SUPER SKYBOLT ARF & Echo 1.3 Gas Engine The wing panels are glued and taped together while they cure. Meanwhile, I will do some fuselage work. The gas tank got a new stopper that is methanol resistant, and I put new fuel lines on it too. The fuselage electronics are in and functioning.
Here is the bottom view with the new hatch cover installed. This makes a very clean installation. There may be about 1/2" of carb protruding through the cowling. That's OK, it will make starting a lot easier.. I installed the wheel pants and put a pair of GOOD tires, I just don't care for those foam tires at all. Because the fuel tank is located over the CG, that gave me lots of room for the Ignition module which is located under the access hatch. I'm using a DX-7 SpeKtrum radio so I don't have to be too concerned about RFI. The radio on/off switch and the Ignition on/off switch is located on the left side if the fuselage just over the lower wing. The satillite receiver is located up in the canopy area.
You can't get much cleaner than this for radio signal reception.
The pilot is resting comfortably in front of the Satillite Receiver
The Skybold weighed in at 10 pounds exactly, and the CG was dead on.
The ECHO 1.3 engine isn't too obtrusive. In fact, I think it may the perfect small Gasser. All I need now is some decals and some good flying weather.
The helmet is a Hanger 9 40 sized head, in case you were wondering. Even with a 21.2cc gasoline engine in the Skybolt, the wing-loading is still a modest 24 ounces per sq. foot. OK, the Great Planes Super Skybolt got a gasoline engine, now it's time to see if it flies like a SUPER SKYBOLT! The maiden flight went well. One click of right aileron, and 3 clicks of up elevator and it was trimmed. The engine runs a bit rich in flight so I need to work on venting and possibly adding a stack. The speed is nothing to brag about. It's about the speed I would expect from a Saito 100 or 125. I didn't do any aerobatics as I feared the engine may die. The Skybolt simply flies rock solid even with the addad weight of a gasser. Once I get thge engine dialed in, the speed will go up and it will be a force to reckon with. |
