now i have a few questions i live in calgary and the fields i have to choose from are limited to 2. 1 of them are grass one of them CRAMS has 2 700ft grass runways soccer feild type nothing fancey. the other is hard packed dirt with geo fabrac over it (a big Tarp) and the runways are about 400ft long. i don't know weither to buy a 28lb or a 12lb i look at the pros of the 12 and you can put them in most .91 df jets and fly off the grass and the tarp well and land well and for an airplane i was checking out the stingray or the av8r then to move to a yellow f-18 single. or should i get a 28lb engine and go for a bob cat type airplane aka hot spot dv8r so on. then to possably move to the yellow f-18 twin. here is the big question the engines are the same price but the airplanes a 12lb usually cost less thus the landing gear and such lighter airplanes 28lber cost more what would be my best bet to have fun and be able to do lots?????? MR LGM Gutars you live just in red deer can you give me a bit of advice thanks

Calgary elevation is about 3000 ft right. To be successful on a regular basis with your first turbine powered jet I would suggest the following:

Operate out of as long a runway as you can - be it dirt or grass give yourself as much screw up insurance as possible. 700 ft is good.

Engine / airframe combination should depend on not only what you can afford but where you will be headed in the future.

12 lb / Roo, AV8R, Facet, Super Reaper, BobCat are all very capable combinations

28 lb Roo, DV8R, Facet 2300, Super Reaper, EuroFighter Sport, BobCat, KingCat area also very good.

If you need help, Jeremy in Red Deer is quite qualified. NB there may be other great combos out there - the aforementioned , I do know work. Jeremy has also just finished a Skymaster Gripen / RAM 750 combo which also may be analternative

Dean Wichmann
www.helijet.ca

Thanks

I don't know what engines you are looking at where the 12lb thrust class costs the same as the 28lb thrust class, but here are a couple things to consider.
A turbine is a pretty big investment in RC models no matter what the engine. Looking down the road to what you would really like to fly after your turbine trainer is done is worth doing and then decide what engine to buy. I really considered doing my F15 with twin PST600's as the cost for 2 of those is about the same as one P120, but after I get tired of the F15, I'll have 2 engines I'll probably never want to use again, as a result, I want a P120 instead.
Your cost in Jets isn't just in your initial purchase, you need to look ahead to your future with jets as well if you have limited funds. At our altitude I would consider something in an 18lb thrust class as a minimum. Even with a 12lb thrust engine, most 91 size ducted fans converted still won't do excellent off of grass with the extra weight. I have a couple of 91 sized airframes with 18 pound thrust engines in them. My Exocet is ballistic in the air, but to get off of my field, I'm really glad I have 18 pounds of thrust and I have about 800 feet of grass. My Kangaroo was actually tougher to take off just due to the thrust line characteristics of the Roo. My exocet will come off in about 200 feet, but that is with 18 pounds thrust. 12 pounds I would be a little hesitant on my field as there are fences at all ends.
At this point I think the best thing you can do is take a look at your budget and where you want to go in jets, then you can make a more educated decision on a lot of this stuff.
I'll send you a PM as well with my phone number and stuff.
Jeremy