Ripmax Xcalibur Sports jet
#1
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Ripmax Xcalibur Sports jet
I first became aware of this project around 2 years ago when I was asked to fly one of the prototypes. A lot of development and flying has gone into it since then. I was lucky enough to borrow one of the final prototypes around Xmas 2012 and flew it from Tarmac and grass. This aeroplane was fitted with a JetCat P-60 and had amazing performance for the power available.
Several features make it stand out from the wood boxes available and its supplied with decent instruction manuals and has a range of accessories tailor made for the JSM (jet sports model) The epoxy glass fuselage has moulded wheel pockets, so no muck ends up in fuselage crevices or on radio/turbine electrics. The nose is removable so access is even better to batteries and forward mounted accessories. The large canopy removes with a single front screw (we tried spring clips but were never satisfied with the results) The wings mount on a carbon tube and they are retained by clamps situated in the wings at each end of the tube, tighten two allen screws and the wings are fixed. No chance of jammed or stiff wings. The large single flap element is fuselage mounted, so single flap servo only.
One of the prototypes used Behotec C-36 retracts, with modified AT legs to set the bench mark for the custom designed landing gear set. A moulded glass tank has also been produced giving long flight times even on the largest turbines fitted.
The fuselage is moulded to accept turbines no greater in diameter than 100mm, prototypes have been flown with a range of turbines up to the P-100Rx Jetcat. All the 54 case Wrens, Jets Munt type turbines will be ideal.
The first small batch arrives in England 2nd week in September and is already sold out-good news is its available from a large number of dealers, not one or two hard to reach specialists.
Two schemes will initially be offered, though this first batch is only the Sports scheme. The Military scheme will follow with more of the sports scheme. So far its only being distributed in Europe, but I'm sure someone in the US will take it on soon enough.
Ripmax specs and information.
The fuselage and canopy of the Xcalibur are superbly moulded from epoxy/glass, whilst the tailbooms and flying surfaces are constructed from CNC cut balsa and ply, beautifully assembled and then carefully covered with heatshrink film. The wings slide on to a substantial carbon fibre wing tube, being retained with neat moulded clamps, and the tailbooms can also be removed quickly for transport or storage. The Xcalibur is very quick to assemble, with excellent access to the turbine and on-board equipment, making maintenance and reliable operation much simpler. A specially designed fuel tank gives flight times of around the 10 minute mark, depending on the turbine being used and flying style.
• Fully aerobatic
• Perfect for grass flying fields
• Ideal for turbines from 50 to 100 Newton thrust
• Moulded epoxy/glass fuselage and canopy
• Removable nose section for easy access to batteries.
• Lightweight built-up and fully sheeted flying surfaces covered in film
• Moulded wheel wells stop the ingress of grass, small stones or water - protecting the valuable and vulnerable turbine
• Quick and easy assembly/disassembly for transport and storage
• Optional high volume fibreglass fuel tank available
• Super strong carbon fibre wing tube
• Superb flying characteristics
• Optional retract system with trailing link oleos available.
• Sleek aerodynamic design minimises drag allowing higher flying speeds
• Lightweight design and the effective flap enable exceptionally slow approaches and landings
Several features make it stand out from the wood boxes available and its supplied with decent instruction manuals and has a range of accessories tailor made for the JSM (jet sports model) The epoxy glass fuselage has moulded wheel pockets, so no muck ends up in fuselage crevices or on radio/turbine electrics. The nose is removable so access is even better to batteries and forward mounted accessories. The large canopy removes with a single front screw (we tried spring clips but were never satisfied with the results) The wings mount on a carbon tube and they are retained by clamps situated in the wings at each end of the tube, tighten two allen screws and the wings are fixed. No chance of jammed or stiff wings. The large single flap element is fuselage mounted, so single flap servo only.
One of the prototypes used Behotec C-36 retracts, with modified AT legs to set the bench mark for the custom designed landing gear set. A moulded glass tank has also been produced giving long flight times even on the largest turbines fitted.
The fuselage is moulded to accept turbines no greater in diameter than 100mm, prototypes have been flown with a range of turbines up to the P-100Rx Jetcat. All the 54 case Wrens, Jets Munt type turbines will be ideal.
The first small batch arrives in England 2nd week in September and is already sold out-good news is its available from a large number of dealers, not one or two hard to reach specialists.
Two schemes will initially be offered, though this first batch is only the Sports scheme. The Military scheme will follow with more of the sports scheme. So far its only being distributed in Europe, but I'm sure someone in the US will take it on soon enough.
Ripmax specs and information.
The fuselage and canopy of the Xcalibur are superbly moulded from epoxy/glass, whilst the tailbooms and flying surfaces are constructed from CNC cut balsa and ply, beautifully assembled and then carefully covered with heatshrink film. The wings slide on to a substantial carbon fibre wing tube, being retained with neat moulded clamps, and the tailbooms can also be removed quickly for transport or storage. The Xcalibur is very quick to assemble, with excellent access to the turbine and on-board equipment, making maintenance and reliable operation much simpler. A specially designed fuel tank gives flight times of around the 10 minute mark, depending on the turbine being used and flying style.
• Fully aerobatic
• Perfect for grass flying fields
• Ideal for turbines from 50 to 100 Newton thrust
• Moulded epoxy/glass fuselage and canopy
• Removable nose section for easy access to batteries.
