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:

Brad_in_MA said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Brad_in_MA said...

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

NotClauswitz said...

Holy shit! That's awesome.

Anonymous said...

Well colour me impressed. Thanks for the video.

Jim

Anonymous said...

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

wolfwalker said...

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.

Borepatch said...

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".