"Executive Jet"

[Flyboone]

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/images/sfm290.jpg (http://www.hobby-lobby.com/executive-jet.htm?c1=ezone&source=trd&kw=exjet)

SFM290 "Executive Jet" Twin Ducted Fan ARF

47" wingspan, 53-1/4" long, 370 sq. in. wing area, 47 oz. flying weight. Molded bead foam construction. Fuselage comes with the two 66mm fans pre-installed, ready for the motors and the foam engine nacelles. The wings are reinforced with carbon tubes and have molded recesses for aileron servos; wing tips are made of wood and pre-covered. Molded pockets with plywood mounting blocks for the installation of the landing gear are pre-installed in the wings and accept the included fixed gear or the optional retract gear (SFM3501B). Fuselage has the mount for the steerable nose gear pre-installed; just screw the fixed steerable gear in place. The ailerons, elevator and rudder are made of balsa and covered with heat-shrink film. They are pre-installed and the hinges are pre-pinned for safety. The fuselage has wooden servo mounts and battery tray pre-installed. Jet accelerates quickly and easily takes off from a smooth surface/runway with a strong climb rate. Jet can be hand launched and will belly land easily, without damage when the landing gear is removed. Plastic covers are provided to cover the landing gear openings if you do not install the landing gear. Speed is impressive even with the fixed gear. Flight is smooth and solid; the stall is at a very low speed and is not severe. The glide is amazing; the setup for a landing needs a long approach or you will glide right on by. Flight times with the two 1800 mAh packs in parallel are about 7-10 minutes of varied flying. Assembly is easy and takes about 4-6 hours for the fixed gear version, and about an hour or two more for the retracts. For 4-channels: Aileron (2 servos), Elevator, Rudder/Nose steering, and Throttle. A 5th channel is required if you wish to add the retractable landing gear.

For more information and to watch the video click HERE (www.hobby-lobby.com/executive-jet.htm?c1=ezone&source=trd&kw=exjet)

Use this thread to discuss any and all things related to "Executive Jet"

[r13075]

I put my Executive Jet together, but the brushless motors are making my airplane go backwards. Does anyone know why this is happening?

[pflumitch]

Switch any two wires from each speed control to each motor. This will reverse the motors, and make everything right for you.

[Michael Heer]

For more information on this plane see the excellent review currently on the E-zone front page.

[Keith13b]

After months of waiting on back ordered parts, the final part (parallel module)came in last week. I finished the plane this weekend and all looked good. Initial testing in the driveway revealed a beautiful jet with nice re-tracts and strong motors. However, on its maiden voyage a speed controller blew at full throttle on takeoff and caught the rear portion of the plane on fire - yep, you read that right, on FIRE. It never left the ground before enveloped in flames. I have contacted Hobby-Lobby to see what can be done. I've been modeling for over 20 years and never had something like this happen; especially an electric plane with all pre-packaged components that are designed to work together. I don't know if a controler was bad or a motor was bad causing a controler failure, but everything worked flawlessly at low throttle settings on countless startups.

My only eyebrow raising was when I received the main parts of the kit, one of my motors (the one conveniently connected to the expired controller), was obviously used, with shortened leads and a soldered connection when it arrived. I contacted Hobby Lobby and they said all returned items are tested and not to worry. It tested fine at low speeds so I didn't complain.

Now I'm minus a plane, 2-servos, a receiver, 2 speed controllers and at least one motor. I tested both the batteries and they tested fine luckilly. Wiring was fine - hard to mess up color to color connections and no signs of heat stress forward of the controller; albiet the receiver does not work anymore even after installing in another model. It appears that the starboard speed controller simply exploded and caught fire. The wire leads at the motor do not look heat stressed.

Has anyone else ever had a controller pop and start fire? The sound it made was quite distinctive - like a .22 rifle going off which I assume was a capacitor blowing - then bright white/blue smoke and instantly a 6" flame from the rear empennage. I was concerned about a foam plane, and now I miss the old balsa wood designs. Balsa burns, but not like napalm as the foam does once it gets going! I hope no one else has the same luck. Please bench test your equipment at full throttle to make sure it all works before taking to the sky.

I have a picture of the burnt controller, but I don't know how to post it. I noticed they now have a nav light kit for thsi plane....

[GeekGod]

Wow, that is too bad to hear about your experience. I have had nothing but incredible service with Hobby Lobby so hopefully they will make this right.

I just ordered one of these since they are marked down to 116$ and hope to get building soon.

[pettibone62]

Switch any two wires from each speed control to each motor. This will reverse the motors, and make everything right for you.
I did switch the wires around and their still running in reverse! mine you one engine is blowing air out the front and the other i dont feel any thrust at all !!

