Guys, is the Mamba going to hit the market soon?? Also, does anyone know the price?? I assume the BV test wen ok, no one seemed to mention much about this motor.

Thanks, Vin...

Vin,

Got a call from the SWB boyz last week, guess they were getting in touch with people on the waiting list, and they mentioned a Feb ship date. I assume they are building all the engines and will ship over a relatively short period. I think it will be $2500.00, unless you were on the original waiting list (2years ago) and then it should be $1995.00.

Perhaps SWB will see this thread and answer it accordingly.

Happy Holidays,

Buck

Test have gone well.
Simple, reliable and easy to operate.
Approx $2500 each - air start only.
Available soon. Will probably formally introduce at Fla. Jets.

Why would anyone now buy an airstart- only engine when full electric start engines such as the PST 600 are available and operating beautifully for the same or less money ?
Just curious,
BRG,
David Gladwin

Just noticed that the RAM 500 is available in a much improved version from Frank Tiano. Now, that's the 12 LB turbine to get

Made in the good old USA and full autostart.




BH

Hi David,

I agree with you, my Jetcats auto start spoiled me forever. I wanted to buy some small 12lb thrust motors for a twin project and was looking for simplicity because of the twin, you know, less of everything might be better. I do not have a Mamba on order and was waiting to see how this motor was received by other modelers before purchase. It is amazing how many delievery dates have been provided. The latest was Jan 2nd but it seems now from the other post that FJ is the official kick off?? I think the horses are out of the barn on this motor, the others are all elec start, cheaper in price and ready to ship right now or you can buy a P-80 and be done with it!! (like I just did)...

Vin...

Hey Brian,

Where did you get the RAM 500 info ? Finally got mine running after a lot of work. I'm now testing a FADEC ECU on it. Starts nicely EVERY time.

Kinda beyond me why someone would pay $2500 for the Mamba. It will be very good quality, however within 6 months there will be several other manuf's approved and shipping with full auto start. I understand JetCat has a new smaller 15# unit which will be introduced soon. (Hope they have better luck wit it than the 160?!?!?). AMT is even selling engines with electric - semi auto start.

Not too sure how the Mamba will do!!

I got this from his website:

http://www.franktiano.com/turbines.htm

Yup - FTE also has this info in our Product Announcement forum.

Also, FTE has told me that they have signed up as advertisers here on RCU, so as soon as they get the banners done etc, you will probably see more info about these turbines being made available here on RCU.

Gordon

This is going to be a good one......

Diceman,

Yeah, several new small motors out there and getting good reviews, the T-500 may steal some sales and all this in a bad economy?? The guys at SWB IMO missed a window here, air start and $2500, buy a P-80...

Vin...

Taken from FTE website

It is important to us for everyone to know that we are not affiliated with now defunct R.A.Microjets, or the product they once produced.

Really ? T500, T750, T 1000..... Could of been a little more original with the naming

I wonder what happens to all of the old Ram engines out there?? Will FTE service them?? Where does this leave Carlos??

Vin...

If you read the information on Franks site, it clearly states that RTI will continue to service the existing RAM engines.

Not on Franks site is that RTI will begin to do more service work on other engines also.

Full auto start, 12 lb, availible now! Check this:

www.funsonic.com

I just cannot imagine paying $2500 for an airstart turbine. I think SWB has been in the military business too long where price is not a primary factor.

There's also the PST J600 (12-13 lbs. thrust) with full autostart.

www.pstjets.com

I can't disagree with most of the comments on this thread, but if all of Jeff's engines are produced to the same high quality and simplicity of operation as seen at FJ 2002, IMO he still has a winner. The smoothness of the airstart with a very small start air volume required, the throttle response, and the manufacturing quality were all superb and impressed David Gladwin and Bob Violett. Remember, how long did we wait for a perfect running RAM 500, RAM 1000, SimJet 2300/3000, JetCat P-160, AMT-400, etc.........long time and some never hit the finish line. AMT and SWB are not going to survive selling tiny turbines to no more than 500 active jetsters here in the states. Gotta have those big buck military contracts or you die on the vine......

I personally am not into little engines (give me the large cubes in that combustor) but for those that are, this will be one sweet motor, even at 2500 bucks.

All this whining about air-start is a giggle for me. When I bought my first first JetCat in 1999, all the air-starters were bustin' the b***s of anyone who owned one them wussy engines, now the same guys are bustin' b***s in the converse. I mean dragging my little 20cuft pony bottle with a couple of feet of 5/32 tubing and valve on the end of it is no big deal. You can even forget the old green propane can and use my JetCat's PowerMax.

Competition breeds innovation and low prices. Monopolies breed
arrogance, high prices, and idle engineering brains spending the new found wealth.

Keep the new stuff coming, and at least save all the hellfire and damnation until at least ONE engine has passed David G.'s desk for a thorough test, and BV and a few others on the short list have had chance to wring it out in one of the baby birds.

And remember, Jeff works in slow and mysterious ways, but he had a kero burnin' turbine belching fire in the RedBird, while the rest of the medieval jetster world was still trying to get those old cast-iron turbomins and mail-box bomb JPX's to light off.

Tom---don't take this too seriously. Just passin' a little gas, PowerMax, that is...

Well said Tom.

Jeff is the grandfather of turbines here in USA. He took leave of absence and devoted his time to military engines. Now that he is back to hobby engines, he is very meticulous and would not release any engine that did not meet some of those specifications he is used to with military engines.

We all remember the big bad 'BIG RED'.

In fairness to SWB, I’m going to close this thread.