Reaction 54 Jet Kit
04-20-2006, 05:07 PM
#1051
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bob,
I too am 63 years old. This Reaction has really reinvigorated my flying. I have had a turbine engine for three years and was a little afraid to fly it. The first flight with the reaction one year ago eased all my fears.
I have had many "older" pattern type aircraft (Kaos, UFO etc) and the reaction is just like them. You just need to be aware of the inertia of a jet. They take longer to accelerate and longer to slow down. And you can't just blast your way out of trouble. You don't get the instant thrust of a propellor. Once you get used to this it is a real thrill to fly. I have just about sold all my prop planes.
Have a look at Dave Rigotti's video and see how you can throw it around.
As for the nosewheel strut, I made a new steel bush for the nosewheel. It was a little loose where he wire goes through. It is still very slightly loose but does not seem to make any difference, still steers OK.
Regards
I too am 63 years old. This Reaction has really reinvigorated my flying. I have had a turbine engine for three years and was a little afraid to fly it. The first flight with the reaction one year ago eased all my fears.
I have had many "older" pattern type aircraft (Kaos, UFO etc) and the reaction is just like them. You just need to be aware of the inertia of a jet. They take longer to accelerate and longer to slow down. And you can't just blast your way out of trouble. You don't get the instant thrust of a propellor. Once you get used to this it is a real thrill to fly. I have just about sold all my prop planes.
Have a look at Dave Rigotti's video and see how you can throw it around.
As for the nosewheel strut, I made a new steel bush for the nosewheel. It was a little loose where he wire goes through. It is still very slightly loose but does not seem to make any difference, still steers OK.
Regards
04-20-2006, 06:15 PM
#1052
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Doc and Tom - thank you guys for trying to help me out. Like the rest of you - I'm pretty excited too. I probably will have a million questions once I get into the actual building process, especially with the turbine portion. I'll have to see how my nose wheel strut is once I get it from Bruce.
I flew a Kaos also - along with a Phoenix 8, Dirty Bridie, Tiporare, and Curare. Those were the "good ole days"!!
I'll keep you guys informed and some pictures down the road.
Bob
I flew a Kaos also - along with a Phoenix 8, Dirty Bridie, Tiporare, and Curare. Those were the "good ole days"!!
I'll keep you guys informed and some pictures down the road.
Bob
04-20-2006, 06:38 PM
#1053
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: bob1393
Doc and Tom - thank you guys for trying to help me out. Like the rest of you - I'm pretty excited too. I probably will have a million questions once I get into the actual building process, especially with the turbine portion. I'll have to see how my nose wheel strut is once I get it from Bruce.
I flew a Kaos also - along with a Phoenix 8, Dirty Bridie, Tiporare, and Curare. Those were the "good ole days"!!
I'll keep you guys informed and some pictures down the road.
Bob
Doc and Tom - thank you guys for trying to help me out. Like the rest of you - I'm pretty excited too. I probably will have a million questions once I get into the actual building process, especially with the turbine portion. I'll have to see how my nose wheel strut is once I get it from Bruce.
I flew a Kaos also - along with a Phoenix 8, Dirty Bridie, Tiporare, and Curare. Those were the "good ole days"!!
I'll keep you guys informed and some pictures down the road.
Bob
Yer bringin' a tear to my eyes! I flew a Super Kaos, Dirty Birdy, Phoenix 6, Phoenix 8, AND A Tipo during my competition pattern days during the middle 70's and early 80's. "Don't miss 4 wire servos!" The Reaction 54 will fit right in with your flying perfectly!
Dave Rigotti
04-20-2006, 06:43 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Dave - here's another coincidence - I'm Italian also!!!!
I flew pattern in the 80's in the Michigan area. Flew in the Mint Julep in front of Dave Brown in Kentucky.
Ciao,
Bob
I flew pattern in the 80's in the Michigan area. Flew in the Mint Julep in front of Dave Brown in Kentucky.
Ciao,
Bob
04-20-2006, 07:31 PM
#1055
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: bob1393
Dave - here's another coincidence - I'm Italian also!!!!
I flew pattern in the 80's in the Michigan area. Flew in the Mint Julep in front of Dave Brown in Kentucky.
Ciao,
Bob
Dave - here's another coincidence - I'm Italian also!!!!
I flew pattern in the 80's in the Michigan area. Flew in the Mint Julep in front of Dave Brown in Kentucky.
Ciao,
Bob
Me too! Dave B and I always find time to chat for a few minutes at the Toledo Show!
PM sent..
Dave Rigotti
04-20-2006, 07:37 PM
#1056
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I don't think the slop will be much of a problem. This plane should handle well on the ground with fairly quick takeoffs and mild mannered landings.
Hey, I still have a Dirty Birdy wing in the basement[8D] Never flew in competition though... too much work.
Hey, I still have a Dirty Birdy wing in the basement[8D] Never flew in competition though... too much work.
04-21-2006, 03:49 AM
#1058
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the welcome. I am having a great time flying the 54.
By the way the Serpent is almost half built already, but it sure helps that I am a long time scratchbuilder.
Instructions are marginal to say the least
I have also flown Phoenix 7 and 8 and just about everything in between trainers and so on since 1968
I still have a 6 year old kaos that I scratchbuilt and will be building 2 more this winter. One for a friend
Guess that makes me an old so and so also
Ed
Thanks for the welcome. I am having a great time flying the 54.
