Caiman,

The model numbers on the Spring Air web page are screwed up. It is "Three Gear System 3/16" Struts" which is the 5th one from the top. When you add it to your cart it will show the correct model # 102HD. The pull-pull hardware is available at Tower Hobby, http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXD858&P=7

Uh, ever land yours on asphalt?

I've NO problems bringing in my .25 Bobcat, but it too takes up QUITE a bit of runway to slow down.... about 350'.

The .50 Bobcat will eat up 550' slowing down, which means that I have to get it down just over the threshold on our 600' field, or I'll run out of runway.

Regarding the short or long landings. It would be interesting to know the all up weight of the airplane without fuel and if flaps or flaperons are being used?

Bill

opjose i have flown over 15 bobcats, all on asphalt.

i3dm

All of the Bobcats in your gallery are Turbine, they don't have a large turning speed brake that will hit the pavement if you land at a high AOA . If you try that move with this plane (propped version) it will bounce hard or if you do make it onto the mains you will have a prop strike.

Your post came off pretty pretentious and I think you ticked some people off. These guys know what they are talking about in regards to this particular model when prop driven.

My bobcat has a .75 and is a pig, making the landing more manageable was a chore until I sorted out the spoileron setup. None of these guys that have posted about hot landing are dumb, they know what they are talking about.

By all means if you are talking about a propped version like we are flying then my hat is off to you, but if you are trying to compare a propped version with your turbines, it is apples and oranges when it comes to landing.

Im talking about the Nitro Models Bobcat 50, i have flown over 15 bobcats with engines ranging from AX55 to Jett 91LX.

Didnt mean to piss anyone off, ill try to make a video and show you.. im really suprised you think this plane lands hot.

high AOA landings are so easy with this plane that its a crime !

drbobsmith,

Thank you for the information. Jesterday I sent an email to Spring-Air and they recomended the 302 becaouse they say that the Bobcat wing is very thin and the 302 height is just 15/16" versus 1 1/8" of the 102.

Did you have any trouble with the 102 height during installation? did you have to make any mods to the wings?

Thanks.

Would the Bobcat 50 fly ok with a OS 46FX engine? which prop would be the best using that engine?

Thanks.

What's your rollout like once they are down?

That's what I WISH I could get mine to do. I don't "think" it lands hot, it simply DOES.

Once I increase the spoileron beyond 1/8" my plane begins to wallow around as it slows at approach, then it will drop the nose hard if I let it get any slower... so landings are difficult at best... once it's down it will roll for quite a while.

All the jet guys at my club say "It needs brakes".

At 1/8" spoileron it is much more controllable and lands rather well, but it comes in FAST even if I am attempting to hold the nose up.

Once it is down, it rolls, and rolls, and rolls before slowing down enough for me to turn it off the asphalt... even then I've damaged the gear once or twice when I've turned it before it's slowed down enough.

I've found a few old Dubro mechanical brake systems, that I am thinking of installing on the nose gear. These are basically pressure plates that are pushed against the nose gear to add braking resistance....

if you land high AOA i would think 150 feet should be more than enough.

Should, unfortunately doesn't mean it does.

With the spoilerons at 1/8" I can hold the nose up to land in a very "jet like" manner.

I would be very happy if it stopped in 150 feet.

It doesn't.

Note: The wheels on my Bobcat 50 do spin very freely.

opjose, we dont use ANY mixing and never took no 550 feet !

I dont know whats the cause for the change but ill definitely try to make a video to show you guys.

Oh and no prop strikes with 11x7 APC pusher, even in very high AOA.

I ran a 11x7 on my Bobcat, and the booms would hit the ground first before the prop would hit

The reason why one of you is using more runway might be a higher field elevation.

We're at 4400' here in New Mexico - I could hold it off so the rollout was around 150' or less. If I touched down faster, the thing would bounce and do a Kangaroo hop - the reason I need to repair mine again.

Mark

Do you know if it would fly well with an OS 46FX?

I flew mine with a 46fx, and it flew, but it wasn't great. I put a 55AX on it, and it was much much better. With the 46 I couldn't do a clean loop from level flight.

Mark

NM Mark,

But it didn't felt like it had no climb rate with the 46FX? what fuel were you using with the 46FX?

On your 150ft landings did you have flaperons programed?

Thanks.

Caiman,

I've had no problems. I believe the non-retract version has a thinner wing.

Does the above statement mean that when the ailerons go up the nose also pitches up?

Bill

I fly mine with no mix and fixed gear. I can land it with no problem in 150'. Its all about AOA as has been stated.

I flew mine with a OS46FX, and it flew, but more sunday flyin like. With the 55AX its a lot of fun and has better takeoff rolls due to the larger prop which equals more torque. I also had a Dubb Jett 50 with a reverse crank on it and ya, its a rocket but to be honest, the torque was better with the 55AX and you get 10min flights. With the Jett, 5 min was max at full throttle.

I'm going to put retracts in it this winter.

Dale

Normally yes.

I off set this with a percentage of "down pitch" to compensate.

So when I flip the spoileron switch on my plane stays almost level.

However as I slow it down for landing I am better able to bring it in at a higher AOA, typically with the nose pointed up, while the rear wheels touch the ground...

Once the nose touches down, it rolls, and rolls, and rolls.

I come in at a rather high AOA, and hold it as much as possible, but short of adding brakes or landing on grass, there's no way mine will stop that quickly.

This plane is basically a delta wing so the ailerons act as elevators. On my maiden flight I had about 1/4" of spoilerons programmed and when I slowed down and flipped the switch (at altitude of course) the plane practically went vertical. This plane could probably be flown with elevons.