Who built the first successful model size gas turbines?

[chugga-bug]

Title says it all really!

[BridlingtonFlyer]

Well thats a sneaky way to get the competition answers. Shame knowone answered else i coulda stolen the answer

[chugga-bug]

It was worth a try ;)

[Turbo-Tom]

From what's being told, the first who designed, built and flew the first true model size turbojet were five Englishmen, Jerry Jackman being the head of the team and Barry Belcher, Ray Carter, David Sitch and Chris White contributing to the project, each of them with his special skills and capabilities. In 1983, their R/C turbojet aircraft, called "Barjay", flew for the first time.

There has been an article on this historic model aircraft flight in the june 1983 issue of the "Radio Modeller" magazine. Somewhere on the web a scan of this article had been available for download but unfortunately I don't find the link anymore.

But you will find similar information on the GTBA web site.

Cheers,
Thomas

[Thomas B]

I recall that RM article as being the first proven model turbine flight.

The first flight in the US was a little bit later...as i recall, a very talented gentleman in AZ was the first, here. I also recall that it was covered in RCM.

[Zippiot]

I read that some model sized centrifugal flow turbines were actually built in the 50's, and in the 60's a few were made that "could" have powered model aircraft...

Some had wooden compressors to save weight, I saw a picture once and it looked neat :)


But I donnot have any idea who actually planted a turbine in an r/c plane first...

[Turbo-Tom]

The only turbine engine with a compressor made of wood that I know of is the Schreckling "FD" (FeuerDose = fire can) series. Kurt designed them in the early 1990s. The 1950 so-called turbine engines like the infamous U2 are proven not to run on their own. Always, the starter has to stay engaged to turn them over. They may gain some speed on the starter when combustion is initiated but they were never capable of true self-sustained operation.

Merry Christmas,
Thomas

[Zippiot]

The japanese in WW2 made a turbojet from a picutre, you'd think someone could make a mini turbine within 20 years of that...

:)


I built an axial flow 2 years ago, melted itself down b/c of inferior metal. Made about 12 pounds of thrust before stuff started to break, but was nowhere near light enough for a flight motor, so when I said you'd think someone could make a minimotor it was a pure joke. Took me a year of calculations before I could even start the construction, I know how difficult it is nowadays to make one I cant even iamgine doing it 40 years ago!!