I am new to r.c planes and i don't know what planes to buy that will get me ready for a jet turbine. I am thinking of a hangar9 alpha 60 for my trainer. I am also thinking of the hangar9 extra 260 27% for my second or third plane. But i have no clue what to buy that will prepare me for a jet like the skymaster F-18E.

LOTS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE. an extra is not a 2nd plane, more like a 4th or 5th.

Both of these statements are very true. You might want to ask this in the Jet forum.

I think I would go something like this, be prepared to break out the credit card, you're gonna need it

1 season on a good trainer, you have made a good choice there
1 season on a good second plane like a Tiger of 4 Star
2 - 4 seasons on highly aerobatic models in the 25% to 30% range
Maybe one or two seanson in 40% plus planes

During all this tme try to find someone around with Jet experience. In the US I beleive you need an actual checkout (test) for them. Plan on the engine running anywhere from 1500 bucks on up. Airframs for about the same amount, servos costing $100.00 or more each

A decent first Jet can run upwards or $5000 but most of the ones I like go into the $10,000 range. We will not even get into the amount of money Jet-A fuel costs and the amount you burn in 10 minutes plus I think you also need a permit to purchase it (not sure if that is true though)

Most of the guys I have spoken to at Jet Rallies had roughly 500 plus hours in Giant scale planes alone (does not include trainers, second plane and 30% planes) with advanced training and a competition background. You need to understand that you are looking to fly a plane with extremely high wing loading that needs to takeoff in the 50mph range, land at the same speed and is complicated with retracts, brakes, flaps. Your support equipment will not be cheap either and from what I have learned not much if anything from your glow/gas planes will carry over.

I'm not trying to disappoint you in the least. I'm stating somethings I have found out in time. Some people are naturals at it. Please, do not take any full scale time that you may have and think it carries over. It does not with one exception, aerodynamic principal. Pleasew take you time before moving to a Jet.

Actually, I just read your posts in the Jet forum. You are getting great advice in there. Please follow it

I also see that you have been asking basically the same questions everywhere else in the beginners forum and jet forum and the concensus is start small. You mentioned in one post that you are saving for college and will be starting college in 2 or 3 years. Trust me, a decent starter jet will easily be about 1 years tuition for a local college

Some of the Jet guys here in Houston had very little experience before advancing to Jets.
It does cost them a bit more to fly (and crash) Jets. But the entertainment value to the rest of us is priceless !
I would recommend a good video camera and a fire extinguisher.[X(]

Jet-A is not very expensive and does not require a licence...its called kerosene on the pubic market...its pretty much the same stuff...jet-a is just a little more pure, but not enough to warrent using it....

I did a lot of reading on this when I started out because I *thought* turbines were the way to go for me. That is, until I flew an Edge (talk about a flip flop on that R/C path!)

The others gave great advice above but something they didn't mention or that I did not see...speed. Turbines fly around 200 mph. They are FAST, if you have never seen one you need to go to a jet rally and realize just how fast a 65 inch wingspan model moves at those speeds.

So, one of the planes around plane 5 I'd think needs to be an extreme speed prop plane. Look at the Cermark F-16 or the Patriot XL. Jet body but with a prop on the end of them. Or, find a used ducted fan F-15 if you are wanting to get into scale jets. Apparently the F-15 is a very capable turbine "trainer" on the scale side of things. So, the Regal Eagle comes to mind.

You will need TONS of modeling experience or something with Jet experience to really help you out. Otherwise, you could burn up a $3,000 turbine in the first 5 seconds of operation or worse - hot start with a flame shooting out the back that burns up your jet.

Make some posts in the jet forums. Learn as much as you can before you ever get your feet wet. Also, when these go in - don't expect to be able to save much of anything. There is a nice video of a model jet crash due to flutter in the crash forum I think you need to watch. So, just be prepared to watch your $5-7k model go up in a fireball.

Still interested? Seriously start asking questions in the jet forums.

If you want something that flies fast and doesn't cost much money, get a Lanier Shrike .10 size and put a OS 25 FX on it. It's definitely fast enough and the size and agility of this little rocket is enough to start teaching you to stay ahead of your plane. Plus, they don't cost much money. Only $36 for the kit!!

Ken

A much cheaper option would be a ducted fan style jet. It isn't as fast, but since it does use one or more nitro engines, most of the normal field gear will work. If you want to look into these, check out www.yellowaircraft.com. They have several ducted fan kits, but be sure you are sitting down on a solid chair when you check on prices, as they are NOT cheap either

I suggest a "Stik" as a second plane. They can be quite the hot flyer with the right engine. An Extra or Edge does not fly like a Jet or prop jet so you can avoid those altogether. If your want to go down that "Jet Road, Extras/Edges, Funtanas and the rest of them won't help you at all and is a waste of time, money and training. If your any good at it and quite comfortable with the Stik, then go straight to the Cermark F-16 and go from their.

Any of the fast pattern planes would be more of a trainer for jets vs. aerobatic types lie the Extras. An OS 90FX on a Kaos 60 will give you an idea of a fast moving plane that will turn on a dime. At least if things start to go wrong with the Kaos you can throttle way back and let things slow down until you catch your breath. A Patriot would also serve well as a jet trainer and is also supposed to be able to fly quite slowly if you need to.[8D]

the fuel doesn't, but yes, to fly it with any AMA coverage requires you to be checked out and certified on a high performance prop plane. (my converted weedie engine runs on basically jet fuel. kerosene with a little oil and some octane boost thrown in for good measure)


anyway, to the original poster, take the good advice given. don't plane on going to a jet without a couple years experience, and at least $10,000 into the hobby. (counting previous planes and the jet) I would HIGHLY suggest getting some trainer stick time on a high speed prop plane as early as possible, you may find out fast planes aren't nearly as much fun as you would think. (screaming by one way, turn around, rinse and repeat until you are out of gas... I fly an overpowered shrike .40 so I know how that goes!)