Official Freewing JAS 39 Gripen 80mm EDF Jet

[kallend]

Freight from Hong Kong is very unpredictable right now. I doubt that even MRC has good information. In the greater scheme of importers MRC is a minor player.

Stuff I've ordered from RC-C recently has varied between 5 days and 5 weeks to arrive in Chicago.

[Evan D]

Correct. I asked in the thread and James posted if I need to ask to PM him. That was before, when there wasn't a date. Then Motion posted on the Gripen page end of 2020 (they have never posted any dates on the page for the TV unit itself). Starting around the end of November I started PMing him asking for a firm date, after all a company should know when they have bought something from their supplier and it's on a boat. He never answered the PMs so I started asking again in the thread. I was told by others that he said early January on the pod cast and when I watched the podcast (I can't watch it live since I do things Fridays) I heard him, heard him say it again on the last pod cast too.

But their web site still says late 2020 and he has only said January on the pod cast. I see this as a fail, that they can't get all their marketing information saying the same thing. If it is January, when in January, if it's further pushed back say so or just remove late 2020 and make a post here, on their official thread, that they just don't know. We've been asking now for what, six months between this and the MiG? In this time I have decided not to do TVs on the MiG and I'm thinking about if I want them for the Gripen and if I should just order them from Raymond.

Strange that it says that and James told you January, correct?

[HaroldAnderson]

Darn, I really thought Motion would have them by now... The insult is their web site STILL says by end of year 2020...

I know you'll have fun with the TVs!

Strange that it says that and James told you January, correct?

[HaroldAnderson]

Ordered my TV unit from RC-Castle on the 19th and it arrived today!
Unit weight without the cf rods is 160 grams.
Has anybody had the chance to fly it yet?

Looks like you will be the first! Give us a report.... Let us know what the old assembly weighs once you get it off the plane.

[Evan D]

Darn, I really thought Motion would have them by now... The insult is their web site STILL says by end of year 2020...

I know you'll have fun with the TVs!

[KevinMar]

Ordered my TV unit from RC-Castle on the 19th and it arrived today!
Unit weight without the cf rods is 160 grams.
Has anybody had the chance to fly it yet?

[Airguardian]

Nice flights. The smoke looks especially good down low when you have a background. It looks like you don't get many sunny days in your region that are great for smoke. It would be cool to see it backlit with smoke on.

Thanks!
Actually, yes we do... but I don't enjoy flying at those times as much. It's usually much windier (and the topography of my field makes any wind very turbulent) and the smoke doesn't look that well in direct sunlight most of the times. Will do some test some day, but for the most part I've achieved better results with dusk flights ;)

I asked previously but didn't see an answer. How are the smoke cartridges ignited?

I replied to you in fb but I guess you missed it.

I use a blow-torch style lighter.
It's not a regular cigarette lighter.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Lighter-Burner-Angle/dp/B075JJK4CK/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&m=A24XS727752R1H&marketplaceID=A1PA6795UKMFR9&qid=1605547291&s=merchant-items&sr=1-7&th=1

[killickb]

One of his videos does show him lighting these off. I did use his link to find those that he uses. My smallest smoke cartridges are 3.50” long x 1.20” diameter and last about 2 minutes. Have Red, Orange and White but no idea where I got them. One version has a “fuse” the other you just light the flat end face, they do get hot ! Also have some reloadable rocket motors but the best are only a few seconds of burn. I use a HK solid state switch thru a 3 cell lipo to fire off in my Me 163 —- not very efficient or spectacular though.

[xviper]

I've done that for the large cartridges we use in skydiving, but the ones on his Gripen are much smaller than any I've seen.

The ones I've used were mounted on an RC plane. They were about 4" long, burned for about a minute. Purchased from hobby shop.

[kallend]

It doesn't show them being "lit". I've used the kind that you pull a wire at the end of the cartridge and that triggers the ignition.

I've done that for the large cartridges we use in skydiving, but the ones on his Gripen are much smaller than any I've seen.

[xviper]

It doesn't show them being "lit". I've used the kind that you pull a wire at the end of the cartridge and that triggers the ignition.

[killickb]

Looks like he uses cigarette lighter ?

[kallend]

Have some more Gripen joy!
This jet makes it so convenient to attach smoke cartridges on the wingtip rails...
Use some isolation though if you do, or you will melt them.

I asked previously but didn't see an answer. How are the smoke cartridges ignited?

[HaroldAnderson]

Nice flights. The smoke looks especially good down low when you have a background. It looks like you don't get many sunny days in your region that are great for smoke. It would be cool to see it backlit with smoke on.

[Airguardian]

Have some more Gripen joy!
This jet makes it so convenient to attach smoke cartridges on the wingtip rails...
Use some isolation though if you do, or you will melt them.

[janmb]

Well it took longer than I'd thought (go figure) but the leading edge flaps are done. Thin plastic from a Xmas wrap box was used to cover the bottom wing gaps- these slide back over the wing as the flap comes down. I have them on a 3 position switch and deployment is slowed to 2 seconds- flight modes are also being used, allowing for separate trims in each position (Hugh W. will approve :).
Weight gain is about 20 grams per wing- haven't re-checked the CG yet but may be able to remove most of the lead added for the maiden flights.
I'm really looking forward to trying the flaps out in flight, but that will probably have to wait 'till spring. Now on to the wing pylons...
Merry Christmas all!
Tom

Looks great, looking forward to hear the results!

[Pogo]

Well it took longer than I'd thought (go figure) but the leading edge flaps are done. Thin plastic from a Xmas wrap box was used to cover the bottom wing gaps- these slide back over the wing as the flap comes down. I have them on a 3 position switch and deployment is slowed to 2 seconds- flight modes are also being used, allowing for separate trims in each position (Hugh W. will approve :).
Weight gain is about 20 grams per wing- haven't re-checked the CG yet but may be able to remove most of the lead added for the maiden flights.
I'm really looking forward to trying the flaps out in flight, but that will probably have to wait 'till spring. Now on to the wing pylons...
Merry Christmas all!
Tom

[Airguardian]

Thank you for the feedback! :)

[Dan McKeag]

Thank you for the great videos---impressive!

[Airguardian]

Smoke for the Smoke God!