Fly Eagle Jet F-14 Crash (video)
The replies, first from my buddy:
Moving the CG of surface forward is mitigating. Most GA airplanes have ballast forward of the hinge line on elevators and ailerons to reduce flutter susceptibility.
GA = General Aviation (Subsonic by definition?)
Thanks for taking the time to research this.
Yes.. exactly this is the most common application of mitigation.. even in high performance fighters
I must say reading some of these responses make me sad. I have tried to stay away from controversial discussions on these sites, but when you start talking about banning other people’s airplanes in the name of "safety", I feel compelled to speak up. To use your logic, almost all other Jet manufacturer’splanes would have been banned long ago. I am sorry for your loss, however, I am greatly offended by how you are channeling your anger in an attempt to take away others right to fly their airplanes, that they have many thousands of dollars in and are flying safely. It is the same with others that want to control and ban things that they feel the need to control. If there is a shooting, well, let’s take away all guns from law abiding gun owners. If they do not like the sugary drinks that others drink, let's ban the big gulp. To try to prevent others from having too big a carbon footprint, let's ban the incandescent light bulb. It all sounds like it is for a good cause. You say it is about safety....my guess is that you want to punish FEJ by generating as much publicity about this as possible so that they are hurt financially...what better way than by trying to get the Honeycomb jets grounded.
There are many FEJ honeycomb jets flying that have had no issues whatsoever, and their owners are flying them safely following AMA rules, and you want to ban then from participating in this hobby with their airplane, based on your belief that all of these planes are not safe. I really do not think the evidence exists to broad brush that all of these airplanes are unsafe and should be banned from events and grounded. In a sense it is really no different than someone that would want to ban all turbine flying based on the safety factor....face it, there is always a chance for design flaw and catastrophic crash with any airframe from any manufacturer, just as there is in full scale aviation. Your arguments only add support to those that want to end this hobby as we know it, as the only way to ensure full safety is to eliminate all risk. Once FEJ jets are banned, what is next? Think about it, so there is another jet accident caught on tape that indicates a design flaw, and that manufacturer’s jets are banned, and so on, and so, on.
Our hobby is one that is unpredictable, somewhat dangerous, where you can never be 100% sure that there will not be an anomaly or sequence of events that lead to failure, even with the best of manufacturing and preflight. Every time we fly we must accept some level of calculated risk and uncertainty, and do the best we can to mitigate it by thorough building (if it does not look right from the factory, fix it), redundancy, and preflight.
......
Some guys get all panicked if we say to ground a jet when all FEJ has to do is admit theres a problem, find the solution, send out an addendum and modify the aircraft. Maybe as simple as a rear wood former. Right now their saying theres not a problem and check your batteries. thats BS! Video of a jet twisting like a pretzel and tell you to check your batteries. Are you serious?!!
I can see a guy freaking out if his whole fleet was twin FEJ Honeycomb bombs but I think they can be made safe with the right mods. and please dont overpower or be responsible enought to really detune them.
The Ultra Bandit had a weak nose and one folded. BV acknowleged the problem, found a solution, sent out an addendum and they were all modified. an example of a responsible Manufacturor. but this was after extensive product testing. they tested the snot out of the UB.
Ill admit I was put off by how long it has taken for Anton to come out with some models that have been advertized as ''coming soon'' but thank goodness he has taken his time! His products are really improving greatly.
Id also like to say that Anton is a guy who will stand behind what he produces. I had an issue with a new model that he stood behind 100% and fixed all models that were in service as well as future kits.
FEJ, get your sh*t together and reimburse Dantley for doing your R&D!
If you guys dont do the right thing Ill never consider buying one ever! Im sure others feel the same way. Who going to buy stock in your company when you have this attitude towards your customers.
You guys have finally inched your way into being somewhat respectable but are now about to loose all of that. going to drag Lowell and James down with you!
Dantley, you have my support all the way brother!
Scott Marr
I agree with....... ALL THAT!
ianober;
my first f-14 flew very well with k170. i crash -jet-pilot error. i believe i had the first all honeycomb flying with twin k170. video of it is on youtube and i bought a new one.
yes i'm a newbie and i can't fly, don't even know the name of the tricks i do. i own fej, pst and tamjet.
to state all f-14 should not fly because one jet went in is ridiculous. as far as i know no other f-14 has had this issue. me and b1bob experience flutter and moved the servo arms in close to the center and that stop the problem.
yes i have a fej hat & t-shirt and i'm not a rep.
once again Dubd, sorry for your loss and i hope you get what you feel is just compensation.
Just wondering if you used a servo reverser on one of the elevator servos dudb ? Some will work on 2.4G for 10 mins then go crazy heard of a few guys loosing planes to this.
