BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

My gosh, what the heck is going on here? I'm turning red

Thanks for making my day. Forget the airplanes - YOU GUYS are the best!

speedbrake

I guess I'm spoiled when it comes to flying fields. Be it grass or hard surface, all the clubs I've been associated with had relatively large, flat, open flying fields. The one exception was while I was stationed in Korea. They flew on a vacate lot which was full of trash and used old carpet as a runway. Buildings lined the perimeter of the field. This was near Osan Air Base. Take a look at WWW.skymasterjet.com and look at their flying site. Watch the demo video (s) for their new ARF Plus F-16. Wow! The cameraman, pilot, and others are within feet of the jet taking off and landing. And a barrier on the other side of the road...extremely close quarters!! The AMA would have a tizzy! It is obvious the pilot in the video is accustomed to this particular flying site. I'm sure glad I live in the US and have access to large, established flying fields.

Speedbrake

Jerc 77

My Feedback: (5)

This may be a long tutorial. I have read every word of this thread, mostly because when I decided I wanted to get into turbines, I told my mentor (Chris Reiter), and he said two words "Reaction 54". He didn't have anything bad to say about the Boomerang, the Bobcat, or the AV8R. He simply said "Reaction 54". So I researched the plane, Mr. Tharpe, PST, and everything else I could find. After extensive reading, I had the good fortune of running into Dean Wichman (sp?). He was in the area picking up a plane from Chris. I picked his brain about the plane, his set up, changes he would make(none), Mr. Tharpe, PST, and everything else that goes along with r/c jets. He asked me what I currently flew. I mentioned that I was flying a Goldberg Tiger 2. Without hesitation, and having just met me (he had abviously never seen me fly) he offered to let me take the sticks on the Reaction. This tells me 2 things:
1.) As mentioned by Mr. Tharpe earlier in this thread "Dean Wichman this nicest guy in the jet community, and probably one of the nicest people you will every meet.
2.) Mr. Wichman had an extreme amount of confidance in the design of the plane. A true testament to Mr. Tharpe's engineering and know how.
Thank you very much Dean for giving me my first turbine flight. It was a huge day of first's for me. The first time I have ever flown a plane bigger than a .40 size, first for retracts, first for flaps. Thank you again for the flight time. Now, all I need is my OWN Reaction 54. I look foreward to the next run of kits and building mine.

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Wow, a couple things come to mind...

1. Your respectfulness is much appreciated, but please, call me Bruce. I'm guessing you are in the military, and for that you have my utmost respect.

2. You read every word of this thread? I wonder what takes more time, reading this thread or actually building an R54

Thanks for the interest in the kit, and thanks to Chris and Dean for passing the word. Jerc 77, please send an email so I can add you to my notify-when-ready list for the next run of R54 kits. Obviously, that goes for anybody who wants to receive notification...

Jerc 77

My Feedback: (5)

Yes I am in the military, and thank you for your respect on that. It did take quite a while to read this. I would guess about a month.

bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

Dean and Bruce helped me with mine also. I have 36 flights so far. You'll find the kit to be of the utmost quality. Feel free to contact me if I can help in anyway.

Jerc 77

My Feedback: (5)

Thanks so much for your offer of support BOB1393. I appreciate it. Bruce, I sent you an email stating that I want to be on the list.

samo

Hoppy,

What struts are you using. They look awesome. Did they require much modification?
Thanks,
Steve

hoppy99

My Feedback: (2)

Samo
The mains are now Robarts 7/16" cut short. I had to cut them shorter than Robart recommended and that included cutting the springs. Just using the retract unit as the top spring stop. The originals were home made as is the twin wheel nose strut but I turned the top a couple of thousands too small and they rotated in the clamp under hard braking (Trim brakes) The nose unit is made with the axle trailing the steering pivot a little (caster) to help take off and landing. Works like a charm. Once its lined up for take off, it runs straight down the runway, hands off! There was an article in RC Jet International some time back about this. The Reaction is a outstanding airplane!

John

samo

Hey guys

I was just wondering if it is really worth making mods to fit a P-70 in the Reaction. It seems like a lot of guys love it and I think having flown it on the P-60, it might turn the Reaction into a whole different jet. Just wondering though because I think the P-60 is great for the Reaction. Is the extra power needed? Bruce, what do you think?

