NIJETS - 'Blue Angel 5 cleared for take off'

'Blue Angel 5 cleared for take off'

NIJets pilot Peter Carson, flew for the first time his Skymaster F18, Jetcat 120 turbine powered jet.

Peter Carson with his F18

NIJets pilot Peter Carson, flew for the first time his Skymaster F18 turbine powered jet. Peter purchased the model from a fellow jet pilot at the 2008 BMFA national as a complete package ready to go! however, the model needed to be totally rewired and the radio equipment upgraded to the new JR 12x 2.4GH system, Peter being one of the first pilots to use this system in N.I.

The first flight began with the standard photo call, then after preflight checks and range checks, the engine was fired up and again a range check was completed in various directions. A thumbs up from Peter and the big Hornet taxied out onto the runway and down to the take off area, then a few more checks of the control surfaces, a very loud roar of the engine and she was away straight down the runway, however, the excitement was short lived, as suddenly a huge cloud of white smoke bellowed from behind the model, the engine had flamed out! but how? The model was carried back to the pits area and a close inspection done of the engine and the pipes to see what had happened, every thing was fine, except that inside the engine bay there were small pools of water laying in the wheel bays, problem solved. The model had hit a very small pool of water lying on the runway and the air intakes had sucked some water into the engine causing the flame out.
After that near disaster, we knew that luck was on our side, therefore the turbine was restarted checks done again and the Hornet was taxied to a dry part of the runway, a quick turn into wind and she was away tracking nicely in a straight line, a gentle pull back on the sticks and the F18 left the tarmac into a shallow climb, Man, she looked good!. Peter flew a few circuits around the airfield, the model looked right in the air, the sign of a good plane well designed, then a landing was called, three greens and the f18 floated into a perfect nose high landing, text book stuff! right in front of the cheering crowd.

Peter reports that "the model few'like on rails' smooth and rock steady, however she did drop on the down wind turns a little and required a little power to keep level flight". "The landing was a little fast because I did not use flaps, due to a trim problem but the landing was good one of my best".

Peter hopes to fly the Hornet over the 2009 flying season, therefore NIJets would like to wish Peter the best of luck with the F18, a very impressive model.

More photos and video of the Hornet in action!