This is the first turbine powered M-21/ YF-12 jet model released on the market. It is essentially a further reinforced twin seater version of our A-12 Oxcart.
The YF-12 is one of the coolest plane ever designed. It was requested by the US Air Force as the fastest interceptor ever flown, even by today's standards. It was table to carry 3 AIM-47 missiles, to intercept possible soviet supersonic strategic bombers.
The M-21 was also a hell of a cool plane. It was designed to carry the D-21 drone. A hypersonic autonomus reconnaissance vehicle. Only two where built and s.n. 6940 is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. We are working on a flyable D-21 carbon fiber RC glider that will fit on the back of our M-21.
This model is an evolution of the legendary remote controlled SR-71 flown for many years by Lance Campbell. It uses the exact same aerodynamics configuration. The flight characteristics are spectacular with a very stable platform, very good low speed handling and good aerobatics abilities as well as very good single engine behavior, proven with a win at Top Gun 2018 in Master class and a second place at Top Gun 2017 in Expert class including a stratospheric static scoring of 99.125 as well as "critics choice" and engineering awards!
It comes with a specific nose design ( YF-12 ).
The airframe is built in-house at our Dubai production line by our team of very skilled aero technicians. It uses a proprietary layup and production technique that we have used extensively on our UAVs.
The building technique and materials used are one big step forward compared to the techniques popular among the current JWM winners and has never been used in the model industry.
Technology:
Our CloudTech laminate technology uses the highest modulus carbon fiber strand available on the planet from Torayca. This strand is the exact same one used by Boeing on the 787 and is 100% made at their USA factory.
It is laid up in a series of uni directional layers oriented according to CAD computations. The UD carbon fabric is made specifically to our order and is 0.3 mm thick. The core material is a specific ultra light weight aerospace grade PEI foam ( used in the future B-777X ) that is thermo formed to the plane shape at 300 c and is certified to sustain 120 c continuous without de-gassing. This foam is 3 times lighter than the Airex grade used on the best models being currently sold to the hobby market but features the same resistance to compression.
The skin created using these materials is infused in one step with a very specific resin gel sheet technique. A super high modulus epoxy resin is used and post cured for 48 hours at high temperature, offering a resistance of 120 c continuous. The laminate is 100% carbon fiber from Torayca.
Architecture:
The plane internal structure was designed and specced using finite analysis simulation to offer 10 g resistance with 320 N total thrust. The internal structure is CNC cut and 100% made of Airex/ carbon fiber laminate with the same gel sheet epoxy resin as the skin and post cured in one step with the remaining of the structure. The wing and fin tubes are also aero grade carbon fiber made and post cured in the same step with the structure to fuse the glue joints with the spar/ ribs. This is a unique process allowing both the skin and the internal structure to cure together and fuse with the epoxy joints, creating a virtually monocoque shell.
The gear support plates are made of a specific shock absorbing 3D core/ carbon fiber material and reinforced at the gluing junction with UD fabric.
The plane is 100% made from carbon fiber/ PEI core and does not include any wood or glass fiber at all. Only the nose and tail cones are made of Kevlar fiber to allow placement of the receiver antennas.
The M-21/ YF-12 are reinforced compared to the A-12 with an additional carbon fiber layup on the landing gear area, wing tube area, nose section interface and fins bulkheads. As such, it is certified for more aerobatic maneuvers.
Landing gear:
The gear was CAD drawn by Oli and is using our now famous hybrid 3D printing/ machining process.
The struts are completely in-house CNC machined on our Siemens milling centers to 5/100 mm precision. We are using 100% USA produced and certified Al 2024 T351 rated at 47,000 PSI yield strength and Al 7075 T651 rated at 73,000 PSI for all the gear components.
The hyper scale landing gear covers are laser 3D printed to 25 micron resolution and can be replaced in case of damage.
The retracts are behotec C50F units either in pneumatic or electrical version.
The retracts are fixed to the structure using 3 mm carbon fiber flex plates. These are removable to offer a quick turnaround time in case of a hard landing event.
