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.
Last edited by Molar mender; 02-25-2019 at 09:53 PM.
Reason: add photo
Cool stuff Roy. Is this the one you had a underbelly tank or something ?
PaulD
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.
Bruce Tharpe, when u gonna cut some more kits? After you dig yourself out of that massive snowfall you’re having? Got a couple buddies in Bend and the pictures they’re posting on FB are shocking.
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
there ya go!!!! I knew I remembered there was something hanging under that thing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.