Reaction 54 Jet Kit
#1176

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Tailhook, sorry, the R54 was sized specifically for the 54-class turbines. The physical space between the top of the wing and bottom of the fuselage boom is not deep enough for a P-80. Besides that, bigger turbines mean excess thrust, increased idle thrust, and extra weight which are all problems for this airframe.
#1177

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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chehalis,
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ORIGINAL: Molar mender
Looks like I am going to have to give your smoke oil back to you. Looks like a great set up. Just finished flying at the Maple Flag Jet meet and will be back in town before the end of the month. I'll make sure I have more smoke oil for you.
Roy
Looks like I am going to have to give your smoke oil back to you. Looks like a great set up. Just finished flying at the Maple Flag Jet meet and will be back in town before the end of the month. I'll make sure I have more smoke oil for you.
Roy
Roy - Don't worry about the smoke oil I got some more on order. I might have to borrow some fuel from you at White fish as I'm only taking 5 gallons.
See you there.
Galen
#1178
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ORIGINAL: TAILHOOK-RCU
Did not read all the posts, maybe this question was asked. Can you put a P80 on this without any problems as far as mounting goes.
Thanks
Did not read all the posts, maybe this question was asked. Can you put a P80 on this without any problems as far as mounting goes.
Thanks
Cheers,
#1180

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Location: Tomball,
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I am posting a couple of links to video for a friend of mine. This footage was taking from Shreveports Jets this last weekend. We had a great time and U2Fast probably got 10-15 flights over 15 hrs or so. Some of the flights including Hot Fueling and going back up.
[link=http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport2006/barry-r54.wmv]U2fast R54 Shreveport Jets 2006 #1[/link]
[link=http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport2006/barry-r54-2.wmv]U2fast R54 Shreveport Jets 2006 #2[/link]
**** You know...i copied those dam links straight from the jet post..... I don't know where those spaces come from... that were in the link .... oh well... all better now.... Even worse is I went back to the Jet Post clicked on the link and got the same message...... oh well
[link=http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport2006/barry-r54.wmv]U2fast R54 Shreveport Jets 2006 #1[/link]
[link=http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport2006/barry-r54-2.wmv]U2fast R54 Shreveport Jets 2006 #2[/link]
**** You know...i copied those dam links straight from the jet post..... I don't know where those spaces come from... that were in the link .... oh well... all better now.... Even worse is I went back to the Jet Post clicked on the link and got the same message...... oh well
#1181
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jetfreak,
The links aren't working because you have a space between the "/" and "s" for shreveport and a space between the "t" and "2" as well.
JR
The links aren't working because you have a space between the "/" and "s" for shreveport and a space between the "t" and "2" as well.
JR
#1182

My Feedback: (1)

JR is right. I clicked the links, got a 404 error, then removed the "%20" (2 places) in the URL address and clicked GO. Worked fine. Maybe Jetfreak can edit the links in his post.
Or just use these (duh!):
http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport2006/barry-r54.wmv (8MB)
http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport...arry-r54-2.wmv (40MB)
Cool movies! That's some nice flying, Barry. Textbook landings. New R54 pilots should study the airplane's attitude in these landing approaches to see how it's done. In general, you want the fuselage in a level attitude on short final. If you see the top of the plane, the nose is down and you are too fast. If you see the bottom, you are starting to get slow and need power. As many have said, this is an easy plane to land, but landing it smoothly and putting it down exactly where you want is the real challenge.
Or just use these (duh!):
http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport2006/barry-r54.wmv (8MB)
http://www.mycityspot.com/shreveport...arry-r54-2.wmv (40MB)
Cool movies! That's some nice flying, Barry. Textbook landings. New R54 pilots should study the airplane's attitude in these landing approaches to see how it's done. In general, you want the fuselage in a level attitude on short final. If you see the top of the plane, the nose is down and you are too fast. If you see the bottom, you are starting to get slow and need power. As many have said, this is an easy plane to land, but landing it smoothly and putting it down exactly where you want is the real challenge.
#1183

My Feedback: (37)

bruce, the first landing in the longer video was a little hot due to the wind changing. it was a down wind landing and i did not notice it. the rest of the landings were in a cross wind, though not strong, rudder was required. the little jet is my favorite. i like the big scale stuff, but i could never justify a big expensive sport jet when this thing is a blast. period. barry
#1186

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Just in case your wondering...I recently put my P70 (bought for my Bobcat) on my Reaction. Guess where it will stay? It flies like a differnt plane with the 70 on it - much more authority in the air, topspeed +25 mph, shorter takeoffs and much more fun. The 60 was good, the 70 will stay on the Reaction. Sorry Bobcat, you get the 60.
#1187

