Reaction 54 Jet Kit
#2177
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: bobparks2
I dont know of any R54's that have been in high speed crashes, but the chances of one fireballing are among the lowest of ANY jet designs out there. The long wooden nose is also a pretty good crush zone.. much better than the typical composite "egg shell" fuselage.
I dont know of any R54's that have been in high speed crashes, but the chances of one fireballing are among the lowest of ANY jet designs out there. The long wooden nose is also a pretty good crush zone.. much better than the typical composite "egg shell" fuselage.
You now know of at least one high speed R54 crash. Mine, last year. Due to dumb thumbs during a split S to a high speed low pass. Fortunately, it occurred as the jet was almost level, so it ended up as more of a pancake with a wing tip strike first. No time to shut anything down, so engine was at full throttle.
Due to the wing tip strike and shallow angle, the engine departed the airframe at an angle, and did not get near the main tank. Airframe damage was everything behind the boat tail destroyed and half of one wing half destroyed. Everything forward of the boat tail remained intact. A great testament to Bruce's excellent design. (But too much damage for my lazy butt to rebuild.)
My second R54 is almost ready to maiden!
...jim
#2179
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Not sure if it's mentioned in the instructions book, but I always intended that rear hatch to be optional and/or re-positionable by the builder. There is nothing sacred about its position, it just worked out in my first installation to be a good place for access to the fuel valve. Like Bob said, I'd much prefer no hatch back there from a structural standpoint, but it's handy. I've never heard or seen any problems with it blowing open in flight. Sounds like a real hatch latch would be the best solution.
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hi everybody,
Just to let you know that my R54 has landed safe and sound with still a lot of glueing and sanding to be done......
Picture shows the shipping box full of wood and parts, thanks Bruce.
Mario
Just to let you know that my R54 has landed safe and sound with still a lot of glueing and sanding to be done......
Picture shows the shipping box full of wood and parts, thanks Bruce.
Mario
#2182
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
You would need a LOT of screws before it made much difference structurally. If you had birch ply hatch with screws into maple, it would not need too many. With screws through balsa or lite ply, you would need a lot of them.
Now, its not THAT critical to get extra strength back there, since its pretty good already, and I dont think there are any reports of breakage at that point. So, use enough screws to hold it in place, and dont worry about the loads.
Bob
Now, its not THAT critical to get extra strength back there, since its pretty good already, and I dont think there are any reports of breakage at that point. So, use enough screws to hold it in place, and dont worry about the loads.
Bob
#2183
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
I have not found the kits available on eBay, and Bruce is currently out of the kits.
His new composite ARF Reaction 54 is not suitable for smaller motors, such as the Jetcat
P-60, so it seems to me that the balsa kits will still be in demand.
I've got an undisturbed Reaction 54 kit, the retract package, the wheel and brake package,
the fuel system package, the full size covering templates, and the 'corner sander' that
I might sell. Not sure yet if I want to sell it.
I saw Bruce's own Reaction 54 at Jets Over Whidby last year, and I was impressed with the
elegant simplicity of his personal airplane, built according to plans.
I've got $470 in the kit, $320 in retract package, $80 in wheel and brake package, $22 in the
fuel system package, $30 in the covering templates, and $15 in the corner sander, for $937
total spent.
http://www.btemodels.com/r54.html
Chris Shaker
His new composite ARF Reaction 54 is not suitable for smaller motors, such as the Jetcat
P-60, so it seems to me that the balsa kits will still be in demand.
I've got an undisturbed Reaction 54 kit, the retract package, the wheel and brake package,
the fuel system package, the full size covering templates, and the 'corner sander' that
I might sell. Not sure yet if I want to sell it.
I saw Bruce's own Reaction 54 at Jets Over Whidby last year, and I was impressed with the
elegant simplicity of his personal airplane, built according to plans.
I've got $470 in the kit, $320 in retract package, $80 in wheel and brake package, $22 in the
fuel system package, $30 in the covering templates, and $15 in the corner sander, for $937
total spent.
http://www.btemodels.com/r54.html
Chris Shaker
ORIGINAL: DavKhy
I have a question about the Reaction 54 kit. What is the going price for an undisturbed kit with retract gear set up? I might have a line on one and want to know what they are worth in this state.
I have a question about the Reaction 54 kit. What is the going price for an undisturbed kit with retract gear set up? I might have a line on one and want to know what they are worth in this state.
#2184
My Feedback: (38)
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
^^ Haha, beat me to it!
I also have a mostly NIB wood kit, no extra's, I have the wings almost completed, and are sheeted on one side.. Rest of the kit is untouched, NIB! I bought one already built, so I dont need this one anymore.
I have flown an R54, and they fly awesome, and the hard part is almost done on mine for someone that wants one! PM or email me if interested in my kit. how about $400 for it.
Thank you
John
I also have a mostly NIB wood kit, no extra's, I have the wings almost completed, and are sheeted on one side.. Rest of the kit is untouched, NIB! I bought one already built, so I dont need this one anymore.
