Glenn Dorrenboom in Australia
"Well I stepped up to the edge with the wind coming from the south and took a deep breath and gave it a push and – It Flies! A click of down elevator and a click of left aileron and it was flying as straight as a die. Cuts throught the turbulance like it was not there. Then I put it through it's paces: the roll is straight and fast, very fast; it turns tight and comes out of the turn faster than it went in. Now lets see if the crow mix is ok, give it some camber and up it goes, back off the camber and watch it accelerate...this has to be the best thing I have flown.
Tony Meno in San Francisco
"Fast, for starters. It made my Zipper, Mach Dart and Destiny look like they were PARKED as the JART shot by them. Not scary at all as far as the handling goes, with no bad habits at high or low speed. Reed's roll rate is somewhere between BLUR and FRENZY, and IF I could point-roll better this would be the plane to do them. Pop the stick over and take your thumb off, and the JART just stays at the last point, waiting for your instructions. The only clue to how fast its eating up the sky is that it quickly reached the end of my "comfort zone", necessitating a turn-around. Getting to fly it was a huge treat."
Mark Cornish in the UK
"I have been flying my JART quite a lot lately, good winds though a bit chilly here in the UK. The wind had to lighten eventually, so charged up a couple of my other gliders and had a play with them yesterday. What a disappointment, I remember them as being great things to fly ...fast... blistering roll rate, high adrenaline, etc. It seems that owning a JART makes you re-examine the rest of your sloping arsenal..."
Dave Reese ("Lift Ticket")
"Thanks for letting me get a little stick time on your JART. I really like how you had it set up. Rock solid stable with a high roll rate....sweet! Suits my style of flying."
Bill Osberg in San Francisco
"The JART is easily my favorite plane to date. I haven't had a whole bunch of planes true, I've only been flying 3 years -- but the list is pretty representative I think -- Miniblade, M60, LEG ME-109, Tuffplanes U2, Combat Wings XL, and a Spinner DLG.
The Miniblade is obviously a fast, agile plane, but the JART totally outclasses it in looks, plus it turns and rolls better. The M60 can bang a turn with the best of them and it loops and flies inverted great, but rolls are soooo slooooooow... And it's an ugly little duck too. I really like the U2 with that long snout, but the short moment limits turning ability and gives a bit of a wag on the pumps. The ME-109 has a great PSS look, but the low aspect ratio wing really limits performance.
With the JART, I can do things I always wanted to do but didn't dare -- like big loops right on the lip, quick rolls on the upline, and 4 point rolls. Just doing pumps and admiring the lines as you hear it scream by is a kick too.
I see a nice learning curve ahead, getting better at flying the JART!"
Target in Long Beach
"I could develop a relationship with this plane!"
Turpentine Dog in Santa Cruz (on the JART-EPP)
"WOW! Worth every building minute. It is fast, durable and is the sexiest plane on the slope. I really love this plane, it's already my favorite. It looks cool and flies hot, and has the profile of an übermodel. At slow speeds during landing it is predictable and not prone to tip stalls. I think anyone would love it. I am considering getting another kit."
Sam Sabey in Melbourne
One word, Awesome.
It's true. The JART totally rocks the planet. She is the best plane I've ever flown!
I was fretting all day, as I haven’t flown for some time – so I had to get my thumbs retrained again! As the day went by, there came a point where the JART told me she was ready. It wasn’t a feeling of I gotta fly this thing or else, it was just, Ok, it’s time, I’m ready and lets go now – or maybe it was that screaming high speed pass I had just completed with the Pike.
So first things first – range check. Rock steady at over 200 feet with the aerial down, I’m happy with that! Jase then muscles in and clears the flight line (thanks Jase, Shane grabs the JART ready for launch, it’s a wiggle of the flappers, say three Heil Mary’s and then the march to the toss off.
Shane gets the go, and she’s off! A little up trim required, but she’s a pussy cat! Rose up straight and level. CG too nose heavy is the immediate perception. Turns are great, not real tendency to tip stall, in fact she had no bad tendencies at all! A few passes were run at moderate speed, no “whistle” then it’s time to bring her round for a land and CG adjustment.
Final turn no hassle, if anything the approach was a little short – I had to walk 12 metres… and she plopped right down there on the grass.
5-6 flights were had, where the nose weight was reduced, maybe took out about 7-8 grams. After which she started to feel much better. Then it’s time to get her moving!
Rolls
JART rolls rock, low rates they are addictive and axial. High rates, they are staggering, accurate and awesome. Medium height pass, snap roll, and dive down for a turn into the valley is a lot of fun.
Upside down
As Reed says, “She fly good upside down” The JART has a presence in the air, the nose, fin, platform just looks very cool. Doing an inverted pass is even cooler! A little bit of up stick required on this day, but rock steady looking the wrong way.
