The new Tornado sport jet
#3651
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If it is balanced properly you do not need any elevator trim, except with the flaps. The elevator is trimmed when a straight edge across the TOP surface of the elevator is flush. A bit of down thrust on the turbine as well, about 3-5 degrees. The usually accepted CG is about 13 in. from the leading edge at the fuse.
John
John
#3652
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Thank you John,
So I have to make the TOP of the elevator parallel to the flat bottom.
(Not have the elevator bottom lined up with the section underside.)
That's good.
That agrees pretty much with the photos, but is more precise.
Alasdair
So I have to make the TOP of the elevator parallel to the flat bottom.
(Not have the elevator bottom lined up with the section underside.)
That's good.
That agrees pretty much with the photos, but is more precise.
Alasdair
#3654
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The methodology is to put a straight edge on top of the horizontal stabilizer and make the elevator flush to that straight edge. This makes it look a little strange from the bottom, but it flies well this way. I can remember reading a post here some while back of a builder that decided the stab should not be built that way and spent quite a bit of time rebuilding the plane to this new configuration ( he flipped the stab over and installed it upside down). I never heard how his flew after all that work. Mine flies very well in this stock setup.
I have a P-60 for power, which makes it scoot pretty well. I don't think it would do well with a smaller turbine.
John
I have a P-60 for power, which makes it scoot pretty well. I don't think it would do well with a smaller turbine.
John
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Woketman (04-13-2022)
#3656
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Been a long time since last post....
Ok picked up a Tornado a few months ago...on the outside it looked good but on the inside it needs a lot of LOVE!!!! Gap/Expanding Foam…! Not sure why they added foam. There is wood bracing in the fiberglass. To me a total hack job… removed so much weight from this jet. They converted it over to a large edf but totally hacked it in my opinion I removed so much wood and epoxy. Still loads of epoxy he just poured in 🙁. In addition they had 3lbs of lead weight on the tail…
![](https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_5936_4b35205b5d3603dae354089493f03bc61e3aac60.jpg)
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Ok picked up a Tornado a few months ago...on the outside it looked good but on the inside it needs a lot of LOVE!!!! Gap/Expanding Foam…! Not sure why they added foam. There is wood bracing in the fiberglass. To me a total hack job… removed so much weight from this jet. They converted it over to a large edf but totally hacked it in my opinion I removed so much wood and epoxy. Still loads of epoxy he just poured in 🙁. In addition they had 3lbs of lead weight on the tail…
![](https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_5936_4b35205b5d3603dae354089493f03bc61e3aac60.jpg)
![](https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_5935_d301db6ef3cfcf4d9b777d4295ca665c6f6ffbed.jpg)
![](https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_5934_2081bde58a35a9683e322e22a1977110824bc244.jpg)
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#3658
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I do believe that all the Falcon 120s and the Tornado are the same, no version difference. I still have one of the originals and it is identical to the Tornado.
The gear I have is 130mm from the axel to the center of the retract pivot and I use a 2" wheel. I think you can get as big as 2 1/2" wheels in the well. I didn't measure the nose strut.
John
The gear I have is 130mm from the axel to the center of the retract pivot and I use a 2" wheel. I think you can get as big as 2 1/2" wheels in the well. I didn't measure the nose strut.
John
#3660
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Don't be too hard on the previous owner of that Tornado, they where put together with what seemed at the time like flour paste, on my version I was able to push out all the formers with a gentle tug, it was then put back together (with mods) with Hysol, lasted well until a Futura went through it.
Last edited by BaldEagel; 07-05-2023 at 10:45 PM.
#3661
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Don't be too hard on the previous owner of that Tornado, they where put together with what seemed at the time like flour paste, on my version I was able to push out all the formers with a gentle tug, it was then put back together (with mods) with Hysol, lasted well until a Futura went through it.
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#3662
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Cleaned this bad boy up a little more. Still have a lot to do. The wings need some love too.
- I have filled in the holes, including the hole they made for the switch. Just need to sand down and prime.
- Added some fiberglass support on the inside by the wheel opening. Need to trim it once it is cured.
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_7553_d7f7f8ff4bd89ffb7b98273553591c0f7a8ab128.jpeg)
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_7552_6a45ecdae2a1c6aced28c1fbbcb2ad701c6497d9.jpeg)
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- I have filled in the holes, including the hole they made for the switch. Just need to sand down and prime.
- Added some fiberglass support on the inside by the wheel opening. Need to trim it once it is cured.
![](https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_7553_d7f7f8ff4bd89ffb7b98273553591c0f7a8ab128.jpeg)
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_7552_6a45ecdae2a1c6aced28c1fbbcb2ad701c6497d9.jpeg)
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#3664
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Well pretty much ready to go. Shaved about 4.5 lbs off maybe a little more. Control throws done, balanced where batteries should go. Just need to…
- Make new wire that the last owner cut off from the ESC to Motor 🤦♂️.
- Make a battery tray
- Connect the pull-pull system to the nose
- Touch up paint to the fiberglass repair
Tried to find some Tornadoes flying with an EDF but could not. Found a few post but no videos 🙁.
Could still use a little more epoxy cleaning and more expanding foam out of the nose but happy with the current condition.
![](https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_9888_041c42ab1b6fa3eb627342a05f72e6effa71e9f6.jpeg)
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![](https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/1500x2000/img_9886_2507d8c78cbb23925e8ac3bf530114f1cf6e0868.jpeg)
- Make new wire that the last owner cut off from the ESC to Motor 🤦♂️.
- Make a battery tray
- Connect the pull-pull system to the nose
- Touch up paint to the fiberglass repair
Tried to find some Tornadoes flying with an EDF but could not. Found a few post but no videos 🙁.
Could still use a little more epoxy cleaning and more expanding foam out of the nose but happy with the current condition.
![](https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_9888_041c42ab1b6fa3eb627342a05f72e6effa71e9f6.jpeg)
![](https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_9885_690dfee9e8932a3a22c0439b9c797306b2767855.jpeg)
![](https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcuniverse.com-vbulletin/1500x2000/img_9887_2c3154ec68779352dabe7cef3a5363aa6d65c4d1.jpeg)
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#3665
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I have video from 2009, but I have never been able to upload it so others could see it.
Air Sally makes, or made, a very nice shroud to go over the fan unit. I'm convinced that it added to the speeds I was able to attain. The plane flew very well and I was extremely impressed with the flight. I had air retracts which were not totally reliable, so I have a gear fail to deploy and a nose gear that collapsed on landing. I am in the process of resurrecting the plane now but have stopped as I am debating on converting it to turbine like my other Falcon 120.
All in all a very good and forgiving plane.
Air Sally makes, or made, a very nice shroud to go over the fan unit. I'm convinced that it added to the speeds I was able to attain. The plane flew very well and I was extremely impressed with the flight. I had air retracts which were not totally reliable, so I have a gear fail to deploy and a nose gear that collapsed on landing. I am in the process of resurrecting the plane now but have stopped as I am debating on converting it to turbine like my other Falcon 120.
All in all a very good and forgiving plane.