General Information

The CARF-Models BOLT builds on an almost 15 year old legacy, the "Lightning". Back in the days that sport jet was a groundbreaking airplane in terms of size, speed, prefabrication and durability. Soon a facelift was introduced, mainly swept back wings with very aerodynamical tips and larger, swept back stab and fin. The "UltraLightning", as it was called from then on, has a top place in the list of fast high performance sport jets of the world.

   

The CARF-Models BOLT continues to represent this legacy. It features the same, perfectly aerodynamic wing and stab. What has changed is the greatly refined fuselage, featuring some very intresting new ideas, such as the large, easily removable canopy hatch with integrated nose section. A clear canopy with cockpit deck accents the new, perfectly designed lines and shapes of this airplane.

   

"Form Follows Function" is one saying, which always has been a key element of CARF-Models' designs. And we proudly say that's because we ALWAYS design, produce, fly and market our airplanes ourselves, in-house and together with a constantly growing team. With the Bolt, however, there has been another philosophy deeply followed, and that is: "What looks good, flies good!" Colani, Rutan, Pecorari... they all have proven this to the world.

The CARF-Models BOLT had been designed with exactly that philosophy in mind, and boy does that plane look good! And so it flies...

 

ARF KIT Features

      

      

Features

As to be expected from a new CARF-Models design, a lot of exciting features have been built in. Let the following photos speak for themselves.

  • The completely removable nose section blends into canopy and turtle deck, opening up the whole fuselage with one slide. Below the shell there is a dual carbon boom structure towards the nose, holding nose gear and batteries. This structure is also removable after taking off two simple bolts.
  • And in oder to ship the kit boxes throughout the world without hassle and premium cost, we designed all the parts so that nothing is longer than 2 meter. Even when transporting your BOLT in a small station wagon, even a sedan, is an important purchasing factor, rest assured that the CARF-Models BOLT will fit in any car, despite its impressive dimensions when assembled.
  • As an improvement over the UltraLightning the flaps are enlarged and in combination with a slight crow setting for landing, their efficiency is greatly increased. All other control surfaces are carefully sized so that a perfect compromise is found between maneouvering authority and flutter resistance at the high flying speeds the BOLT is capable of. 

   

  • The engine is fully ducted, the air intakes have rounded lips and follow the constant-area-rule all the way to the turbine intake. The two-part carbon bypass holds the partially double-walled stainless steel thrust tube and is easily removable as one complete unit through the tailcone of the airplane. The for a Sport Jet of this caliber still pretty long tail moment make it track beautifully with very smooth control authority. This was a challenge for the CG as we wanted to keep the thrust tube as short as possible and the engine still well accessible from above.
  • The RC-installation is completely done on a horizontal, carbon sheeted board in the front part of the fuselage. Here it's very easy to make ultra clean installations due to the fact that all wiring and plumbing can be routed below the easily removable board.
  • For the looks on the ground and in the air a clear canopy with a cockpit deck was absolutely mandatory. The aerodynamical wing tips follow computer aided flow dynamic design and the low unhedral horizontal stab stands for great rolling and knife edge characteristics, besides from simply looking awesome.

 

 

 

Carbon Production

Only all carbon components used in the structurally important areas. Incredible strength and rigidity are the result - unbreakable in the air.

   

Fuel Tanks

A pair of fuel saddle tanks (6.1 liter) and a central smoke tank (2 liter) are of very conformal shape. They are tightly packed within fuselage and ducting but still easily removable for maintenance. Since the engine installation with carbon bypass, thrust tube and fuel cells is so very special, ir really makes sense to purchase the light weight, spiral reinforced stainless steel thrust tube and perfectly fitted Kevlar saddle tanks together with  the basic kit. A UAT of your choice will have to be purchased separately from aftermarket suppliers.

    

Landing Gear

The CARF-Models BOLT got a perfect fitting Electron Landing Gear. Full gear doors... All mounting frames are installed, pre drilled, carbon reinforced and ready to go. We decided to go that way because we didn't want to compromise the clean aerodynamics of that flaghsip high speed sport jet. Each door is installed in the factory and will accept 2 magnet locks to make sure they stay closed and so stay on the plane at whatever speeds. The doors are servo operated and come fully hinged, ready for servo, linkage and magnet installation. Last but not least, a massive carbon wing tube, interlocking with the main gear mounts, holds the wings in place and in shape. Even the nose gear is strapped between two ultra strong carbon tubes...

    

PNP - Service

We offer an extremely high-quality assembly service, delivering a ready-to-fly PNP model – including turbine, complete servo and wiring installation, electric retractable landing gear, and pre-installed fuel tanks. When you receive this model in the PNP version, final assembly takes just a few hours… A sport jet like our BOLT has never been easier to get airborne! At the same time, the pictures show what your model can look like once you’ve completed the build – a true masterpiece in both looks and engineering.

    

    

    

Accessories

For our BOLT, we offer a wide range of accessories. These include the electric retractable landing gear, fuel tanks, smoke tank, thrust tube, and an optional UAT. In addition, we offer high-quality MacGregor servos in combination with our very own CARF-Models servo arms – perfectly matched to the model and the demands of a high-performance sport jet.

    

    

Various Color Schemes

Available as usual, in various stock color schemes, with individual color swaps or even in a completely custom scheme. In the following pics you can see a few attractive schemes which could be done:

     

     

     

Flying Characteristics

Once the CARF-Models BOLT leaves the ground, you feel immediately where it belongs. In its element, the powerful engine accelerates the plane, and once the gear and flaps are retracted, it becomes the smoothest-flying jet you can imagine. Vertically up, add 2-3 fast rolls to the climb, pull it around, and let it go. Pedal to the metal. The coolest thing is that you do not have to worry. Just let it go. The faster it gets, the smoother it feels on the sticks. That is a phenomenon only the BOLT exhibits. The design's secrets are the ultra-stiff airframe, the perfectly dimensioned control surfaces, a great airfoil, and the very long tail moment. These do their work so well that you'll love it. Slow rolls straight as an arrow, barely any control input needed. Infinite loops and high-speed passes are so low you only feel confident doing so with such a stable airframe. Pulling the engine to idle'll take 3 circuits until all the speed is bled off; you'll be fascinated by the quiet whistle while the BOLT cuts through the air like a warm knife through butter. To extend the flaps and approach the runway for a slow pass at crawling speed. That's how you enjoy the excellent performance envelope of your BOLT to the fullest. The landing is uneventful, and the ground handling is awesome due to the wide gear track. While you taxi back, you're already planning your next sortie because you simply can't get enough of it.

   

The BOLT is another typical CARF design. Besides its stunning beauty its well thought through, high end construction delivers market leading performance. That's our philosophy, that's our mission.

Bolt - Need for speed

Teampilot Max Chrubasik shows the full range of the Bolts flying characteristics at Jets over Deland

The Hyper Jet flown by Thomas Singer & Dominik Euteneier

    94" (2400 mm)

 

     110" (2800 mm)

 

    36 Lbs (17 kg) dry 55 lbs (25 kg) fully loaded

 

    220 - 260 N

 

    10 high class 20 mm standard size digital servos and 1 15 mm digital Mini Servo
   

 

Download: BOLT Instruction Manual

 

 

Insider Tip