4th BVM Bobcat
 

HI all, just finished my fourth BVM Bobcat, this one was to replace the one I lost at Kentucky Jets. I call it my American Bobcat.
Last two pics, are my deceased old faithful Bobcat.
Rcpete

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Looks great, is this an original or an XL?

I had the 3 composites, boy I can't bring myself to go for a fourth one.

1.) Midair
2.) Wing failure
3.) Radio failure on FAAST

Anyway good luck. How did you do the checkerboard? tape or masking film?

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

nice!! tks sharing!

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

HI, my first Bobcat was a standard, 250 flights,sold it to Jack from PA.,he then sold it to Walter of Long Island NY. My second was a XL,more than 250 flights, when Ilost it at Kentucky Jets, got really too slowand lowafter a manuver, snapped in.
Still flying my 3rd, and just finished my forth, both XL's.
Checker"s are done, with 3m 1/8th, fine line tape, on a white fuse, then sprayed black, plus clear.
Rcpete

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Sorry Matt-was the radio failure the red one with the 120? Wing failure is understandable:) :) Scotty

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Hi Scotty,

Yes that thing flew away probably 2 years ago.

That wing failure thing was not as easily explained. I was not flying very fast, maybe 175 and pulled up hard at the center and it popped the seam down the leading edge of the wing and peeled off a big section of the top of the wing.

On the next one I glassed the entire leading edge of the wing from the inside and never had a problem (of course until it flew in the LA river at about warp factor 5)

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

HI all, here is a pic of Walter, from Long Island NY., with my first Bobcat.
Rcpete

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Bobcat pics
Rcpete

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

I just put 5 flights on my P-80SE powered Bobcat ARF today. What a great plane. It is my go to plane and my everyday flyer!!

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Oh boy, if the tech-savy Mr.Matt had a radio link failure with faast there is no hope for us, mere mortals! Any advice for helping us avoiding this problem, or for diagnosing it before crashing?

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

If there was I would still have the plane! Smart Fly, 2 big hangtime NiMHs, charge every flight, who knows!

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

don´t be shy of your knowledge ;)


you mean it happened because of low voltage at the rx?

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

No I have no idea why. Would have paid a bundle to have the telemetry that stored post crash signal strength data, AFAIK only Weatronics does this.

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Hi Pete,

I have just dragged up this old thread from last year, because I am interested in Balsa Bobcats. I am just about to finish one, nearly ready for clear. Mine is a std. Really nice work on yours. You certainly do have the "Killer Cockpit"

I see that you modified the wing, and fitted flaps in favour of the full span ailerons, which I have also done.. Other mods I have done is to make the centre wing and fuse one piece, and have fitted a gear door on the nose wheel.

Question for you, how effective are the flaps??.. I was planning to not use the main wheel strut air brakes hoping that the flaps and a bit of crow will be enough to slow it down.

Thanks

roger

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

?? double post ??

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

HI, on both Bobcats, I do not use flaps, no need, in fact, even the smallest amount of flaps, pitches the nose down.Both Bobcats are excellant flyers. I've always used a gyro on the rudder for landing.
Rcpete

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Oh, that is interesting.

Thanks for your insight.

Roger

RE: 4th BVM Bobcat
 

Ouch [:'(][:o] that sucks ... I find this to be a weak point of ANY composite wing. Even on JMP firebirds these leading edge joints are weak, and pop with a squeeze from the outside ... On my Comp Bobcats i always used to just pour some gorilla glue down the LE .. I failed my wing once by pulling what was probably well over 40 Gs + , but the edge never split, only one of the formers gave allowing the wing tube to bend 15-20 deg .. i still landed ... After that I laminated all inner and accessible areas of the wing with heavy carbon. It never failed from there on out :)


Pete, Bobcat looks nice :) I might have to go for #5 on a composite one some time myself ... but lately the UltraFlash has been my go-to beat-it-up sport jet :)


Voy