Jet turbines

[FLYING PIG]

Hi All

I was wondering if anyone has experience with Rc jet engines. Im looking to purchase one in the no so distant future but have a few questions

1. Do all jet engines come as packages, with controllers etc

2. How do you have your thrust controls set up.

3. Also is it best to avoid second hand engines or certain brands.

Any websites or clubs for some extra research would be grateful

[johnymac]

This might be a good place to start. I saw these guys at a model show a couple of weeks ago and I was really surprised by the HiTech nature of what they had on display. They appeared very knowledgeable .
https://www.gtba.co.uk/
Good Luck

[ianboom]

I really wouldn't fly a jet turbine unless you're proficient in flying normal fixed wing models.

They are fast and require quick reactions that are automatic through experience and practise (muscle memory) rather than reactive.

Look at the BMFA web site, find a local club and get some lessons, honestly, it's the best way to go.

I flew fixed wing without lessons and crashed dozens of times, I now fly helicopters and had a few lessons before I tried it on my own and haven't crashed.

A turbine jet will cost in excess of £2000 second hand and will need quite a lot of maintenance.

Apologies if you're already into the hobby and are aware of this!

Regards

Ian

[Guiddy]

For some reason I read this and thought he wants the engine on it's own!
I have often fancied a multi cylinder engine just to run when I'm in the mood, marvel at the engineering and all that!

[Tempest_5]

The bigger multi cylinder engines do sound rather lovely as well.

This sounds pretty awesome for a model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3GiFo1aXiQ

Unfortunately it came to a bit of a sticky end a few years after this.

[Arif110]

FLYING PIG said:

Hi All

I was wondering if anyone has experience with Rc jet engines. Im looking to purchase one in the no so distant future but have a few questions

1. Do all jet engines come as packages, with controllers etc

2. How do you have your thrust controls set up.

3. Also is it best to avoid second hand engines or certain brands.

Any websites or clubs for some extra research would be grateful

Is this just to run on a bench, land-based vehicle, or in a plane?

I have quite a bit of experience - & actually have a Wren DC iKero 100 (100Newtons thrust) that I might let go.

They are (almost all) controlled by a system called FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). This is the brains. Two major relatively recent developments - a single fuel pipe into the engine, which the engine then splits internally for start-up & running purposes (as start-up fuel is manually vaporised with a glo-plug type thing), & digital management of start-up.
The controller talks to the FADEC, the 'software' within is almost always Xicoy.
It's all very slick - easier to start than any other kind of engine.

[Arif110]

They have their own starter motor (brushless in the Wren), & the fuel pump is also brushless.
They run on normal paraffin, but need to be dosed with 5% of turbine oil. I personally use Aeroshell (helicopter turbine oil).

[Arif110]

Guiddy said:

... engine just to run when I'm in the mood, marvel at the engineering and all that!

Indeed! My turbine used to be on a car ('Jet-powered Maverick Blackout') - but I have great joy just running it on a bench - simply amazing sound & smell - real smell of 'aviation'!

[Arif110]

You get a lot of arguments about which oil is best to use - two-stroke works on paper (both designed to lubricate & burn) - but it really does gum up the main bearings. Actual turbine oil is rarely burned, merely pumped - but I have still found these to be best for the bearings.
The engine diverts a tiny amount of the fuel to service the bearings, then on to combustion chamber. So the key is an oil that will be stable at high temperature.

[Ricky146a]

ianboom said:

I really wouldn't fly a jet turbine unless you're proficient in flying normal fixed wing models.

They are fast and require quick reactions that are automatic through experience and practise (muscle memory) rather than reactive.

Look at the BMFA web site, find a local club and get some lessons, honestly, it's the best way to go.

I flew fixed wing without lessons and crashed dozens of times, I now fly helicopters and had a few lessons before I tried it on my own and haven't crashed.

A turbine jet will cost in excess of £2000 second hand and will need quite a lot of maintenance.

Apologies if you're already into the hobby and are aware of this!

Regards

Ian

This.
I completely agree with you Ian.
As a BMFA full council member of many years up to a few years ago and organiser of the display line at the British Nationals I have seen first hand the amount of care and preparation that goes into running a gas turbine either in the air or just on a bench safely.

It sounds to me as if the OP has not done that much research into the operation or safety considerations.
They are lethal in the wrong hands and incredible in the right hands.
The GTBA or the BMFA is the way to go.
https://www.gtba.co.uk/
https://www.bmfa.org/