Reaction 44+ is a reality!
12-20-2007, 03:05 PM
#26
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Fired up the MW44 Gold today! All went well. Did a range test with and without the turbine running and in BOTH cases I stopped walking away at 120+ paces. This is the same test I give my KingCat/DX7 setup.
Looks like a turn or two of left steering and she'll track straight and true. Weather looks promising for the maiden this Saturday at the Night Hawks field in North Jackson, Ohio. I have to check out a slow leak in the brake system. I think it is dry O rings at the wheels. EDIT: Nope...Leaky set screws on the hubs.
I snapped the usual picture of the R44+ in the driveway. "Third times a charm?"
Upper 40's this Saturday! All others are welcome to join me!
Dave Rigotti
Looks like a turn or two of left steering and she'll track straight and true. Weather looks promising for the maiden this Saturday at the Night Hawks field in North Jackson, Ohio. I have to check out a slow leak in the brake system. I think it is dry O rings at the wheels. EDIT: Nope...Leaky set screws on the hubs.
I snapped the usual picture of the R44+ in the driveway. "Third times a charm?"
Upper 40's this Saturday! All others are welcome to join me!
Dave Rigotti
12-21-2007, 05:35 PM
#31
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Maidened it today! All went fairly well. 42 degress didn't help with the braking action and the nose gear didn't make it all the up although she locked down just fine. An increase in the flaps to 50 degrees seems like a good idea from the 40 I set. An increase in the roll rate won't hurt either. Biggest problem was the slight climb at full power. A washer or two under the front mounting lugs should fx that. A bit more down trim at full flap too!
All in all a good flight. Set the timer at 5 minutes and touched down right on schedule. Half a tank remained (20oz). I'll up the timer to 7 minutes on the next session. WILL be back out on Saturday AM for another go. Hope the wind won't be too bad early. Might even get to 45 degrees too! Pictures maybe!
Dave Rigotti
All in all a good flight. Set the timer at 5 minutes and touched down right on schedule. Half a tank remained (20oz). I'll up the timer to 7 minutes on the next session. WILL be back out on Saturday AM for another go. Hope the wind won't be too bad early. Might even get to 45 degrees too! Pictures maybe!
Dave Rigotti
12-21-2007, 05:59 PM
#32
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RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Hi Dave
Good to see you again,nice looking plane to.Looks like the weather is not going to be to bad 10 to 15 SE winds.Looking forward to seeing it fly tomorrow.What time are you coming?I'll bring the digital camera and get a movie like I did with the King Cat.
I have to try out my new eyes anyway.
John
Good to see you again,nice looking plane to.Looks like the weather is not going to be to bad 10 to 15 SE winds.Looking forward to seeing it fly tomorrow.What time are you coming?I'll bring the digital camera and get a movie like I did with the King Cat.
I have to try out my new eyes anyway.
John
12-21-2007, 06:51 PM
#34
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
ORIGINAL: TommyWatson
Well Done Dave,
Regards
Well Done Dave,
Regards
Thanks! More testing tomorrow! I believe 3 degrees MORE down than what is shown on the plan would be perfect. I have 2 degrees now and just put a washer under the front lugs to increase it a bit. I'll let you know more tomorrow. Can't tell a whole lot from a 5 minute flight BUT she felt pretty good! I slewed the aileron horns forward 1 spline for differential and the rolls looked real close. When I have more flights on her I'll let you know the throws, etc.
Dave
12-21-2007, 06:52 PM
#35
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
ORIGINAL: flyboy61045
Hi Dave
Good to see you again,nice looking plane to.Looks like the weather is not going to be to bad 10 to 15 SE winds.Looking forward to seeing it fly tomorrow.What time are you coming?I'll bring the digital camera and get a movie like I did with the King Cat.
I have to try out my new eyes anyway.
John
Hi Dave
Good to see you again,nice looking plane to.Looks like the weather is not going to be to bad 10 to 15 SE winds.Looking forward to seeing it fly tomorrow.What time are you coming?I'll bring the digital camera and get a movie like I did with the King Cat.
I have to try out my new eyes anyway.
John
Joe Lewis and I plan on arriving around 10AM. I've just finished making the little tweaks from the flight today so I'll hope to get a few more on Saturday. Bring the camera my friend and test out those new peepers!
Dave
12-22-2007, 04:44 PM
#40
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Folks,
I got 2 more flights today. The sun was peeking out and made flying pretty miserable. Wind was starting to pick as we have high wind warnings this evening! 45 degrees this late in december so you have to go for it! Anyway the adjustments from the first flight were pretty close to perfect. Roll rate could still be increased a bit and 1% more down mix to throttle keeps her level at all throttle settings. I'll add 3 or 5% more down elevator mix with full flap and we'll call it good enough to take out to Desert Jet Storm in Feb where we'll do some additional trimming.
Jim Hiller snapped a picture of a flyby and landing for me. I'll post a very short video of the third takeoff. I'd guess the roll was less than 125' easy! Power is very good! Gross takeoff weight is around 13 pounds. Accelleration was very quick and I did not lock the brakes for spoolup!
BTW... I just recharged the batteries from these 2 flights and the radio side uses 175Mah per 7 minute flight and the ECU/Turbine consumed 80Mah. I have to admit the cool down cycle at 45 degrees is rather short so I'll SWAG it at 125Mah under normal conditions. With 2000Mah on the radio side and 1500Mah on the ECU side I think 7 flights between charges will be fine.
