roger hymans 1

Reference the DB Sport and Scale Vampire I have been on the waiting list for 6 months. I hope that it can be built at less than 5kg and over 40oz/sq.ft wing loading. 3000 watts of power would mean at least 10 cells at 80amps - really hard on the lipos. Sometimes these figures are from the fan makers who like to give the maximum the fan will take so maybe the quoted power would not be necessary. If built without retracts a balsa based aircraft like this should be possible at a lighter weight - so less power needed - less weight for the lipos - and so on. It may be possible to reverse the normal more power/more weight downward spiral. I hope so - I don't want a lead sled Roger

Ultymate, I agree with you 100%. I bought a Mintor 33cc petrol - a wonderful engine but as sold very noisy. I spent £60 on an add on and now have an engine that meets the club noise meter test and makes my Chipmunk sound more like a real aircraft. So many scale models sound like airborne chain saws. I know its expensive but better than losing your site and thereby ruining your chums ability to go flying.

Found a problem with my Vampire - after a dozen flights I noticed that one tail boom was cracked. Cut a groove under each boom and fitted a 2mm.carbon rod each side fixed with 5 Min epoxy. Two more good flights this afternoon possible flexing of booms now sorted. Managed to launch with left hand with TX in right hand - so do not need help to fly anymore !!

Third and fourth flights last weekend, still no problems with hand launch even in calm conditions, my settings now at ailerons 10mm. down 13mm.up - elevators 10mm up and down. Centre of gravity quite sensitive to small movements mine is now at 290mm back from the nose, which is very stable. Still think this is a nice handling model much better than most cheap foamies, my club friends love it.

Graham C. I think your idea of a pusher is a good one. I did this with a Hunter. For your info the distance between booms on the Durafly Vampire is 10 inches. I found that using a folding prop saved props and motor mounts when landing. Don't have the blades too loose or they can flop about and cause damage.You won't get the same speed with a pusher as with EDF but the Vampire is not a speed machine and I think, will be just great. Good luck

David, with only two flights I cannot to give you a definitive answer - I will give you more info after this weekend which looks good for flying. So far it seems to be a very benign handling aircraft, I started with too much elevator and if you really pulled hard the vampire flicked onto its back - immediate recovery on relaxing the controls - so if you are clumsy it will bite. I was concerned at the lack of rudder and thought I might get "fish tailing" when applying aileron, no sign of this so far. I calculated the stall speed at 18 mph. but it seems slower than that. You will from your experience know that some aircraft just feel right in the air and inspire confidence from the start - this is one of those. I feel that the wing loading of just under 18 oz/sq.ft helps - so guys, if you can, keep the weight down, which we all know is a good policy. By the way, the noise level from the Red Cyclone is really low with this installation, I know that alloy fans are not cheap but I will not buy a plastic casing again. more later.........

I flew my Durafly Vampire last weekend. I ordered from Hobbyking and it took two weeks to arrive. I bought the cheaper version and fitted a Red Cyclone 70mm fan on 4 cells (40-50c lipo). Cost including four 9g servos and postage was £71. Ready to fly with a 2650mah lipo and no undercarriage it weighed 2lbs 6oz (1080 grms) Power available at full throttle was 42amps, which I figure is 630 watts. Two flights both from simple and easy hand launches in 12 mph winds. Once control movements adjusted aircraft flew very well. Slow stalling speed and very easy to land on our grass strip. Lots of power for loops etc most of flights at 1/2 to 2/3 throttle, after 8 minutes 28% left in Lipo. So 10 mins is possible. Complaints? trivial but annoying - nicely produced book of instructions sadly with no real value although centre of gravity was spot on. Box marked as a Vampire Mk.6 -no such animal - its either a Mk5 or 9. Someone had also indelibly painted a red ejector seat triangle on both sides of the cockpit - no single seat Vampire had an ejector seat - I know I flew them - also the word "Jet" in the triangle - why do they do these things? Overall then very satisfied with this amazing value for money quickly delivered nice to fly EDF jet. I strongly recommend it

Hello RB, I am new to this forum. I have the original plan for the DH100 and your posts have been very helpful. I wish to build the original single seater as it was my first jet solo aircraft in 1955. I really need the original build article - is this available? Good luck with the T11. regards Roger Hymans @import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);