Thanks,

Andrew

causeitflies

The extra power isn't needed but you know how the need for speed is. I find myself at full power most of the flight. But mine may be a little slower because of my added air intakes.
P60 vertical is good but not great.

speedbrake

At our field there is always somebody who will place a .90 size engine on a .45 size airframe expecting a huge leap in performance. Sometimes they are successful and sometimes they aren't. As for the R54, it seems to be very resilent to modification and I haven't heard of any in flight structural failures yet. However, the R54 was designed to be "pokey" (Bruce's term). Perhaps those wishing to make it faster should look to the next level of jet model, something designed to go faster. How about a F-104!! High wing loading and no doubt very fast.

jclittle

My Feedback: (99)

Mods - what mods? I built mine with a P60, then after about 40 flights put a P70 on it. Speed increased about 20 MPH, but performance was hands down better (take off, vertical) ect. The 54 easily took the 70 w/o any modifications - had to add a few oz of lead that was it. No signs of any stress. I have composite Bobcat wtih if I want to go fast!

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

I've not flown the R54 with a P-70, or even seen one for that matter. But I can't argue with success. Everybody who has put a P-70 on it has raved about it. But please, do not starting thinking P-80...

I still think a 12 - 14 lb turbine is a great choice for this model, especially if you are new to jets. Final choice depends a lot on pilot experience and expectations.

samo

Well,

Thanks for the adivice everyone. We are going to put the P-70 in it this time. I think it will be a lot of fun. I have a had enough experience (200MPH+) to handle the 170MPH top speed of the Reaction. This time my dad will have this thing looking real good. We will post pics soon.

Thanks,

Andrew

phantom driver

My Feedback: (32)

Hello everyone,
I have just purchased my first turbine plane and engine. I bought a P-70 from Jetcat and a R-54 from docyates of Alabama. I am currently installing the electronics, tanks, and associated items at this time. I hope to test run the turbine this weekend. I have been following this thread and used it to help make my decision to purchase an R-54 as my first turbine jet. I will post pictures soon of my turbine and electronics installation, but pictures of the plane are on page 42 of this thread. I love the Navy theme on this plane, Great job. I am sure that I will have lots of questions for you R-54 pilots. Go AIRFORCE!

causeitflies

Speaking of the Navy theme
I just put up another video of the R54:
http://vidcache.rcuvideos.com/flv.sw...t=true&fs=true

edh13

My Feedback: (9)

I saw one of these maiden today. I stopped by the field after work today to see what showed up for the AZ Jet Rally this weekend. I'm not a jet guy, just an envious observer. There was a gentleman there with a Reaction he built. I think he was from Colorado? It was all glassed and painted Navy white, it had F4 intakes and canopy. Looking at the electronic installation I could tell he was a very meticulous builder. He said it was very heavy at 28lbs wet with a 14lb turbine. He was very nervous, waiting for a big guy in a red JR shirt to come fly it for him. While he was waiting another big guy in a orange Futaba shirt was admiring it and asking many questions. I could tell he really wanted to fly it for him. It was getting dark and big guy #1-red shirt was still busy helping a guy with a maiden on a EDF. Up comes big guy #3-Blue shirt-long pony tail offering help. After expressing some serious concern over weight and length of runway they agreed on a drop dead line on the runway. If it wasn't up at that point he was going to abort. All the worry was for nothing the thing lifted off and flew beutifully. It was fun watching all that builders hard work pay off.

causeitflies

edh13, who did the guy in the blue shirt represent?
Here is a little better quality of the above vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB4GnzenbQc
Full screen is best.

speedbrake

Mark,
Nice looking jet and nice flying. How many degrees of flap are you using. It looks to be more than 60 degrees but it is hard to tell.
Keith

causeitflies

Thanks, 60 degrees. I have crow set up but haven't even bothered to try it.

edh13

My Feedback: (9)

Sorry causit- I don't know the jet crowd. It looked like he was a rep for someone just don't know who. He was there with what looked to be a brand new F-18 ARF? It was in Blue Angle trim. It caught fire and he melted some minor stuff. He was also flying/selling these little foamy pusher jets, SR-71 and such.

bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

Speedbrake - there are 4 of us in the Northwest who fly the R54 and we are using about 40 degrees of flaps. It seems to work really well. You might want to try
that before going to 60 degrees.

Bob

speedbrake

Hey,
I've been using 60 degrees with success. But I find I'm about out of elevator when making really slow approaches. I inadvertently used less than 60 degrees the first ten flights or so and the R54 would float down the runway on every landing. I'm surprised to hear you guys are using 40 degrees. Are you using the ailerons as spoilers?
Speedbrake

bob1393

My Feedback: (10)

Hi Speedbrake - only one of us has crow on the ailerons, not the other 3. Perhaps we are just making slower approaches than you, because 40 degrees seems to work really well.
But if you're having great success with 60, you know what they say - "if it ain't broke don't fix it!!"

Bob