Mikmaxx,

Not to mock you, but hopefully to give you more insight into your decisions:

I was in grade 9 when I first wanted a jet (I think that makes me 15 or so). Some guys like yourself start younger than me and yourself, and are successful. The key is experience - All those guys and myself have been flying for a long time (with very few exceptions). I've been flying RC aeroplanes for 7 years now, and it was 5 years before I flew jets. In that time, I have flown just about every type of plane around, successfully. Hence the flying experience is there, but it comes with cost. You're probably planning to sell your P-40 and trainer to generate funds for the jet right? In the experience things can go wrong and planes crash, so take it as it comes rather than looking so far in advance like you are.

Furthermore, building experience is paramount. A lot of my good friends fly ARF planes very well, and when it comes to building, they are hopeless. Get yourself a set of plans for a plane you want, get your dad to buy you some wood and fibreglass, and shoot away. A jet, albeit that most are ARF now, still requires a great knowledge of building, which obviously you don't have. Weight is a critical aspect, and without the knowledge thereof, you can almost guarentee a jet crash.

With regards to simulators: I feel these are only valuable in teaching you to fly (training), not in teaching you to fly a specific aeroplane like a jet. I flew an F-16 on a sim the other day, it doesn't compare in the slightest to the real thing.

You have other issues in your life : School, girls etc... Don't ignore these.

As I said I was 15 when I wanted a jet. At this point I was adimant it'd be a Yellow Aircraft F-18 (large one), and I was also looking years ahead. I spoke to my family about it and the answer was rightly no (because they knew how to use their brain, and I didn't). Hence I went to the computer and opened the web brouser and SEARCH engine. This turns up endless information on any topic, and at the top of every results page is rcuniverse.com. Makes sense doesn't it. Stop being stubborn, go to the search function and READ, there is endless info in the RCU archives.

Within a few months (with the amount of time you spend on here anyway) you will build up a general understanding of jet. This is when you should start asking questions (your questions will show your insight and knowledge). At this time I went to the field to consult with the jet boys. They all told me what I didn't want to hear - get a sport jet. I was about as stubborn as you and was adimant it should be scale, hence the YA A-4 was the choice for me. Still they disagreed. To cut the story short I bought a spectre with DF setup, and cannot fault a thing of the choice. GET A SPORT JET when you enter the jet scene. I had a dead stick on base leg appoach, and broke the wing. Owing to my experience in composites and building, I was able to fix to original standard.

I flew that jet for arount a year, and put 90 odd flights on it. Only then did I really feel I had mastered it and knew everything about it. By now I already had a turbine, ran it for the first time and got the fright of my life. They are an entirely different ball game.

Over the next year I just built until I got sick of building. I've made endless mods to the spectre to turn her into a turbine girl. You can't do this without serious building and structural knowledge. I also scratch built a Sea Vixen, moulds to which I am now making. All the while I kept my eyes out for a good turbine jet deal. This came earlier this year in the form of the Skymaster F-18C. I thought I was the hot shot, built her absolutely beautifully, put a lot of fuel (too much) on board, gave it every upgrade I could and got it functioning flawlessly. The build job was impeccable. Took her for her first flight on a full size runway. How long and wide is yours?

Takeoff was crazy, flight was very different (you can feel the weight of the jet in your manouvers), and landing was incredibly challenging, coupled with turbine throttle response. The bird had plenty of thrust which helped me out a bit. Third flight came with the model flying flawlessly until it went into an upwind left hand bank and an airbubble caused a flameout. It couldn't have happened in a worse position, and the jet came past with everything out at around 100 kph I'd guess. It thouched at the end of the runway (downwind) and wound up in the bushes with a lot broken (including scale legs). I also had to mould a new tyre. You wouldn't be able to fix this. I did, got it back to immaculate, have a new custom scheme in time for a fly-in, didn't fly there for SAFETY reasons. Flew it the next week, the right main collapsed on takeoff, bent the right stab into a locked position in takeoff flare so she got about 10 meters in the air totally unstable with ailerons and elevator and crashed 50 meters off the runway with everything broken. The entire front end was crushed, all laminations delaminated, every structural part not sound. All the equipment survived, but the turbine had R2500 damage.

I thought I was ready for a turbine after 6 years of flying, and I crashed my dream jet, because it was too heavy and takeoff speed was higher. Everything happens faster with jets. Spare parts for the F-18 are already at R10 000 (two thirds the price of a new kit). My point is it doesn't pay to jump into the deep-end. Listen to what people are saying in this forum. You are not ready for jets, and will only be if you start researching, flying a lot, and drop the stubborn attitude.

I too told my dad it would only ever be one jet. Thats a load of crap, when you've got one you want another. I've now spent around R100 000 on a jets (way too much). Be realistic, you cannot go into jets cheap. Furthermore, you don't seem to have an appreciation for what you already have. You've already got (or getting?) a trainer and a P-40 and some park flyers, within a few months. Most guys have a plane for a year or so, you are extremely priviledged. Get a job and buy them yourself, then you'll appreciate it more.

My last point: Don't put the hobby before family or anything else. I study Aeronautical Engineering in South Africa (first year). Once again my case is I spent ages finishing the F-18 to perfect standards, put UNIVERSITY after the jet, thinking it'd all work out. I now sit awaiting result that I already know (failures in physics and maths), as I didn't attend some lectures. This coming from someone who got A's in matric. Its a hard lesson to learn. The next year is going to cost my dad R18000. For that, he could have bought himself something really great (a really good jet kit or turbine), but no because of my stubborness, he must pay an extra year of varsity. Don't fool yourelf mikmaxx, there are more important things. Enjoy your youth, I missed out on mine.

As of this point this is what I have (7 years building and flying):

SJ F-18C (in parts on a ship destined to SA);
Sea Vixen (scratch built, moulded, twin DF prototype);
F-16 (semi scratch, bigger then the SJ);
Spectre (converted, ready for moulding);
1/6 Mustang (built from semi-kit);
14 prop planes (Twins, pylon, 4 engines, you name it);
3 DF setups, endless amounts of engines, and a BMT 14.5 kg Turbine (awesome).

Here's the irony: After all I've built and flown, I'm busy scratch building a patternship (fully composite), so I can get my flying skills back to a level I think suitable for jets. I think you should do the same. After 7 years of flying I am currently incompetent of flying my dream jet.

I don't want to discourage you, but quite simply, you are not ready for jets, and your time would be better served reading the RCU archives that posting questions over and over to the point where it really frustrates some of us who are only to eager to help out, but can see the situation is totally unrealistic. Please take a realistic outlook on jets and read my mistakes (and correct decisions) above to learn from then. If you don't, go buy your Grippen, put all the scale bits on it, and underpowered turbine, and spend the rest of your time in the composites thread, reading how to fix a mangled jet, and the related costs. Stop trying to go cheap, you will find yourself R40 000 (something like $6000) down

For the rest of you guys, sorry for the long winded post, but I think we need to get out point across. Apologies for any harsh comments.

Kind Regards,
Richard Wylie (20 years old)
South Africa

P.S. I am yet to see a Grippen suitable for training or even very stable flight.