California Radio Control Jet Association

So you got the retracts and now you want to add some stopping power to your speeding demon. Well first, you are going to have to get some wheels that can accept brakes. Many companies offer scale tires, wheels and brakes for jets. Glennis, Century Jet, BVM and many other Jet manufacturers. There are two basic ways to install or run brakes. A single channel devoted to the brakes and/or mixing it in with another channel. All of my Jets have it mixed into the "Dowm Elevator" The plus to this is that no extra channel is taken up leaving you more room for added scale stuff or cheaper Radio to use. Minus side is that everytime you fly inverted, you release some air. Take your pick. I make sure I have enough Air after every two to three flights unless it has been two hours or more between flights. This of course will also vary by the size of your air tanks and the amount of air used in each operation.

O.K. People, I added Brakes and Oleo Struts to my Byron Mig 15. YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO SEE THE LARGER ONE.


First two pictures show the components that make up the Brakes. Air Tank, Air Fill Valve, Brake Valve, Air Lines, Brake Drums to fit your specific wheels, Tee connectors and if you have plug-in wings, quick dis-connectors. Last but not least air line tubing. In this case I am running the brakes off a seperate channel but I usually use the elevator to activate the brakes. (Down elevator would engage the Brakes). Doesn't really matter what channel you set them to as long as you are happy with the installation.


This might sound like basic common sense, but a lot of people don't do this. You MUST put a flat spot on your axle to hold the wheel in. As you can see from the last two pictures. I place a flat spot on the axle and on the strut. A set screw holds both into their perspective parts. you MUST ALSO use grease on the axle before you put the wheel on. If you don't on your first or second flight the axle and wheel will heat up and lock. If it heats up high enough it will weld itself togetther.


So how they they really work? Well when you hit the switch air is let into the "O"ring in the brake hub, which then expands to make contact with the wheel. The preasure created then slows the rotation of the wheel giving you some stopping power.


It doesn't have to be a ballistic plane for you to put brakes on it. the Last pictures are of my Great Planes Lear Jet with BVM Maverick wheels and brakes. I had everything laying around the Hangar so I just put them to use. The brakes are actuated with the Elevator in the Down position and I fill the tank after two or three flights. So what are those pictures of a prop plane doing on a Jet Web Page, well just to show you that you can use Brakes with Wire struts. You need to get the right kind of axles to fit the brakes hubs, but all the people that sell brakes can also sell you the axles. The wheels when properly greased, will roll forever. The tank is a very small tank located in the structure of the wing placed there during the building process. Compact and out of sight, but one problem and you are done with the brakes. You can see the large fill valve on the bottom of the wing in the center section. I like to use the large fill valves because I then just carry a small bicycle air pump (re-chargable).

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This site is maintained By
Ralph "Turbulence"Salgado
Revised Feb 15, 2000 ; © CRCJA
Comments, questions, suggestions Ralphs@pcmagic.net.