I have flown an R54, and they fly awesome, and the hard part is almost done on mine for someone that wants one! PM or email me if interested in my kit. how about $400 for it.
Thank you
John
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: bobparks2
Now, its not THAT critical to get extra strength back there, since its pretty good already, and I dont think there are any reports of breakage at that point. So, use enough screws to hold it in place, and dont worry about the loads.
Bob
Now, its not THAT critical to get extra strength back there, since its pretty good already, and I dont think there are any reports of breakage at that point. So, use enough screws to hold it in place, and dont worry about the loads.
Bob
#2189
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Ouch...never thought to pick up the model using the aft hatch opening. Thanks for the warning. Speaking of the aft hatch, has anybody used the aft hatch as a speedbrake? Seems like a great place for one...I'm thinking about doing it on mine.
Speedbrake
Speedbrake
#2190
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
A speedbrake there is directly upstream of the vertical tail, so expect some yaw wiggle and loss of stability due to the speed brake wake hitting the vertical.
Most of the full scale jets with an upper body speed brake have twin verticals, so its not a problem for them.
More flap deflection and/or crow mode would probably give more drag.
bob
Most of the full scale jets with an upper body speed brake have twin verticals, so its not a problem for them.
More flap deflection and/or crow mode would probably give more drag.
bob
#2192
My Feedback: (14)
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
We discussed this a while ago on this thread .. I built my rear hatch so that it could be used as a brake, but I have not put a servo or air cyl on it yet... there were a lot of comments about airflow blocking the vertical fin/rudder, but it is done with great success on the single-tail Eurofighter (see the Dreamworks pages on the EF upgrades) .. of course the EF has a VERY tall tail fin. So I built mine with a small-ish hatch so that it won't block the whole fin.
Here is a pic from the build...
Dave
Here is a pic from the build...
Dave
#2193
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hey..yes we did chat many months ago. Your speedbrake looks great. Hope to hear about how it performs soon. I think the hatch area will be fine for a speedbrake. I'll modify my Reacton this summer. I plan to continue using the hatch for access to the fuel valve and refuel tube. Just leave the speedbrake up after landing for access.
Keith
Keith
#2195
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Mario,
It will go together really well. I did mine in a month of evenings. If you need any clarificaions give me a call, but the manual is clear as crystal. Will give you a call when it is suitable for flying mine, maybe you would want to come over.......
regards
Joseph
It will go together really well. I did mine in a month of evenings. If you need any clarificaions give me a call, but the manual is clear as crystal. Will give you a call when it is suitable for flying mine, maybe you would want to come over.......
regards
Joseph
#2199
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RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
Hi Guys!
My second R54 (built by me this time) took to the air this past Saturday. As expected, it flew great! Not only was it the first flight on a new jet, but it was my first flight of the season (did I mention we had a lot of snow this winter?)
Feels good to get the thumbs twiddling again.
No pics yet, but my club posted a couple of pics on our web page from the last meeting, where I took it in for "bring and brag". http://stetsonflyers.com (Note of interest: Our club meetings are held at the Canadian National Aviation Museum, in the theatre at the back. Helps that one of our club members works there. Heh.)
Have a good one!
...jim
My second R54 (built by me this time) took to the air this past Saturday. As expected, it flew great! Not only was it the first flight on a new jet, but it was my first flight of the season (did I mention we had a lot of snow this winter?)
Feels good to get the thumbs twiddling again.
No pics yet, but my club posted a couple of pics on our web page from the last meeting, where I took it in for "bring and brag". http://stetsonflyers.com (Note of interest: Our club meetings are held at the Canadian National Aviation Museum, in the theatre at the back. Helps that one of our club members works there. Heh.)
Have a good one!
...jim
#2200
My Feedback: (69)
RE: Reaction 54 Jet Kit
ORIGINAL: JimBrown
Hi Guys!
My second R54 (built by me this time) took to the air this past Saturday. As expected, it flew great! Not only was it the first flight on a new jet, but it was my first flight of the season (did I mention we had a lot of snow this winter?)
Feels good to get the thumbs twiddling again.
No pics yet, but my club posted a couple of pics on our web page from the last meeting, where I took it in for "bring and brag". http://stetsonflyers.com (Note of interest: Our club meetings are held at the Canadian National Aviation Museum, in the theatre at the back. Helps that one of our club members works there. Heh.)
Have a good one!
...jim
Hi Guys!
My second R54 (built by me this time) took to the air this past Saturday. As expected, it flew great! Not only was it the first flight on a new jet, but it was my first flight of the season (did I mention we had a lot of snow this winter?)
Feels good to get the thumbs twiddling again.
No pics yet, but my club posted a couple of pics on our web page from the last meeting, where I took it in for "bring and brag". http://stetsonflyers.com (Note of interest: Our club meetings are held at the Canadian National Aviation Museum, in the theatre at the back. Helps that one of our club members works there. Heh.)
Have a good one!
...jim
Ya got skid plates on the wing tip bottoms?!!
Nice job!
Seeya soon.
Dave Rigotti