Gripen inspection
 

After reading the thread about skymasters gripen turbine mount problem I opened mine up and inspected it, at this time I only have five flights on her and all flying is done on a dry lakebed (not very smooth) but my turbine mounts are bonded in very well, now I will list the problems I have had with it.

1. Loose wing spar mounts in the fuselage after 2nd flight
Fix: Tightened mounts and added hysol

2. Lost two tires on first takeoff and all four tires on second flight attempt
Fix: Airpac gave me new tires and wheels

3. Lost main landing gear strut set screw on 4th flight taxi out
Fix: Replaced set screw

4. Low turbine power on 3rd flight takeoff roll and flight
Fix: Jetcat P70 fuel line crimped at turbine, cut and replaced line but now I know it will fly on only 13lbs of thrust

Now will I buy another skymasters jet? HELL YES, I feel I received everything I paid for and more, and after every flight session I take time to do a post flight inspection.
My $.02

RE: Gripen inspection
 

I lost the set screw on the nose gear of my SM F-15 after about five flights. Luckily I found it while disconnecting my taxi tank (at which time the bottom of the strut fell off). I discovered that during assembly, I had put loctite on the set screws of the mains but forgot to do the nose. FYI, Home Depot sells a pretty good replacement metric set screw. :D

RE: Gripen inspection
 

Thanks, I need to stock up on them.

RE: Gripen inspection
 

Let me help a little with this jet.
I've record 31 succesfull flights with SM. Gripen.

Every one flying this jet, try this:

1) 40 to 50 mm of up canard, up elevons mixing only for take off roll. This dampens the suden leap at lift off.
2) 10 to 15 mm of down canard, up elevons mixing for flight mode. This decrease drag at incrased AOA for higher climbing rates.
3) Use zero canard mixing at landing configuration. This increases overall lift coeficient at low speed.
4) Reinforce landing gear base. Sometimes hard landings are unavoidable.
5) When flying crosswind keep your speed. Rudder lose efectivenes at low speed.

Tell me if this work for you.

Juan L. Garcia.

RE: Gripen inspection
 

Let me help a little with this jet.
I've record 31 succesfull flights with SM. Gripen.

Every one flying this jet, try this:

1) 40 to 50 mm of up canard, up elevons mixing only for take off roll. This dampens the suden leap at lift off.
2) 10 to 15 mm of down canard, up elevons mixing for flight mode. This decrease drag at incrased AOA for higher climbing rates.
3) Use zero canard mixing at landing configuration. This increases overall lift coeficient at low speed.
4) Reinforce landing gear base. Sometimes hard landings are unavoidable.
5) When flying crosswind keep your speed. Rudder lose efectivenes at low speed.

Tell me if this work for you.

Juan L. Garcia.