F-16XL ARF by Global Knight Models from Global Jet Club
09-15-2021, 04:40 PM
#352
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Turbine blew up
I had hoped to fly several flights last weekend at a local fly in, however the K-210G4 blew up at the first TO rotation. I aborted the TO and stopped straight ahead. AG-63 braking and steering was dead straight. The turbine shut down with a "speed low" telemetry message. If starter motor is engaged the turbine vibrates. Probably threw a blade inside. Fortunately there was no post shutdown fire...or so I thought.
After removing the turbine for repair I noticed charred spots on both sides under the rails.
It was hot enough to melt the AB ring wire loom cover to the fuse side and discolor the paint on the turbine rail. I did not see any structural damage so I felt real lucky. Rather be lucky than good any day! Hopefully get turbine back for SC Tiger Meet in October.
I had hoped to fly several flights last weekend at a local fly in, however the K-210G4 blew up at the first TO rotation. I aborted the TO and stopped straight ahead. AG-63 braking and steering was dead straight. The turbine shut down with a "speed low" telemetry message. If starter motor is engaged the turbine vibrates. Probably threw a blade inside. Fortunately there was no post shutdown fire...or so I thought.
After removing the turbine for repair I noticed charred spots on both sides under the rails.
It was hot enough to melt the AB ring wire loom cover to the fuse side and discolor the paint on the turbine rail. I did not see any structural damage so I felt real lucky. Rather be lucky than good any day! Hopefully get turbine back for SC Tiger Meet in October.
The following 2 users liked this post by jf16crew:
invertmast (09-19-2021),
yeahbaby (09-19-2021)
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Viper1GJ (09-20-2021)
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Viper1GJ (09-20-2021)
10-09-2021, 05:54 PM
#368
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FOD shield for grass field ops
All of my flying is from grass fields. I wanted to keep grass from flying up off the nose wheel into the main gear well and getting sucked up against the turbine FOD screen. I asked my friend Keith to design a FOD shield that would fit across the turbine mounting rails and cover the space below and ahead of the turbine intake similar to the bottom of a bypass shell.
Keith sent me the STL file and I printed the FOD shield from red PETG filament.
Fancy! I wish I could do the CAD to design stuff.
It slips in over the turbine rails
The turbine mounts fit against the shield to make a complete covering from the intake former to the back side of the turbine mounting wings
Top view
Turbine installed. I will test it out next week at the SC Tiger Jet Rally
All of my flying is from grass fields. I wanted to keep grass from flying up off the nose wheel into the main gear well and getting sucked up against the turbine FOD screen. I asked my friend Keith to design a FOD shield that would fit across the turbine mounting rails and cover the space below and ahead of the turbine intake similar to the bottom of a bypass shell.
Keith sent me the STL file and I printed the FOD shield from red PETG filament.
Fancy! I wish I could do the CAD to design stuff.
It slips in over the turbine rails
The turbine mounts fit against the shield to make a complete covering from the intake former to the back side of the turbine mounting wings
Top view
Turbine installed. I will test it out next week at the SC Tiger Jet Rally
Last edited by Viper1GJ; 10-09-2021 at 05:58 PM.
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10-15-2021, 05:54 PM
#370
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F-16XL flying great after solving major FOD problem
This photo taken after the 5th of 6 flights today at SC TIger Meet. Jet is getting more fun to fly each time. Flies great, carves very tight bat turns, slow and stable high AOA flight, and very easy to land. Really happy with it after solving the major FOD problem from last month and Friday. If you fly off grass fix it first!
The issue is grass clippings getting to the front of turbine and cutting off intake air and resulting in compressor stall and engine damage. First time was last month when turbine failed and damaged itself on first take off attempt. Fixed it and it happened again on the first attempt Friday. This time with no damage. Both times front of turbine was covered with grass clippings, even after the FOD shield was installed.
The problem turned out to be grass clippings kicked up by the nose wheel just during taxi out and going up into the nose gear well and getting sucked up and over the header tank and over the FOD shield and onto the turbine screen. This resulted in another compressor stall just prior to starting take off on first attempt Friday. The field fix Friday was to stuff ALL of the holes in the formers full of foam rubber to close off any path for grass FOD to the turbine.
From cockpit looking aft. Foam stuffed into all former holes.
From turbine looking forward through the intake tunnel. ALL holes in former including the small round holes below the red FOD shield are stuffed with foam to close off FOD path from nose gear well to turbine.
Nose gear well looking aft. All holes in former stuffed with foam rubber. After the foam rubber "fix" low speed and high speed taxi tests showed almost no grass on turbine after shutdown. Got 6 good flights today with no issues. My plan is to glue wood covers over all former holes to close off the FOD paths to the turbine and keep the 3D printed FOD shield in front and below the turbine.
Happy RC camper after all the great fights today.
This photo taken after the 5th of 6 flights today at SC TIger Meet. Jet is getting more fun to fly each time. Flies great, carves very tight bat turns, slow and stable high AOA flight, and very easy to land. Really happy with it after solving the major FOD problem from last month and Friday. If you fly off grass fix it first!
The issue is grass clippings getting to the front of turbine and cutting off intake air and resulting in compressor stall and engine damage. First time was last month when turbine failed and damaged itself on first take off attempt. Fixed it and it happened again on the first attempt Friday. This time with no damage. Both times front of turbine was covered with grass clippings, even after the FOD shield was installed.
The problem turned out to be grass clippings kicked up by the nose wheel just during taxi out and going up into the nose gear well and getting sucked up and over the header tank and over the FOD shield and onto the turbine screen. This resulted in another compressor stall just prior to starting take off on first attempt Friday. The field fix Friday was to stuff ALL of the holes in the formers full of foam rubber to close off any path for grass FOD to the turbine.
From cockpit looking aft. Foam stuffed into all former holes.
From turbine looking forward through the intake tunnel. ALL holes in former including the small round holes below the red FOD shield are stuffed with foam to close off FOD path from nose gear well to turbine.
Nose gear well looking aft. All holes in former stuffed with foam rubber. After the foam rubber "fix" low speed and high speed taxi tests showed almost no grass on turbine after shutdown. Got 6 good flights today with no issues. My plan is to glue wood covers over all former holes to close off the FOD paths to the turbine and keep the 3D printed FOD shield in front and below the turbine.
Happy RC camper after all the great fights today.
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mongo (10-15-2021)
10-16-2021, 04:36 PM
#373
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Yes that was exactly my plan. It was obvious that before the "foam fix" there was a clear path for FOD from the nose gear well into the turbine screen. It was not coming in through the main gear well since I blocked that with the 3D printed FOD shield. The grass came through the nose wheel well, up and over the fuel tank and FOD shield onto the turbine intake screen. After the "foam fix" there was almost none. I would assume that dirt or sand could take the same path if on pavement or dirt surface and you would probably never see it. I going to close off all the holes in the formers.
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mongo (10-16-2021)
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10-16-2021, 05:42 PM
#375
Folks;
Gary did an incredible job with this build. I got to watch him dial the aircraft in over the last couple of days. After 5 flights and making radio adjustments, the aircraft was a sight to be seen in the air. Tracked as if it was on rails and handled all flight commands as if Gary was in the cockpit.
Fantastic job.
Gary did an incredible job with this build. I got to watch him dial the aircraft in over the last couple of days. After 5 flights and making radio adjustments, the aircraft was a sight to be seen in the air. Tracked as if it was on rails and handled all flight commands as if Gary was in the cockpit.
Fantastic job.
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Afterburners (10-17-2021)