robinleblond@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I’m planning to buy/or build a jet during the winter, but as you may
> have notice, there is not very mush information on the net about
> this. Is any of you have very good website which talk about jet,
> turbine, price, operation of, trick and advice ?
> Or is there any of you who may have nice advices?
>
> (For your information: I’m flying since more then 14 year, I actually
> fly an Extra 300 (64”) wingspan and I do some basic 3D, I build more
> then 10 airplanes, so, I’m not a beginner in RC, but I surely is in
> Jet RC. I already know that it cost a lot more, but how exactly, I
> don’t know… I did not found a lot of manufacture of turbine and I
> have no idea which one is the best nor why… So as you can see, I may
> need a lot of information…)
>
Robin,
Jets come in a couple of varieties. First of all there are turbine
operated trainers or basically low performance versions that you can
utilize to get used to flying them. They fly like conventional aircraft.
More on this later.
Then there are more or less, scale jet models that are powered by Jet
Turbines. These do not fly like conventional aircraft.
In general a Turbine producing 14 pounds of thrust will be about $3,200
or so. Fini****ng a beginner kit can be about $1500.00 and one of the
Scale variants can run $3000 or more. So in general expect to spend
about $4500.00 to $7000.00 or so. Yes they can built cheaper. But when
you consider something that is capable of the speeds these things travel
it isn't wise to select cheap hardware.
Flight Characteristics. Two Words. Turbine Lag. It's a fact of life and
you have to learn to fly these things throttled up. Because if/when you
need power to avoid a problem, it's 2-3 seconds away. And to a pilot
that's a lifetime. Speed is another biggie. These things generally, at
least in semi-scale and scale, fly fast and land fast. Takeoff speed is
generally faster too. And as a rule the scale varieties like paved
runways.
My TamJet A-4, powered by a Jet Cat P60 takes roughly 360 feet of
pavement to rotate, and gains altitude slowly until appx 70mph or
better. Full tilt it will do about 140 mph and lands at about 60 with
30% flaps. It *will* fly slower but there isn't any room for error when
doing so. It also drinks fuel at a pretty good clip and is borderline at
6 minutes of flight time. This could be extended with a functional
centerline fuel tank and another 50 oz of Jet A but then it needs more
runway. It's a slippery slope.
Additionally these need a lot more sky as a rule.
Jet trainers don't suffer from most of these quirks and can also be very
enjoyable to fly if the non prototype appearance doesn't bother you.
EDF can also be a way do go. But personally I like the smell of Jet A in
the morning. <g>
Regards
Bill
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