VSKYLABS RC SR-71X Blackbird

TWIN TURBINE - 1:7 SCALE - CHALLENGING - REQUIRES DUAL-RATES/EXPO CONTROL MODES
SCALE FLIGHT - HIGH DRAG - STRUCTURAL LIMITATION AWARENESS

Model data:

Type: Giant-Scale RC Model based on the SR-71 Blackbird
Scale: 1:7
Length: 4.5 m ( 14.76 feet)
Wingspan: 2.4 m (7.87 feet)
Weight: No-fuel: 67.6 lbs / 30.66 Kg 
Fuel: ~5.7 Liter / 10 lbs
Engine: 2 x JetCat P120 Class turbine (27 lbs / 12.24 kg per engine)
Fuel consumption: 350 ml/min / 5.6 gallon per hour (full power) each
Performance/Limitations: Maximum speed: can exceed 200 knots / 230 mph / 370 km/h (sea level, full power, sustained straight and level). Vne: 180 knots / 207 mph / 333 km/h. Note: while the model is capable of exceeding Vne under sustained full power, it is strongly discouraged. Structural loads at high speed, particularly in the pitch axis, are severe. The SR-71's long fuselage and chined airframe generate significant bending moments at speed that a homebuilt composite structure is not designed to sustain. Throttle management is essential. Fly it fast, but don't push it.

Channels:

  1. Throttle
  2. Rudder
  3. Elevator
  4. Ailerons
  5. Control modes (Full, Dual-Rates/Expo) - Mandatory for realistic flying.
  6. Gears
  7. Gear-brakes

Pilot Notes:

General: The SR-71X is a large model with a slender delta planform which means that high drag is inherent to the design, even at moderate AOA. Combined with a relative low power-to-weight ratio, any excursion into high alpha at low speed risks an unrecoverable sink rate. In normal flight the aircraft is predictable and docile as long as you stay within the envelope.

Energy management: It is actually one of this model's more forgiving characteristics. The high drag profile bleeds speed efficiently at elevated AOA, which makes setting up for final straightforward; reduce power, let the AOA do the work. On final, sink rate is easy to modulate with gentle throttle pumping.

Controls: Engage dual rates and/or expo after takeoff for clean scale flight. Avoid abrupt pull-ups in any control mode - the combination of high drag and low power-to-weight ratio leaves no energy reserve to recover from an aggressive pitch excursion. At high speed - it can lead to structural damage.
Real world reference video:
*The following video 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: