I have a dream!

[deltawing]

It's winter time again, I hope everyone already had a good flying season and wishing you a happy coming holiday, not too early to say Merry Christmas.
This year I flew more at Rogo and very happy with two of my favour planes; a T-45 and a D.H. Vampire, two EPO Jets from HobbyKing.
I picked up both late last year, I maiden my Vampire in August 2014 with some help from Ken Ross.

My first flight went well until I stalled the plane on a low turn.  Get fixed and my second flight went well and landed safely on the run way.
My third flight ends up stalling the plane again on another turn; my bad habit I just like to fly slow, so I decided to threat on the throttle cure. (make a negative exponential on throttle cure)  Since then, every flight went well and I began falling in love with this EDF jet. I try flying it every time at Rogo.

This Vampire listed at US $115, I flew it with all stock gears, only added a single rudder with a 4.5 gram tiny servo hidden inside the end of the boom. Mind you that this plane do not need a rudder to fly well.
The stock motor and EDF consume 620 watts on a 2800mA, 4 cells (30C) also from HK, generating 750 grams of thrust.  The plane weight over 1200 grams with battery, so vertical is out of touch but I could have a lot of reasonable climbing and perform inverted loop.  I like to climbing up then do an inverted loop to back down, speed it up for a low pass.

As other owner's comments, this Vampire is a floater, it will glides for a long path with no throttle. It has no bad behavior at high or low speed (a big flying window).   If you like speed or higher roll rate, used a 5 cells, the stock ESC/motor will take it for a short period of time.  It is a good candidate as the first EDF jet and could be a performer for advance pilots.

In September I saw a wonderful formation flying (believe is two Extra 300 or like) at the KW Flying Dutchmen show and I fell in love with the excitement and challenge.  Since then I have a dream to fly formation at Rogo field with other flyers. 

I realized that many of you might had flew in formation with a warbird, my thought is an EPO might be more durable, lower cost and easier to fly then a warbird.   I believe this Vampire and the T-45 is two EPO that will look good and fly well in formation. Image five jets flying by in a V formation, doing loops and low pass...

I invite you to form a formation flying team (informal) to try out this challenge in the coming 2016 flying season.
If you are interested about this EPO Vampire/T-45 or the challenge of formation flying, here are the links you could check on;

Vampire links;
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20580__Durafly_D_H_100_Vampire_Mk6_EDF_Jet_w_retracts_1100mm_PNF_.html
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1580010
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1702263
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1489353

T-45 link;
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__14878__BAE_Hawk_Red_Arrow_70mm_EDF_Jet_kit_White_EPO_.html?strSearch=BAE
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1903583
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1867824

Formation flying links; 
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1479180
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1439333
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1051844
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2152687

[deltawing]

Im adding couple photos of my T-45 and the Vampire. First one is a real T-45 on sky.

[bweaver]

I would be interested trying to do jet formation flying with you this coming season.

I have had (operative word  ) a T-45 which I enjoyed flying.  I have a new T-45 kit to put together over the winter.  I am installing a more powerful EDF in it than the original one and am using 4 cells instead of 3.

I fly with the morning crew, where a few of us fly formation (generally flying in the same direction at the same time with the odd coordinated loop and turn put in for good measure) with WWII war birds of various types.  Success is measured by returning to the runway flying your own plane.

Look forward to seeing you at the field and giving it a try.

[sihinch]

I love trying to fly formation. Great suggestion and post Philip. Count
me in for informal practice.

[Michael]

Count me in for any type of formation flying:

Jets, warbirds, gliders, Cubs, EF1, etc.

[Canuke]

Bruce failed to mention that both he and I while flying our Mustangs in formation crashed and wrote them both off. I was flying Bruce's for some time before someone told me  mine had crashed. I'm not sure whose plane he was flying later when his went into the ground. We are still flying our P47's in formation but have decided it is safer (not always easy, you need to concentrate) to fly our own planes.

[Michael]

Well, I flew today, jets in formation, with Philip, and it was great. We took off (Philip first quickly followed by me) and we flew about a dozen or so nice circuits, probably within 30 or 40 feet of each other the whole time.

It was fun! 

[deltawing]

Thanks Michael for flying with me in formation this afternoon.  It was fun as last time and wasn't easy even I'm the leading one. My next practice would be keep flying the same circuit in a same speed and altitude.   I'm going to add a mix on aileron with some +elevator to my T-45. 

I'm very glad learning that many one like or already flying in formation, I do look forward to practice formation flying with anyone.
Bruce which T-45 you are building now? IMO 3 cells would be on the weak side unless it use > 4000Kv motor.  HK has a 64mm alloy EDF, 750w produce 1.2kg thrust on 4 cells.
This winder I'm rebuilding a HK T-45 Goshawk 64mm frame given to me, will put in a 70mm, 900W, 1.2kg thrust EDF and retracts, glass fiber cloth on wings.
 
If weather is good again tomorrow, I will be flying in the morning till early afternoon.   

[bweaver]

This is the EDF I have for installing in my T45. I am Looking forward to flying with you....

https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/%5F%5F46319%5F%5FAlloy%5FDPS%5F64mm%5F10%5Fblade%5FElectric%5FDucted%5FFan%5FAssembley%5F3300Kv%5FUS%5FWarehouse%5F.html

[Wingnutz]

Hey Philip,
Count me as a subscriber to your dream!
I've been hovering over the buy button on the HK Vampire too long and your invite is the little push I need...I'll order one when I'm finished writing this.
In the meantime, I'll bring something that'll fit with your T-45 and/or Vampire so I can try formating..
Dunno if we'll ever create a mini Snowbirds team but sure will be fun trying!
Looking forward to it!

[deltawing]

Bruce, that is a powerful one, might go vertical. 10 blades will sound like a real jet too. Looking forward to see how good it performs. I guess you are building the HK 64mm Goshawk?

Bill you will not regret for getting this Vampire, IMO this is one EDF that most pilots will enjoy flying. I'm getting my second one for the coming seasons. Before you take it to the air, make sure the CG is correct, it will takes a bigger battery than recommended, strengthen the two booms by adding fiber strips 1x3mm or 1x5mm, make a 55mm air tube if you want a bit faster. Please check out the RCgroups.com, there are many posts about this old model.  Price gone up! $119.99 now.

[deltawing]

In search for more formation flying video, here is a good one. Enjoy 

https://youtu.be/UBh2u9vjQug

[deltawing]

How about this one if last video doesn't impress you yet.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykGvPilyNJo

[deltawing]

Oscar, You will love this one.   

[deltawing]

here the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiqWvnXjy74