Firebird maiden
 

Guys,

A long time coming,but sooo worth it.What a truly amazing airplane.Smoothest,most precise jet I've ever flown.Much thanks to Tom Cook,Dan Davidson(painter on left in pic),and Alan D'elena(builder on right in pic).Video should be available soon.I'm truly stoked.

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Nice looking machine.......

Maybe someday... :eek:

RE: Firebird maiden
 

I have to bulk up, look tiny next to the two of you....

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Absolutely georgeous!! Congrats.

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Larger pic.

RE: Firebird maiden
 

The Firebird looks awesome, that field looks great too!

RE: Firebird maiden
 

ahhhh .. proud papa :D:D NICE !! Glad you got your Firebird in the air Erik [8D] I can't wait to see it fly. I will blame you when Dori gets mad at me for buying another plane when I want one too:D:D



~V~

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Guys,

A link to the video.A little background.The motor test ran fine,then got cranky at flight time.Once running,it checked ok,and we launched.First dirty approach was to get the feel of the sink rate.I was told to expect alot more sink than that,off power.On the go around,the motor started popping and spitting,and then never made full power.Wind dead calm.Last approach was still fast,but I was afraid to go around again,for fear the engine would quit.It's a US Microjets(AMT USA)450,which I will probably replace.In any case when it touched it was still fast,and I got the dreaded hop.Good news is,there's not a scratch on the jet.Just 2 bent struts.

I will get the motor issue straight,and add some more flap and crow,and now know that it takes long,flat approaches.I can't say enough good things about this airplane.Flies like a nuclear locomotive,and every design and component is top notch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NCHa...ature=youtu.be

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Looks great ! That Dan guy must know a thing or two about paint. :).

Albert

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Thanks Albert.Pics and video don't do it justice.Dan is a wizard.Turns out the engine has developed a rub.I'm hoping that's the cause of all the issues.

RE: Firebird maiden
 

ONE BAD JET!!!!! Nice!
Mike

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Awesome looking jet[X(]

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Congratulations Erik! It was my privilege to photograph "Miss America" and to film that incredible flight.

Truly one of the most incredible RC jet flights I have ever witnessed, the jet is without a doubt the most gorgeous I have ever seen. Kudos to Alan and Dan for their incredible craftsmanship.

Technical note: The video was shot with a Canon HF G10 HD video camera at 30fps progressive. I used the optional shotgun mike. It is so sensitive, that if you turn up the volume, you will hear Erik's funny comment right before the maiden flight. I wish I could have put the final turn on the film, but I couldn't get the jet in focus until final. I started the clip when I got the focus back.

The music might not be to everyone's taste, but I think it adds an appropriate amount of drama to the beginning and end. I kept the flying part free of music so you could experience the awesome sound of the Olympus and the Firebird ripping through the air!

http://youtu.be/1NCHaYOvrWM

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Congrats Erik! Cant wait to see it fly..it is truly remarkable in person!

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Congrats Erik, Awesome to see her fly! Kinda gets me amp'd up again about flying mine (haven't flown anything in a year now.....)

Yours is definitely easier to see! I think mine is going to get some additional paint before I fly it again..........

What a testiment to the structure of the airplane, not to focus on the landing, but to take a hit like that and not rip the airplane apart is amazing. I know what Tom's gear looks like and it's almost unthinkable that you could bend it, but the fact that the gear mounts don't rip out of the wings, completely incredible airplane!

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Jeremy,

Thanks.The structure is incredible.We're thinking that the residual thrust was increased as the ECU was compensating for the rub.I knew it was fast,but couldn't go around again,as the engine was failing.Held it off as long as I could with the available runway length.The grass is rough all the way out there,and the bumps contributed to the hop.Very lucky,only 2 bent struts.

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Sweet Erik!

Great job Dan/Alan/Erik!

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Come to the Summer Afterburner beginning of August or the Jet Jamboree beginning of October and see it in person, along with some of the finest jets in the country. It simply doesn't get better than Hamburg. OK, I'm biased, but man what a great field!

Hope to see you there!

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Awesome Jet!!!!!!!!!!!

Best flights ever!

Best regards from Germany

Philip

BTW: I am looking for a Firebird :D

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Erik,

Well done on the maiden. I look forward to seeing it in person as it is beautifully finished. Dan is a heck of a painter.

Best of luck with this machine in the future.

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Some pics from the Hamburg Summer Afterburner... AWSOME EVENT Great folks, good food and the best R/C field in the USA

RE: Firebird maiden
 

Hamburg Summer Afterburner Video here>>>>>http://youtu.be/waWLhlkl26g

RE: Firebird maiden
 

George,

Would you mind posting afterburner stuff on the afterburner thread? Thanks,

Erik

RE: Firebird maiden
 

The Firebird won the Pilot's Choice award at the Hamburg Afternburner event that just concluded. It got an overwhelming number of votes! No wonder! The jet not only looks awesome but was flown with brilliant control by Erik (with excellent spotting by 3Dhelinut and myself on the stopwatch!)!

Great job Erik, Alan and Dan (split s).

Jim