For the benefit of any other late arrivals at this "party", here's a few facts:
- The plane was built by a long-time modeler of high reputation and skill. Certainly this was no newbie with one/two jets under his belt. He knows better than to use Y's on flight controls, or servo reversers, or flux capacitors for that matter.
- The plane was well maintained and pre-flighted before the flight.
- The plane was flown by an expert modeler of high reputation and skill.
- The spotter was an expert modeler of high reputation and skill.
- The plane wasn't yanked and banked. Yet another expert modeler of high reputation and skill who was an eye witness stated "The flight was mild"
- The guy shooting the video was an expert modeler of high reputation and skill.
- The video was analyzed by experts (two professors and several engineers) in aerospace engineering. The cause was found to be flutter/structural failure due to bad design.
Together, some of the top-notch people in this hobby couldn't make this plane do anything more substantial than a racetrack pattern and roll. Certainly anybody with the idea of getting one of these bad boys and doing some turnin' and burnin' like Maverick or Iceman needs to do a serious rethink.
As for those folks that suggest there is nothing wrong with these honeycomb F-14's, show us a few videos of them doing something more substantial than a racetrack pattern and a roll. How about a loop? How about a high-G turn? The video makes it perfectly clear what happens when you do a Split-S!
Regards,
Jim
Another problem is that after threads like this, the manufacturer provides a new airframe and cuts some kind of a deal to the victim, then the victim vanishes away (sort of recovering whatever is possible, cutting losses). Then the threads dissappear.....but the design flaws remain.
1.) The offer was not equitable to the airframe that I lost and it was made in the same manner as my F-14. 2.) If I had taken the plane, I would have sold the plane to recoup some cash. However, I could not in good conscience sell a plane made the same way as my F-14 to an unsuspecting modeler.
I stated to FEJ that the only way I will accept a plane from them is if the replacement plane is of similar value with improved construction techniques applied to it. I would then take the plane and evaluate it and show the RCU community that FEJ has listened and improved their product based on our feedback.
Whatever the case, I will not ask for this thread to be closed. My money is gone and getting a few grand from the sale of a model is not worth hiding this information.
By posting this information I am sealing the fate that I will not receive anything from FEJ... so be it.
Putting on my RC flyer cap, let me first say that I am really sorry for you loss in the matter. No matter what type of planes we fly, it's hard to watch a crash like this. It's hard to watch this happen, no matter who it happens to.
Now, let me put my RCU Admin hat. As many may already know, members do not have the ability to close down a thread. Only my Moderators, Community Moderators, or myself can do that. So in order to have a thread closed a request needs to be made to one us. When this happens we look very hard at the reason why a request for closing a thread is made. We all try to keep any thread on RCU open whenever possible. So if a request is made to shut down a thread is made we are going to have see if the reason for doing so is legitimate. And in this case I'm pretty sure that we would choose to keep the thread open. Why would we do this?? Because threads like this are the bread and butter of RCU. RCU was started for the express purpose of RC pilots to be able to share information, be it good or bad. And a thread like this is priceless. Now please don't think that I am pointing any fingers here and saying that it's bad manufacturing, bad piloting, the planets out of alignment, or you didn't wear the right hat on the day you flew this flight. I'm not stating that RCU's standpoint is backing any dog in this fight. But rather I am saying that by letting this thread play out it may very well serve a better purpose in the long run.
For instance, IF it was a bad product we can show that
For instance, IF it was bad piloting we can show that as well.
So what I'm trying to point out here is that we would let this thread remain open so that it plays out in order to get to the bottom of this issue. Even if Dubd "made a deal" with FEJ we would excersise our right and keep the thread open so that it plays out.
RCU never has, nor will we ever, moderate or forums based on advertisers, manufacturers, vendors, sponsors, or any other source of revenue for us. RCU aslways has bee, and always will be, a venue for members to share information about the hobby that we all love.
This thread is gold in my opinion as this is what RCU is all about. Modelers helping each other solving a problem.
So, hopefully that sheds some light in to what we would do if this situation arose.
Ken
[/quote]
Honeycomb, not rubber, Honeycomb. Remember that.
[/quote]
dont you have anything constructive to say at all ?
DONT FEED THE TROLLS !
Lots of people have asked about "what happens if one of these hits people?" Everyone does know that if something bad happens and you're not in compliance with the AMA Safety Code - including the "Large Model" rules, AMA insurance is *gone* for you! In addition, the lawyers for your own insurance company might argue that you were negligent in not following "best practices" of the hobby and try to wiggle out of paying their share too...
Bob
Offering bribes to sweep an issue under the rug is simply the lowest of low IMO. This company has had a litany of quality control issues which have included but are certainly not limited to, cruddy gear systems, bad air cylinders, failed pipes, and air frames blowing up in the air. Ask me how I know. At one time I documented over 30 people who had failed pipes which either damaged air frames or totaled them before they started offering various thicknesses.
