Litespeed

Multiplex Germany is still going strong and with the money of Hitec. But they are a very premium product make a JR seem little a paupers option. Want 16 channels ? Check Want great ergonomics? Check Massive range? Check 1200 euros just the radio. Ouch

deleted...off topic have some respect guys...(mod)

Nah- That Tel Aviv mod sold theirs with rocket launchers

That is a beautiful example- Great red. Another of Scottys little angels

I knew it had to be from a different millennium.

I would expect it would if sealed and bonded correctly- and using the correct glues in manufacture. It should not be a issue unless it is a very highly loaded part and under a lot of high load cycles.

I think he has chosen this because it alloys a much larger gluing surface which is not just on a single side- a fair trade as bonding is the important thing. And also as I said above, he has kept to the design he has developed in many other aircraft- simple to jig up, align and rivet/bond. Everything needed is made, just needs core sealing with light epoxy and flox for bonds. I think James is onto a winner

I understand were James is design wise- he is trying to do the strongest and lightest at a budget, so compromises are made. I am sure he has considered a normal spar but came back to just a newer development of his existing wing designs. Tube spars are fine for this weight and do not rely on any construction from the builder, a bunch of rivets and epoxy is all that is needed. Strength wise I would be pretty confident in the abilities of the Alloy honeycomb- the stuff is amazingly strong and light. I do not know what skins he is going with for the outside but the ones he mentioned where for the honeycomb itself. And would be very resistant to damage. It may be a slightly heavier skin would be good outside for toughness- hate oilcanning. Its abilities are similar to honeycomb carbon sandwich just a hell of a lot cheaper, a sheet of 8' x 4' is $50 locally for construction grade. Aifrcraft grade skins would be more but would have to check its specs- their may not be a big difference as they are both a high end app for alloy. They can also be done locally in any specs required in Brisbane, any facings wanted. And in the stuff can be made into 2 d curves and then made. It is also possible to do things like a elevator shape- the core is shaped first by cnc into a airfoil and then the skins attached. But that is getting into a more expensive end of things. Remember a lot of really fast aircraft and racing cars- like F1 used this stuff with great success, and it is still used in some.

That is a great shame, they have always been high end gear. They were not able to compete with the internet sales model against the chinese when most of the JR sales were through the model shops which most have disappeared. The cost was too high but the quality was worth it. I have them in large scale aircraft and a ballistic 1/5 scale Baja and love them. But I must admit to a real affection for my ancient Multiplex gear, great servos and radios for the crystal set. My aerial is about 6ft long range is far further then eyesight. At least JR are doing UAV, so all is not lost.

You sir get a Gold star. That is exactly what a four seater is really for, the rear seats are for the little ones not big burly blokes. A well setup J430 would be a excellent touring aircraft for the wide brown land and should be able to go almost any place a 172 could. And lets face it a usable ancient 172 versus a new or low hour J430 for the same price? Not a question which I would take.

If it means the J430, the AAK Hornet etc can go to 750kg then I am all for it. That extra 50kg can make a big difference.

The figures I used are a bit rubbery and depends on the source and how/where the J430 is registered and at what weight. But the basic point is the same the 172 can be replaced by a J430 in many cases and will be a far more efficient machine and chew far less dollars to own and service. Addittionally the 172 will come down much harder in any hard landing/crash due to a much higher weight. The crash of a J430 is a relatively low energy event and far more suvivable and in a extremely strong airframe. With the exception of a bit more weight carrying, the only main advantage of a 172 is a better penetration in crap weather. Oh and if anything ever goes wrong in the cessna-the reporter might get the name correct.

I reckon about 1269 should do it. A lot of earlier posts were experimental and it is maturing well.

Alan- it is a rare aircraft with 4 seats that can take four fat buggers and be full of fuel. That is really reserved for a 6 seater plane, most aircraft including the 172 will be limited in that way- if you can get it full of fat buggers, full fuel and not be overweight I would be extremely surprised. And performance would really suck.. According to wiki- could be wrong, the J430 has a 370 kg payload including fuel. cruise is 120knts approx at 25lts/hr . Substantially less than a 172 fuel burn. The 172 can only take 30kg more max total and a lot more of its payload will be fuel to go the same distance.

For the cost of a 172 you could get a good used J430 Jabiru and have room for 4, great range, and far far cheaper to run. The service costs would be a fraction, as would the annual. A alternative if you must stick with GA.

