SAP_2000

Hi all !

Yesterday, I flew the ViperJet for the second time, and everything went very well. [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1128417/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#1128417]The first time[/link] (as some of you may remember) the LE. of the left aileron de-laminated a few minutes in to the maiden and I barely got the plane safely down...

The Viper was very smooth to fly and it looked so good in the air to. Everything worked perfect, and I got 4 9-minute flights from a frozen lake outside Oslo in perfect weather yesterday.

After the first flight, I inspected the plane and saw that one of the ailerons had started to de-laminate in the seam on the TE. of the aileron (see picture). It was no biggie and was quickly fixed with both red and green CA on site.

When I got home, I inspected the wings one more time, and found some flex in the skin around the flap hinge-line on the left wing. A friend of mine that also flew maiden on his Viper yesterday has also reported the same... I think this can be easily fixed by gluing a triangular shaped small balsa'rod??' to the wood spar on the TE of the wing and the skin, stiffening it up a bit. I'll look closer in to it this coming week... You Viper owners....; please take a look at your wings, and inspect them for the de-laminating and the flexing around the hinge-line on the wings. The two Vipers here in Norway are from the early production runs and was delivered in August last year, so the later plane may not have the same problems mine had....

I am really looking forward to flying the Viper again soon! See the pictures, they talk for them selves... This plane is a real beauty in the air!!

SAP_2000

some more...

SAP_2000

and some more....

JetflyerJ

My Feedback: (67)

I love your Runway man That's cool [8D]


Johnny Hernandez

SAP_2000

Thanks... We do have some benefits from living in a cold country...[8D]

It is hard to see from the pics, but there is 10-15 cm. of snow on the ice, so the runway is actually 300 X 20 meters. Still pretty good

Bob_Wilcox

My Feedback: (1)

Perfect weather, what is that, a clear -20c ;-)

SAP_2000

As good as it gets this time of year in Norway. Clear skies, dead calm wind and about 0 to -5c

As i said.... perfect weather

aparchment

Staale:

I just wanted to thank you for giving me a great idea. We have a ton of lakes around here that are frozen this time of year. I had never thought about using them before having heard horror stories about people driving out on thin ice and falling through, but a friend who is helping organize an air show just told me that the ice is three feet thick and it was possible for a full scale L39 to land on the ice runway they made for the show. If an L39 can land there then I sure as heck can land and it should hold the weight of my car. Just in case I will drive our little Toyota rather than my beemer or my wife's truck!

Antony

SAP_2000

I think 3 feet is enough for a tank!! Here is what I have heard regarding how much load you can put on the ice.....

7 cm; a man. 14 cm; a horse and a man. 22 cm; a car. 35 cm; a bus. 80 cm. and above; you name it. a tank, a 737... yeah... i guess almost anything...

Ehab

My Feedback: (44)

Hi Staale:

Congrats on your Viper.

The newer kits now come with carbon fiber string glued to the rear wing spar, you can see it if you flex the flap/aileron. I also have added another CF/plywood spar to the front factory spar thru the servo hatches in the wings. Some kits DID come with a traingle stock that you glue to the rear spar like you suggested.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine. It has had about 50 flights on it and has pulled over 8 G's. I always inspect the wings thu. Make sure you have the gap sealer too!!

Beautifull back drop, almost makes me want to go and live in the snow.......NOT, Love Cali's sun[8D]

kmurray

Great pictures and congratulations.

tamjets

My Feedback: (2)

Nice Staale
We will got more Viper Jet photos coverage at Florida Jets Mar 4-7.
Bryce has wireless laptop. He can give you guys live update at the show.
Tam

Miguel Santana

My Feedback: (6)

Ehab & Tam,
I really would like to have one set of the up comming modified wings to upgrade my Viper.
Can something be done in that order?
Thanks,
Miguel

SAP_2000

Yes. All control surfaces are gap-sealed and the tail surfaces are balanced (see pics). The mounting blocks for the wing spars in the fuse also got a fillet of fiberpoxy to prevent them moving.

You are welcome to come and visit us anytime and do some jet-flying from the ice... Just bring your polar-suit