Well, folks, I've been test flying my latest and possible first for that matter, jet project this week. Way back in 1977, my father and I started to design and build a Saab AJ-37 Viggen. We were going to use the soon to be released World Engines Jet Pump fan designed by Duane Johnson. The project languished in the basement through a couple career changes and marriages and finally the passing of my beloved dad. With the advent of the smaller turbines, I decided to revive the project and get it flying as a tribute to my father. I know this may sound a little sappy, but it has provided a great impetus to stick through this very difficult building process and I am having a blast! The airplane is quite small by todays standards at 58" long and 40" span. It is powered by my venerable Wren MW-54 with a Wren tailpipe. I use all 9 channels of my Futaba 9ZAP and Trim wheels and brakes. The struts are a combination of our design and Robart. I had commissioned more scale-like struts but the supplier doesn't choose to answer his phone anymore! This first flight was a great rendition of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" since the CG was about 3/4" too far aft and I was very lucky to get it down in one piece. On the second flight, the PCM Rx went into hold on an extended base leg and it flailed around and almost flew out of site. The third flight has turned out to be a charm and it is finally getting "dialed-in". I'll tell the first two flights had me tapping all my abilities and I feel that my "Jet Huevos" have grown significantly! Sorry to get so long winded, but this experience has been what I consider the essence of modeling. Here are a few pictures:

Tailwinds, with a smile,


John

I love the way Viggens fly, I used to have a Jim Fox Viggen that I flew to death.

Congrats looks nice!

Thanks Shok,

I have found that the airplane is extremely stable in roll. Initially, I had a blistering roll rate set up but I it was hard to tell because it was so stable on that axis and it took a lot of input to get it into a steep bank. Did the Jim Fox model behave this way as well? When I go into a turn, I have to hold quite a bit of aileron to keep it there. I haven't tried using flaps on takeoff or landing yet........more to come!!

Hey it's Friday!! To those of you who imbibe, please join me this evening in a toast to the 'ole man! I'll be facing West at happy hour and saying This one's for you, dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John

You know its been awhile, I dont remember anything abnormal about the flights.
But I do remember that that delta wing will slow to walk nose high for perfect landings everytime. That plane would fly about 20mph all day long without wanting to stall.

Thanks fo the info....I'll try to settle-in with some slow flying. I probably have been landing too fast.

John

Hi John, Great Job!!!, (what a ride!!!) with the rear C/G [X(]

I want one!!! Would have to be huge though. Jet looks awesome. I see you have a scale main setup. Did you make it your self?

Really nice John, I'm sure she will be a nice flayer specially with Wren 54 in it.
Enjoy.

CARS II

ONE MORE!!

SIERRA HOTEL

Thanks Shane,

Yup, the gear was made "in house"...sort of. The horizontal trunnion piece was machined by my dad way back when and the struts are Robarts. I turned the piece that the trunnion is attached to and used JB Weld to bond it to the strut. I have been waiting for custom struts that were supposedly shipped from the Midwest the first week of February, but alas, they have not arrived yet. Hence, I improvised. The wheels and brakes are Trim Aircraft. As it turns out, the trunnion is a little too light for the heavier turbine model and I have bent it on some of the first "arrivals". I guess a bend is better than a hole up through the wing! Here is a picture:

Regards,

John

Awesome! I wish I knew how to use a lathe. LOL. There's a guy that sells 1/10 scale plans for this. I want something along the lines of 1/6 or so, though. It would be huge! I just might have to take the plunge like you and your father and make one myself. [X(] I have a couple of planes that I think would sell ok if they were made. Good luck with getting the other gear in.

hey bro'

here's to you and your dad.

cheers

buck

oh yeah, almost forgot

don't be afraid to slow that hog down bro'. it's a delta. all it's gonna do is mush out of the sky wings level. just feed in the power one click at a time until you're at 1/2 elevator or so and it's dancing on it's tail. once you have a feel for how slow you can effectively fly the bird you'll be amazed at how short your landing roll out can be.

once again congrats and have fun

buck

The Saab 37 Viggen is a raw project, indeed...
Do someone know about a larger model, about 100" long (2,5 meters)??

Good luck furter on, you have awasome capabilities inbuildt in this model!
But I guess you`ll discover this soon...

Regards

Gudmund

Thanks for the toast and the info, Buck. Next flight will be some high alpha work. Heck, my liittle Viggen would probably fit under wing on one of your bug's rocket rails!

John

no doubt!!!

take care

Hey buck,

I flew the Viggen twice today and had a blast. AOA baby! I should have known that you Naval Aviating Bug Drivers are all about AOA. On approach, this little thing drops like a fall'in toolbox and you can still pull a little more out of it....as long as your not in a turn. I flew the thing around the patch with it's snout in the air for awhile. I rolled two landings on where I saw the rear wheels spin up , then the front wheels touch, and then the nose gear kissed on...SWEET!

Tailwinds,

John

Hey John

Nice viggen.

I just have to show you this. This is the gear for my 1/8 scale viggen. That I hope to complete next year.

I'll second that! SIERRA HOTEL

[sm=thumbup.gif][sm=thumbup.gif] Two thumbs up to the both of you!

John, you are correct, this is the truest form of what model aviation IS.

Well done.

Nice gear Kim! I think that I have the plans for something similar to those. I wasn't brave enough to build my own retracts. For the mains, I'm using a set of Fiber Classics F-86 gear that I bought from Don Kanak a couple years ago. As it turns out, they have a very thin profile which as you know, is needed. Where can a guy get a 1/8 scale Viggen these days? Are there any Nauwa kits still available out there? My liitle Viggen is hard to see....Maybe I can get my optometrist to write me a prescription for a larger model so that I can use my tax-free spending account funds to buy one!!

Also, Thanks RAMFLYER, Todd and Kerry.

Todd, I need to contact you about getting some goodies soon.

Tailwinds,

John

Hey John

A friend of mine has the mold for the Einer Johanson 1/8 kit. I have the full kit that I will build next winter. I can get you all the info you like on the 1/8 kit. Just say when.....

For what I know, the gear that I have is made by Ultra Precision

Hi Kim,

I just got home from a four day trip. I would like to know about the Johnson kit that you mentioned. Do you think it is suitable for an eighteen pound thrust engine? Send me a PM with the info.

John

Hey all

Her it is. All the parts for the 1/8 scale Viggen. I have a AutoCad drawing with all the formers. But there is alot of work in this kit. But it sure is a nice size.
Yes it vill fly on a eighteen pound turbine, but I will go fore something a little bigger a SimJet 2300 ore P120 will be just fine for this jet.