Health & Safety - Jet Fuels:

Prio to recent test-flights on the Hunter I had to try and sort-out a fuel siphoning problem from the tank overflows. Lying underneath the model one arm and over garments got saturated in Jet Fuel (JetA1/Turbine Oil).

When I got home, the skin on the soaked area became red and inflamed and swelled to such an extent that I couldn't get my watch on.

It eventually settled down but now 3 weeks later, the skin is flaking-off similar to the effect caused by sunburn. There are no other longterm effects.

I mention this just to warn jet-modellers that if they inadvertently get limbs saturated in jet fuel, then soaked clothing should immediately be removed and the skin washed down. Exposed skin is not so much at risk as the high evaporation rate of jet fuel minimises the exposure.

Those, of course, with dermatological conditions e.g. excema , dermititis or just dry skin need to be particularly careful.

Keith Mitchell

ColinW (and others) - you may be interested to learn that the model was stalled yesterday as part of it's continuing test-flight schedule. As you - and Rod Dean who flies the fullsize XF515 - predicted, the stall was innocuous. It did, indeed, hold nose-high for a moment, then mushed and started to dive with no wingdrop. The AFT was utterly 'dead' (no propwash, of course) which was interesting to experience!

Rolls and high-speed flight have now all been tested and the model behaves impeccably, but it does have a lot of inertia so speed has to be built-up and, when it has, gives the aircraft a lot of momentum. 'Ballistic style' flying with well-prepared manoeuvres are therefore the order of the day. On the last full-power pass, I pulled up into a 45deg. climb with an upward roll and it could easily have done another.

The airbrake was tested, high-speed S&L - it is highly effective - like a barn door! No trim change a la fullsize.

Previous landings have been with 50% flap which is nice and allows a nice curving final approach, power off. However, yesterday, I went to nearly full-flap. This steepened the approach and power was needed, particularly to round-out. Reassuringly, the Merlins spool-up promptly and effectively.

So there we are, another 3 flights successfully chalked off.

Keith M.

Well done again Keith, good to see the flight test schedule resume after your World tour. Great pics from today, the knife-edge shot is particularly impressive.

Regards

Rob.

Thanks, Rob.

You may be interested to know that a 6-6.5 min. flight is consuming 4L per engine so increasing each tank from 5L to 7L was very wise.
K.
PS - tried to att. the pic's but am just getting a 'disk error' message.

Yes, interesting comparing your fuel economy with that of the big Vulcan, your average throttle % for each flight must be far higher showing a striking comparison between the two different airframe designs.

Pics attached.

Rob.

Indeed. This is why it is quite pointless comparing fuel burns of jet engines when the airframes are different. Mine is nearly twice that of Dave Johnson's big Vulcan because he is, on average, using lower power settings reverting to full power for those big climbing turns and gliding at low power thereafter.

Remember, too, that wing-loading is a factor; I have 45 sqft, Dave has something like 70sqft. Take-off weight of the Hunter is 170 lb i.e. ~3.7 lb/sqft, the Vulcan is 150lb i.e. ~2.2lb/sqft - a significant difference.

Being a good Lancashire lad you know '--- tha get's nowt for nowt ---!'
Cheers,
K.

Thanks for the pic's - and to the photographer, Dave Bailey. Don't know why I'm having problems uploading ---?

Great news Keith, I am glad that the model emulated the full size in the stalls. Congratulations on your continued success. I am still trying to source the RAF Pilot's Noted/Aircrew Manual for the Hunter 6/9, and will try to get copies if you are still interested.

Thanks, Colin. As to the manuals, it's appreciated but don't bust a gut - after more than 6 years on the project you'll probably understand I'm 'researched' out!

Cheers,
Keith

Keith,

Your aircraft is one of the most magnificant and impressive model i have ever seen, absolutely stunning, amazing job !

Interesting info., next time you fly the Hunter Keith plug in your Data terminal and check the last run time on one of the engines, I'll bet you will be surprised at the amout of time between startup and shutdown, I'll bet it surprises you and is a lot longer than the 6.5 min flight time I generally time 8-9min flights with my Rookie but total run time is in the region of 12mins+

We were out flying with Dave at Halsall these past 2 weekends with the big Airbus and his C130, both fly like on rails.

I've been flight testing my Rookie smoke system,........oh and working on a nice little engine at the other end of the thrust spectrum..... all good fun.

Regards

Rob.

Thankyou i3dm and Rob.
Yes, I suspect the total run time is 9-10min.

Nice pic's - particularly the one of 'Ole Man Johnson with his geriatric model stand and reading glasses!!

That smoke system looks highly effective (now don't I recall the Black Arrows having smoke - mmh! You haven't got a spare lying around have you??).

Cheers,
K.

May I add my warmest congratulations on a stunning achievement, quite superb. Living in Chopington just imagine being able to fly it from the runway at RAF Acklington, (now a prison) once the home of 66 Sqn's Hunters, my inspiration in the late '50s !

Many congratulations and hope to see it being demo'ed at the JWM in NI.

Regards,

David Gladwin.

Thanks, Dave and nice to hear from somebody on the other side of the world who knows my locality.

To add to your memories of 66 Sq. at Acklington I well remember a family picnic at Druridge Bay which lay a mile or two off the end of Acklington's runway. It would be around 1954 - I was 6 at the time - and this unusual and very powerful roar ( we were used to the Goblins and Derwents of Vampires and Meteors) was accompanied by what I can only describe as a fleeting arrow as it climbed and disappeared in the clouds. Dad shouted 'It's one of those new Hawker Hunters ------!'. Of course the image and occasion was to be indelibly imprinted on a young boy's memory and has been a driving force throughout the long hard nights of the project some 50 or so years later!
Regards,
Keith

Yepp, got a full spare set up I can bring to Long Horseley if you like. I love the great arcing curve smoke makes going over the top on a big reversal. I made a sort of 50% heart shape the other Sunday and my caller watched an updraft sweep the intact shape upwards!!

Rob.

Cheers,
K.

Just a short post to let you all know the Hunter today succesfully completed it's 6 post repair check flights at Rolls Royce Hucknall so will subsequently be a big feature of the UK show circuit for '08.

Rob.

Latest pics.

Rob.

Rob - that is a cracking photo' (taken by Reg Lowe, Rolls Royce Hucknall Club member). Doing six test flights on a bitterly cold midwinter's day took some doing. The model had been in the trailer all night so the air system for U/C & brake operation needed many cycles to loosen-up and for the 'O' rings to seal, but it eventually got there. The model also had a thin layer of ice on it!

Getting through the flights before the light faded was another factor and it was basically a question of flying, landing, sorting out any problems, fuelling-up and off again. For an aircraft that requires total concentration this is indeed an onerous and very tiring task, but we got there.

The aircraft needed quite a bit of down-trim as about 3lbs has been added in the repairs which I've partially compensated for with a 2lb bag of lead shot in the nose. However, it is certainly more sensitive on ailerons&AFT indicating that the CoG is a little further back- not alarmingly so though. Take off weight is now 175lb (22lb of which is fuel). Around 9 gall. of fuel was used in the session.

Cheers & Season's Greetings,
Keith

Yes, the RR Hucknall site is great and Reg is always more than helpful.

Looks like you and Dave were dressed for the Arctic

Rob.

Aye, you're right. Mind you, I don't know which was brighter, the sun or DJ's ski-suit!
K.