aerosantos

Hei Jeff,

what I can say ... absolutelly great ... awesome !!!

Thanks a lot

Marcelo

rclen

Jeff: I just wanted to drop you a line and say Thank You for the great set of prints that I had made from your pdf file. I will be ordering the short kit to help speed it along because I need all the help I can get because I am slow. Lynn

jarvis johnson

My Feedback: (15)

Man !!! rclen is a real slooooow, builder, he still building on a plane from 5 years ago.

jetmech43

My Feedback: (9)

how quick can you build this airplane from the short kit

JRgraham

My Feedback: (1)

No build starting with a Short Kit builds fast.

The only realistic answer to your question would be based on how much building skill and experience you have.
If you have built at least a couple airplanes (not ARF's, they do <u>not</u> count, period) from kit form, you would have a fair idea how much time is involved.

Jeff took what... 3 months roughly (off top of my head) and that is with him having designed the airframe, line by line in CAD, to the finished product already once before on the prototype, so this second revised Lightning was a little easier going for him. Isay that because he knows exactly what steps to take throughout the entire build. There is no instruction sheet to build by, here.

So really, the answer on how long would it take to build? It completely depends on your skills and experience. There is no way to toutch a build time in general.

Iconsider my skill/exp to be up there with some of the best, definitely not the best, but tons of real build exp under my belt, and expect to take 3-4 months. Maybe as much as 6, depending on funds.

Iimagine though, with the right exp., and funds to boot... a guy could knock one of these out in a few weeks though.

Hope that helps</p>

jetmech43

My Feedback: (9)

been building kits for 30 years just wanted to know how long it took

Viper Driver

My Feedback: (1)

It took me nine months to build mine. I did not start with a short kit and cut each part by hand, so that added some time. You could build it quicker, but it will take some time.

jetmech43

My Feedback: (9)

ok thanks Jeff am looking for a winter project

viper2003

we are valorating build lighting fuselage in composite. Use balsa fuselage as master mold in fiber.

Only a question.

where are you placed air exits in the fuselage?

keep in touch if we decided jump to the pool

dfturnock

The first batch short kits are going out tomorrow. Made 1 extra to take to our club's fly in this weekend, unless somebody out there orders it first.

Don @ EAC

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Viper Driver

My Feedback: (1)

The Lightning had a rough day at the Green Sea contest today. It was involved in a wing to wing mid-air. I wasn't able to keep control and it spun in. I was pleasently suprised went I made it out though the trees to find it sitting on the gear more or less in one piece, other than the mid-air damage. There are three gouges in the fuselage, but no structural damage. A new set of wings and some paint and she will fly again. I was double bad as I was feeling really locked in with it today.

Arch was kind enough to offer his airplane to finish the contest. Thank you very much Archie!

I guess I have a building project for the winter.

JRgraham

My Feedback: (1)

Saw the pictures on your dads phone as you sent them...

Sorry to hear this Jeff...

At least if anything else, its at the end of the season.. chear up and get her in ICU,

rcpattern

My Feedback: (45)

Jeff,

You flew my Wind really well. Very impressive to pick up a new plane and still win 4 rounds in Masters against George,

I'm sure the Lightning will be flying again soon.

Arch

picard1

My Feedback: (2)

Viper2003,
Wondering if you have a flight report with the DLE20 engine. I have one that's looking for a new airframe. Waiting to here if this engine has enough thrust to carry the lightning through the sequences.

viper2003

hi picard1

DL 20 is more than enought to do a sequence. Very powerfull mounted on mini-lighting. wing span is around 1600 mm. Very funny for flying.
Im now thinking build the 2M plan with some modifications and upgrades as better air intakes, ducted air exits....
There is another mini-lighting in the work table that is building a friend of my club. CNC Rocks!
some pics

picard1

My Feedback: (2)

Sorry if I am not understanding you correctly but, when you say mini-lightning do you mean you shrunk the plans/plane down from the original?

viper2003

ye. Plans has been re-scaled for fit the DL 20. 1600 mm of wing span.

gdaddy

Somebody mentioned Dave Snows built up wings earlier in this thread. I know he has the Krill replacement wings, does he have the Lightning wings? If not, how different is the size, dihedral etc.. of the Spark wings as compared to the foam wings from the Lightning kit? Kind of a random question, but I had already decided on the Dave Snow Spark wings for a new build this winter.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Guy

Dsnow

Hi Guy, I took a fast look through the thread and did not see the wing info but here is a PDF of the Spark Evo & Dynamic wings that I have built. Maybe Jeff or some one else can provide similar info for the Lighting but the dihedral for these wings are very easy to adjust if you need to match the existing.

Dave Snow

gdaddy

Thanks Dave. I'm sure with a little bit of work your Dynamic wings will work beautifully with Jeff's plane. I really think this is going to be a great combination and very light and stiff. I know Darin and Andrew are REALLY happy with your wings on their planes!

Guy

Viper Driver

My Feedback: (1)

The planform of the Lightning wings falls between the two versions of the Spark wings. I used 5/8" dihedral instead of the 9/16" of the Spark. Either of the Spark wings are very close to my wing and should work well.

Jeff

gdaddy

Received my Lightning short kit today. Nice!!! Wood is in transit right now from Lonestar. Wing kits in transit from Dave Snow and wing tubes/stab tubes on the way from F3A Unlimited. I order some carbon uniweave from Hobby King and I have to go downtown to pick up some 3.5 oz carbon cloth, honeycomb and Rohacell. I am psyched to get on this build! I had the plans printed out at Office Max.
The motor you used is a bit out of my price range! I think the C50 goes for about 800.00! I'll have to try coming up with a motor mount/firewall setup to deal with a more humble power plant.. If I can build it at the ten pound mark, a more humble motor might work out just fine!


Guy Hanson

Doug Cronkhite

My Feedback: (34)

Depends upon what you mean by humble. Neu makes a VERY good motor for a couple hundred less, and then there's the less glamorous outrunners from AXI, E-Flite (the 160), and others. I suspect if you build it light, those will be just fine.

gdaddy

Ive got my wings and stabs ready for sheeting this weekend. The fuse is ready for the turtledeck sheeting, then I'll flip it over and start on the bottom. So far, this is a great build and everything is going like clockwork!

Guy

Viper Driver

My Feedback: (1)

Guy,

Happy to hear everything is going smooth so far. Snap some pictures if you get a chance, I would love to see it. I have been flying the prototype while the new bird is awaiting its new wings. I does fly very nice, but you can feel the 12 ounce weight difference. I think about half of that difference came out of the wings.

Jeff