By the way the Serpent is almost half built already, but it sure helps that I am a long time scratchbuilder.
Instructions are marginal to say the least
I have also flown Phoenix 7 and 8 and just about everything in between trainers and so on since 1968
I still have a 6 year old kaos that I scratchbuilt and will be building 2 more this winter. One for a friend
Guess that makes me an old so and so also
Ed
04-21-2006, 07:06 AM
#1059
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Man, what am I doing hanging around here with you bunch of old $@rts????...
Interesting enough, my second plane, in the 80's, was a used Kaos which I bought from an older pattern flier. I loved that plane, and hope this R-5-4 flies as nicely.
Tommy
Interesting enough, my second plane, in the 80's, was a used Kaos which I bought from an older pattern flier. I loved that plane, and hope this R-5-4 flies as nicely.
Tommy
04-22-2006, 06:49 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Ed,
I work in an office with about 100 young network engineers. It is not until I go to the bathroom and look in the mirror that I realise I am as Old as I am.
Using you brain surely keeps you young. I still have the reflexes to fly my jets. When the day comes that I can no longer keep up with the kids, I will give it away.
Regards
I work in an office with about 100 young network engineers. It is not until I go to the bathroom and look in the mirror that I realise I am as Old as I am.
Using you brain surely keeps you young. I still have the reflexes to fly my jets. When the day comes that I can no longer keep up with the kids, I will give it away.
Regards
04-22-2006, 07:36 AM
#1067
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
You guys crack me up. I only realize how old I am when I try to get up in the morning and come to work. My knees remind me that I am not 20 anymore.
I do have a wife, bless her heart, and she doesn't give me any trouble with the planes. She turns 40 this year, and I told her I was gonna trade her in on two 20 years old. She told me she did not think she had anything to worry about, since she could't think of any 20 year olds that wanted an old goat....
Tommy
I do have a wife, bless her heart, and she doesn't give me any trouble with the planes. She turns 40 this year, and I told her I was gonna trade her in on two 20 years old. She told me she did not think she had anything to worry about, since she could't think of any 20 year olds that wanted an old goat....
Tommy
04-22-2006, 10:58 AM
#1068
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: rcguy!
"Parts of me never left Jr High school!" (Ask my wife someday about this) :-))
Dave Rigotti
"Parts of me never left Jr High school!" (Ask my wife someday about this) :-))
Dave Rigotti
04-22-2006, 05:07 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: DocYates
You guys crack me up. I only realize how old I am when I try to get up in the morning and come to work. My knees remind me that I am not 20 anymore.
I do have a wife, bless her heart, and she doesn't give me any trouble with the planes. She turns 40 this year, and I told her I was gonna trade her in on two 20 years old. She told me she did not think she had anything to worry about, since she could't think of any 20 year olds that wanted an old goat....
Tommy
You guys crack me up. I only realize how old I am when I try to get up in the morning and come to work. My knees remind me that I am not 20 anymore.
I do have a wife, bless her heart, and she doesn't give me any trouble with the planes. She turns 40 this year, and I told her I was gonna trade her in on two 20 years old. She told me she did not think she had anything to worry about, since she could't think of any 20 year olds that wanted an old goat....
Tommy
She knew you couldn't handle the voltage of 2-20's....................Ha Ha
04-22-2006, 10:45 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Any of you use the Electrodynamics Pow'r Back'r EDR 108 on your R54? If so, what size batteries and would you recommmned I use one on my R54?
Let me know - thanks.
Bob B.
Let me know - thanks.
Bob B.
04-23-2006, 03:23 AM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Bob,
I use the biggest nicads I can fit into the nose. I think they are 6 2000 mah cells for the Autostart ECU battery and 5 1800 mah cells for the RX. Even with these batterys I still needed some lead (about 8 Oz) on the noseblock cavity.
I always like to keep it simple.
I always use good batterys (I use SR), a good quality switch and I lock all the battery plugs with heavy cotton. The only battery failure I have ever had was in an Old Timer when the battery plug came apart.
Regards
I use the biggest nicads I can fit into the nose. I think they are 6 2000 mah cells for the Autostart ECU battery and 5 1800 mah cells for the RX. Even with these batterys I still needed some lead (about 8 Oz) on the noseblock cavity.
I always like to keep it simple.
I always use good batterys (I use SR), a good quality switch and I lock all the battery plugs with heavy cotton. The only battery failure I have ever had was in an Old Timer when the battery plug came apart.
Regards
04-23-2006, 03:45 PM
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
G'Day Bob,
Here is a couple of pictures of my Reaction battery plug. I use a strong cotton and just "sew" it through the wires twice and tie it tight. I only do this on plugs that wont be undone often. For the Aileron and flap plugs that are ondone every time you assemble the model I use those yellow clips.
I use the same method on all the servo extension leads in the wings etc.
Regards
Here is a couple of pictures of my Reaction battery plug. I use a strong cotton and just "sew" it through the wires twice and tie it tight. I only do this on plugs that wont be undone often. For the Aileron and flap plugs that are ondone every time you assemble the model I use those yellow clips.
I use the same method on all the servo extension leads in the wings etc.
Regards