Pilot-rc PREDATOR 2.2m Sport jet / full composite
#602
My Feedback: (4)
Hello Gang. I am interested in purchasing a new 2.2 Predator (via PilotRC usa) and would like to hear some flight reports/ quality/ set up. (I've heard a few instances about possible tip stalling which has spooked me !!!??). I'd appreciate any input.
Thank you
Robert in Milwaukee
Thank you
Robert in Milwaukee
For the price, the Predator 2.2 is hard to beat. I have a 170 in mine and power is just about perfect. I wouldn't go less. But I like speed and pretty much 1:1 thrust at take off.
If you put crow in the ailerons tip stalling becomes very hard. As was said, though, any jet can tip stall. IMO, the predator is a non-issue in this regard. I love mine.
#603
My Feedback: (4)
I now have a couple of flight on my predator 2.2m...I find no bad tendency but I do notice a tip stall at very very low speed close to landing but was easily control with aileron. Another thing...It's a power hungry airframe...I have a k210 sometime at full power and you wouldn't notice it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpVpKRwwOw8
@5:26 tip stall controllable with right aileron.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpVpKRwwOw8
@5:26 tip stall controllable with right aileron.
#604
My Feedback: (4)
I just sold my Elan to a flying buddy. Looking for my next jet and I'm thinking this is it. I read through the entire thread last night and it appears the only negatives are the issue with the finish, which isn't a deal breaker at all. Oh, I forgot about the bent wing tube, has this been resolved by Pilot RC in the latest shipments? Anyone have concerns about the landing gear operations?? Thanks!
I ended up installing a carbon fiber inner tube in mine. No issues. No issues with the gear either.
#607
As my first turbine powered jet I can’t complain. The Jet is like a big trainer. It’s very stable in the air and very forgiving specially at slow speed with full flaps and a little bit of crow the airplane seems to lock in. For the price you can’t beat it. I have the 2.2 with a P200 jetcat.
#608
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Saugus, CA
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone else having issues with the Pilot RC gear controller? It seems to work fine with the transmitter but when I try the test button it works intermittently. I read the manual. I know it only works when the receiver is turned off.
#609
My Feedback: (4)
No real problem with mine. there is a different press you have to do to retract vs extend, I know that. I just hold down the button until i hear it beep, and if the gear doesn't do what I expected, I push it again. One way or another, it ends up doing what I want it to. It's really a nice controller for being included(beats JP controllers by a mile!
#610
My Feedback: (4)
My friends at Flightreviewz caught video of me screwing around with my SW170b-powered Predator. This is only flights 8-9. Still getting used to it, but i LOVE this jet!
#612
My Feedback: (4)
Not sure about degrees, but it's about 5/16" of up aileron as measured at the outboard edge of the aileron. You can see how well it works in the landing at the end of the video above. it basically requires you to maintain a positive AOA on short final, and descent rate, even final flare, is a function of throttle instead of elevator.
#617
My Feedback: (4)
My CG is a little forward, even though it's at the back of the recommended range. Completely dry, it will barely stay in a wheelie on it's own. I estimate CG to be about 280mm back at the wing root. Every Predator I have seen carries a bit of up trim for level flight, like 3/32" at the inbd trailing edge of the elevator. However, it does not feel very noseheavy in flight, in that inverted only requires slight forward pressure, and KE requires very little down elevator mix.
Flap trim is minimal. I have my flaps on my flight mode switch, and my trims to follow flight modes. It does not require much down elevator at all. I think, off memory, maybe 1/8" down ele from the 3/32" up trim it has in flight, for both take-off and landing flaps(my crow is only for landing flaps and negates some of the typical tendency to climb, which is probably why there is little trim change).
Flap trim is minimal. I have my flaps on my flight mode switch, and my trims to follow flight modes. It does not require much down elevator at all. I think, off memory, maybe 1/8" down ele from the 3/32" up trim it has in flight, for both take-off and landing flaps(my crow is only for landing flaps and negates some of the typical tendency to climb, which is probably why there is little trim change).
#618
My Feedback: (67)
Hi Guys, Are anyone of you going to Coachella Jet Jam this weekend? Looking forward to see you all flying the Predator 2.2. I just play some catch up in this forum. This plane would land much better with crow setup on ailerons, especially for guys who stick big engine into it. The residual thrust at idle coupled with big flaps and crow at high angle would let you do a nice two wheelie landing all day long. Really nice flyer. I am going to try the 1.8 later this month. Mike
#619
My Feedback: (4)
Hi Guys, Are anyone of you going to Coachella Jet Jam this weekend? Looking forward to see you all flying the Predator 2.2. I just play some catch up in this forum. This plane would land much better with crow setup on ailerons, especially for guys who stick big engine into it. The residual thrust at idle coupled with big flaps and crow at high angle would let you do a nice two wheelie landing all day long. Really nice flyer. I am going to try the 1.8 later this month. Mike
The following users liked this post:
CRX Turbines (02-11-2020)
The following users liked this post:
bodywerks (02-10-2020)
#621
My Feedback: (4)
Got 8 more flights on the predator at Coachella jets. I added a 10% reverse differential mix to get the rolls more on axis and it worked perfectly. Hopefully one of the two videography companies caught some of the flights!
It's time to do some maintenance. The left brake is locking up, and I think the fuel system needs gone through, as the uat comes down with more air in it than I'd like.
It's time to do some maintenance. The left brake is locking up, and I think the fuel system needs gone through, as the uat comes down with more air in it than I'd like.
The following users liked this post:
Balou88 (01-11-2021)
#622
My Feedback: (25)
Got 8 more flights on the predator at Coachella jets. I added a 10% reverse differential mix to get the rolls more on axis and it worked perfectly. Hopefully one of the two videography companies caught some of the flights!
It's time to do some maintenance. The left brake is locking up, and I think the fuel system needs gone through, as the uat comes down with more air in it than I'd like.
It's time to do some maintenance. The left brake is locking up, and I think the fuel system needs gone through, as the uat comes down with more air in it than I'd like.
#624
My Feedback: (1)
FWIW, mine did this after about 100 flights eventually causing a flameout. Found a very small pin-hole leak between the tank and the UAT, running on the ground at high throttle settings I could see a small stream of bubbles coming up from the floor of the UAT. I ended up installing a BVM HF UAT and drilling a hole in the floor of the integrated UAT to connect its volume with the rest of the tank. The floor of the UAT is glued in and the glue seems to break down - this may or may not be an issue with yours.
Last edited by dccatl; 02-18-2020 at 04:10 AM.
#625
My Feedback: (4)
I bypassed the uat and installed an intairco. There is either a restriction in the pick up line or it's not moving around in the tank properly, or if there's a piece of metal tubing between the clunk and the stopper, it might have a micro crack.
Thanks to Mike Lin, pilot sent me a new tank with new plumbing due to a faulty uat, so I'll start there.
Thanks to Mike Lin, pilot sent me a new tank with new plumbing due to a faulty uat, so I'll start there.
The following users liked this post:
Balou88 (01-11-2021)