jet on a budget

[ColdProp1964]

Hey all you turbine guys. I want to get into turbines. I was going to start with glow or electric but I dont really want to. So I'd like some advice on a jet I can get flying, I want any twin engined modern fighter with the exception of the F/A-18. I have a $350 budget. Thanks.

[tommyeflight89]

Not to be hard on ya, but good luck! I haven't really looked but I think a simple single jet engine runs well into the $1000's...
For $350 you could just maybe get a 30" foam, prop driven, ParkJet going. Check out the Pusher Jet section.
Edit: Check this out: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=470146
He got an "inexpensive" turbine for $1550 USD. That doesn't include the plane or electronics. I'd guess it would be at least $2500 for a lower end setup.

[causeitflys]

That's about the absolute bottom dollar for a new small turbine engine ($1550).

[wildnloose]

I have been looking into this for the last 2 months. All you need to do is read the thread "Affordable Turbines that do work." So far this is the cheapest setup I have come across. Most turbine guys I talk to tell me that you cannot get into turbines for under $5000.

If you are new to this hobby then I would suggest you start with glo or electric. First, learning to fly with a turbine is pretty expensive. Second, in the U.S., you will have to fly something fast to get your turbine waiver. All info is available at modelaircraft.org.

[joeflier]

It can be done for considerably less than $5000 if you can find a good used turbine and have some building skills. It is not necessary to buy an expensive composite kit or ARF. There are a number of turbine wood kits and ARF's out there that are reasonably priced, or you could modify a DF or prop kit.

I got into turbines for well under $2000. I bought a used Ram 500 from a friend for $1000 and spent $75 to update the software to latest level (wasn't necessary but it starts much easier). I had a Balsa USA Enforcer kit that I paid $40 for at a swap meet, so I kit bashed it to accomodate the turbine. The receiver and servos were NIP which I bought second hand off Ebay/RCU/RC Groups. The retracts and wheels/brakes came off of a DF I crashed a few years ago.

I made a bunch of modifications to strengthen the airframe and to improve the flight characteristics and looks. I couldn't be more pleased with the end result. Flight characteristics are super; no bad habits, it goes where you point it, is fast (clocked at 160 mph), and lands easily on our 380 ft. runway.

You may not make out quite as good as I did. Typical price for a used Ram 500 is $1200 - 1500. You can find used P80's or P60's for $2000 or less. A new T-500, PST 600R, or Wren 54 kit is $2200 or a new P60 or P80 is $2500.

I did have to spend $350 for new bearings after about 50 flights. I'm now at 95 flights and still going strong. Here's a few pictures.

Joe

[calvo]

Well I got a Typhoon engine from Funsonic. I like it very much. Price is unbeatable for 1595, you get 7Kg of thrust. I have flown mine for a couple off flights now, and I am very impressed.

[causeitflys]

calvo,
Price on the Typhoon in the US from Robart is $2595. Where did you get yours? I had the link but lost it.

[calvo]

go to

http://www.funsonic.de/prices.htm

[causeitflys]

Yeah, it's $1739 USD, but Robart is the exclusive US distributor and their price is $2595.
http://www.robart.com/FunSonic/FS70.aspx
I don't think I want to have to deal with Robart for a turbine. There was another site that said they shipped worldwide for the same low price.

[Dora Nine]

I think you guys scared him away....

[causeitflys]

OOPS :o

[calvo]

May be it was this?

http://www.hobbydirekt.de/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=501&XTCsid=67acece79ad21fecca44b85a6901c204

[causeitflys]

Not sure if that is it... can't get the English version.

[ColdProp1964]

Maybe I'll just stick to electric and glow. :o

[ColdProp1964]

Thanks anyway though.

[GregG]

I have been looking into this for the last 2 months. All you need to do is read the thread "Affordable Turbines that do work." ......

Can you give a link to this?

[causeitflys]

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=470146

[Jaap Gaasbeek]

hallo everybuddy

[sandor_digitech]

hallo everybuddy

Hellu jaap hoow is it gooooing? :D

zearsching foar nieuw freends? ;)

[captinnitro]

Well I bought several used jpx at a very good price, So far so good. I could use more power but what can I expect for $500.

[Ravill]

Turbines on a budjet huh?? Well, it looks like the original "poster" was scared away with the finiancial prohibitiveness of this part of our hobby. :o

It seems that there are many airframes (even "go fly" prices) well under $1000 US now, but a reliable engine is difficult to come accross for $1000 US. After a pcm reciever, analog hi torque servoes, UAT, brake switches, retract switches, airline, servo extensions, it seems very difficult to stay under $2000. Right now.

As soon as the metalurgy catches up to production costs, the turbines will also drop in price. Electronics are usually always dropping in costs as well. I think $2000 is still alot of money to risk using an $11.00 standard servo on a the "jesus" surfaces.

It seems that most entry sized RTF turbines are in the $3-5K US range. :(

I'm sure that'll change. But until then, we are were we are! :p
Raf

[Superman1082]

anyone know a site i can go to for turbin jet planes i want to get MIG-29 jet with turbins and about 70" long ?

[Superman1082]

anyone know a site i can go to. to get a turbin plane? i'm looking to get a MIG-29 turbin plane and about 70" long ?

[Ahmed]

Like the guy who started this thread, I would like a jet, but my problem is not so much the riddulous sky high turbine and model prices combined, but the size of a reasonable model. What with all my other IC and electric models and helis, I just don't have any more room. So I started looking at the Wren MW44, one of the smallest turbines available, but it turns out there aren't the usual array of Avonds F16 and F18 and F this and F that available widely to suit this size engine, without the modellor having to do some modelling. After the shock of spending several grand on buying the damn thing, the last thing I want is to spend a while building it -I want to fly it!
Basically in a nutshell are there any small f18 f16 type models where you just add an mw44 size turbine and fly out there, no painting no fussing with getting bits together etc?