Reaction 54 Jet Kit
03-01-2008, 02:53 PM
#2051
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I have plenty of lead and batteries in the nose of my R54, it comes in at 20+ pounds. Powered by a Wren Supersport and has "almost" unlimited vertical. And yes the landings are more controllable. Yours will be OK.
All of my models start their life with some hangar rash. Welcome to the club.
All of my models start their life with some hangar rash. Welcome to the club.
03-01-2008, 03:04 PM
#2052
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bruce,
I knew you would do it soooner or later, (The ARF I mean). You will still have plenty of "builders" who will want to do their own thing, but now you have the guys who Can't, Won't, Too lazy, or Don't know how to build their own.
There is one of my mates down here who would order one tomorrow if he could. Congratulations, I wish you every success.
(I might even get one myself, my old R54 has now got a lot of hangar rash).
Regards
I knew you would do it soooner or later, (The ARF I mean). You will still have plenty of "builders" who will want to do their own thing, but now you have the guys who Can't, Won't, Too lazy, or Don't know how to build their own.
There is one of my mates down here who would order one tomorrow if he could. Congratulations, I wish you every success.
(I might even get one myself, my old R54 has now got a lot of hangar rash).
Regards
03-02-2008, 10:46 AM
#2053
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Reaction 54 flyers: Put the Mid-Georgia Jet Rally on your calendar. Scheduled for 19 and 20 July in the heart of Georgia. This event is hosted by Hodges Hobbies located near Andersonville, Georgia. Call 866-924-9505 or email [email protected] for further details. Over a thousand feet of the smoothest grass runway you'll ever see. Hope to see you there, Keith
03-04-2008, 04:06 PM
#2054
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hey John, please post a picture of your new jet for us to admire [&:]
Just like tommy, all my airplanes start off with a few repairs before I even take flight. One memorable occasion had me chasing a 2 meter sized wing across the yard when a dust devil swooped by the house and sucked the wing off my work bench and out of the garage. It might not have been as humorous to the occupants of my house if it weren't for me realizing this happened as I spat up a cup of coffee all over myself when observing the spectacle mid conversation, as it occurred to me what was going on from my living room window. I must have looked like a flying fool, darting out of the house and chasing after a levitating and rotating airplane part amongst a pile of swirling hot dirt and debris. [:@]
Just like tommy, all my airplanes start off with a few repairs before I even take flight. One memorable occasion had me chasing a 2 meter sized wing across the yard when a dust devil swooped by the house and sucked the wing off my work bench and out of the garage. It might not have been as humorous to the occupants of my house if it weren't for me realizing this happened as I spat up a cup of coffee all over myself when observing the spectacle mid conversation, as it occurred to me what was going on from my living room window. I must have looked like a flying fool, darting out of the house and chasing after a levitating and rotating airplane part amongst a pile of swirling hot dirt and debris. [:@]
03-13-2008, 04:06 PM
#2057
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: TdotH
Can U Please Tell Me Where You Got Ur Reaction 54 PLease Please
Im Dying To Get One
Can U Please Tell Me Where You Got Ur Reaction 54 PLease Please
Im Dying To Get One
03-15-2008, 01:15 AM
#2058
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Just thought I'd mention this for anyone who might be in the same boat as I was regarding my retracts.
I had Robart 700 series Air up, Spring down retracts for my main gear. They have been working great for all of last season and the first part of this season. A few weeks ago I suddenly started noticing the retracts would not really retract very well but I had pressure in the system and no leaks. After a few flights I was trying to trouble shoot the problem when on taxi back one main gear folded. Fortunately no damage - just a scratch that has already been fixed. It could have been worse, the gear could have folded on touchdown and I could have gone into a ditch. So I was lucky.
But I removed the main gear and sent it back to Robart. They know about the issue and will modify any Series 700 retracts to be air up, air down for free.
I've added a couple well placed skids to account for Murphy's law and to ensure by the fact I've added skids that I never will have gear problems.
I just installed the main gear and have plumbed the air down line to the fuse but I have to replace the valve now and plumb that line to the wing.
Question - I have a Spring Air nose unit. Is it possible to reliably connect a Spring Air unit air up line to the Robart air valve? I've bought a Robart air up/air down nose unit just in case as I'm trying to have my ducks in a row just in case keeping the Spring Air nose unit doesn't work. I don't want to be grounded any longer with this change out. If I don't use the Robart nose unit I can return it - I clearly don't want to have a folding nose unit if the Robart valve will cause problems though!!!
Ideas?
I had Robart 700 series Air up, Spring down retracts for my main gear. They have been working great for all of last season and the first part of this season. A few weeks ago I suddenly started noticing the retracts would not really retract very well but I had pressure in the system and no leaks. After a few flights I was trying to trouble shoot the problem when on taxi back one main gear folded. Fortunately no damage - just a scratch that has already been fixed. It could have been worse, the gear could have folded on touchdown and I could have gone into a ditch. So I was lucky.
But I removed the main gear and sent it back to Robart. They know about the issue and will modify any Series 700 retracts to be air up, air down for free.
I've added a couple well placed skids to account for Murphy's law and to ensure by the fact I've added skids that I never will have gear problems.
I just installed the main gear and have plumbed the air down line to the fuse but I have to replace the valve now and plumb that line to the wing.
Question - I have a Spring Air nose unit. Is it possible to reliably connect a Spring Air unit air up line to the Robart air valve? I've bought a Robart air up/air down nose unit just in case as I'm trying to have my ducks in a row just in case keeping the Spring Air nose unit doesn't work. I don't want to be grounded any longer with this change out. If I don't use the Robart nose unit I can return it - I clearly don't want to have a folding nose unit if the Robart valve will cause problems though!!!
