normal landing. To my surprise at touchdown both main gear broke out of the foam wing and departed to the rear. The jet slid to a stop, nose gear steering still working, and turbine at idle. The left gear took a chunk out of the left ventral fin. Other than this there was no other airframe damage. The Sabre XLT sat in the penalty box for about 14 months until last week. I finally got it repaired and ready to fly again.
I think the problem was a poor gear mount design that I had been using and had to repair twice before. This time I changed the gear mounts to some large hardwood mounting rails. I hope this design will give more surface area to bond into the foam wing and keep the gear from popping out so easily. I also reinstalled the smoke system that I took out to save weight back in 2017. The following photos show the mods and repairs.
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 05-06-2020 at 04:48 PM.
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SHANEC (05-06-2020)
05-06-2020, 04:56 PM
#233
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I made the gear rails from 3/4 x 1 1/4 x 16" poplar hard wood. These rails were glued into the foam with polyurethane glue. It really grips into the foam so I hope it will keep the gear from popping off the bottom of the foam wing so easily.
Mounting layout planned
The voids in the foam were filled with expanded poly glue
Dry fit before glue applied
I covered the bottom of the retracts with plastic before mounting to keep glue out. A light spray of water in foam and on wood was applies before plenty of glue applied to the joints. Weights were used to keep the mounts in place during curing.
Lots of foaming during cure
Mounting layout planned
The voids in the foam were filled with expanded poly glue
Dry fit before glue applied
I covered the bottom of the retracts with plastic before mounting to keep glue out. A light spray of water in foam and on wood was applies before plenty of glue applied to the joints. Weights were used to keep the mounts in place during curing.
Lots of foaming during cure
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SHANEC (05-06-2020)
05-06-2020, 05:03 PM
#234
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Flush cut saw used to cut off most of the foam
Joint sanded flush with wing surface
Icing light weight body filler applied to mount area
After sanding 3 oz glass applied over the mounting area with West Systems 205
Epoxy wet out of fabric
Both side ready for final sanding and paint
Damaged areas repainted ready for gear install.
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SHANEC (05-06-2020)
05-06-2020, 05:11 PM
#235
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Ventral fin repaired using a simple balsa plug for damaged area.
Splt area glued back together
Damaged wood removed
Balsa plug fitted and trimmed
Rough sanded
Icing body filler applied
Sanded and painted...done!
Repairs finished and ready for smoke system and gear install
Splt area glued back together
Damaged wood removed
Balsa plug fitted and trimmed
Rough sanded
Icing body filler applied
Sanded and painted...done!
Repairs finished and ready for smoke system and gear install
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SHANEC (05-06-2020)
05-06-2020, 05:22 PM
#236
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Installs, mods, programming, weight and balance, and ops checks complete, ready for turbine start tests.
The K-210 started right up on the first attempt after sitting for 14 months and ran perfectly. Smoke systems works great. All ops checks complete. Ready to fly. My neighbor would have thought the shop building was on fire, except he's seen it happen many times before. I've got good neighbors!
Plan to fly this weekend. Looking forward to seeing it do Bat turns and 20' loops. Keep you posted.
Gary
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SHANEC (05-06-2020)
05-09-2020, 04:24 PM
#238
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SHANEC (05-10-2020)
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SHANEC (05-10-2020)
