VLJ...

kit · Post by **kit** » 17 Jul 2007, 22:35

Ah yes, the Eclipse 500. My employers developed the welding technique that they use to buld the Eclipse.

It's called Friction Stir Welding and works a bit like rubbing two Boy Scouts together to make a fire. They press the two panels together, maintaining a precise load, and then heat the joint up by pushing a mandrel against the joint and spinning it like crazy to melt the metal, while the mandrel moves along the joint line.

Seems it's loads stronger and more accurate that either rivets or adhesive bonding. Quite how you repair one if it gets bent I'm not sure, as I'd think the whole aeroplane would be in one piece after 'assembly'.

For some time they had a largish chunk of Eclipse in the High Bay of our plant in Minneapolis, although it was just a big metal tube to the unititiated.

jonesey2k · Post by **jonesey2k** » 18 Jul 2007, 08:21

Heh, I've just spec"d my own. Anybody want to lend me $1,885,479 ?

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 18 Jul 2007, 10:31

jonesey2k wrote:Heh, I've just spec"d my own. Anybody want to lend me $1,885,479 ?

Well I hope it flies to the numbers better than this simulated version does...I'll be spending a large part of today adjusting it so that it does what it is supposed to!...After I've assembled your files on the small cargo project and emailed them off Jonesey :roll:

hinch · Post by **hinch** » 18 Jul 2007, 13:27

Hi Peter,

I'd be interested in your improved flight dynamics for this aircraft, will you make them availible? I released some new night VC textures on avsim that actually light things up.

I reviewed it too ages ago it seems now on flightsim.com

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 18 Jul 2007, 18:57

Hinch,

I've only tested my final adjustments from McLeland Field to Anchorage and back this afternoon...About 1 hour 20 mins each way and burning 155 gallons total for the two legs. I cruised at FL410 and M0.64

Seems to perform pretty well on the numbers now with a flat out max Mach Number of M0.67 which I believe is correct. I've yet to test the max range etc but I will do soon. I have not really changed any handling characteristics but brought the numbers in the files up to date with the manufacturers figures. In order to make it perform to the manufacturer's specs, I had to increase the thrust...I would have preferred to reduce the drag but those figures seemed to be already rather low.

Anyway, when it is all complete and my testing is over, I will make a download available for anyone who wants it

BTW...It was interesting that in the high altitude cruise the Air Nautical Miles per Gallon were superior to some sports cars but taxying which it comfortably does at idle RPM with about 20 knots, drank fuel with an ANMPG of 0.3 something :shock:

hinch · Post by **hinch** » 18 Jul 2007, 20:19

very handy the GPH meter on the MFD then! Keep up the good work, I haven't flown the aircraft in a while but you may tempt me, i always found it very difficult to hand fly as the elevator was very sensitive. Always good fun but not good for those imaginary passengers.