Reaction 54 Jet Kit
01-19-2019, 09:43 PM
#4281
Thank you Bruce, it was an excellent experience to build your Reaction, so far one flight but, man! it all felt soooo good and the touchdown was one of my best.
I will be practicing short field landings so I can take it around here to show off at other flying fields, we need to get the word out that a new bach is coming.
We have a torrential downpour of water here tomorrow so, no flying till next week then I'm off for the last week of January, I will take the opportunity to fly it some more, a lot more
Pictures showing before and after the build was completed.
Last edited by CARS II; 01-20-2019 at 11:42 AM.
. Turbine conversion of a other BTE classic 
01-20-2019, 05:51 PM
#4291
On the TO run it neede more elevator that expected, I suspect the removal of some of the ballast will reduce the amount of elevator needed to rotate for the TO.
Landing, the flaps are very effective, I see no need to add Crow, I needed to use 1/2 throttle to keep it flying to the runway then I cut it a bit too soon and it started to sink fast, that's when you see it ballooning I had to pull on the elevator to stop the sinking and added a bit of throttle to keep it flying as it was approaching the runway, at the end it all worked out and it landed on the mains and on the center of the runway, happy happy
Landing, the flaps are very effective, I see no need to add Crow, I needed to use 1/2 throttle to keep it flying to the runway then I cut it a bit too soon and it started to sink fast, that's when you see it ballooning I had to pull on the elevator to stop the sinking and added a bit of throttle to keep it flying as it was approaching the runway, at the end it all worked out and it landed on the mains and on the center of the runway, happy happy
01-20-2019, 11:37 PM
#4295
Thank you John, Marty and Alan.
John, you know I got inspired by the first Reaction you build almost 10 years ago.
Alan, it was good that you happen to be there flying your F-15 on maiden day, your help with the engine and on the maiden flight was excellent, thank you for letting Kevin film the flight with your phone.
Thank you Kevin for filming the fligh, you did good.
John, you know I got inspired by the first Reaction you build almost 10 years ago.
Alan, it was good that you happen to be there flying your F-15 on maiden day, your help with the engine and on the maiden flight was excellent, thank you for letting Kevin film the flight with your phone.
Thank you Kevin for filming the fligh, you did good.
01-21-2019, 12:19 PM
#4297
Thank you SB.
The two things I needed to check after the maiden were the steering and that has been adjusted and the brakes, there is an air leak when set to on, I found the leak at the valve so, it came out and it will be replaced with an air button valve.
Other than that, all is good.
The two things I needed to check after the maiden were the steering and that has been adjusted and the brakes, there is an air leak when set to on, I found the leak at the valve so, it came out and it will be replaced with an air button valve.
Other than that, all is good.
01-22-2019, 12:24 AM
#4298
About Brake, I went with stock electromagnetic setup and I have to say that I never used them ( either our concrete club runway is not very long). I encountered a dragging nose wheel once that killed my nose tire . I entirly replaced the brake unit and don't have troubles anymore. But I seriously consider to simply remove the brake on the R54 because he doesn't need it in my opinion.
Once you will be confident with the R54 landing you will see it can be land at ridiculous speed and fit with a P60 you don't have any residual thrust issue
That being said , this is for info only because I think US regulation force you to place brake on jet airplanes
Once you will be confident with the R54 landing you will see it can be land at ridiculous speed and fit with a P60 you don't have any residual thrust issue
That being said , this is for info only because I think US regulation force you to place brake on jet airplanes
Last edited by SALMONBUG; 01-22-2019 at 12:33 AM.
01-22-2019, 07:28 AM
#4299
Yes a brake is required if you are flying under AMA rules in the USA. It is very rare that I use the brakes on my R54. I use the brake more often on takeoff than I do for landing. I have an OLD P70 that takes all of 7 seconds to spool up. So for short runways I will hold the brake while spooling up until the tires start to skid. It is not necessary to do so but makes for a safer takeoff. With that long spool up time the plane is usually airborne long before the engine is up to full power. By holding the brake the engine is very close to full power at lift off, along with a shorter takeoff run, allowing a steeper climb to clear the trees.
The takeoff that the spectators at our field seem to like the most is to pick the plane up only about 2 feet, get the gear and flaps up ASAP, let it accelerate at that level a bit then pull hard to vertical to a hammerhead at exactly 399.9 ft AGL, with one full roll on the way up and another full roll on the way down.
The takeoff that the spectators at our field seem to like the most is to pick the plane up only about 2 feet, get the gear and flaps up ASAP, let it accelerate at that level a bit then pull hard to vertical to a hammerhead at exactly 399.9 ft AGL, with one full roll on the way up and another full roll on the way down.