Andy
Best regards,
John
_________________________________________________
2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.†Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Fyi- both my mig and f-14 got the inspection to fly unlike most big jets flying at these events. also bob - have over 150 flights in the last 2 years easy just for records. you are welcome to call me or pm me if you an issue with my flying or jets. if you like to inspect my jet fly down to houston. if you got the $$$$ i will let you fly.
ianober;
my first f-14 flew very well with k170. i crash -jet-pilot error. i believe i had the first all honeycomb flying with twin k170. video of it is on youtube and i bought a new one.
yes i'm a newbie and i can't fly, don't even know the name of the tricks i do. i own fej, pst and tamjet.
to state all f-14 should not fly because one jet went in is ridiculous. as far as i know no other f-14 has had this issue. me and b1bob experience flutter and moved the servo arms in close to the center and that stop the problem.
yes i have a fej hat & t-shirt and i'm not a rep.
once again Dubd, sorry for your loss and i hope you get what you feel is just compensation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unwq7IpNLIQ
I have no idea if this will help or not, but here is the pertinent bits of the original video run through a video stabilizer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unwq7IpNLIQ
...jim
Also, luckily, there was a video of the flight too.
FEJ can't wiggle out of this one.
Thanks!!
Firstly, I want to add to the list of those that are sorry that the model crashed. Nobody wants to see anything like that to such a nice looking, and expensive model.
However, what were your expectations for this model? That's not a question asking what your expectations should be when spending that sort of money but what you knew you were buying. FEJ already had a dubious reputation from their simpler models. To expect them to struggle with something like an F15 and then be able to miraculously turn it around and produce a perfectly engineered and built F14 was just unrealistic. The guys in Germany that tested the wing strength proved that the initial design/manufacture of this model was sub-standard. Threads on RCU were also quite clear that their after sales service wasn't up to the same standard that you or I would expect.
I noticed from the build thread of your model that numerous faults were found, modified and corrected and it strikes me that your model was poorly made at the factory. Was a complaint made to the manufacturer/importer at this stage? How can a manufacturer be asked to take full responsibilty when home-made parts have been fitted? Were critical parts like the previously mentioned honeycomb bulkhead, inspected during the build? If so, were they considered suitable?
It is a sorry state that we are in where we spend $1000's on a model but can't trust that it has been built correctly, but unfortunately that is the position we are in at the moment. I have tried ARFs from many of the Far Eastern companies and my 'main' composite models will now only ever come from BVM and CARF (with maybe a dabble with some of the 'fringe' companies with good reputations, for something a bit different).
In terms of the FEJ response to your incident, what is the best I would I hope for if I was in your position? I would want them to have a look at their design, maybe make some tests and improve the design for future users (and maybe issue some sort of technical instruction to current owners). The problem is, despite many very experienced and knowledgable people looking at the video, noone really knows for sure what went wrong. It would also be nice if a small gesture could be made to you for bringing it to their attention but I wouldn't expect a new airframe or to recover the cost of my engines.
The most disgusting bit I have gleaned from reading this thread, assuming it is as clear as been posted here, is the offer of a free airframe to quieten the OP.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we should expect to spend lots of money for poor quality models but we do know that if we go to certain companies, we are more likely to get rubbish. We are then taking a gamble that we can fix problems ourseleves and that the model will stay together.
Unfortunately the lure of good looking cheap models will keep attracting both the wary and unwary. I wouldn't be surprised if someone has read this thread and thought 'I could do that' and has placed an order. That is the reason why FEJ don't care, because us purchasers keep going back for more abuse.
The only way we can get these manufacturers to sit up and listen is to discourage anyone from buying anything from them. However I have my doubts that we could do that in sufficient numbers to make a noticeable difference to their order books.
Darren
Dubd's modifications that you call, "home-made" are better than the junk that was incorporated into the factory's design. Secondly, to call FEJ a "factory", implies they are qualified professionals, which they are not. They, like most other chinese "companies" are amateurs that are not qualified to produce safe or reliable products, nor can FEJ produce a quality product, or a consistent product. They are simply back-yard or garage builders. Nothing more. They lack any form of QC, and employ young kids to do the building of these jets. They hide behind the facade of the words, "factory" and "company."
All my jets are BVM ... with good reason.
Dubd's modifications that you call, "home-made" are better than the junk that was incorporated into the factory's design. Secondly, to call FEJ a "factory", implies they are qualified professionals, which they are not. They, like most other chinese "companies" are amateurs that are not qualified to produce safe or reliable products, nor can FEJ produce a quality product, or a consistent product. They are simply back-yard or garage builders. Nothing more. They lack any form of QC and employ kids to do the building of these jets. They hide behind the facade of the words, "factory" and "company."