tschuy

My Feedback: (1)

I do the same thing as Tommy with all my connections. I've found that dental floss works great. It threads through the connectors real easy.



Cheers,

causeitflies

I use these little wire ties. If I'm all out of those I use dental floss.
(Sorry for the bad pic... my camera batteries died before I could get a good one)

bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

OK guys I have some news for you - My kit arrived today and it's great. More importantly, Galen let me buddy box and I flew his R54. My first jet flight ever!!! It flew great
and I had a wonderful time. It's motivating me to get my started (and finished)!!!

booker-RCU

My Feedback: (43)

More good news - Chuck Kentfield put the maiden flight on his R-54 today. It flew great!! He was doing loops, Rolls and split S'es all on the first flight. Or maybe it was nerves doing all those maneuvers????
Anyway Look at the post flight happy face!!
Congrats Chuck!!!

Bob did great on his first turbine flight. I suspect he'll set a new build record on the R-54.

Galen

samo

Hi Dave,

I noticed that you switched out your braking system. With the UP6 valve requiring another servo, are you slaving it to one of your already occupied 9 channels on your 9Cap?

We flew my maiden yesterday - WOW! Beautiful bird. My son and I waited 5 months, everyday staring at it while making "jet noises." Watching the videos was getting old. The experience was thrilling in "real time."

Anyway, I'm going to be flying mostly on pavement and would prefer main wheel brakes. I'd appreciate any insight on this.
Thanks,

Steve

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

It was a gorgeous day here in Oregon yesterday and there I was cutting fin sockets and landing gear blocks for Delta Vortex kits, all the while thinking how nice it would be to be out there flying. Little did I know that two separate R54s were making their maiden flights just one state to the north and one state to the east! I'm really happy for both of you, Chuck and Steve, and hope you have a great summer of making (real) jet noise.

Galen is one of the "good guys" up here - thanks for giving Bob a taste. What a motivator!

samo

A little oversight on my part - I want to thank Molar Mender (Roy Holt) for helping me with our maiden flight. He's very knowledgeable, a great guy and I appreciate the time he spent with us. Thank you Roy.

rcguy!

My Feedback: (69)

Steve,

Congrats on the maiden!
Nope. The valave is on CH5 using the right hand slider. The flaps are now Y harnessed and I used the Hitec servo programmer to get them sync'd.

Dave Rigotti

mr_matt

My Feedback: (10)

Hi guys,

What is the average weight you are having to add to the nose to balance a P-60 class turbine?

PS and does Gary Mueller make a tank for this plane? Cause it is not on his website from what I saw. If so how much does it hold?


thanks in advance,

TommyWatson

My Feedback: (1)

Yes, Gary does make a tank for the reaction. It hold about 2 litres. I got mine with BVM fittings. Makes for a bullet proof instalation. (No rubber bungs to leak).

I just emailed him.


regards

u2fast

My Feedback: (37)

matt, i have an 1800 nicad and the stock jetcat pack in the nose and i added 3oz of lead. she didnt take much at all, barry

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

I got some great footage of Barry's Reaction in Austin last weekend. I will try and pull the video tonight and post it when I get a chance.

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

Here is some video I had of Barry's 54 last Saturday in Austin

http://media.putfile.com/Reaction-54

rcguy!

My Feedback: (69)

Nice looking in the air!

Dave Rigotti

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Great video, Ronnie! Nice flying, Barry! I'm guessing the field is next to a firing range, or somebody's turbine is making awful crackling noises [X(]

Shok

My Feedback: (28)

hahaha yeah there was skeet shooting competition going on right up the road

samo

Thanks for the info Dave!

I created a mix for the proportional valve so that the servo is activated with down elevator only when the retracts are down. That way my right hand stays in one place. I'll also have more travel with the down elevator vs the slider. Hopefully it will work once the valve arrives. BTW, do most use the electronic switch or the proportional valve?

Thanks again,

Steve

DocYates

My Feedback: (102)

It is hard to beat the UP-6 (proportional valve). I have both the UP-6 and the JetTronics (electronic) valve and find the UP-6 easier to use and adjust. The problem I have with the Jettronics valve is leaking. It is not the fault of the valve, it just requires an absolute square edge cut of the tubing in order to get a really good seal on the Festo valve. I am not that good and sometimes I get a leak and have to keep cutting and replacing, cutting and replacing. Eventually, I am gonna perfect using it and will probably change my mind, but for simplicity sake it is hard to beat the UP-6.
Mine is set up with a slider switch. I like to pull up to the runway with my Panther, set the brakes, spool up the turbine, and let her go. Looks like a carrier take off!!!!
Tommy

samo

Thanks Doc,

....'and have to keep cutting and replacing, cutting and replacing".......

I hope you're not a surgeon??

I appreciate the help from those [8D] in the know,

Steve

DocYates

My Feedback: (102)

LOL, Actually I'm a surgical pathologist, I can keep cutting and cutting, I just don't have to worry about putting it back together...

tschuy

My Feedback: (1)

I've been using the UP-6 valve for about a year now and hadn't had a single problem with it.


Cheers,

Topgun2mo

My Feedback: (45)

I think it is hard to beat a simple on/off button switch operated by a mini servo. Set the gas pressure in the tank to provide the kind of braking you want and forget it. A small air tank will provide more air than you will ever need in a single flight.

Molar mender

It was a fun day in Idaho on Monday. I stopped off to give Steve and his son Andrew a hand with their Reaction-54. We put 4 flights on it before noon. Since I am still on the road I don't have my photo editing software so here is one large photo of their big smiles after the maiden flight. This is Steve and Andrew's first turbine and they have done an outstanding job on their Reaction-54. I have given them a bunch of things to work on then we will do some more on the buddy box. From what I have seen so far, both Steve and Andrew are very capable flyers and Andrew is a natural the way he flew the other two aircraft they brought out. Hopefully in the next month or so we should have two new turbine pilots.
Thanks Steve and Andrew for letting me fly your Reaction-54. I trully enjoyed your hospitality.

Roy

First edit -- It wouldn't upload the photo so I will work on my laptop and get it squared away.

Second edit -- Finally got it

DP01

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks to Bruce Tharpe for a great flying jet. I was finally able to test fly my R54 today after a series of weather (dry grass) problems and a minor engine problem. As expected from other accounts, everything went perfectly. Takeoff in about 150' and landing roll less than 100' with a 10mph headwind.

Bruce, this is one great flying machine!!!

Dennis

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Dennis - I love the Snowbird 54! This maiden's been a long time coming - seems like you've that beauty finished for quite some time. As they say, patience is a virtue And WOW - what a field! Thanks for the compliments on the kit, but all the congrats really belong to you. Great job.