Thermal
Believe it or not, the JART was thermalling! Turning with the uplift, gaining altitude – even with the ESV wings! Maybe someone should enter a JART in F3J…
Pumps
Split essing out from altitude after a thermal climb is where the Jart started to come into it’s own. Speeding past the flight line at a good clip she had that turbine whistle… not the moldy shriek, but that whistle a Jet plane off the burner would give – that’s a treat. Then it’s into a vertical climb, and the energy retention is staggering – for a 1 kg – 35 oz plane on a “soft” day. Stall turns there is substantial “hang” where rotation occurs and then it’s on again. She seems to build energy above a certain speed., beautiful!
Landing – the best part!
Wait for the video! First few landings were non eventful, belly lands – then I discovered something. Jase programmed the spoilerons setting in flight for me, then we were in for a treat!
Coming in under approach, spoilerons deployed, she assumes a nose up attitude and squeals like a pig, shrieking as she comes down! Then about a foot or so above ground, down elevator, and LAWN DART, wow. Precision Lawn dart 1 metre away from my feet. Brilliant.
Ian aka BLUFFMAN
Flew the JART today – it just rips. You designed the perfect beast. In 30mph onshore winds at Point Fermin this plane is rock solid. It has no bad habits. Point the nose and she goes. Axial roles – start counting cuz it just keeps rolling. Four point roles – piece of cake. This plane flys like its on rails! Mine weighs 80oz and next big wind I am adding another 10oz. This plane's design is spot on...
Adrian in South Africa
All I can say is;
WOW
This is by far the most exciting plane I have flown.
So yesterday, a couple of mates and I decided that’s it time to go maiden the JART.
The wind was from the South West which gives us only one slope to fly, above the lighthouse in Kommetjie. Just to position the slope, this is a small mountain pass situated on the Atlantic coast in Cape Town which literally puts us on the tip of Africa. Excuse the bias, but this is the most awesome place to live. (see attached Google earth bookmark)
This plane is certainly a crowd pleaser, on the ground and in the air.
The slope unfortunately, is not the greatest for maidens as the landing spots are limited and normally requires a controlled crash into some soft bushes, but what the heck, I needed to fly.
After checking out the conditions for a while, its time to give the Jart a run. Quick pre-flight check and everything is a go. Martin gives it’s a good solid throw and off she goes. Hands off the sticks and she just climbs.
The speed and performance of this plane is unbelievable. A couple of passes just to get a feel for things. And then some high speed passes, rolls, climbs etc all with no stall tendencies that I could pick up. Possibly a bit nose heavy which will be compensated for before the next flight.
Rolls are extremely tight and fast and great fun to watch,
On one occasion, a hi-speed pass across the front slope, the JART came in faster than I expected and ended up being a very close fly-by. (Sorry guys). It did however have that fantastic sound that comes build in as part of the JART.
After a good 15 minutes flying, it was time for landing, before my nerves failed all together. A couple of passes below the slope to bleed off some speed and then in for a landing. Came in a bit harder than I would have liked but landed fine, with only a minor paint crack.
Reed, I have to say, this is an exceptionally fine plane, one that I will be flying for a long time to come. Thanks for a great design..
Mike Hutchings in San Jose
"The clouds finally lifted over the bay area and the sun was shining bright and warm today. I took that as a good sign and headed out to the coast hoping for a little luck. The sky was filled with Hang gliders and jellyfish...looks like they all had the same idea that I did. Turns out we were all right. It wasn't booming by any means, but a very consistent 12-15 mph. After warming up with a little Sushi, Reed showed up with the yellow JART and his video camera.
Well to make a long story short, she flew! It required a couple of clicks of elevator trim, but she was spot on on the roll axis. I think I was just a bit back on the CG, and I'll probably add a smidge of nose weight before the next flight. Other than that, it was quite a rush flying such a smooth and solid plane. Even better was that it was my very own! I'm looking forward to getting more comfortable with it as we continue to bond. Jarts are fun! Thumbs up to Reed for a great flying design."
Andy Ellison
Oh, OK then........
So flexitime is great right?
Off to the Orme with a WSW forecast of 20mph in Llandudno which I expect might make 35 on the top. On arrival it was 60mph and gusting above this.......
Excellent news. My kind of weather.
Crap for photography though. Cloudy as hell with a few specks of rain and blowing straight up the main bowl. The wind chill is circa minus 5C. On pain of death from Dorling we wait for him to arrive before chucking it off.
It's everything I expected it to be but my flying was distracted by that music from Reeds test flight video on Jartworld going round and round in my head...
My baby weighs in at 74oz without ballast and carries a fair amount of energy. No worries here, I'm used to playing with these kind of toys in this sort of weather.
Gotta agree with Sam....Awesome.
