Alright All you jet jocks. I am a Helli pilot and I have had jet envy long enough. Now i see that I can get a Vario Jetcoptersx with a JetCat P-80 turbine in it. Woot.. Finally I have a real scale heli option. My questions are "Jet Cat a good reliable turbine? Do they stand behind their product? Can I expect many years of faithful use if I follow all the proper maintenance /startup procedures?". In general how often do you guys see a flame out/ failure... etc. Any replies would be greatly appreciated. I don't mind spending the dollars, but I want to be sure before I piss away $6000 bucks.

Thanks
John

John,
Guessing from the thousands of posts here on RCU - the jetcats are one of the best turbines in the maket today. Not too much negative (if anything) to read about them, and everything positive! I wouldnt hesitate to buy a jetcat based on what I know now, and I would say go for it.

A buddy of mine here in Canada is putting together one of those for a customer. He says it is a real dream heli, thats for sure!

Andrew

You cant go wrong with the JetCat. Good choice.

Thanks for the replies.. Just got the go head from the "Boss" and I am placing my order today.

@ jdpg2;


I try to answer some of your questions:

>are "Jet Cat a good reliable turbine?<
yes. (if you asked if the P80 or any other 80N thrust engine is a good turbine in a heli, my answer: no)
> Do they stand behind their product?<
of course
> Can I expect many years of faithful use if I follow all the proper maintenance /startup procedures?".<
this is very, very optimistic.
> In general how often do you guys see a flame out/ failure...<
presupposed proper installation (fuel system), flame outs are very rare.
Failure? broken belts (here in Europe).

some thoughts from my sight:
turbo prop jet engines heave other demands than the common jet turbines. A P80 turbine in a heli is the right engine in the wrong place. Turbo shaft engines should deliver max power output via shaft and gear. Thrust by hot gases should be as low as possible. If there is a P80 (or any other 80N thrust engine) in the heli, you will have a bad efficiency with a lot of wasted fuel. At least a heli engine should differ in the hot section, NGV, turbine wheel, diffuser from a common jet engine.


mec

The belt failures were apparently caused by variation in belt tolerances (specifically the hardness of the rubber compound).

The required specification for the belts is understood so new engines should be OK.

The PHT3/HP5 is not just a P80 with a pulley on the front. I don't know exactly what has been changed, but thrust at 85000 RPM is about 3 lb (14 N), or about a third of what you would expect from a P80 running at that RPM.

>The required specification for the belts is understood so new engines should be OK. <

and therefore the manufacturer produces gear driven shaft engines now

mec

Look at www.jetshop.biz "Hubschraubermechaniken"

I think the jadakofsky engine is the right choice.
no belts, life time warrenty on integral gear...
and comes coplete with all you need for turbine heli fun.
And you can built a really scale Bell UH1, Alouette, etc.
Priced @ 5200€

The Jakodafsky unit is way superior to the JetCat anyway and he offers a lifetime guarantee on the gearbox. It sounds more realistic and put out more power for the same price plus you can get it in either top or bottom mounted turbine installations so you don't have to split the exhaust to all the tail drive to go through..on machines like a Huey or Cobra for instance. Plus you can get it geared for a lower more realistic scale headspeed (900 rpm) for big giant birds...

one thought, two posts at the same time....

Hi guy's just reading your thread regarding turbine power for your Helli.
Wait until you see this one this the only helicopter unit approved by the AMA, the JDE 54 with Helli turbine interface, Tad from golden west came by the shop and you know Tad knows jet cats very well and when saw what JDE had to offer he went off the deep end and said this is the unit to run.
Apparently he working on a full size unit and is impressed with the interface in that it really mimics the real full size one.
If interested call Tad at Golden west or Dennis at JD
Enterprises.
Dennis Fuente
JDE