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ORIGINAL: jclittle
Just in case your wondering...I recently put my P70 (bought for my Bobcat) on my Reaction. Guess where it will stay? It flies like a differnt plane with the 70 on it - much more authority in the air, topspeed +25 mph, shorter takeoffs and much more fun. The 60 was good, the 70 will stay on the Reaction. Sorry Bobcat, you get the 60.
Just in case your wondering...I recently put my P70 (bought for my Bobcat) on my Reaction. Guess where it will stay? It flies like a differnt plane with the 70 on it - much more authority in the air, topspeed +25 mph, shorter takeoffs and much more fun. The 60 was good, the 70 will stay on the Reaction. Sorry Bobcat, you get the 60.
Mmmmmm I have a Bobcat XL with flaps being painted now. It's all set up for the P-70 Kero. The R-54 has the PST 600R. Maybe it' time to rethink.
John - That would be fun. The Port Auth. Put a fence accross the runway and we had to move further north to have room to land. You could park next to the fence then climb over. It'd be good to see you again. You'll have to do it quick as the Burn ban isn't to far from being imposed in Mason county and that will shut down the turbin flying.. I'll let you know the next time we go flying.
Galen
#1189
Senior Member
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Bruce replied . . .
As many have said, this is an easy plane to land, but landing it smoothly and putting it down exactly where you want is the real challenge.
As many have said, this is an easy plane to land, but landing it smoothly and putting it down exactly where you want is the real challenge.
I had some parts laying around from another project that were morphed into the R54 that made it different:
- Sierra Precision knuckledragger mains w/SpringAir retracts - had to re-engineer the retract mechanism wing mounting location to get the same main tire contact spot relative to the CG
- T-33 wheels and brakes (Glennis A/C)
- bulletproof BVM durostrut on the nose
Like others, I was inspired by the Navy trainer jet livery. While striving to make it completely opposite the Navy scheme for the BVM KingCat, I succeeded in getting the stars 'n bars opposite as well (read: wrong wing panels). (doh) We'll see how many actually notice . . . ICCL [8D]
Looking foward to enjoying many flights with this great design.
Mike
#1191

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I just posted Builders Update #6 to my R54 webpage. All of the updates are now available in Word Document or .PDF file format. I also announced this using my personal email list of R54 builders and interested/potential builders. If you did not receive that email, but would like to receive automatic notification of future updates, just let me know and I will add you to my R54 email list. Anyone with interest in the R54, builder or not, is welcome to be on the list.
The newest update is dedicated to landing gear issues like the soft Robart nose wheel struts, details on installing the Kavan brake, and some optional modifications to the Robart gear and Kavan brake. Click on the link below and scroll down to "Builders Updates"
http://www.btemodels.com/r54.html
The newest update is dedicated to landing gear issues like the soft Robart nose wheel struts, details on installing the Kavan brake, and some optional modifications to the Robart gear and Kavan brake. Click on the link below and scroll down to "Builders Updates"
http://www.btemodels.com/r54.html
#1198
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Join Date: Mar 2002
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I got mine finished yesterday and went to the field this morning to maiden the Reaction 54. It was a delight to fly, two clicks of down elevator was all it needed for a gentle climb out. It didn't have any bad habits slow flight or full power, loops, rolls four points all very nice. To bad it started to rain or I could have put more flights on her, maybe tomorrow.
I elected to put a P80 in for power, just had to relieve the wing for clearance to make it fit. It's turned down to 118,000 rpm from 123,000 for power. The flight was 6 1/2 minutes long with two go-arounds and there was still 1/4 fuel left in the tank.
I went with the Navy paint scheme and did the fuselage intake modes with glass and paint (I can't Monokote worth a damn). The finished weight came in at 18 lbs plus 6oz of lead in the nose for balance. The C/G is right where the plans indicated.
Bruce has definitely got himself another winner!
Regards,
Ken F.....................
I elected to put a P80 in for power, just had to relieve the wing for clearance to make it fit. It's turned down to 118,000 rpm from 123,000 for power. The flight was 6 1/2 minutes long with two go-arounds and there was still 1/4 fuel left in the tank.
I went with the Navy paint scheme and did the fuselage intake modes with glass and paint (I can't Monokote worth a damn). The finished weight came in at 18 lbs plus 6oz of lead in the nose for balance. The C/G is right where the plans indicated.
Bruce has definitely got himself another winner!
Regards,
Ken F.....................
#1200

My Feedback: (1)

Wow, what a gorgeous machine! Thanks so much for posting the pics. Go Navy!
Surprising you needed so little nose weight with the P-80. I'm sure others would be interested in your turbine installation. I can't fully endorse it, because the model was designed around smaller turbines, but I have no problem with you sharing techniques with other builders. Let us know how it flies with the P-80. Easy on the throttle!
BTW, I did reply to your email but it bounced back for some reason...
Surprising you needed so little nose weight with the P-80. I'm sure others would be interested in your turbine installation. I can't fully endorse it, because the model was designed around smaller turbines, but I have no problem with you sharing techniques with other builders. Let us know how it flies with the P-80. Easy on the throttle!
BTW, I did reply to your email but it bounced back for some reason...