Molar mender

It's baaaaack!!! I took the drive a couple of hours north of where I live and picked up my old R-54. It's in really good shape and as soon as the weather warms a little, I will start putting it back into flying condition.

b.bixel

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It looks better in YOUR garage than mine Roy! I'm glad it will be in the air soon versus collecting dust.

Regards,
Bart

Helijet

Nice Roy...
Looking forward to some Reaction formation with you...
Cheers
Dean

LGM Graphix

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Very cool Roy, looking forward to seeing it in the air again!

CARS II

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You score Roy, happy to know it's back with you.

PaulD

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Molar mender

I have to admit, I am glad I have the R-54 back. I have been to a lot of events since I sold it and was envious of the others I have seen flying at those events. Yes, I had what I called a smoke boat attached to the bottom which held the extra tank for smoke oil, the pump, battery and speed controller to run the pump. I think I still have it in the shop somewhere. Looking forward to getting it back together.

Roy

PaulD

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PaulD

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flyinfool1

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I did manage to stuff 24 oz of smoke inside of the R54.
I have two 12oz DuBro slant tanks plumbed in series located at the rear hatch, with the pump and speed control just in front of them. I have not flown it with smoke yet but it is stuffed in there. The system when empty is not much weight, so I am not concerned with hauling it around when I am not using smoke it is only a few oz near the CG. I run it off the same battery that I already have installed for the nav lights.

Someday when I convert to electric brakes and retracts and can loose the air tanks, there will be a lot more room for smoke.

joeflyer

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I also managed to get a 24 oz. smoke tank in there. Smoke tank is up front, under the receiver and the pump is in the back. It's good for about 3 minutes.

Here's a picture. The smoke shows up much better on a clear day.

Joe

CARS II

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My Reaction is getting a new engine, K80.

flyinfool1

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I knew you couldn't wait.

With the new mount arriving on Friday you should be back in the air this weekend.......
I hope your flying weather is better than what we have here.

CARS II

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You guys and also a friend got me curious to fly the Reaction with the K80, I'm 100% sure I'm going to like the performance with the 19 lbs engine.

CARS II

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A friend of mine told me today that his R-54 had an 18 lbs thrust Simjet, that was the first Reaction I ever saw and the only one in our area, this Reaction was clocked at 180mph, check out the video.

joeflyer

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I have a Jets Munt M90 (21#) in mine and it's lots of fun. I'd guess it can do about 180 mph.

Joe

CARS II

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We have a swap meet at our flying field this Saturday sooooo, I've asked my better half to give me a field pass for most of the day, I will be selling a couple prop airplanes in the morning and if the Reaction is ready to react then I will be flying it in the afternoon.

PaulD

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LGM Graphix

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You guys need to stop. Now I want a bigger engine in mine....

CARS II

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Oh! I thought your R54 has something in 18 lbs range, what's on it?

CARS II

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Oh! I thought your R54 had something in the 18 lbs range, what's on it? As I recall, you sold a K80 gold can recently, you had the bigger engine.

causeitflies

Eight years ago I took my Reaction out of retirement and replaced the P-60 with a Wren SS. It was like a whole new plane. Finally, knife edge without a struggle and square loops on the deck right in front of me. I had a blast and will never put less engine in it. I haven't flown it since but will keep it just in case. It was the first turbine jet I flew and will probably be the last one I fly... hopefully when I'm about 90 years old.

aeromax18

Guys,
I really enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for the videos. This jet looks great and probably makes for the best 1st jet trainer. Waiting for the next production batch.
Solly

LGM Graphix

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Mine has an old PST J600R on it just 14lbs of thrust. We fly close to sea level though and honestly I think the power is just right. It will never be a fast jet and I don't need it to be. I have a number of very fast jets. I have more fun flying the R54 around slow which is imo where it truly excels. When I open the throttle the vertical is still excellent for such a big airplane. When the day comes that the PST dies I won't fix it, I'll probably buy K70 or something for it.
I did sell a K80 not to long ago, you are correct there.

CARS II

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I'm with you on that one, having the right thrust, I also have a faster jet and soon another one, I prefer the R54 to be slow, I build the R54 with idea of body boxing prop guys, I think the P60 is right for it and I want it to be slow, the P60SE has a fast spool up time, that makes it right for this jet, prop guys will have nearly instant thrust like the prop airplanes we fly, I wouldn't trust a trainee with my Boomerang XL, the engine was build about 20 years ago and it has a very slow spool up time, in order to fly it one has to be 5 to 7 seconds ahead of the engine 's rpms.