Hello,

I am helping a couple of close friends with a JMP Firebird. Does anyone on here have any flight experience with one?

I have seen 1/2 dozen flights of them over the last several years. I just wanted to get some ideas about things like low speed handling.

Thanks in advance

Sung is bringing it to St. George where we could probably get him to let us video some stalls, slow flight , etc. at high altitude. This may help.
Michael

Hi Michael,

Better talk to Sung.

Hey Mike, I lost mine this weekend up in Button Beehive Willow.

Matt, you could've called me and asked, Rex and Russ were both there when she went in. I guess the stall speed on mine was right around 50 and at least 60 65 if I was doing anything other then straigth and level flight. Others may have different numbers, depending on their setup and weight. As long as you keep the speed up, the Firebird is an excellent flying plane, tracks well and carves well. I had fun flying it while it was around. If you plan on getting one, you a want an open area where you can open her up and let it run and run she will. The landings are good, no real surprises there, just make sure you paint it a color you can see well , cause the head on profile is very small.

I wish I still had her for you to check out at St. George and possible flown it I know you would have liked it. Oh well, ***** happens in life.

Sung

sorry to hear about your loss [] .... i was thinking of a Firebird myself a while back ... but i have decided to only fly jets that are grass capable as i like to fly closer to home and not have to drive/fly to paved runway space ...

how bad was it ? did you just loose the airframe ? or was it a lot more ?



Wojtek

Wojtek

So far its only the airframe, but I still have not had the heart to tear it all apart yet, thanks. I am sure I'll find a few more broken parts here and there. As for grass fields, I think the plane would fine with it as long as it was smooth and you had plenty of airspace to fly her. Ask Tom about grass fields, he should definitely know. I have had lots of fun flying the Firebird and may consider another one soon, apparently I have most of the stuff that goes inside lying around somewhere. You will find no other plane that flys like it.

Sung

Hi Sung;

Sorry about your loss.... It happens. It was a very nice bird. I planning on getting one after I see how Russ and Rex fly that bird with a P200.

I will have to call Tom when im ready for another plane .. I do love that Firebird .... the field i fly at most of the time now is 3000' of grass (its a full scale strip ) .. I'd love to hear the flight report on that Firebird with the p200 !!!


Wojtek

hH Sung,

Again, sorry that this got drug out here, that was not my intention.

Rex called me from the strip right after it happened. I assumed you knew that he and Russ are partnering on a Firebird right now, it is almost ready for paint. They are doing some mods to try to help the slow speed (NACA droops, possibly some ventral fins)

They specifically asked me to try to find out more about the plane from others. That is why I am posting this, they are worried.

Again, very sorry.

After watching Tom Cook fly his at Sullivan Ozark Mountain Jets last year and at SM with his Peggy HP, they are excellent flyers.....they really groove.....much like a Bandit....but after seeing the one die at SM 2003 in the pattern, and watching Tom fly his to many successful landings, you treat this bird more like a Phantom than say an Avonds F-15, especially on that turn from base to final at low altitudes.....especially if there is any sort of a cross wind......

The beautiful craftsmanship in the kit still amazes me.....just like allot of those ARF German Scale gliders.......

One of the guys from Milwaukee who loaded his down with an Olympus did fly it off our grass field last summer....the gear is very stout....

Tom

Tom,

I think that was a Hustler that went in at SM 2003 not the Firebird. I have seen Tom fly his on several occasions it always looks fast and he does seem to fly it more like one of the heavies than a typical sport jet.

I have flown planes that land at 60 mph, not really fun, and tough on our 650 foot runway.

Matt,

I gotta agree with you, 650 is short, but do able. I have been telling Rex that the Basin is not the best place for the Firebird, it needs more space both in the air and on the ground. Especially these days, its not the best plane for the Basin. The Basin was off limits to my Firebird, now it no longer matters.

Sung

Ooops! You are right David.....locked onto the wrong model....but the same things can be said about the Firebird............wind or no wind, when smokin' by it is on rails like no other..........magnificent machine with an ugly Oly in it........but appears to be runway hungry until you really get the feel from mid-base to touchdown.......

With Matt's experience with groovy fast Bandits as well as the Phantom, the owners got what they need......except, if they fly it at a meet with bleachers.....then they may have to have you standing by....I know, I know it was only once, but only once has special meaning when it comes to sheep and Phantoms/Bleachers.....

T......

Yeah if they need somebody to nurse a beer, stand there and watch them ....I am the man! I am not getting anywhere near that thing!

Matt- I would suggest calling Tom at JMP and I'm sure he would be able to help you on any preflight info you might need.
For the record the plane that was lost at Superman was a Hustler. I've seen Tom operate his from as little as 250' of grass runway( take-off and land) with out any stress or strain.
I've only seen the Firebird fly off of pavement and it used about 200' for take-off and about 350-400' landing to a stop.
It sounds like some other people have flown their's off of grass. Don't know why it wouldn't work as it is the same landing gear as the Hustler.
Both are great aircraft.

Marty O

It is my understanding they have already talked to Tom, and he wrote me about the ventrals and the new fuse he is doing. I just wanted to here from others as that is what my friends asked me, to get as much input as I could.

These things seem pretty rare so I may not get any feedback, I do not know.