VSKYLABS RC AV-8X Jump-Jet

TURBINE - 1:5 SCALE - CHALLENGING - VTOL - CTOL
 TRANSITION FLIGHT - HOVERING - COMPLEX CONTROLS

Model data:

Type: Giant-Scale RC Model based on the Harrier aircraft
Scale: 1:5
Length: 2.84 m ( 9.31 feet)
Wingspan: 1.86 m (6.1 feet)
Weight: No-fuel: 38 lbs / 17.23 Kg 
Fuel: ~4.0 Liter / 7 lbs
Engine: Equivalent of 2xJetCat P100 Class turbines (22.5 lbs / 10.20 kg per engine)
Fuel consumption: 350 ml/min / 5.6 gallon per hour per engine (full power)
Performance/Limitations: Maximum speed: 125 knots / 144 mph / 232 km/h (sea level, full power, straight and level, nozzles fully aft). Vne: 145 knots / 167 mph / 269 km/h. Structural limit: +6g / -3g (estimated, composite construction). Note: the wide-body Harrier fuselage and large intake geometry produce significant drag, naturally limiting forward flight speed. Vne must only be approached with nozzles fully aft and reaction control system flow minimized. Any nozzle deflection at high speed is a hard no.

Channels:

  1. Throttle
  2. Rudder
  3. Elevator
  4. Ailerons
  5. Thrust vector - Mandatory for transition flying.
  6. Gears

Pilot Notes:

General: Challenging model, capable of full CTOL operations as well as hovering and transition flight. It is not a highly overpowered model during hover-mode; thrust-to-weight ratio sits slightly above 1.0, primarily due to thrust losses from the lateral and longitudinal stability air injection system. The practical implication is that hovering demands high power settings at all times. In addition, high power is required during hover to maintain sufficient airflow to the stability injectors. Reducing throttle to low RPM during hover will result with loss of directional stability.

Power management: Low power in VTOL mode is not an option, at all flying altitudes. It results in complete loss of stability directional control and unrecoverable departure. There is no recovery envelope below the power threshold so treat it as a hard limit.

Transition controls: Thrust vectoring channel is controlled with a dedicated channel the TX. Usually a dial-type knob or a two-mode state (VTOL/CTOL). Simply assign your dial-type knob or two-state switch to 'Thrust vectoring' default command under AXES, in the Joystick setup screen.

Maximum thrust vectoring rate is paced to allow comfortable pitch control throughout the CTOL-to-VTOL transition phase, and vice-versa.

Energy management: In forward flight the model accelerates to high speeds efficiently given its thrust-to-weight ratio and relatively compact size. Deceleration is straightforward - the drag profile is high and speed bleeds cleanly when power is reduced.

Controls: During hover/transition - use full control mode! Use dual rates and/or expo for scale, high-speed forward flight. If on dual-rates, when or prior to transitioning to VTOL mode, switch back to full control mode immediately. Hovering, transition, and VTOL landing require the fastest and most precise control response available. Reduced rates in this phase is a liability, not a safety margin.

Real world reference model:
*The following product link shows a real-world reference of similar real-world product. It is provided for informational purpose onle. It is not produced by or affiliated with VSKYLABS. Various design features and other characteristics may vary, when compared to the VSKYLABS model in X-Plane.

Real world reference video:
*The following video and product link shows a real-world reference for the model. It is provided for informational purposes only. It is not produced by or affiliated with VSKYLABS. All credits belong to the original content creators. Various design features and other characteristics may vary, when compared to the VSKYLABS model in X-Plane.



VSKYLABS RC Elements Vol. 1 screenshots - X-Plane 12: