simon burch Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Weather is looking good for Wednesday, and I'm getting both excited and a bit nervous about my maiden jet flight. Everything ready, including the fire extinguisher. I think the landing and throttle lag is what I'm most concerned about, but hopefully my spotter will have some good advice. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfan Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Good luck! What stops the tailplane burning clean away? Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 There is a set amount of down thrust on the turbine, so most of the jet gas is not aimed directly at the horizontal stab. Plus all that air pushing past has a cooling effect. Wet starts are the danger as the flames can damage the airframe. That's what the fire extinguisher is for!! Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevejet66 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Hope all goes well for you simon, Its a bonus to have a proven model and it looks smart too, Im sure youll enjoy your first jet flight. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Jones Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Good luck and enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Hope it goes well... I think I've flown one of those... Club chairman had one and let me have a go... Very nice and smooth..... So what are the blue lines on the grass for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 We are having the garden done and the chap came round to mark things out. The design is all down to the other half, my only input is mowing it. Conditions look spot on for tomorrow. Everything charged and triple checked so will post back tomorrow afternoon. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SR 71 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Good luck with the maiden, i dont think you have anything to worry abut , i had my first flight last year with my Sprint /Jetcat 100rx loved every minute of it just go fly normaly and enjoy, the turbine lag is not to bad at all and if you keep the throttle a quarter open when ever you throttle down the turbine is still spinning fast and the lag is hardly noticed Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Haycox Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 I hope all goes well and look forward to your flight report tomorrow. Happy landings, Nev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Fingers crossed for you Simon - but I'm sure it will be fine! Enjoy it! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Wow, looks great and i am very envious. Hope all goes/has gone alright and you are blasting around the skies with a smile on your face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Well, I'm now a novice jet pilot. The camera doesn't pick up how much I was still shaking (this was taken 30 secs after I landed). Had another flight just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. The sound it makes as you go vertical is just beyond words. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevejet66 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Fantastic, The smile says it all! How was the throttle control compared to i.c motors? Ive yet to have my maiden flight, Im all ears! Congrats On your first jet flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 After a bit of hassle getting her started the flights were uneventful. She was in the air in less than 20 feet after hitting a bump, so just left the throttle wide open and climbed away. Had a few goes a bringing her down the middle of the strip and all seemed good so dropped the flaps, which were like throwing an anchor out and brought her in. With the flaps down you need a fair amount of power to keep the airspeed so I don't think I actually shut the throttle until I was 100% sure she was going to land. The lag didn't seem to bad to me, but I never got in the position where I needle instant power, just tried to keep stuff smooth. The highlight had to be coming low at half power, sitting her on the tail just as you power up and then watch the power kick in and send her vertical....the howl is addictive. The model was really predictable on the approach, even with my hands shaking (my mate kept telling me to breath). The second landing was much easier as I'd calmed down a bit and put her down on my first go. Been flying 32 years, flown some amazing models, but nothing compares to what I did today. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevejet66 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Wel it worked out better than you thought, And of coarse nerves can play a big part as it can actually make you fly better than how you thought you would on your first jet flight. LOL ive got the knee knocking to come. At least its over and done with and im sure you'll reflect every moment about today's flights and gain more experiance as time goes by. Wish i was there to hear the howl on the virtical climb's, Well done im sure it will be the best nights kip you'll have for a long time. Keep em spooling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Cracking Simon, really well done. Something i can only aspire too at the moment. Awesome stuff. Video next time please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Thought about taking the video, but I was warned off it. I'm glad I didn't as I was nervous about making a silly mistake, and the idea of someone videoing would have added to that. Not sure when the next opportunity to fly will arise, but will definitely have the video out for that. It's going to be a few days till the smile will drop off my face. Never thought I'd get to fly a jet. I think I've had it about 3 or 4 weeks whilst I've got all the little bits together ready to fly. Lost count of the number of videos I've watched or threads I've read. After all the build up it was an amazing experience. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Smalley Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 well done simon, can you now appreciate why the boomer is such a great jet trainer, so stupidly easy to fly ..... and nice to fly eh! mybe now you can understand why i say models like the TN retrojet are really not required, i think people think the boomer is harder to fly than it is! well done anyway. whats the turbine, and what starting probs did you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Haycox Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Congratulations Simon, glad all went well for you. What turbine are you using? Nev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Well done Simon! I just had to look in and see how it went! Glad to hear it was (in the best sense of the word) a non-event! Onwards and upwards eh - what's next - Typhoon? The modern one that is!! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 It's a Wren 54 mk3 gas start. I think the problems were caused by no one else having any experience of Wren turbines (they fly Merlins and Jet Cats I think). The chap I bought it off went through the starting procedure, but I didn't pay enough attention to the amount of gas. There is a solenoid, but there is no restriction, so that is set by how much you open the valve on the propane bottle. I'd started it twice before with no booms or tail plane on, and managed to make a fairly good fireball (melted all the covering of the lower rear face of the fuz), so with it all bolted together I think we were just being a bit too cautious with the gas. Added to this, I think the Wren's ramp up in the start sequence a bit different to the turbines the other guys fly with. The chap from Wren was really patient on the phone, waiting whilst I keep running back to the car for tools etc. Once we had an idea of the amount of gas it needed, she fired up both times with no problems and no flames. Absolutely faultless in flight. I originally bought a new Supersport Jubilee, with the intention of building a jet over the winter, but when this model popped up at the right price, one of the heli's got sold on and I bought it. I had planned to sell the motor on and replace it with my kero start Jubilee, but now I'm thinking about keeping the boomer as it is and thinking about what I can build to put the other turbine in. Very impressed with the service I got today from Wren. The Boomer does fly really well. Got a couple of loops and 4 point rolls on my second flight and it was super smooth. I really can't wait to fly again with a few less nerves. Loops were also fantastic, especially when you put the power back on. On my first flight I asked for my spotter to call out when I'd had 3 mins so I could have a few practice landing approaches. That must have been the fastest 3 minutes ever. On the second flight I had my full 5 minutes blasting around, and then put her down on the first attempt, but it still went too quickly. Could have flown again, but I was so chuffed I thought it was better to leave it there and come back another day. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Quite like the Tony N Vampire but I know he has the Vulcan in the works, and I think that would make an amazing model to own. I really want to build my next jet, and then maybe have a go at designing my own. I have a Zirolli Turbinator plan, which I quite like even though everyone today who I mentioned it to said it was ugly. We shall see !! Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Smalley Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 what about one of these i have one waiting to be built kit from fighteraces and would easily fly with a 20lbs thrust turbine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon burch Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 It does look good, but not sure if my Supersport would have enough grunt at 8kg thrust? There was a newly built one up for sale on the BMFA. Nice looking machine, but what ever I get next it has to suit the turbine I already have. No more funds for anymore turbines in the foreseeable future!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Smalley Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 ahh sorry mate i thought the supersport was 22lbs thrust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.