DH VAMPIRE

Thanks for that Pete, it's been worrying me too. As I understand it Kerry Sterner's accident was the failure of one air brake which was torn off due to being deployed at high speed causing an extreme yaw which couldn't be overcome with rudder and the model spun in. Had he been quick enough to realise what had happened and closed the remaining brake he would probably have saved it.
I was originally intending to drive the air brakes with retract servos, so they'd be either in or out. Now using proportional control will be more sensible. Also some mixing to prevent full air brake deployment at more than half throttle would also be a worthwhile precaution.

I have connected the two air intakes with a rolled tube made of thin fibre glass sheet and a central 60mm hole cut. There was a great need to get the turbine as far forward as i could to aid the c of g so the starter motor for the turbine is completely inside the ducting. Once the fod guard arrives i wiil open the hole with a dremel to accommodate it.

Thrust pipe cut to length and trial fit

Couple more

That is looking very nice Pete, starting to get excited for test flight day

Yes Jon it looks really nice! even better in the flesh :woohoo:
Meeting you dad on friday to sort out the last few bit's and Bob's on the vampire .Hopefully if your dad get's his finger out we will have a maiden in march