CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

You both did an awesome job covering it Jeremy, I will be adding a few strips of 1/8" silver to mine as you suggested.

According to the thread, the first kits started shipping mid Dec 2004 ( corrected to 2004 )

Tks.

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Here is the slowest Reaction landing filmed.

It goes to Bob Parks, flown at SCCMAS, South from San Jose, CA.

flyinfool1

My Feedback: (2)

I have already been able to back the reaction up the length of the field with a bit of a breeze blowing. It will slow down to an amazingly slow speed. Just be sure to have the ailerons in high rate when you do. At slow speeds the ailerons get very ineffective, the tail still works OK.

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

I'm enjoying the look back and the history of various R54s. Thought I would add to it...

The prototype (shown in most of the pics on my website) was originally built without flaps. Thought I could get away with it considering the overall size of the plane. Ended up cutting into the wing and adding flaps - not for lift, but for drag. Power was a RAM 500 with max thrust of 11 lbs. Some RAMS were great, but mine was a lemon. After struggling with it nearly every time out, I finally gave up on it and decided to pull it. The fuselage ended up rolling off my bench while I was working on it. The fuse cracked near the middle and the fin snapped off. I never planned to fly it again, so it was just stashed away in this sorry condition. Still in the rafters...

I wasn't planning to fly it again because my second R54 was nearly done. It's the plane you see being built in the instruction booklet. Powered with a PST J600R, it was much more reliable. A flying buddy made an offer I could not refuse for that model.

Got busy with other stuff and here we are more than a decade later and I still need to finish my third R54!

LGM Graphix

My Feedback: (22)

Bruce you weren't the only ram owner that had lemons.... happiest 2 days of my life as a ram owner were the day I bought my first (first ever turbine) and the day I sold my last.
the r54 is a great jet. I'm very happy to be an r54 owner

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

I had no idea there were 2 R-54s involved on the design and making of the manual and now a 3rd one in the bones, very interesting.

Thank you Bruce for posting that bit of the model's history.

One of these days ( a warm day ) I will be swinging by the shop and flying field with my R-54.

Around 2008 I was very close to own a Ram 500, that would've been fun, I think.

LGM Graphix

My Feedback: (22)

they were fun like herpes. Fun during the process of getting it but something you regret forever lol

Molar mender

I built my R-54 in the Fall of 2007 with a PST 600-R for power. I saw a full size Citabria with a blue over white with stars paint scheme and used it on my Reaction. I flew it for two years and about 70 flights and to this day wish I would have kept it. One of the nicest flying jets I have owned.

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

My friend long time modeler John H. build the first R-54 I ever saw, he started building it in 2005 and completed it in 2006, covered it with Monokote, he mounted a Wren 54, I saw it flying a few times then, a couple years later he build another one but, this one was reduced to 85% I think and he mounted a Wren 44 on it, that was painted with an old school scheme, both of them are now somewhere in TX, the new owner is selling the smaller on on RCG classifieds.

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Yep! Years later I learned what a pita they were, I escaped the bullet

aeromax18

Sent an email to PST and they responded by sending me a link to their web site. Does any one know fro sure the status of that company. Want to be sure before I do something I'll regret later.
Thanks

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

I was deeply involved with PST for many years selling the Reaction ARF. Tried to contact them recently but no return email. There is a PST sub forum in the Jets Forum, but PST has shown no involvement there for over two years. I do not know their status, but fear the worst.

BruceTharpe

My Feedback: (1)

Glad to hear from my friend Roy, errr, Molar Mender who was a fixture at jet rallies when the R54 was being developed and after its release.

Molar mender

Nice to hear from you Bruce. Those were memorable days and I am glad I was able to be a part of the jet scene for so many years.

Roy

b.bixel

My Feedback: (123)

Well "Molar mender" your airframe is hanging in my garage over here in Marysville, WA. I want to make room for a big bi-plane so this one needs to go. A potential chance to relive the dream!

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

A great opportunity to own a build R-54 for those in the Marysville, WA. area, buy it back Roy.

Molar mender

Can't believe it is back in Washington. I will contact you PM

Roy

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Reaction waiting for good weather.

PaulD

My Feedback: (39)

Molar mender

Paul
I still have a few good years in me. I just found out the Reaction R-54 I built a bunch of years ago has surfaced in the local area and I have agreed to buy it back. Most of my time has been spent visiting family with high school graduations, grand kids getting married and visiting newly born great grand kids. I have the Fall event on the calendar and should have the R-54 back flying again. Hopefully a couple of events in the Pacific NW will replace Whidbey and if I am not out traveling, will try to make those.

Roy

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

Today my Reaction went up for flight # 5 & 6, I was trying to do 3 flights but, on the TO run for flight #7, the engine was not developing max rpms and I aborted the TO early ( you could tell it was not accelerating fast enough )

When checking with the gsu I found out it was not passing 90K at max rpms and the fuel pump was only at 1.1v out of the 2.5v is supposed to be doing, then I found the starter O ring is worn out, I have to change that first before I do anything else.

Other than that, the Reaction flew solid and awesome slow landings.

flyinfool1

My Feedback: (2)

Changing the O-ring is not hard, but it is a bit tedious and a PITA. I went thru a stretch where I was wearing out starter o-rings every 6-12 starts until I figured out the problems. Unfortunately, I got good at replacing them.

causeitflies

While searching for old family photos in an old computer I came across this pic of Dave's scaled down R54 and my Navy version. Year was 2007.

Afterburners

That's a cool story. I have given up even thinking of getting rid of my Reaction probably until the point I can't fly anymore. It is just the easiest everyday flier for a no stress day at the field. Good luck getting getting back to flying yours.

CARS II

My Feedback: (7)

I will have to agreed with Marthy, hands down, the easiest to operate, all around sport jet.

Never give it up, never surrender it.