still contend that .45 size D/F conversions are not a threat to the hobby so long as the turbine installed is appropriate to the size of the airplane. You should recall that I flew a GWM powered Cougar for several years that had been built for ducted fan but never flown with one, was 14 years old when I installed the turbine, weighed 14# at takeoff and flew just fine. So what is your concern with ducted fan conversions and appropriate sized turbines? What evidence can you show to document that they are not safe (since that is the implication)? If a guy has problems building the kit and hires a "professional/qualified builder", where's the problem?
Larry,
There lies the problem. The 7-12# thrust engines are not the ones that are out there in the used section of the internet forums. The 16-28# thrust engines are the most commonly found used engines. So that is what gets crammed into a small airframe. Individuals purchase the bigger engines "planning ahead" for their next model. Wing loading is too high, and structures don't get properly strengthened. You may have been building for 30 or 40 years but joe new turbine guy has only been flying for 4 years and he has never built anything other than an ARF from great planes. Professional builders are out because he is scraping up his last dollars to get together a turbine airplane so how is he going to pay the real professional builder $2500+ to build his jet. The newer designs like the facet, AV8R, and Reaper may fill that niche very well.
I can't believe you could be recommending a new jet pilot do a turbine conversion without support from the manufacturer (yourself) I did a quick scan of your website and did not even see a turbine conversion kit or parts for any of your models. Every one of your kits listed convertible to turbine with minor modifications. What exactly are minor modifications????Other manufacturers have designed their kits specifically for turbine power. Maybe you should step up to the plate as well.
David Reid