bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Here are two pics of a friend's brand new heavy duty pipe from FEJ that he installed in his F-16 after 3 flights with a new turbine. He had it out at Markham Park today for all to see.

Talk amongst yourselves...

Beave

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

I'm not shocked or surprised at the pipe at all. But I have to ask - how did this guy find out that a jet he wanted was even made by Fly Eagle if he hasn't also had the resources and opportunity to see all the exploded pipes and such plastered everywhere on the internet? Have guys in this position ever looked at all the online comments about the pipes from those ARF's? Or do guys buy their products from black and white print ads in the back of magazines? Then do they write a snail mail letters to the manufacturer asking for a catalog? And then do they send a self addressed stamped envelope with payment so they can be mailed back a receipt and letter confirming estimated shipment? I mean, who out there with the wherewithal to order and construct and fly some of these jets also doesn't have the eye time on threads complaining about all the pipe collapses? And then would figure it would be a low risk affair want to risk it?

Sorry for the rant. I'm not trying to single anyone out, but it seems like this is a constantly revolving set of posts these days but not a sealed fate affair - Using the cheap included pipes on these things seems like trying to justify using an idle crack pipe on the coffee table because we don't want to waste the resource of having to throw away a brand new shiny crack pipe with two factory supplied rocks ready to smoke. Don't smoke crack pipes in your jets!

dubd

Eddie, one of the main reasons why this continues to happen is that the FEJ reps say that there is nothing wrong with the planes. Search for the names of any rep on RCU and read their statements. It's ALWAYS favorable and never acknowledges an issue. If you ask about past issues they say things like, "those parts were made by a third party and we now make them in house, so the issues have been resolved."

I thought I was making a fairly educated decision on my purchase and now realize that everything I was being told was utter BS. Keep in mind this was during the last 2 years where we saw back to back FEJ pom pom threads.

Dr Honda

My Feedback: (4)

WOW... he's lucky the model is still in one piece.

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Eddie,

It's an older jet and he upgraded turbines and contacted FEJ to upgrade the pipe.

They sent this to him and promised it was the latest thing they had and was designed for P200/Mammoth sized turbines.

Actually, the jet had been flying with a P200 and upgraded to a Mammoth and this is the new pipe they said was made for it.

3 flights was all it was good for.

Beave

PhilYabelli

But you won't even NAMEthe rep who sold you that F-14 and told you how perfect it was. Nobody will say anything. Because they are all "nice guys".
And all those pom pom threads are still here on RCU, and all those cheerleaders are still here.
How about Mr.DJ, who put up a thousand threads, all promoting FlyEagle, but it turns out he never actually flew one?

dsr71

My Feedback: (171)

Did they weld both ends of the outer pipe to the inner pipe ,seen one of fej pipes do this before and that was the reason, one end needs to float, the heat differences between the inner and outer pipe causes them to pull against each other and wrinkle up just like what you have there, i broke the welds loose on one end to see what would happen and most of the wrinkles came out ,pipe is junk anyway so try it and see ,if so then a refund or replacement is due i would think

Jetdktr

My Feedback: (21)

Found this in PGRC (in Maryland) newsletter:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=914377

Harley Condra

My Feedback: (4)

Boli,
How do you figure that going down from 52 lbs to 48 lbs is an upgrade???
These are the advertised thrust figures.

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Harley, lighter weight and lower fuel burn I guess. Those were his words on "upgrade".

Boli

Ron Stahl

My Feedback: (12)

This MR DJ guy it a trip to behold. Jimmie and I know just about every person in Md that flies Jets and no one and I mean I one has ever seen him fly a turbine powered plane that we know of. I did meet him at the Farview fliers field three years ago and he brought several FRJ models with not one of them in flyable condition. He did not fly anthing at the event and don't know if he ever has. Lots of beating of the chest and look at me videos but no flying. caveat emptor.

AndyAndrews

Holy Crap. Add that to the list of 30+ FEJ pipe failures..

PhilYabelli

At least ten FEJplanes, and videos of him at the factory palling around with one of the managers(not the owner, again, FEJis owned by an American) and about a thousand posts promoting him, but no action by any moderators, nobody said anything at all about him until now, and he's not been called out for the rep that he really is, and nobody has pointed out he never flew a thing. So what is that?All those posts?What are they but advertisements for FEJ?And how many other silent reps are there here?
There seems to be a problem here, reps have been misrepresenting these planes here on RCU and everywhere else, and nobody wants to say anything. Everybody is a "nice guy" so it's all somehow the Chineses fault.

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Guys,

I started this thread as a safety warning that the FEJ pipes appear to still be substandard in quality and construction.

There is no need to hijack the thread and launch into personal attacks ETC.

Thanks,

Beave

rcjets_63

My Feedback: (4)

Same problem as Dantley's F-14. He didn't use the right screws.

Regards,

Jim

AndyAndrews

Where is the rest of the pipe? Was this a bypass pipe? Don't see the double wall. Or if not no mounting tabs?

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Andy,

It's double wall. Here is a different shot.

The interior wall failed behind the turbine (pipe inlet) and the outer wall failed at the other end (outlet).

Very interesting...

Beave

AndyAndrews

Did it have a bellmouth?

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

I don't know. I saw it after the fact but can find out.

Beave

Jetmodeler

Good example of a thorough pre-flight check, that was close. I too am curious if that pipe was had the inner and outer tubes welded together at both ends as, from the photos, it doesn't appear to have seen any significent heat at all.
Jim

AndyAndrews

Yeah, something is definitely wrong with the design there. I've never seen a pipe accordion like that. Some serious pressures caused that thing to buckle and like you said it doesn't appear to be heat. I bet Tam would know what caused it but do bad he on vacation lol.

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

Guys I hear ya. It's frustrating to me to sit by and watch. I should have just kept my moth shut. I mean no disrespect to anyone who has lost a jet. I think the pipe failures have been a long time issue though, haven't they? What chaps me most however is when people leave the hobby or their motivation to stay in jets is ruined when they are put in these types of situations though bad product or product that was bad previously but is then promised to be "improved" and yet it is still unsatisfactory. I guess we are all test pilots with our wallets and our own personal liability so we need to choose very wisely.

At the end of the day anything can fail, but certain things have been trending more than others.

GSR

My Feedback: (145)

New improved airflow with "turbulator crinkels" Scotty

bevar

My Feedback: (27)

Vortex Generators...LOL.

Beave

AndyAndrews

New Honeycomb pipes lol