Skymaster 1/5 Scale F16 Build Thread
04-06-2017, 06:01 PM
#530
My Feedback: (20)
Good test flights accomplished.
4 successful flights made last weekend. There were no more gear problems. Still tuning in the gyro gain. The new smoke tanks worked perfectly and helped the TO CG. The takeoffs were smoother and more controllable. CG seems about right when checked mid flight by the 45° pitch up and roll inverted maneuver. Landings were better but the jet is heavy and it lands fast.
I am carrying too much fuel so the next mod may be to reduce the size of the center tank. That will reduce the fuel load by about 4 lbs.
Gary
4 successful flights made last weekend. There were no more gear problems. Still tuning in the gyro gain. The new smoke tanks worked perfectly and helped the TO CG. The takeoffs were smoother and more controllable. CG seems about right when checked mid flight by the 45° pitch up and roll inverted maneuver. Landings were better but the jet is heavy and it lands fast.
I am carrying too much fuel so the next mod may be to reduce the size of the center tank. That will reduce the fuel load by about 4 lbs.
Gary
04-06-2017, 06:47 PM
#531
My Feedback: (3)
Job well done, Gary! It looked great and dropping 4 lbs weight on landing should improve it even further. Looking forward to the next time out! JS
Good test flights accomplished.
4 successful flights made last weekend. There were no more gear problems. Still tuning in the gyro gain. The new smoke tanks worked perfectly and helped the TO CG. The takeoffs were smoother and more controllable. CG seems about right when checked mid flight by the 45° pitch up and roll inverted maneuver. Landings were better but the jet is heavy and it lands fast.
I am carrying too much fuel so the next mod may be to reduce the size of the center tank. That will reduce the fuel load by about 4 lbs.
Gary
4 successful flights made last weekend. There were no more gear problems. Still tuning in the gyro gain. The new smoke tanks worked perfectly and helped the TO CG. The takeoffs were smoother and more controllable. CG seems about right when checked mid flight by the 45° pitch up and roll inverted maneuver. Landings were better but the jet is heavy and it lands fast.
I am carrying too much fuel so the next mod may be to reduce the size of the center tank. That will reduce the fuel load by about 4 lbs.
Gary
04-07-2017, 05:11 PM
#536
My Feedback: (20)
Hi Mike,
Im not sure and am not comfortable doing that right now. Too many variables right now. The center tank is 80 oz and would remove 4 lbs fluid plus tank and fitting weight. It would be the obvious option. I fly with an 8 min timer with a 2 min warning. After 6 min I start working for a landing. Locally it is never an issue. At FIF it could take longer than 2 min to get in sequence and land.
Also is engine fuel flow. The B300F is not running at full power very often. As a result I get higher thrust at lower fuel flow than a smaller turbine which would be running at a higher power setting to get the same thrust and using more fuel.
So here is my plan to get some data. The objective is not to fill completely up to save the weight but how much is enough?
I will start tracking fuel used on each flight by defueling and measuring fuel remaining after each flight to see what I am using. Once I get a base line for that I will start putting that much fuel plus a reserve in. Once I see how much that is I can mark the saddle tanks to that level and just fill to there. Once I see that is working I can determine if I can safely remove the 80 oz center tank. It may require a small header tank to keep a safe reserve.
Hope that makes sense.
04-10-2017, 05:05 PM
#538
My Feedback: (86)
I'm running a P200rx with just the side tanks, having the center tank plumbed for smoke but haven't used it yet. I fly for 6 minutes and land with quite a bit of fuel left...probably another 3 min worth before getting into BINGO. The 200 has plenty of power for this bird, flying it at half throttle except for verticals. The only time this jet feels heavy to me is the first 400 ft. of take off roll.
Rex
Rex
04-11-2017, 09:55 AM
#541
My Feedback: (86)
After finally getting my new external pipe mounted smoke probe from Tam a few months back dialed in and tested on my Rebel Pro, I just ordered one for my F-16. I have a Tam pipe in my F-16 and typical internal mounted smoke probe...but with the full ByPass install, I just DO NOT like a fully enclosed smoke setup...for obvious reasons...one of which, forgetting to turn off the smoke pump and filling the pipe full of smoke oil!
My factory pipe for the Rebel was about to fail, so I ordered a Tam Pipe with the smoke probe already in it as the pics below show.
So, for the F-16, Tam is sending me the tube I will push through the pipe end, that runs between the outer and inner pipe walls. That way I don't have to pull the pipe and send it back to him. This is ingenious! The smoke that came from my Rebel Pro was every bit as strong as if the probe was mounted in the typical location, behind the turbine.
here are a few pics of my Rebel Pro pipe with the smoke probe setup I am doing to my F-16...
My factory pipe for the Rebel was about to fail, so I ordered a Tam Pipe with the smoke probe already in it as the pics below show.
So, for the F-16, Tam is sending me the tube I will push through the pipe end, that runs between the outer and inner pipe walls. That way I don't have to pull the pipe and send it back to him. This is ingenious! The smoke that came from my Rebel Pro was every bit as strong as if the probe was mounted in the typical location, behind the turbine.
here are a few pics of my Rebel Pro pipe with the smoke probe setup I am doing to my F-16...
Last edited by rbxbear44; 04-11-2017 at 09:57 AM.
04-11-2017, 04:38 PM
#543
My Feedback: (86)
It will depend on the length of the pipe. The end where the turbine is, goes about 6" past the pipe trumpet. The ones already installed in the pipes have the curves and a mounting tab at the turbine end. The one Tam is sending me will be curved at the tail for the nozzle and then straight to be able to push through the pipe. I'll make the gentle bends myself to get it to fit in the ByPass and out to the smoke tank and pump.
04-11-2017, 04:48 PM
#545
My Feedback: (86)
yes indeed. I was amazed and so were about 15 other guys that were flying that weekend. Everyone was "skeptical" about the setup and when they saw the smoke, they went BAM! I am using a Tam Pump system and have my ATV only at 11 and it is pretty heavy smoke. What's so cool is the distance of about 4-5" gap between the smoke trail and the end of the airframe...it looks really sweet when you do a pass in close.
04-12-2017, 06:43 AM
#549
Iv seen people do this for many years now. Yes people are skeptical about it but due to the Pre-Heat of the oil it works well. I will be doing this to my T-1 sport jet.
You can get the tubes from Mcmaster Carr and use a flat head screwdriver to create the V type spray end.
You can get the tubes from Mcmaster Carr and use a flat head screwdriver to create the V type spray end.