Wednesday, July 22, 2009

What do you want for Christmas?

How about a 1/8 scale, jet powered, radio-controlled SR-71?

Want.

Wantwantwantwantwant

UPDATE 22 July 2009 10:51: Via Brad_in_MA in the comments:
Video? We got video. Below's an almost 3-minute segment of a test flight.

I've flown RC. I've seen good RC pilots. The fellow flying his 13' SR-71 is damned good. His craft is also powered w/ 2 gas turbine engines rated at 30# thrust each.
I love the barrel roll. Brad's right, although I'd say he's insanely good.

8 comments:

  1. Brad_in_MAJuly 22, 2009 at 8:06 AM

    Ted,
    1/8 scale, you say? Wow - the model is over 13 feet long. I hope it flies as good as it looks.

    I have to wonder what kind of engines our RC builder used. Some "jet" builders will employ piston-powered ducted fans. They're much simpler and produce almost jet-like thrust. For the more seriously minded and well-funded jet modeler, micro-sized gas-turbine engines are available. They're techinically sophisticated and cost thousands of dollars each. I've never seen one first hand, but I'm told they emit a shrill whine from the front that sounds a bit like a dust buster on 'roids and an exhaust noise like a propane burnz-o-matic torch. Some of the larger micro turbines make as much as 15# of thrust.

    Technical details aside, you presented us with a marvelous piece of aero-modeling craftsmanship. Thanks.

    - Brad

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  2. AnonymousJuly 22, 2009 at 8:32 AM

    I am curious to know if he built it from Russian titanium purchased via CIA front companies. I mean, if it worked for Kelly Johnson the first time..

    Either way, I'm entirely impressed. Hopefully a video of this will pop up on youtube sooner or later.

    Jim

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  3. Brad_in_MAJuly 22, 2009 at 10:39 AM

    R-scope . . . .

    Video? We got video. Below's an almost 3-minute segment of a test flight.

    I've flown RC. I've seen good RC pilots. The fellow flying his 13' SR-71 is damned good. His craft is also powered w/ 2 gas turbine engines rated at 30# thrust each.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3lavaupllI&feature=player_embedded

    ReplyDelete
  4. NotClauswitzJuly 22, 2009 at 12:42 PM

    Holy shit! That's awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 22, 2009 at 2:18 PM

    Well colour me impressed. Thanks for the video.

    Jim

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  6. AnonymousJuly 22, 2009 at 11:53 PM

    Ted, if you haven't, you really would do well to read the build log on this thing. Wow. If I had half his patience and tenacity, I'd be better off for it.

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  7. wolfwalkerJuly 23, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    Um, what barrel roll, Borepatch? I saw an aileron roll starting at time index 1:49 or so, but nothing that I recognized as a barrel roll.

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  8. BorepatchJuly 23, 2009 at 9:01 PM

    reflectoscope, yes I did read it. It's very impressive what he did to build it - more impressive than the flying.

    Wolfwalker, I think that my non-technical term "barrel roll" is what you described (more accurately, no doubt) as "aileron roll".

    ReplyDelete

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