flyinfool1

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We will need pics when you do.....

JustFlyIt

Ok, I am hoping that I didn't do wrong here even though it looks like things turned out ok.

A friend of mine and I were doing one of my first kero starts (Wren 75) tonight in preparation for my first flight on Saturday. To make a long story short we had one heck of a wet start. Since I knew that this was because extra fuel had pooled into the turbine I decided the "run it out". The flames were contained in the tube and after about ten to 15 seconds went out. I ran the turbine for a couple of minutes and then proceeded with a shutdown. I had two follow-on starts that were uneventful and the turbine ran beautifully. Sounds fantastic!

Would you have done the same? Standard procedure is probably to shutdown the turbine but at that point it was running and I was reasonably sure that the flames would blow out with the thrust that had built up. I think that the wet start ignition was "later" in the start process.

Don S.

Legnum

hi there,
had a kit sent to NZ a couple of weeks ago and its under way. mate has Anthony s from Christchurch, flew it our Anzac meet, good fun jet, so now there will be 2 wood kit R 54s down under. will have Intairco retracts, kevlar tank glassed and painted,going use some of mods made on this forum, mainly the duct set up by Bobparks2. had to alter the retract mounts, fairly simple mod. changed the nose mount, had trim 10mm from the nose leg. will join the wing together tomorrow.
Grant

afterburner

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Has anyone used a JC Rabbit(19lbs) on the Reaction?

Marty

ww2birds

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Not sure if it helps but I have a Wren 100 (about 22#) on mine .. I replaced a Wren SuperSport (18#) and the difference was quite noticeable .. flew fine with the SS, but LOTS more fun with the 100 .. the airframe takes the power easily and it's a pleasure to fly. I am sure it would be great with the Rabbit too. My plane is 20# dry.

Dave

afterburner

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Thanks Dave. I've been flying mine for about five years now with a P-60 and although it's still fun, I think the extra thrust would boost the fun factor and make it feel like a new plane.

Marty

PaulD

My Feedback: (39)

Go for it. The Reaction I had originally had a 14 lb'er on it and I put a Wren SS on it when I bought it. The original owner said it made the jet go from yawn to yeehaw.

The extra thrust is a great addition even up to 22 lbs. If u are putting more jamb in, find a way to squeeze in more fuel so u can fun for more than 5 min.

PaulD

causeitflies

I flew mine for two years (six years ago) with a P-60. Brought it out of retirement last year with a Wren SS and it's a ball to fly on 18lbs. Would love to fly it on 22lbs but I fly it pretty hard so maybe I'll stick with the SS

bobparks2

My Feedback: (1)

I started out on mine with a Wren 54 mk 3, about 14 lbs thrust, then recently changed to a Jets-Mund VT-80, about 18 lbs, but also lighter than the Wren, and the fuel consumption is only a bit higher. Quite a nice improvement. I have a 75 oz JetTech (Gary Mueller) tank plus a 6 oz header, and set my TX timer for 6 minutes of flight time over 30% throttle.

Bob

Legnum

hi all,
wings are joined, going for a trail fit to fuselage to day.everything has lined up well so far, nicely cut kit. have ordered a Jet Cat 100 RX to power it, simplified wiring harness and the specs show a kilo lighter than some of the other Cat Turbines being installed, should make it interesting. supply is about 6 weeks away, that should give me time to glass it and fit Bobparks2 duct design.
Grant

Square Nozzle

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Legnum, I have built two R54's and I see something in your wing that troubles me. You have eliminated the triangular brace blocks at the plywood sandwich on rib W6 in favor of small traingular pieces of plywood. I suggest that this is a poor idea since the reinforcing blocks add a great deal of support for the gear mount. I have had my share of hard landings and runs off the paved runway. The first area to fail is that area. With the gear loads you will want as much support in that area as possible.

Legnum

john,
that pic was taken before i had finished the mounts, all ply is aircraft grade 5 ply, base has the retract set in, with 2 more layers to fasten the retract to. hopefully this should be enough.
Grant

SPLIT S

Doing paint work on a friend's Reaction....

Dan

Square Nozzle

My Feedback: (1)

Legnum, I still see the potential to pull the retract mount plate and wing skin away from the W6 rib sandwich. There doesn't appear to be enough contact surface to hold that skin/gear mount plate to the rib. The load that the gear puts onto that system wants to pull the retract assembly to the rear and will take your current mount arrangement with it unless you put the triangular blocks in where the W6 rib meets the gear mount plate. The triangular blocks should be in the kit and are shown on the plans. I think the blocks are 3/4" triangular sticks the you will need to cut into segments to fit.

Legnum

have bolted wing to fuselage, need to sheet top of wing, will have another look at the retract mounts, have the 3/4 triangle strip, noted where it fits. then sanding, glassing, painting.
Grant

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Just put 4 more flights on mine this weekend, put crow into it, that is definately the hot ticket, takes some float out, also, put the brakes on while in the air so when it touches it sticks. Ill have HD vid soon of a flight hopefully from a buddy.

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Video proof I still remember how to fly, this was shot this past saturday at a local field. Enjoy!

Bobs old well used R54, JetcatP70, JR DSM2, Crow with brakes set in the air before touchdown, very light headwind, Thanks Ken for taking the vid!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df9MvEoPHu0&feature=g-all-u[/youtube]

BruceTharpe

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Fantastic flight, John, I like your style! Looks like a tiny runway, and you only used half of it. I'd say you proved you're a GREAT jet pilot.

BTW, excellent camera work, tell Ken I'd like to know his secrets

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Thanks! I think that was my 7th flight on the R54 since I got it. Crow and brakes on is the hot ticket to super short landings on this tiny field. They are not all that good, but it works! Great job on a fun jet!

I think the runway is 225' or less, field is 400'ish

PaulD

My Feedback: (39)

Nice smooth flying John, hope we see you at Whidbey and/ or Princeton.

PaulD

JohnVH

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Ill try, but doubtful Paul, all the jet events are planned on top of local stuff I have to attend, sadly.

bob1393

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Hi John - thanks for posting the video. It's really nice to see one of my "old" planes fly!!! I was amazed at how fast you were able to stop after landing. I thought you would be using the grass runway for landings. Thanks again!!

Bob

JohnVH

My Feedback: (38)

Normally I do use the grass Bob, but this one just felt good! If I didnt have the brakes set in the air I probably would have ran off the end of the runway. Having fun with the bird, most at my club have never seen one fly there, so they get a kick out of it, plus its sooooooo easy! Bruce designed a hell of a fun short field machine!

bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

Some people who get started into turbines want scale or something fast or sexy. The R54 is just a fun airplane to fly and more people should start out on one to learn all about turbine flying. FYI, Dean Wichmann had another R54 built (he sold his 1st one) by Paul D. so he could just have a fun plane and buddybox people on it.

Bob

bobparks2

My Feedback: (1)

I was flying at the club airshow over the weekend, and a photographer there some good photos of my R54.

Photos by Kelly Collin, [link=http://www.p51girlphotography.com/home_page]P51 Girl Photography[/link]

Its pretty neat how the heat shimmer of the exhaust shows up in the first approach photo.

Bob