Fast as you like. Rock steady, blindingly fast rolls. 300ft halfpipes, smooooooth flying. Easy inverted. Huge loops both in and out and seemingly endless hang time at the top of stall turns. I'd even copied that knife edge pass Reed throws in with an inverted turn out to the wind.
Two flights to get her dialled in. CG can come back a bit from the stock 57. Got a landing flight mode sorted for the second run but am not running enough spoiler to dump down through the Ormes LZ air. Almost got sucked into an RAF Jaguar. If i'd been halfpiping on the left side instead of the right I'd have been on the news!
S*** myself with the noise of that one 100ft above my head with a model in the sky. Caught him on the opposing pass about 30ft above the sea....Nutter.
Landings were fairly uneventful except for the P*** weak geartrains on Multiplex Slim Stars (first time I've used them) which don't like a dumping down with heavy ailerons and both let go simultaneously stopping play for the day.
The rep will be getting a nice call on Monday when I flex that magazine columnist muscle I keep for special occassions.....
All in all there's only one thing I can advise....
Go build a Jart...
Dave and Ronnie
Well what can I say that all you JARTists havent said before.....
The Balsa bashed Jart had its maiden flight today at The Hole Of Horcum (thats in north Yorkshire) one of the best sites in the north of England.
It was fabulous. It's come out at 2 1/2 lbs and it is still no floater, we realised that quite quickly. Rolls, loops, inverted flight, all with no great effort. The roll rate is just fantastic – Dave turned the ailerons down after the first flight and it was still quick. Reed, GREAT PLANE! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Grant in Southern California
Ok guys, she's maidened! Flew her last night in lighter conditions and it flew like a dream! Very stable fast and efficiant! The amazing thing is that the thing just flew straight out of my hand, no trim no nothin! I wa almost looking for a reason to trim it a little but I left it flying straight with no trim! I could barely keep my TP u-2 up earlier when there was more wind and then here I am doin split s's and rolls with a heavier airplane! Not to mention that I didnt even drop the flaps a few milimeters to get more lift (I have both flaps and spoilerons programed in for the JART). All I need to do is re-primer, re-sand and repeat to get out minor imperfections. It was just primer white with some red strapping tape on the bottom for orientation.
Dominic Messiha (aka screamin' eagle)
...let me just say - as great as the video is, it still doesn't do justice to seeing this plane and pilot up close and personal. I was already overtaken with the JARTs just from watching the videos, but seeing (and hearing) it in person cements in my mind that this is one special airplane -- right up there with all the great designs.
Thanks to Reed for designing it and sharing it with the rest of us.
I pulled up to the hill this morning in pretty average-marginal conditions. 15-20mph, cycling at times.
I turned on the Jart and walked to the ridgeline at least twice, ready to toss, but backed off because the wind was cycling. But the thermal cycles were becoming very brief and not as sketchy. Nevertheless after the car was already packed and ready to leave, I stopped the engine, pulled the Jart out of the back and said to heck with it.
The plane climbed very nicely out of my hands. I was expecting a level or dropping toss-out (this hill is good, but not great for compression lift) so I was pleasantly surprised.
Energy retention is of course fantastic. Halfpipes were very respectable even in the less than optimal conditions. The plane rolls like a drill bit, makes a very nice sound and looks great in the air. It even slows down pretty well.
Landing was uneventful - up the backside to burn speed and a plop down in the bushses on top, switching on a little spoileron to slow down.
I think she's ready for paint! -- although I'd like to get the CG a little more aft and there's a bit of fine tuning left on the elevator linkage issue.
Flew the JART on its second outing yesterday on a small but well shaped coastal bluff here in North LA county. Winds were sustained at about 30.
The plane flew straight and true with neutral elevator with the CG at 57mm back from the LE at the root. Fantastic energy retention and of course the blinding roll rate the JART is famous for were the order of the day. Landing with spoilerons was pretty much a hover-in affair.
The plane could have used 10-15 ounces of ballast in those conditions but nevertheless exceeded all my expectations (which were exceptionally high to begin with).
Pete on the Isle of Man
Well at last I got around to the maiden flight yesterday!
The wind was a bit light..15mph but it had to be done.
Launched straight, just a couple of clicks of up elevator and she flew on rails.
Dropped a bit of aileron and up she went in the lightish air. Gained some height. With the wing cleaned up she wants to go fast.
To my surprise stalling took some effort, and then predictable.
Then rain stopped play, landing was a doddle, with up aileron set up on the crow stick and trimmed earlier she dumps lift and comes down vertically in a slight nose up attitude. (Had seen this done on a Jart video clip somewhere)
So very impressed with the Jart, it's fast and stable, great stuff!!
Can I claim 1st Jart built and flown in the Isle of Man, Reed?.
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