Ideas?
03-17-2008, 07:21 PM
#2059
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
As promised, here are some pictures of my R54. Also note the "swing up" antenna. I sandwiched one leg of a Dubro pinned hinge between a piece of 1/16" plywood and the empennage servo floor and the other leg, sandwiched with 1/16" plywood forms the mount for the antenna base. It stays with the plane no matter whether it's up or down so I can't forget to install it. During transport of the model, it tucks neatly under the front hatch. In flight the antenna extends through a hole in the hatch. I have to give Balsa Bob credit for the idea. I just modified it for my installation.
03-17-2008, 07:55 PM
#2062
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
John,
Very nice ! I like it. You will love the way it flys. Been flying mine for a few years and still my favorite plane. I think a Reaction 44+ will be on my building board after the SM F-86 is done. Anyone have a spare 44 ?
John
Very nice ! I like it. You will love the way it flys. Been flying mine for a few years and still my favorite plane. I think a Reaction 44+ will be on my building board after the SM F-86 is done. Anyone have a spare 44 ?
John
03-17-2008, 09:43 PM
#2063
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hi John,
You have done a beautiful job on your Reaction. I painted mine also because I am not good at applying monokote and it gets tatty over time.
Yours looks terrific. I had a L39 in the same colours. It suites the R54 perfectly. Congratulations.
Regards
You have done a beautiful job on your Reaction. I painted mine also because I am not good at applying monokote and it gets tatty over time.
Yours looks terrific. I had a L39 in the same colours. It suites the R54 perfectly. Congratulations.
Regards
03-17-2008, 10:48 PM
#2065
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bruce,
I am not absolutly sure but I think there is/was a Swiss aerobatic team that has this scheme. I think the used F5's
Someone might be able to correct me
Found a pic
I am not absolutly sure but I think there is/was a Swiss aerobatic team that has this scheme. I think the used F5's
Someone might be able to correct me
Found a pic
03-18-2008, 07:15 AM
#2067
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bruce, Tommy is right on. The F5 he shows in his post is a Patrouille Suisse air show team jet. As of last years show season they are still flying the F5E. They are the Swiss Air Force equivelant to our Thunder Birds. If you do a search on "Patrouille Suisse" you will find several web sites with lots of photos. I have bookmarked them on Airliners.net with over 60 pictures available.
Afterburner, I share your concern about the antenna placement relative to the ECU. A range check will tell the story. Based on what I have read about radio installation I should be far enough away. I measure 2 3/4" from the nearest point on the ECU case to the base of the antenna.
Afterburner, I share your concern about the antenna placement relative to the ECU. A range check will tell the story. Based on what I have read about radio installation I should be far enough away. I measure 2 3/4" from the nearest point on the ECU case to the base of the antenna.
03-18-2008, 12:11 PM
#2069
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bruce, I have looked through the hundreds of photos I have of the Patrouille Suisse and see no other views that show a double smoke trail. I do see in several photos vapor trails coming from inlet lips and probes near the nose of the aircraft. Quite possibly it is a vapor (condensation) trail coming off the left side leading edge of the rudder. I think I detect a rudder deflection in Tommy,s photo. Also, if you look closely there appears to be a probe or vent tube on the fuselage in view just forward of the stabilizer leading edge that is generating a vapor trail also.
03-18-2008, 12:25 PM
#2070
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I doubt the smoke is a condensation trail. Here is a link to another photo that shows it:
[link=http://www.airshowaction.com/axalp07/axalp07_080.jpg]smoke trail[/link]
Its got to be some sort of a smoke generator, but nothing shows in any other photos.
Bob
[link=http://www.airshowaction.com/axalp07/axalp07_080.jpg]smoke trail[/link]
Its got to be some sort of a smoke generator, but nothing shows in any other photos.
Bob
03-18-2008, 12:34 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
OK, found another photo.. looks like its a strap on smoke generator.
[link=http://www.airshowaction.com/zltwg2000/zltw043.jpg]more smoke[/link]
bob
[link=http://www.airshowaction.com/zltwg2000/zltw043.jpg]more smoke[/link]
bob
03-18-2008, 02:44 PM
#2073
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
to john palica,
on the rear 3/4 view of your reaction it looks like the coil on the main gear wire struts are on backwards....i'm not 100% sure but thats what i see in your photo.....
richard
on the rear 3/4 view of your reaction it looks like the coil on the main gear wire struts are on backwards....i'm not 100% sure but thats what i see in your photo.....
richard
03-18-2008, 04:19 PM
#2074
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: av8rk
to john palica,
on the rear 3/4 view of your reaction it looks like the coil on the main gear wire struts are on backwards....i'm not 100% sure but thats what i see in your photo.....
richard
to john palica,
on the rear 3/4 view of your reaction it looks like the coil on the main gear wire struts are on backwards....i'm not 100% sure but thats what i see in your photo.....
richard
The Reaction lands so slow it will land backwards
03-18-2008, 07:01 PM
#2075
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: av8rk
to john palica,
on the rear 3/4 view of your reaction it looks like the coil on the main gear wire struts are on backwards....i'm not 100% sure but thats what i see in your photo.....
richard
to john palica,
on the rear 3/4 view of your reaction it looks like the coil on the main gear wire struts are on backwards....i'm not 100% sure but thats what i see in your photo.....
richard