Here's the video:
http://rcuvideos.com/item/BTN17X6K329GKPKS
Dave Rigotti
I got 2 more flights today. The sun was peeking out and made flying pretty miserable. Wind was starting to pick as we have high wind warnings this evening! 45 degrees this late in december so you have to go for it! Anyway the adjustments from the first flight were pretty close to perfect. Roll rate could still be increased a bit and 1% more down mix to throttle keeps her level at all throttle settings. I'll add 3 or 5% more down elevator mix with full flap and we'll call it good enough to take out to Desert Jet Storm in Feb where we'll do some additional trimming.
Jim Hiller snapped a picture of a flyby and landing for me. I'll post a very short video of the third takeoff. I'd guess the roll was less than 125' easy! Power is very good! Gross takeoff weight is around 13 pounds. Accelleration was very quick and I did not lock the brakes for spoolup!
BTW... I just recharged the batteries from these 2 flights and the radio side uses 175Mah per 7 minute flight and the ECU/Turbine consumed 80Mah. I have to admit the cool down cycle at 45 degrees is rather short so I'll SWAG it at 125Mah under normal conditions. With 2000Mah on the radio side and 1500Mah on the ECU side I think 7 flights between charges will be fine.
Here's the video:
http://rcuvideos.com/item/BTN17X6K329GKPKS
Dave Rigotti
12-22-2007, 07:21 PM
#41
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Folks,
Dave nailed on this Reaction, the 83% size is right for the MW44. This is his 3rd Reaction, from the stock one on down in size, I like this one the best. It is the right size to breakdown and fit in a car, yet still retains the excellant slow speed flying character of the fullsize Reaction. That light weight from using the MW44 really shows on this model. Cograds Dave on another near jet.
Dave nailed on this Reaction, the 83% size is right for the MW44. This is his 3rd Reaction, from the stock one on down in size, I like this one the best. It is the right size to breakdown and fit in a car, yet still retains the excellant slow speed flying character of the fullsize Reaction. That light weight from using the MW44 really shows on this model. Cograds Dave on another near jet.
12-22-2007, 07:29 PM
#42
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Thank You Jim! She'll be a good one for sure. It felt very good today despite the sun problem. The first pass downwind after takeoff right thru the sun is a real "eye opener!" 7 minutes on the timer and I still have 20ozs left in the 40oz tank! Time to go to 9 minutes!
Dave
Dave
12-22-2007, 07:54 PM
#43
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
I forgot to mention I use a DX7 Spektrum TX with the AR9000 RX. I use 2 remote and their flight logger. "Typical" reads were under 30 fades at the highest antenna, zero frames lost, and of course, no holds. I use DS3411 on most surfaces with a 9421 on elevator. Battery is a 5 cell Nimh 2000Mah low inductance type from noBS batteries.
Rock Solid!
Dave
Rock Solid!
Dave
12-23-2007, 11:51 PM
#47
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
ORIGINAL: R_Belluomini
jealous enough to offer this as a kit???
jealous enough to offer this as a kit???
Uhhh... no.
Looking at it big-picture wise, it's a design that's based on a single production turbine. There's no questioning that the Wren 44 is a magnificent piece of machinery, but it does have limited appeal.
03-18-2008, 10:17 PM
#50
RE: Reaction 44+ is a reality!
Heck while we're at it I'll thought I post an update on the R44+. I had it shipped out to Phoenix for Desert Jet Storm. I arrived on Wednesday around Noontime and was burning Jet A an hour later. By the time DJS was over I put up 26 flights. The trim is getting better all the time. BIGGEST difference was adding 2.7 ounces of nose weight. "Thank You John" for that observation. For those that are 50 or nearing it..."She flies like a Tipo with unlimited vertical" 1,000 foot loops without trouble. Top speed seems to be 130MPH, altho she looks much faster. I had no trouble in the pattern with 4 other jets.
She's a winner for sure. 1,000 square inches of wing area is just right for the MW44 Gold. Mine was measured at slightly over 11 pounds of thrust with OAT at 54 degrees. John says darn near a "standard" day so the measurement was accurate. Only a few years ago this thrust would have been from a 54 class turbine gulphing kero like it was from a fire hose.
Take offs are automatic, just throttle up and she'll lift off just perfectly. Landings are Reaction 54 type slow without a hint of wing drop. Rolls are axial and tracking is dead on.
Guys..IF you want a perfect fit airframe that won't cost an arm and a leg, build up one of these, You won't be sorry!
Some photos from Desert Jet Storm as shot by Uncljoe.
Dave Rigotti
She's a winner for sure. 1,000 square inches of wing area is just right for the MW44 Gold. Mine was measured at slightly over 11 pounds of thrust with OAT at 54 degrees. John says darn near a "standard" day so the measurement was accurate. Only a few years ago this thrust would have been from a 54 class turbine gulphing kero like it was from a fire hose.
Take offs are automatic, just throttle up and she'll lift off just perfectly. Landings are Reaction 54 type slow without a hint of wing drop. Rolls are axial and tracking is dead on.
Guys..IF you want a perfect fit airframe that won't cost an arm and a leg, build up one of these, You won't be sorry!
Some photos from Desert Jet Storm as shot by Uncljoe.
Dave Rigotti