Great to hear, I hope the fire foam -which looked unnecessary did not do too much damage. For absolute thrills on a big toy budget A L39 must be a lot of fun

I am lucky at 172 cm and normally 73kg dripping wet, so I get to enjoy the benefits of a healthy weight and size. I admit to trying all means possible to sabotage my weight and it has been fun trying. I agree the BMI is just stupid, I am at the high margins and skinny by most standards My son has just turned 21 and is skinny with wide shoulders, size 15 feet and 6''4 ish and still seems to grow. His career as a jockey- horse or jet is looking in doubt. When he fills out, which he will, many a aircraft is out of the question. I have recommended he seek a diminutive partner for flying and bike riding- say 50 kgs max. Just like in race cars or fast bikes, every kilo counts and needs more power to move. Our little aircraft really benefit from a diet from the pilot for many of us. Every kilo lost is performance gained and it costs nothing, a 10 or 20kg drop in pilot weight is hard to replicate and often very expensive for a airframe. Depending on the aircraft every kilo costs a lot more to save than the last one. I know with a fast bike every extra hp over the stock can cost $300/hp in general- real power not bull. Any bloke or blokette at 120kgs is working everything real hard to keep up with a 75kg rider cruising and might need 15-30 more hp just to match. That costs bucks and dynamically still behind the curve. Losing weight can make huge performance change for the laaaaaarger amongst us, especially in the really light airframes. "Mark Webber is a huge driver at Webber is 183 centimetres (six feet) tall, yet he tips the scales at just 75 kilograms. But he is still nine kilograms heavier than his diminutive four-time world champion Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel and has to carry the extra weight higher in the car.Nov 24, 2013". It cost him O.3 seconds a lap just by been bigger- It might be said had he been a jockey weight he would have won 4 championships. Weight matters. You wouldn't carry a bag of lead around in your aircraft, why carry it on your body if you can get rid of it. I know for some it is not a simple thing- but it is really worth doing- if just for the flying

Alclad is awesome-it is the reason a beautiful polished aircraft can exist. It does not easily corrode and keeps its surface finish protected with a micro layer of Aluminium oxide. It can be polished beautifully and keeps its shine. Don't polish too hard though or you go through the pure metal on top. When I finally build if the design is alloy- it will be skinned with the modern version and polished. Much lower cost than painting, weighs nothing. The ultimate finish, polished au naturale. Naturally it is a hanger job, not left to bird bomber runs acid etching the finish.

The best fun is always in the light stuff- fast response, you can feel the air, everything is alive...............................................unlike driving a bus in the air. It is not all about speed but sheer flying pleasure. Hence my like of the new Belite Pipper. If he can meet that price- it could be game changer. The cost of alloy honeycomb has fallen heaps due to chinese production for building facias, caravans etc. Add in CNC and we have a very strong, light airframe and fast to build. What in the past was out of reach money wise is now in play.The use of honeycomb panels and cnc matched holed gussets can make a extremely strong and lightweight structure, esp when combined with the alloy skin he uses. Bugger paint- polish the beast save money and weight. I know we have to wait but James is doing a great job and uses the best available tech to meet his needs and price point. His previous designs were great but now the shackles of part 105 are cast aside, a real two seater can emerge, and still cheap. Actually can be as cheap as the single seater- low weight costs strength and money. Could it be done for $14k ? If you are resourceful and 2nd hand engine, use James instruments etc. Sure. But I would budget more, around $20K max and have a low hr Jabiru- should be ok weight wise if careful. Add in some arduino powered tablets as a glass screens and you have a wizz bang little fun machine for the playstation generation. Sounds viable to me

I am not so sure about the young and flying. I know a few pimply ones and they are interested, when given the info and opportunities for social and fun. A lot will spend a lot on trips, car mods, jetski's boats etc and motorbikes. A lot is about the social side and doing something out of the norm. They will spend $500 on indoor skydiving or a hell of lot more jumping from a actual aircraft. They will spend $300 plus on a good night out, up to $1000 to travel and party at a festival. They will spend $100- $200 on the gym and supplements a week to look fit and socialise over roids. They will buy a baby harley for $15,000 just to go with mates on a ride- they hardly ever ride. It is often about been in the group- to be part o the tribe. I do not think they are not open to the idea- just do not know and think it is a richs mans sport. Compared to what many spend -it is not, just start on the cheap end. Many pay more for their insurance on a flash car than the cost of flight training. It is all about context. My son who is 21 will next year learn with me in gliders- let the fun begin (he is 6'5" and still growing, so size is a issue) . I hope to attract some other fledglings at the same time. If we had 1:1000 young guys attracted that would be a heap. We should be targeting young women a lot more- they are out there.

Calling the distant Plant No 47.................................. Progress report needed. 3rd rock calling Plant 47..............please respond..... Update on build needed....

Having seen the ME109 at Canberra- it is a very small machine compared to almost anything, and significantly smaller looking than a spitfire.

Do not tell Bex, he will want a much nicer factory and machines. I wish Brumby well- could be the new Cessna of light planes. Certainly a big enough market.

Huh? The usable load at 850lbs is 470lbs with a 2 stroke and 420lbs with a 4 stroke. Two average healthy blokes at 180 lbs leaves at least 60 lbs for fuel for a 4 stroke and 110lbs for a two stroke. That should be sufficient for bladder range. Given the structure is alloy honeycomb and then metalised, it should be plenty strong.

Back to the Belite Skipper. Wow- what a cool use of alloy honeycomb, it must be getting cheap. He has managed to do a alloy aircraft at a amazing price and it looks like it will be strong and light. Add a cheap engine, some belite instruments and a dirt cheap aircraft for two. Any thoughts?