RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Hi all,

How much flap are people using. I have to land on a postage stamp and I am using a lot of runway sometimes on the standard landing flap setting. I think an increase in flap may help me here, anyone got some numbers for flaps that work well, to slow the big girl up?

Murray

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Murray:

Flaps for landing should be at 45º. That will slow the plane a lot. If you have a headwind, you shouldn't use that much flap.

I also fly in a short runway and 45º is more than enough.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I used the amount of flap for landing suggested by SM and works very well for me..... Our runway is about 600ft long ;) and I had very little head wind for my maiden. Feel like she was floating a lot on approach and I had to dive her a little to get into the landing but once I start pulling up for touchdown she had a perfect speed. I wonder as suggested by Gonzalo from Chile that when is windy I might need a lot more power for the final approach? with thoese flaps?

Gonzalo
Northern California

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I have about 200' edge to edge, so it is always full of fun. Love those big brakes, lol.

Murray

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

200' ? Whow.... that's short.

Last year I saw in Argentina somebody that modified the Viper and installed a deflector in the belly of the fuselage to act as an aerodynamic brake and slow down the plane. Something like the deflector in the MB-339. That could help you slow down the plane nicely.

Crow is another alternative ?

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I,m planning on installing a set of stock speed brakes, two under the fuse. Henry down in southern California has done a few, very nice mod.

Steve

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I found 45 dgrees flap did not slow the Viper down enough for my liking. I put as much as possible on mine (almost 90 degrees) & it slowed down much better. No handling problems or need for elevator input.
I suggest you slowly increase from 45 in stages, to see what setting suits you.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Had a nice 6th and 7th flight with the viper today. Flight 7 did cost me my canopy though. It left the aircraft at high speed and was instantly confetti.

Does anyone know who makes a replacement complete canopy for the SM Viperjet, apart from SM of course. I am looking for a thicker version to avoid this in the future. My canopy had 4 extra hooks on her and they didn't stop it breaking up.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9953216/tm.htm

Brg. John Madsen

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

I'll be doing one of these soon in THISscheme... not scale Iknow BUT is sure looks good this way
(sort of NAVYT-45ish!)</p>

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Now some pics of my Viper in the air! It’s the most beautiful and best airplane I have ever flown!

Enjoy,

Gonzalo
Northern California

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Nice one Gonzalo, she looks great.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Some photos of my Viper during the Western Australian KAMS Club Jet Meeting held this month.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

And a few More photos and a video link of the days action. I broke my canopy in a dive, just fell apart, even though it had been reglued and 4 extra hooks held her down.

VIDEO: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5250441/jet_day_at_kams/

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Murray,

Sorry to see you also lost the pilot's head. Was your cockpit sealed to the canopy? In other words, did you make your canopy and cockpit one unit or where they seperate? Also, do you run a bypass duct?

Cheers

Jan

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

The cockpits are screwed into the Fuselage, not the canopy. Yes I run the SM bypass on my Wren160.

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Heh,
For once I got something right without any help.......But it was'nt easy to figure out how to make it work with the cockpit details.

I can only say this in regards to the canopy blowing apart that I believe this to be because of the flex from cutting the strut that braces it from separation.
(Front and rear)
But how do you get the cockpit details in there? The strut goes across the dashboard.
Thats the hard part. You have only but to fabricate..........
I have heard the same thing happen to Nick Corroza's viper. He made his own canopy.Take a look at how I did it.

Along with a few picks of my jet.
Check out the custom exhaust flange. Look familiar???? :)

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Viper,
I had extra tabs on the canopy frame in mine, the sides (of the frame) were fixed very solid and could not move. Still, my canopy glass broke 3 times in flight !
When the engine was spooled up on ground, and the gear was up, the sides of the "glass" was pulled in, so the sides almost touched each other!
It is the glass that is way to thin (0.35 mm), just with the slightest touch of a finger, I could bend the glass (well, plastic ;))
Same situation here with other Vipers, even with smaller engines, they see the same!

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

You are exactly correct Carsten. I actually stuck my finger through the canopy just trying to put it on. Can't understand why they would use such thin material on such a large canopy. The only real solution is thicker plastic.

Craig

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

@ Craig
Shaz from Denver is able to send you a canopy in strong 2 mm polycarbonat.
Regards
Fritz/Switzerland

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Fritz do you have the contact for Shaz, website, or username. I want one.

Murray

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Hmmm no photo's. Try this again.



I thought that was from your P-200 intaking all that air?
Anyway the plastic is too thin. You are right.
I did crack mine but not as easy as some may have.

But I have heard of the canopy frame flexing to the point of fatigue.

See if I can get these photo's

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

@ Murray - sent you a PM !
Regards
Fritz

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

Correct Viperjet, the P200SX is not making things better. But, we tested it on a P160SX also, and the canopy sides are still being pulled together by this, not as much as the P200 obviously (before we opened up the airbrakes, we did not dare to go above 1/3 throttle on the P200SX!), but still so much at full throttle that you wonder when will it brake! Apart from that problem, if you by mistake, apply a little too much pressure on the glass with your fingers (already happended for one of my friends here), it will brake anyway!
It is simply too thin

RE: Another Skymaster Viper
 

If I still had my Viper I would get one of these stronger canopies. I can tell you from experience though that installing a new canopy in that large and flimsy frame is difficult. Mostly, because it's hard to keep the shape of the frame just right so it still fits the fuselage properly. Mine never did fit right after I changed it.