RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Hey Todd,
Don't forget to let us know how much you decided to go with the CG, and if
you plan on moving it after its maiden flight. If you remember we had that discussion
a few weeks ago on my post.
Bill

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

No problem guys, i'll update you with all the info once she's flown.

Here's a few more pics of the install.....

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

few more

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

I don't like you anymore ;) Looks great guy! Sorry I missed you this evening, I'm in Tampa catching the early flight out in the morning.

I'll be back in a couple weeks schedule permitting :)

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

what happend to the maiden flight of sm Grippen

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Well...... Still have not flown it.....

Bad cable (my own fault) from the engine to the ECU grounded me this weekend..... Engine is now running perfectly and plane is ready to go this sunday......

Sorry for the delay guys.... [:o][:@]
Todd

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Hi lov2flyrc

what engine are you using??;).

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Jetcat P-80.

I used an old starter/glow cable that was salvaged from my Tango. Since the cable was damaged I needed to shorten it and replace a plug.... Dumb-ass me reversed the wires sending the starter voltage to the glow plug [:@].....

Should have test ran the plane at home :eek:

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Todd, you keep on teasing us.

Do you think the P80 will fly the Gripen fast or should a P120 be considered? Possibly tuned down a bit?
My Gripen weighs just under 18Lbs without turbine, add a P80 or P120 (same weight) this brings it 18+3.1 = 21.1Lbs dry plus various little items that I might have forgotten, should be less than 22Lbs dry.

What do you recommend?



Thanks
Peter

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Peter,
My sincerest apologies! Dont mean to leave you guys hanging here ;) She'll go this weekend for sure [8D]

I think a P-80 will fly the gripen quite nicely. While the weight is in the 21/22 lb range it's a very clean airframe. I imagine it is going to be quite a speed deamon on the P-80 (note: my P-80 is the older 17lb engine not the newer 19lb). Give me three more days and i'll have all the info (and footage) you will need to decide which way to go ;)

Todd

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Great.....no rush....take your time.....
Thanks again and looking forward to your review.

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Todd is the big day tomorrow?

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Sunday ;)

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Todd, just hold off until Thurs., I'll be there by then and will gladly do the honors for you ;).

See you then.[sm=thumbup.gif]

George

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

We cannot wait until Thursday.......

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Sooooo.........What's the scoop on the first flight? I was patiently waiting, but can wait no longer. I might get the Gripen, based on your successful (hopefully) flight report, instead of waiting for a BAE Hawk. Thanks, inquiring minds want to know. Heh! Heh!

Ty J.

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Same thing here. Wating for the Hawk, but may go with this one.

Bob

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

If it was not so windy here today, i would have flown my grippen today also on its maiden .. hopefully Tuesday will be good, or otherwise Saturday. I have had mine ready for several weeks, just never had the chance to take her up ... I hope Todd flew his so we can all better know what to expect ., or what CG/throw changes to make .. The one i have is set up as per the SM instruction, and from what i have heard, many are flying very well with these settings ...


Wojtek

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Things went GREAT.... Gripen flew nicely, need to work on slowing it down on landings but I was quite pleased with the performance. It was a long day, will give a full report with video tomorrow!...
Todd

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Excellent Todd, now I can finish mine.......
Looking forward to tomorrow's report.

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Ok guys.... here is some feedback...

I did not experience any of the issues reported here regarding the Gripen. Flight performance on the P-80 was excellent, quite fast with good vertical. After some initial discussion with Duke regarding control throws I decided to set the Gripen up more like my Euro. Since I have hundreds of flights on delta/canard type aircraft, I felt the control throws indicated by Skymaster were a bit off for my style of flying.... Canard setting seemed too high and elevons seemed too low so my initial settings looked like this....

Canard Up - 25mm
Canard Down - 20-mm
Elevator Up/Down - 35mm 40% expo
Aileron - 12mm *no differential 30% expo
CG was at 150mm
Dual rates were set at 70% with nose steering at 30%

After rotation I spent the first few minutes feeling the plane out, feeding my caller changes I need to make. Ail rate was too sensitive, kicked them down to low rate, elevator felt good but a bit too soft in center so expo adjustment required. Rest of the flight I just got familiar with the plane and tested the envelope a bit. I was quite amazed to see how slow the Gripen would get without stalling. Even with the higher wing loading it will still slow down nicely. On flight two I did test the plane all the way to stall and found it does drop a wing, need to play with the CG and settings a bit to see if I can get it to just drop the nose instead. I also found that at slower speeds the plane would get a bit sensitive in pitch. Low rate elevator did not feel comfortable a slow speed so I think the solution will be to set up a landing condition which cuts down the canard rate a bit although a shift forward in CG may work as well. Because of the pitch sensitivity I was having a little difficulty slowing the gripen down for landing but once down it does seem to stick. Since I only managed two flights on the Gripen yesterday and have not completed the tuning of the airframe I will hold off on posting my final throws, CG and expo until after the FIJR rally this week. I should have things well tweaked next Monday ;).

Here is the maiden [link=http://www.dreamworksrc.com/Video/gripen1.wmv]Video[/link]

Questions?
Todd

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Todd,

Thanks for the information and posting the video. I would be interested in what your throws become finalized to after FIJR.

JR Gautreaux

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Congratulations Todd...ques no. 1: Is it for me??? :D

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Thanks for the update Todd and nice video....
I look forward to your final update on the setup of the grippen, i am still waiting for my FTE 750 which will be implanted in the grippen and i will use your suggestions on the final setup.




Alan....

RE: Skymaster Gripen Almost there
 

Nice video todd I wish you were test flyin the SM F-18 so i could get some more info before D day :D

It seems like the same thing happen to mario when he was landing. Look to me the carnards stall first then the nose drops causing him to flare hard??.