The tires are 3D printed in a very scale light grey high abrasion resistant rubber. They are hollow but not inflated. A 3D graphene internal structure insures the stiffness of the tire. This technique allows to save an amazing amount of weight on the landing gear.
Powerplant:
The plane is designed to be powered by two B-140F ( base version ) or two B-160F jet engines. The bypass system is molded around this engine. The engine mounts are factory laser aligned for a perfect thrust line setup.
The engine is very important on this plane and the reason for this choice is that the BF-Turbines engines are military grade units with internals entirely made from Inconel and the highest levels of reliability. These are the only engines on the market certified to run at 33,000 ft. This ensures that the engine will run flawlessly even in the highest density-altitude conditions that prevail in the summer.
Flight controls:
The inboard elevators and outboard ailevators are completely internally operated ( no visible control link ) and use titanium pushrods/ axles/ ball links.
They are supported by large ABEC 5 precision ball bearings.
The fins are full flying type and use titanium pushrods/ Al 7075 T651 horns.
High quality titanium gear high voltage servos are required for these controls. The manual includes a complete servo torque computation analysis for certification.
Note that the outboard ailevators ( ailerons/ elevator ) require a 550 oz.in torque servo to operate at max deflection at 170 mph. The pushrod load can be as high as 29 lbf and the titanium/ SS ball link and threaded rods are required. A dual servo setup is required for this function.
Flight characteristics:
What better description of the plane's flight characteristics than a good video?
Here is one of the flight presentations at Jets over Kentucky;
Here is a typical takeoff with the much lighter JWM version:
Plane transport:
The plane splits in 6 parts: the nose section, the rear fuselage, the wings and 2 fins.
The bulkiest part ( rear fuselage ) is 47 in/ 1.2 meter wide and 78 in/ 2 meter long when dismantled.
We ship the kit in a bespoke 47" x 78" x 20" plywood crate that can be re-used for international transport. This crate can be dismantled for storage and is fumigated.
An 80" long by 50" trailer or pickup truck is recommended for crate transport.
Extra work packages are available:
Stage 1: All flight controls installed, centered at 1500 us and certified to the nominal load ( certification form provided for your Aviation Authority ). Servos, pushrods and ball links installed. Servos provided: 2 JR NXB 8921 for the ailerons, 2 JR NX 8931 for the elevators, 2 JR NX 8931 for the all flying fins.
Stage 2: Stage 1 plus pneumatic landing gear and pneumatic system installed and tested. Doors installed and tested. Air tanks, valves, JMP fill panel and rams included. No sequencer.
Stage 3: Stage 2 plus electrical system installed. Ultimate Jets MIL spec loom installed. No batteries provided.
Stage 4: Airframe painted, decals applied, DuPont semi matt clear coat applied.
Options available:
Austenistic steel/ carbon fiber thrust tubes
Ultra light JWM single bladder tank ( 6 liters ) for 90 N engines
Dual kevlar fuel tanks ( 2 kevlar tanks, 5 liters ) for 100 N engines
Triple kevlar fuel tanks ( 3 kevlar tanks, 97 liters ) for 140 N engines
Scale cockpit ( availability Q2 2018 )
Canopy pneumatic opening system ( availability Q3 2018 )
Scale chute and ejection system ( availability Q3 2018 )
JWM reduced weight construction ( under 20 kgs dry weight with specific accessories )
Airplane data:
Scale: 1/8
Length: 13 ft/ 156 in or 3.96 m
Span: 82 in or 2.08 m
Fuel capacity: 240 fl.oz or 7 liters / 5 liters with JWM options
Dry weight: 19.9 kgs with 90 N lightweight engines and JWM options, 24 kgs with 140N and regular accessories.
Takeoff weight: 24.0 kgs with 100 N and JWM options, 29.0 kgs with 140N and regular options.
Engines: 2 JetsMunt VT-90BLR engines, up to 2 B-140F jet engines
Max allowed thrust for AMA/ FOCA/ UK/ EU certification: 2 x 140 N.
Max certified speed: 170 mph/ 270 km/h.
