From: "Doug Cronkhite"
To: "'BVM'"
Sent:
Monday, May 06, 2002 8:06 PM
Subject: RC Universe post
Hey guys.. Just thought I'd pass this along to you.. It's what I posted on the RC Universe website after flying BV's new F-86. I still smile when I think of that flight. Truly the highlight of my weekend. I flew 16 flights on various airplanes (I'm working on my own airplanes again.. Really!!) this one was the standout for me.
"After spotting for Tony Frakowiak on Sunday flying the new F-86, Bob asked if I'd like to fly it. After MUCH deliberation (about .2 seconds) I eagerly accepted. In a nutshell.. get your order in while you still can.. the airplane is just awesome. Bob's is RAM 500 powered and is a total sweetheart.. seriously locked in. But some details about the kit first..
Fuse is molded in an aluminum silver look to it.. VERY light. I suppose you could just knock the seams off and add color if you wanted. Panel lines and such are already there. The hatch fit was superb. The kit will have 2 different inlets for DF or Turbine operation, and according to Bob, the conversion from DF to Turbine will be very simple and require only a few parts changes.
The wings are pre-sheeted structure with obechi, with pre-hinged ailerons using a 'live' hinge at the top surface of the wing. Leading edges are preshaped as are the wing tips. The flaps are the only major work involved with the wings prior to finishing that I could see. They are a plug in setup as opposed to the original bolt on from the bottom. The servo mounts for the aileron and flap are a cool little laser-cut box arrangement that locks the servo in, yet is removable with 4 screws. This box drops into a pre-routed socket in the bottom of the wing. The kit isn't setup for inner main gear doors, but I suppose someone who really wanted them could lay them up themselves before cutting out the wheel wells.
The stabs all remove as well. Vertical fin/rudder comes off, giving access to the 4 screws that hold on the horizontal stabs. The horizontal stabs are hinged the same as the ailerons. The tail end of the airplane is held together by a pair of carbon fiber formers which are spanned by a laser cut wood 'V' that the stabs mount to.. You can see this on the BVM website in the lower left corner of the F-86 kit photo that will explain it easier than I can here.
You'll be able to build this for ducted fan, as well as a number of turbine engines as well like the RAM 500, JetCAT P-80, AMT Mercury, Simjet 1200, and SWB Mamba. Lots of choices..
So anyway.. to the flight. I can't remember the dry weight of the airplane.. sorry.. but.. I taxi out.. drop takeoff flaps.. line up and set the brakes. Bring up the power, brakes off, and the airplane tracks straight as a string. No problems at all. Hold a little up elevator (about 1/3) and the Sabre rotated at about 150' smooth and easy. Gear up and I let it accelerate climbing nice and easy. I pulled up the flaps through the 1st turn and off we go.
I mentioned the airplane was on rails.. and it really is.. Very smooth through rolls, loops, and so forth. Right to left photo pass with the left wing down is just too cool. I'd guess level flight speed (no dive) to be right around 150mph, and the airplane can easily get over 180mph out of a dive without the slightest hint of a wiggle or anything strange. This is with the underwing tanks too mind you.
So after around 6 minutes it's time to think about getting it on the ground. Overhead upwind pass.. drop the gear, and set 1st flap.. add about 1/2 power to keep up with the drag and hold altitude.. On downwind.. I dropped full flaps, held the power and let it start a nice sink rate.. Turning from downwind to final in a smooth 180, I set up a slight nose-up approach angle with 1/3 power or so giving me a good decent. At 6' or so, I pull the throttle to idle.. started a flare and the little Sabre just kissed the main gear and I held the nose off for around 50' of aero braking. Let the nose down easy and apply the wheel brakes and it was all over.
I'd honestly love to tell you that it was pure pilot skill.. but the new Sabre really makes it that easy. It's everything the old airplane was but just a better, 'tighter' feeling airplane. VERY solid, very easy to fly and perfectly predictable in all flight regimes.
BVM really did their homework on this and it shows..
-Doug Cronkhite
-Team JR