clguru

My Feedback: (5)

I have exactly 6 more days to get this flying!
Is there anything I should know about like neutral point on the stabs or cg location?
Thanks

Dan

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

As I recall, there is a line in the fuse at the horiz stabs. Line up with that and you are good. Start with 1/4 inch behind recommended CG in the book. It's a real honest airplane. You will have no issues on the maiden from what I see in the pics, build job is good.

Have Fun! You can see pics of my old one at www.my87.com

Shaun Evans

Hey,

Nice job! Maybe it's just the angle of the pics, but it looks like you might not have the 3/4" clearance between the end of the cone and your pipe bellmouth. If you don't, I'd recommend moving your pipe back or your engine forward. It's gonna make a huge difference with cooling and thrust. Good luck!

DEVILDOG

My Feedback: (12)

The C.G. point in the manual is too far forward. I moved mine back 3/4s of an inch. It could go back probably another 1/4.

I flew mine with the engine and pipe a 1/4 of an inch apart as per manual. Mine hauls ass!!!
I'm using a p-120

If you don't move the c.g. back and use the recomended throws( use them. there perfect) you wont have enough elevator to flare.

If you land @ 90mph you'll be ok, but she'll slow way down for landing. Don't land too slow with the C.G. as is.

It's a great flying bird. Absolutely no bad habbits that I've found.

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

Thanks for the info!!!
I have a P120 in mine too.
I'm almost ready to go, I just have a few more things like attaching the canopy glass to the frame.
It does seem that the recommended elevator throw is too small, but I guess if you move the CG back enough it is good.
Also, my pipe and the back of the engine are about 1/4 inch apart. There is also a gap between the end of the bypass and the bell on the tailpipe when the bypass cover is installed.
Has there been any problems with heat getting to the top hatch in this area?
Another problem I had was with the UP3 valve not getting enough volume of air to cycle correctly I have to find another space to install a second air tank.
How are your tires holding up? I'm getting a spare set just in case. I heard that they wear at a rapid rate.
I did however enjoy the build, I can't own an ARF airplane I think that building them is more rewarding, however it did seem like I was a lot younger when I started on it!!!

I'll post some pics of the finished plane and the maiden voyage when they become available.

Thanks again,
Dan

Shaun Evans

Hey,

It's true, you can move the CG back 3/4". This information is supposed to have been updated in the current manuals since my initial test flights on this particular kit showed the instructed CG to be too far forward.

With a 1/4" gap between the cone and the bellmouth on a P-120, you're probably losing at least 1.5# of thrust. The instructions don't call for a particular distance, they just show what the author's installation looked like. Ask a JetCat Rep, and they'll tell you to move that engine to 3/4" in front of the bellmouth for maximum cooling and thrust efficiency. Good luck! You will LOVE this plane.

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

I'll have to live with it the way it is for now, I can't move the engine, so I'll have to shorten the pipe.
I'm surprised that Charles hasn't put the info out there on that yet.
I think it will be pleasantly overpowered anyway, so I may just leave it the way it is.

Thank you

Dan

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

Dan, my experiance tells me you need to re-look at your engine install and move it forward. You do want the recommended gap, and you do need to cut the bypass a little shorter in order to get the gap shown in the instructions. FWIW.

Shaun Evans

Hey,

Sean is right (no pun). You don't need to do anything big, just move the pipe back on those mounting tabs. If necessary, just extend them a bit. I did it on mine, and it didn't take all of five minutes. You might have to sand out the holes in the rear pipe standoff plywood rings, but again--no biggie. When it comes to cooling, you want to secure every possible advantage. When it comes to thrust--you're right, the plane will fly handsomely on even a P-80.

Kevin East

My Feedback: (1)

Hey guys!
My manual shows 71/4 from the leading edge, is the new setting or the old?
Looks like where at the same point, almost ready to fly!

Thanks
Kevin

pilott28

My Feedback: (27)

I'm workin on one as well. Did any of you put in an operable canopy?

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

I did the canopy, in my opinion it was more work than it was worth. But still looked cool. see http://www.my87.com/planes/f15

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

I corrected the link above, sorry @ that

flyrcjets

My Feedback: (30)

seanreit your web site was so useful when I was finishing my F15..the panel line method is slick! I'll show pics soon!.. Dan good luck on your F15... Kevin

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

I moved the pipe back 1/2" for a total of 3/4" gap between the end of the pipe and the back of the engine.
Is this a better setup?

Dan Fish

P38J

My Feedback: (14)

Here is how I completed my operable canopy.

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

That is truly outstanding!!!
How far along are you?

Dan

P38J

My Feedback: (14)

I've got 38 flight on it.

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

How are your tires holding up after thirty five flights?

Dan

P38J

My Feedback: (14)

My tires did not hold up very well I've gone thru three sets of mains before I got my landings under control (slowed down), make sure you glue your tires on to the wheels, this is not mentioned in the instructions but charles said it should be done. The tires can come off the wheels without it. I used zap a goo.

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

I did just that,. I glued them with Zapadapagoo. We got 2 test flights on the plane today, and the gear tires and brakes all worked real good. I did tweak one of my trunion blocks on a landing though. I found that you can't land very hard on those. My landing was a little firm, but nothing that should have caused damage.

Dan

Shaun Evans

Dan,

You got a test-hop in? How did it go? Details, please......

clguru

My Feedback: (5)

The airplane flew great!
I was a little nervous on the first one, but on the second flight I got to really feel it out.
I put the cg at 7 3/4" behind the leading edge of the wing root. At that location it seems to rotate easily and has plenty of flare at landing. I did both landings clean with no flaps, but on the second flight I deployed full flaps at altitude to determine how much elevator trim is needed to correct for pitch changes. It seems to want about 10% down stab at full flaps, although I have to see how it effects the approach to touchdown.

all in all, I think that it's a good airplane for someone who likes to build, and want's a well behaved aircraft that is very honest in the air. If this was a review, I would give it a thumbs up!!!!

WhoDaMan

My Feedback: (164)

Will these tires fit

http://www.franktiano.com/scaleproductFrameset.htm

Dave

Ian R

Has anyone tried Ailerons and tailrons mixed rather than the convetional elevator set-up.
Tried it on a DF F15 years ago and it seemed more axial on the roll

Ian