• Lightweight built-up and fully sheeted flying surfaces covered in film
• Moulded wheel wells stop the ingress of grass, small stones or water - protecting the valuable and vulnerable turbine
• Quick and easy assembly/disassembly for transport and storage
• Optional high volume fibreglass fuel tank available
• Super strong carbon fibre wing tube
• Superb flying characteristics
• Optional retract system with trailing link oleos available.
• Sleek aerodynamic design minimises drag allowing higher flying speeds
• Lightweight design and the effective flap enable exceptionally slow approaches and landings
#5
Thread Starter
J
Another batch will follow shortly with Sports scheme and Military. Shipping takes the time as its sea and sloowww. Yes price for the spec and quality knocks the socks off the alternatives.
Any units in the standard size. The legs are quite short on the mains, so the retract set they offer is a good option too at a good price.
D
Another batch will follow shortly with Sports scheme and Military. Shipping takes the time as its sea and sloowww. Yes price for the spec and quality knocks the socks off the alternatives.
Any units in the standard size. The legs are quite short on the mains, so the retract set they offer is a good option too at a good price.
D
#9
Thread Starter
No, the Tazor Exige died with the new owner.
No Ripmax's first delivery is sold out, there will be a few still available from suppliers like us.
Its bigger, flies better, much cheaper. not all composite.
Dave
No Ripmax's first delivery is sold out, there will be a few still available from suppliers like us.
Its bigger, flies better, much cheaper. not all composite.
Dave
#11
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Yes I would also like to know what is included in the standard £550 package
#14
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Another of the final prototype models with improvements we worked through on the sports scheme model, the Ripmax team have driven this project very well. This is the military scheme (less decals) again powered by a JetCat P-60SE. I've borrowed this model to fly at JP 2013 which is the official launch for the model.
Some of the things I like are the booms have screw fixing, so the spar and anti rotation peg can be removed and booms not droop, fits in my car very easily. The wing fixing is so easy, canopy is now held at the front by a screw, canopie coming off are bad for a twin boomer as we have seen a couple of times on other models. The gear works down to a low pressure and brakes seem to act smoothly. This install is very close to the final design. Full intakes are a nice feature too.
Dw
Some of the things I like are the booms have screw fixing, so the spar and anti rotation peg can be removed and booms not droop, fits in my car very easily. The wing fixing is so easy, canopy is now held at the front by a screw, canopie coming off are bad for a twin boomer as we have seen a couple of times on other models. The gear works down to a low pressure and brakes seem to act smoothly. This install is very close to the final design. Full intakes are a nice feature too.
Dw
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Interesting Combo
It made me smile today at jetpower as the Boomerang jets slot included its soon to be main competitor the Excaliber
Thebdemo however had Dave Wilshire doing his own thing with the Excaliber and the three boomers all sort of flying together
Thebdemo however had Dave Wilshire doing his own thing with the Excaliber and the three boomers all sort of flying together
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Well I had a good look at this at Jetpower and was impressed, for me it is a good size and has been well thought out. The almost full length canopy makes the install a doddle, intake ducting already fitted, and the removable nose cone also a nice touch and the retracts look to be well made and substantial. Dave showed it off very well and with a P60 has all the power one needs to complete a full schedule including vertical rolls etc whilst keeping it light.There is a very effective flap/ brake centrally mounted, again making an easy single servo install , which enables the plane to fly at almost walking pace. This I think is a great first jet or a winter hack for someone.
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Well I had a good look at this at Jetpower and was impressed, for me it is a good size and has been well thought out. The almost full length canopy makes the install a doddle, intake ducting already fitted, and the removable nose cone also a nice touch and the retracts look to be well made and substantial. Dave showed it off very well and with a P60 has all the power one needs to complete a full schedule including vertical rolls etc whilst keeping it light.There is a very effective flap/ brake centrally mounted, again making an easy single servo install , which enables the plane to fly at almost walking pace. This I think is a great first jet or a winter hack for someone.
#21
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Please email me on [email protected]. yes even with a successful show there are a few left from our first delivery of kits.
Lots of people talked to me about it and many missed the fact that it had a P-60 for power...at 1.8m span. it shows great performance and even with the model I flew belonging to the Ripmax boss, with his radio and set up limiting some adjustments I would make for my own taste, many were impressed by the overal flying quality.
Long flights at JP still left 1/3rd of a tank of fuel. I'll put a P-100 in my display model and expect over 10 minutes with my flying style.
Dw
Great weekend, only got home 4.30am after unloading and delays
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Do you have a USA price and distributor yet? I like a lot of the models that show up over in the UK, but to add the shipping on a basic model always puts it out of the price range of a "Basic" model.
#24
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There was a meeting over the weekend between one of Ripmax's directors and a prominent US distributor, so yes it will be available in the USA, I'm guessing not till late this year though. These projects don't happen overnight and Ripmax wanted to release it in the UK/Europe first, then it can take over the rest of the world! ;-)
Price is yet to be set in $, but its going to be keen as it is here. Its great value for money and everything I am experiencing is showing quality. The gear is proving leak free, the set in my borrowed model held 90 psi between flights at JP (24 hours between!) We have also proved the tank shape by flight this one without a header tank-only a felt clunk. I was doing spins and snaps on part tank and the P-60SE did not miss a beat.
Dave W
#25
Thread Starter
The container has arrived in England, so with custom clearance and a good wind they will be going out in the next 7 days.
Couple of people mentioned about the tailplane screws-these kits will feature a neater screw fixing...