F-8E crusader.
 

Dear all.
This is our last Christmas gift to the hobby community for 2016!

1/7.2 scale F-8 Crusader.
90 "/ 2.29 m long, 59.4"/ 1.51 m span. 100 to 140 N thrust.
Our first plug is for the F-8E version. However we will offer the other versions as well.

The plane is designed to have working flaps, slats and variable wing incidence.
The landing gear is 100% CAD designed and is ultra scale. It is made with our hybrid 3D printing/ CNC machining process.

The Crusader will be optimized for the best possible price-to-feature ratio. As such it will be offered in two versions.
1. Our CloudTech laminate ( 100 % carbon fiber, UHM Torayca UD layups, 2 mm Ultra light PET core, 3 mm carbon/ Airex bulkheads, and our exclusive fusing lamination )
2. Our cheaper GlassTech laminate that is using the same process than CloudTech but with regular glass fiber fabric and an ultra-thin 0.5 mm core.

The carbon fiber version will be light enough to compete F4C or JWM below 15 kgs.
The glass version will be around 16 kgs to 17 kgs.

The wing incidence system is CNC machined of Al 7075 and requires two standard size 180 degrees 15 kgs HV servos like the Hitec HS-7940TH.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/015...g?v=1482579043

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/015...g?v=1482579207

The plane features flush rivets, raised rivets and hexagonal head rivets. Just like the real one.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/015...g?v=1482579347

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/015...g?v=1482579593

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/015...g?v=1482579686

The plane is designed to be very compact to ship.
The fuselage is split in two parts and splits in front of the wing. This ensures and optimum stiffness on the pitch axis.
The wing is in 3 parts. The center section incorporates the variable incidence mechanism.
The fin is removable as well as the full flying stabilizers.
The engine intake is made of three sections and is inserted from the fuselage split. The front section allows access to the nose retracts and reserves enough space for a super scale cockpit. The two rear sections are designed the pass above the scale gear and allow enough room for the scale wheels.
The engine is directly accesssible from the top hatch that is located immediately behind the wing mechanism.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/015...g?v=1482579784


I spent nearly one year working on the airframe aerodynamics. There are several very tricky things with the crusader. One of them is the very small stabilizer tip cord. It took me a long time to optimize the stabilizer airfoil for this size.
Similarly the wing airfoil is custom designed for the plane and derived from a Michael Selig study. The airfoil performs very well at the Reynolds number calculated for the plane and the variable incidence system. It is also optimized for slats operations.
The wing was CAD milled with our Kuka robot and the airfoil is accurate to 1/10 mm.
This is specifically important for the stabilizer and its 55 mm tip cord!

We have had very good results with our prototype and could not mask the elevator with the flaps out with the foam cut wing.
This has been a recurrent problem for many modellers trying to replicate this plane at smaller size...

Merry Christmas to you all and best wishes for 2017 !!!!:D

Wow, What a beauty. When will it be available and what is the ransom?

Wow that's great Oli! I don't think anyone else has done a Crusader. It looks like a fabulous design. Looking forward to learning more about it and pricing.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well!

Craig

Wow, that's a really nice looking jet!

TB

My target is to have it available to the market for April.
We want to present the Crusader, SR-71, A-12 and YF-12 at Top Gun.
We have a prototype with a foam wing flying nicely but I need to properly test fly the heavier full composite version before releasing it.
I am not sure about pricing yet but I am working hard on the GlassTech version to make it as cheap as possible.

I am so excited to bring this airplane to the market. This is my favorite airplane and as such we wanted to do it right. Oli has worked very hard to capture the exotic lines of the F8 while making a model that flys well and is easy to transport. A great deal of design work went in to selecting the proper airfoils and building/construction techniques that will make this a great RC Jet!

Woody

Very nice! Hopefully you will consider the F-101 as a future project

Whoa.

Now THAT is a good way to start my Christmas Eve morning!

+1
While we're wishing, how about the F-8's ugly offspring, the A-7? Sure wish somebody reputable would kit one of those.

Awesome looking jet!! Will this be available as a ARF and if yes will it come painted? Thanks!

I wondered how long it would be before you asked that question.

Fantastic looking Jet Oli. Merry Christmas to you and your's to.

Awesome Project! Nice work!

This among one other delightful present was a welcome surprise today. Merry Christmas to ALL

Yes, we have a very big one in the pipe. Mega scale as well...

Yes, and yes as an option.

Thanks all for the kind words.
!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas !!!!!!!!!

When your out of F8s your out of Fighters
Go Navy
Looks awesome

Fantastic work Oli, love this plane and can't wait till you have ready - maybe one for us on the other side of the pond :-)

Now that is superb! so nice to see something different and adventurous.

Not an F-16? :p

Thank you, it will be mine.

When you're out of F8s you're out of Fighters.

Olivier,

Regarding the elevator issue, how about a F8-E(fn), I believe that it has larger elevators than Usn F-8.
this along with the double slotted slats where made to reduce the stall speed for the smaller french ac carriers.

We are doing the E version ( non FN ). Standard stabilator. The aerodynamic configuration i found has worked perfectly well so far. But I need to test heavier versions and push the airframe to its limits. Which I will do early next year.

I am collecting a database of the modifications made to the F-8 so that we can make most of the variants.
The C/ D will require a new wing center section mold ( simple top ) and new engine hatch mold as well as small nose cone.
The H might required a new main gear CAD.
The J/ N will require some wing slats engraving mods.

I am not sure about the K/ L/ P versions yet.