Russian Thunder gets a face lift.

[SleepyC]

Hey guys, I've been speaking with Jim Bourke and he mentioned a few times that he was completely overhauling his YAK 54 Russian Thunder. Basically Zero hour-ing the airframe.
As you can imagine this is quite a daunting task. When I spoke to Jim in Toledo he mentioned that he has had new ailerons made in Russia from the original production jigs, and many other parts had to be fabricated from scratch.

Well Jim just forwarded me a few shots of RT getting a fresh coat of paint.
Pretty cool! Hopefully later in the year she will be in the air again!

[jseven27]

Very Cool!!!

[dubd]

Does this mean EF will be updating their Russian Thunder scheme too?

[SleepyC]

I think the scheme will be almost the same, just getting a fresh coat of paint after a little love on the airframe skin.
So the EF scheme will still be valid.

There may be a new sticker or two on the plane though (cough cough FG cough)

[snap a saurus]

So Jim is not getting his fix by flying the plane right now, how long before it's done?

[SleepyC]

Here is a current list from Jim of what has been or is being done to RT :

Items being done:
- New brakes (Cleveland brakes)
- New wheels/tires
- New ailerons
- Dynon EFIS D10A installed in rear panel
- Leather padding added to cockpit (for my knees - they get banged up)
- Engine painted and detailed
- all hoses replaced
- all wiring replaced
- new paint scheme, but similar to the original. Just a more modern
look in the tail area.
- channels routed for camera system, to be installed later
- New seat foam (and leather accents)
- New seat belt harness mounts (old mounts were too low and were
unsafe - would compress my torso in an accident)
- New aresti sequence holder (might not be ready in time)
- Custom machined aileron spade brackets (this bit is
interesting...I'm still playing with the angles...more later)
- New stainless steel exhaust pipes
- New alternator (increased amperage to run the electronics)
- New air start system
- Added a "clean kit" (helps prevent hydraulic lock due to engine oil
being gravity fed into the lower cylinders while in storage)
- New switches in panel
- New canopy glass (on order, will be tinted...might not have it
installed for this season...the old glass is functional)
- Rear seat lowered slightly because I'm too tall and I've conked my
head a few times during tumbles
- Machined new wheel fairing mounts (improves on stock design, which
will keep the leg fairings and pants more secure)
- Removed old pyrotechnic system (controversial, I know, but I'm not
doing a night pyro show any time soon, and if I do, I can design my
own system)
- Numerous dings and dents filled

And a few other things...it's a big list!

Jim




Also, here is the actual new updated scheme.
Very nice!

[Edge 540]

Are they going to fix the engine and make it spin the right way?

[snap a saurus]

Might as well buy a new One.

[ferocious frankie]

LOL I like how he designed the scheme on Real Flight.

[SleepyC]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ferocious frankie
	LOL I like how he designed the scheme on Real Flight.

Well, Jim is the operations manager of Real Flight, so if you have the resources.. why not!

[ferocious frankie]

	Quote: Originally Posted by SleepyC
	Well, Jim is the operations manager of Real Flight, so if you have the resources.. why not!

Yep, I know, that's why I found it to be funny.

[jbourke]

	Quote: Originally Posted by snap a saurus
	Might as well buy a new One.

But then it wouldn't be Russian Thunder.

My pick of new planes would be the Sbach 342. If only it were a radial...

Jim

[jbourke]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ferocious frankie
	LOL I like how he designed the scheme on Real Flight.

Credit goes to Alek Prelle-Tworek, an artist at Knife Edge, for the scheme. We considered many, but in the end I decide to keep the scheme as close as possible to the original, while still adding a bit to the style.

Jim

[SleepyC]

Jim,

Any chance of one more modification to the scheme?

[TimDavie]

Should have Eric Beard's name on it somewhere would think.