Jets are different than even EDF. EDF experience may help a bit. But even for most experienced folks there is still a fairly large leap to a turbine. I recommend that you link up with some of the local jet flyers and help them for a summer as a spotter and watch what they are doing when you are not spotting. Ask them questions about how to get started toward a turbine waiver. Then they will know you are serious and invest time with you. I spent my first year with our jet guys just working as a spotter. Then I bought my first jet (i.e. a trainer). I built it over the winter. Had several local jet guys look it over and made several changes before I flew it. The third year on jets, I bought a Sport Jet. I had a heck of a time switching from the trainer to a sport jet. With the trainer I could fly aerobatics, etc., and land perfectly at my feet every time, etc. I found out that there is a large leap from the trainer to a sport jet. Then, there is another whole leap to a scale warbird. Each one of those leaps is kind of like going from a giant Extra to a giant P-40, each time.

There are also a lot of technical aspects to figure out. Working with the locals for a summer will help you make the right decisions about Air versus Electric Gear, LiPo versus LiFe versus LiPO4 Batteries, High Voltage versus Low Voltage electrical system, Power Distribution with backup systems vs. a typical Rxer, Servo Selections, Gear controller with steering centering when retracted or no centering and use a mix, No brakes on when gear is up. etc. Fuel system component considerations and decisions right on down to whether you use high flow or normal fittings. Transmitter programming, putting the mixes in the Txer or putting them in the power distribution system, etc., etc. And this does not even include the different aspects of the various turbine brands and the way you start them. What do you do for a hot start? How do totally preclude a hot start? I have seen two burn right to the ground on startups! What should you be seeing for a normal start. Do you need extra shutdown cooling to avoid fuse and wire damage? Tons of things to think about as you build it and more tons of things to think about when operating it. Then there is the landings, when do you want the nose down? When do you want the nose up? Force the nose down or let it come down by itself once it is on the ground. It all matters! Stall recovery is quite different w/o propwash on the surfaces. Getting used to turbine lag time to accelerate and decelerate. Working with the locals for a while will help you get a clear picture of a lot of this. A lot of reading may help you get some more of it nailed down. Of course if you have the $s, you could go Plug and Play. Then all you have to do is learn how to operate and fly it.

Also, the local jet guys can most likely help you practice enough to get you thru the turbine waiver flight. If they buddy box, you are you going to have the right brand Txer? Got at least a 9 channel Txer? 14-20 is better if you are planning to buy new. If there is a CD in the group, once you are ready, the CD can even sign off on the waiver application once you meet the requirements. Have you looked at the requirements for a turbine waiver? For experienced pilots meeting the test flight requirements can be difficult enough with a trainer, let alone a warbird. I did not have to buddy box at all. I just went out there on my second flight on a trainer and passed the test. But, I flew hundreds of jet hours on the sim over the winter and had a lot of giant experience. I would not have passed the waiver flight if I was using my sport jet. Seem like a lot of B.S. to you? The underlying goal to keep you and the people onsite safe. So, all of the above counts! But, ... Flying jets is worth all the above invested time. So, ...

I would NOT recommend that your first jet be a scale warbird, like a F-15 or F-16 or most of the of the sport jets. There are a few sport jets that fly like a trainer. But, there is also typically a vast difference from a trainer to a sport jet and another leap into a scale warbird. If you start with a warbird, I would bet you end up crashing and losing the entire investment. We have 26 jet guys in our club. I would bet that everyone of them would tell you this. And, lastly I have seen over 10 jets go into the dirt. I can tell you that most of them were warbirds with pilots that could fly their sport jets in an excellent manner. We also have several pilots who fly warbirds and have moved back into sport jets and trainers cause the warbirds typically are not relaxing to fly. Typically there is a high pucker factor the whole warbird flight. If you want to maximize your enjoyment with your first jet, get a trainer.

The above is just what I have experienced myself and what have seen a lot of other jet pilots experience while I was running over a dozen Jet Rallies and other jet events. But the most important thing to remember is all of the above is worth the effort, especially if you are into the technical aspects of putting together a very complicated group of sub-systems and making them all work together. Lastly, Jets are not your normal 6 channel challenge. When they go down, it can easily cost you $6-$10K and crashing is typically NOT a good indicator of being safe. Now, if all the above is for you, enjoy! All the fuss is worth it, especially when you see that CD sign off on the Turbine Wavier Application!

Kentucky Jets would be a nice place to watch jets fly. But there is always lot going on for pilots at large events. At events spectators are frequently isolated from the pits and surely not getting out on the flightline. You would be better served if you linked up with some local folks who fly in your area. There typically is just to much going on at events to spend much time with spectators. If you are interested in flying jets you need to penetrate that barrier and get linked up with some experienced pilots and go flying with them at non-events. Also, the trend is for the jets at the large events to be huge jets. These are no way what you want to consider for a first jet. Keep an eye out for the smaller ones. Much better to lose a $5K jet than a $15-$20K jet and all jets have a definite life expectancy. Sooner or later almost all RC Planes wind up in the trash bag.

Most importantly, ... Be safe and have fun! Jets are a good way to do that!