I'm ready to take the plunge and I'm in need of advice on the best way. I've been meaning to get into rc jets for a while now and always been side tracked. I've got low wing airplane experience with p-51 and extra 300, then got into 3d and scale helicopters for about 10 years.
I'd like to eventually work my way to a scale f-15,16 or 18 turbine. Any advice would help on a good starter d/f jet. Possibly one that I can convert to a turbine. Thanks in advance.

Forget the ducted fan. Go straight to a turbine. You'll save yourself a whole bunch of aggravation.
There's nothing like taking off with plenty power - and then some.
Don't start cheap. I originally started a Tango/Jetcat P80. The Tango sucked but the P80 survived and has been great ever since.
I put it in a PCM DV8R and it has been flying great.
So get yourself a good turbine and then pick a model that lands slow to start with.

In conjunction with what eardoc is saying, as the old saying goes, "if you buy cheap, you buy twice". Not that their are any cheap turbines, but the reliability of a turbine over DF could save you a model.

Mark

ironhide a good starter ducted fan depends on what you want to spend if you want to start out low buck i would say to get a bob parkison regal eagle www,rcjets.com there the cheapest out there 189.00 for a fan if you want a mid price jet i would look for a byron mig-15, byron f-16, yellow aircraft a-4 (with a sport wing) there are several good fan jets all these could be converted to a turbine down the road if you want to jump in with both feet with a turbine i cant help you with that one cause i have never flown a jet with a turbine every thing i know about turbines is hear say good luck donniercjet

i'm all for going turbine from the getgo, but what about the turbine waiver? i thought you have to have so many flights on a df jet before you can go turbine. i'll do a search it right now.
thanks for the replies so far. all are welcome to chime in, i need lots of info.

you do not need any flights on a DF .. just on a high performance aircraft. All you basically have to do is vouch for yourself that you habe made so many flights ... otherwise a turbine waivered CD and another waivered AMA member have to sign you off on a test flight shoch shows you are able to competently fly a plane .. ( a big 3d plane is fine by many CDs .. ) there are some hard a** CDs who want to see you fly an overweight warbird for your signoff, but as im concerned thats not necessary .,. there are turbine jets like the boomerang that fly as easy or easier than an average 40 sized trainer plane , and dont necesarily even have to go over 100 mph.. priority # 1 is being familiar with the turbine power plant, how it operates, and safety precautions and procedures .. flying wise, all you have to be aware of is the lack of prop wash, and throttle lag ( which is less and less of an issue with the newer engines as spool up/down times are getting to the point of matching big gasser engines) .. check out the AMA documents page and review the turbine related docs for all the info ..

http://www.modelaircraft.org/acrobat.asp


best wishes in your turbine ventures !


Wojtek

Ironhide, The skymaster F-15 will fly on a P-80 power. I just saw one flying with the new PST-1300R and its aweson. Very reliable engine and it cost only $100 more than the P-80, but with 29# thrust. About waiver, like wojtek said. I start with turbine Roo, make few fligths with a buddycable. After lets said 5 fligths I was landing my jet still with buddycable. In fligth 7 I was solo flying and doing my demo. At that time The Turbine CD and two others turbine flyiers sign me up and get my waiver.

Good luck!

Get a Baby Boomerang or a Big Boomerang. Easiest flying introduction to turbines.

The Baby has a removeable whole top section which makes installation and maintenance a piece of cake.

I also know of some jet jockies who will admit to enjoying flying it more than their superduper scale job.

I know I loved mine, now sold on to make way for a F104.

Fast is good but faster is better.

i like the idea of going with the sm f-15 avicom. is it easy to handle or am i asking for trouble?
i really like the looks of the scale birds and am leaning towards one. but i am willing to crawl before i walk.

ironhide, welcome to the jet community, as i have found in the past 2 years, they are a great bunch of guys with tons of helpfull info to share. that said, skip the ducted fans.... head for turbines, you can get a reliable used 19 lb turbine for about $1900, give or take a few bucks. and start off with one of many available jet trainers. for me I fly a Facet. I bought the prototype Facet 2 years ago and used the Facet to get my waiver. with a p-80 you can get speeds up to about 140 mph and slow at 24 mph. and there are other good trainers, Boomerang

also do a search on RCU, there are many threads on beginners starting out in Jets.

good luck and welcome to the jet community

mark

My friend start turbines with a roo, after that he flew a gripen that I sold him. He crash the gripen not big damage and while waiting for the new wing he was working in a SM F-15. I witness the maiden fligth and was amaizing. He put a PST-1300R on it, and look really fast. He bough the flap-ai version but in the first fligth he only use tailerons. Very nice plane. I recomended you the F-15 because you like scale. It's not a dificult plane to fly, but out there are more easy ones like the facet and boomerang. Now with a big brother. That's really depend on what you want and your flying style. Also those trainer with expose turbine will help you to understand their functions more quikly.

By the way another friend of mine have a baby bomerag and it's fly like a dream. Just saw the video of the bomerangXL and it handle as easy as his little brother. No matter what you decide, remember to get a turbine with enough power to swap it to the next project. Its better a little more power than underpower. Good luck with your desicion!

Rgds,
Alejandro

thanks for all the replies fellas. i think i know where i am heading.