philjac94

There doesn't seem to be much info on this jet and so initially I thought it would be a too much of a gamble to be the guinea pig, but being the trusting person I am, I gave Johnny from FEJ the opportunity to come up with the goods....... I did kind of warn him that I would review it and call it exactly as I see it and that it better be a shining example of what an RC jet in this day, should be, No Problem he said, you wont be disappointed.

So money was sent, 4 days later a Tracking number was emailed to me, and 4 days after that 2 large boxes arrived. I thought wow, great service, that is until I saw 1of3 and 2of3 printed on the boxes. Shear panic of the thought of a missing box. I left the boxes untouched, opened up my email only to find a message from Johnny saying that I should receive 2 boxes very soon, and that the 3rd box left this morning and will arrive next week. Well that was on a Friday and on the following Monday bright and early 3of3 arrived, Phew!!.....Don't ask me why they chose send at different times, I did ask but couldn't make much sense as to the reason, I think it has something to do with the way the Chinese pay their taxes??? But anyway what did I care, I had 3of3.

Opening the box, to be honest I had prepared myself for the worst, but as I kept pulling pieces from the package my comments to myself brought the wife in to see what had me so excited. I said to her "This jet looked amazing". To which she replied " Yeah Ive got washing to do" annnnnnd off she went......... The more I looked, the better it got, the paint was perfect, the glasswork perfect and from what I could see the woodwork and its quality looked perfect. The glasswork is actually done in FEJ's newer method of honeycomb substrate, it is a little heavy in comparison but it makes for a very rigid structure. Not deterred in the slightest as I think something this size can afford an extra pound or two.

All surfaces, gear doors and retracts come factory fitted and plumbed initially. The gear used looks of really good quality and a quick air test proved their integrity was more that skin deep. The hardware supplied is also of a higher than expected quality and standard, with bearing, ball joint, air tee's, fuel tee's, servo mounts, nuts and bolts all supplied. Interestingly also supplied was a roll of 3/16 black neoprene fuel line, I have been using this stuff for a while now, it's long term performance is so much better than tygon in that the neoprene never hardens and turns brittle, Perfect for the inside of tanks, outside of the tanks I still prefer to use a clear poly pipe. Also supplied was 5 rolls of multi coloured air line, and when I say rolls, I don't mean a meter roll, I mean 3 or 4 meters of each.

A quick trial fit of the wings and surfaces again reinforced the high standards reached so far. No point praising it any longer....on with the build.

P.S. Did I mention the size of this jet.......I'm 6'2 and well........... its a little taller than me.

dubd

Congrats on getting the product, but Porsche and FEJ do not belong together.

philjac94

Yeah neither does the Chinese flag on the tail fin, this came as a bit of a surprise and will probably be changed

dubd

Let us know how it flies. I hope it serves you well.

AndyAndrews

I've seen this post somewhere before... Oh yeah from the many other FEJ customers who got their new eye candy in and reviewed how "pretty it is" to find out later it was a huge mistake.

You can't say you weren't warned.

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

This.

Looks pretty. Too bad it probably won't last.

philjac94

Build shots.
Each retract will have its own Xicoy SV2 valve mounted as close as possible to the gear, 5th picture shows this valve mounted in the wing. The 3 air tanks are all joined together but are positioned around the fuse to supply each retract valve via the shortest path possible.

philjac94

Yeah well lets just see how it all turns out. I can remember when there was 2 chances (Buckley's and None) of a prominent US name and manufacturer supporting anything Chinese.

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

FEJ has had it's turn.

And a very fair, long, and repeated turn at that. Many of us have tried out FEJ products, have tried to help, have given "second" chances. All to no avail.

We have been their jury, judge and now executioner.

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

Not to be disrespectful but with the wings folding and tails flying off every jet they sell, I wouldn't risk it!
They also stole this design from Anton at Skymaster and Anton said it didn't fly that great, or as well as his Avanti, and he quit the project.
Save yourself the headache!
Scott

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

Pretty paint and glass is just a polished turd!
Scott

dubd

This thread makes me want a Shockwave.

AndyAndrews

Isn't this the Dragon knock off they did?

basimpsn

My Feedback: (5)

Wow!! tough crowd...(Pull my shirt collar ) Philac I almost bought this jet. I like the size and the looks of the jet but couldn't get pass the long wait time after payment, Also I need to see it in person and there wasn't any video apart from FEJ guys flying it. So I got this MB-339 instead.

P.S Please continue your build thread

DiscoWings

My Feedback: (76)

Thought you had one coming?

AndyAndrews

Really? After all of the issues revolving with FEJ you still were going to buy one? Insane man. Insane I tell ya.

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

Im sorry, just the fact they that they ripped off/copied the Dragon XXL was sad. And then Anton said he abandoned it because it didn't fly that good, which made it hilarious!

They could have changed it a little, instead of 100% copy. And then all the other tragedies that have transpired.


Good luck with it. Hope we don't see it in the FEJ hall of shame.

Scott

Damo260

Nice looking jet Phil I'm thinking of ordering one a well in the Red Bull Colour scheme.. Are you coming up to Maryborough Jets this year..


Damo

basimpsn

My Feedback: (5)

The FEJ Sport jet was the only one I would have bought because of the size and the conventional setup. Just by years of experience I could tell their F-18, F-15, F-14, hawk and some others they sell are the ones with 99% problem and I wouldn't touch with a long stick. Also I find it hard to deal with FEJ direct so I will only buy what I see just like I did with the T-33. But if I could see the sport jet in person just like I could see the T33 before purchasing.....I would.

P.S only their sport jet

dubd

Basimpson, I hope you planned on cutting the skin open on the FEJ sport jet before flying it like a typical sport jet versus a Piper Cub. One hard pull and the wings will go CLAP!

philjac94

Hey Damo, I want to get up there, really depends on my work schedule. Theres a couple of guys up there that owe me a beer or two and in the interest of not being a snob, I better come collect

AndyAndrews

See attached pic. The honeycomb former shown has zero structural value unless the former goes all the way around, which it appears not to. But, even if it does, as the wing tub flexes, it's going to de-laminate the honey comb former where the wing tubing is attached. I wouldn't trust that setup.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Andy, it appears to me that the cells of the honeycomb have been filled and the skins are CF. If that is the case it will be quite strong. Not that I would ever lay down any of my hard earned cash on this company, it just seems that these days anything honeycomb is automatically deemed bad when if done correctly can be surprisingly strong.

philjac94

How do you know its a stolen design, did Anton say that it was stolen?
Doesnt fly that great or as well as his Avanti??........Were these two jets flying in Antons hands back to back to make this comparison, or did he make this statement after the XXL was produced? Almost sounds like a Ford/Holden or Ford/GM debate

I couldn't guess the percentage of all Skymaster Jets or any other manufacturer's jets for that matter, that do not fly as well as his Avanti, But still we persist.

roger.alli

Hi ya Phill,

Mate… I guess by now you realise that people on RCU are pretty hostile towards FEJ. I follow the jet forum reasonably close, and over the last few years no other subject creates arguments or outright hostility like a FEJ thread that praises their product.. The reasons for this are many and varied, but there does seem to be some real issues with FEJ that many many people have experienced, and then related on line.

I personally have no opinion about them one way or the other. FEJ is not my style.

Currently FEJ seem to be re-inventing themselves as a couple of threads have been started promoting their stuff.. All have been attacked like yours..

Just thought I would explain why the hostility..

Roger