[Yellowspider]

Dumb question.... You dont have the two motors wired to one speed contro;l do you?
Next try this. Hook up ONE motor and ESC. Does it run correctly? If NO reverse two wires as the motor. If yes now disconect that one and do the same to the other one. Does it run correctly? If no again switch two wires at the motor. If yes now plug in both motors and see what happens together. They should be fine. If not are you running BEC ESCs? Or another flight pack for your receiver?
Yellowspider

[DaveESPI]

Will there be an RXR version of this with the retracts already installed?

[azzir]

I have posted this question directly to HL a few days ago with no response yet, so maybe I can try here... My motors have larger shafts (3.2mm, I believe) therefore the provided collets won't fit. I installed the motors, soldered wires, etc before I realized there was a problem, which I wasn't expecting because the motors were advertised with the proper diameter shafts. Anyway, long and short is I drilled out the provided collets but without a drill press/sophisticated equipment, I messed them up. Does anybody have a line on replacement collets that will work here? Thank you. Rick

[Spaceshuttle1]

I ordered the motors from Hobby Lobby which were suppose to be for the executive airliner. I tried to fit the motors on the shafts which I thought they were to large for the fan. After trying to press, cuss, and do everthing that I could think of I took the motors and fans to work. Showed some other RC flyers my problem they showed me how to do it. Instructions do not say anything about this, but you must first remove the fan, then press out the collar, and remove it from the plastic mount and then take a knife and open up the opening and then install the motor and then put it back on plastic panel and then press the collet back on and then the fan and then install the spinner top then screw it down. You will have the same problem with the eflite airliners as it is using the same edf.
When I put together I will make pictures of each step. After looking as what I wrote I do not know if I understand what I have stated. Glad I HAD some experienced RC to show me how to do it. I too thought that the motors had too big a shaft.
I have purchased the retracts and also the landing lights. The plane really look well constructed. I will be taking pictures as I am do some of the steps, but will be first flying my F6F Freewing Hellcat this Weekend (If no rain)

[EDF30]

I have posted this question directly to HL a few days ago with no response yet, so maybe I can try here... My motors have larger shafts (3.2mm, I believe) therefore the provided collets won't fit. I installed the motors, soldered wires, etc before I realized there was a problem, which I wasn't expecting because the motors were advertised with the proper diameter shafts. Anyway, long and short is I drilled out the provided collets but without a drill press/sophisticated equipment, I messed them up. Does anybody have a line on replacement collets that will work here? Thank you. Rick
I've seen 3.17mm adapters at EJF. Maybe HL has the same thing too. Look at their adapter section.
Drilling collet type adapters NEVER :D worked out well for me. Well mabye 1 for 10, at best.

Want to make your SF Executive Jet really go? Use the new LS1400 motor.

[DampRabbit]

My only eyebrow raising was when I received the main parts of the kit, one of my motors (the one conveniently connected to the expired controller), was obviously used, with shortened leads and a soldered connection when it arrived. I contacted Hobby Lobby and they said all returned items are tested and not to worry. It tested fine at low speeds so I didn't complain.
Am I reading this right? You bought supposedly new gear and they sent you used stuff and said don't worry about it?

[Flyboone]

It could have been a mistake. We do not normally send out used gear. It probably got overlooked when it came back in a return and put back on the shelf as a new item. We have a great new returns tracking system that should prevent errors like this from happening again.

Jason Cole
Hobby-Lobby

[EDF30]

It could have been a mistake. We do not normally send out used gear. It probably got overlooked when it came back in a return and put back on the shelf as a new item. We have a great new returns tracking system that should prevent errors like this from happening again.

Jason Cole
Hobby-LobbyThat's the blues about trying to have good return policy. I personally don't think customers deserve it. If they ordered it, they ordered it. If they don't want it anymore, things become questionable and they may have damaged things. I realize that a top notch firm these days is pressed to have such a generous return policy. Sadly, there are people who will try to put a brick in the box, :D and return it for their money back. More often, they just want to return things that they broke. Maybe a clearly unbuilt kit can be returned, but I would refuse to take back ARFs and RTFs.

Reality is that places that take returns don't want to eat them, and put them back on the shelf. At Home Depot, it's ridiculous. Working for a contractor, we have to carefully check to see that we are not buying a restocked return. Had some fun times with that stuff. :eek: In the case of a return, I would not want a returned item shipped to me, period. Just my thoughts.

Bill

[haasjj]

I was in HL today and I saw the plane, I think I might get one they are very nice looking. I just have a couple questions for now. Will the Great Planes Ammo 20-40-3500 inrunner motor work with this plane. And will Futaba S3114 and Hitec HS-85-MG servos work in place of the ones you recommend on the HL site. The reason I ask is because I would like to get these items off my shelf instead of buying new again.