Hi jet guys,
What would a good beginner turbine powered jet be? I have plenty of stick time on prop planes and would like to try my hand at the really fast stuff! Thanks

I am in the same "boat" and I bought an L-39 - Fei bao - off Wagner, nice kit, and as a full size jet trainer, it shoudl make a nice option...I cant be bothered with non scale jets
Good Luck

any of the Boomerangs

Dido, But the Boomerrang Elan is the hotest out right now... I also fly one too...

Thanks for the replys. The F-18F Super Hornet offered by rcjetmodels in the classifieds looks sweet! Looking for any feedback on that...

If you want to build a kit, get the Reaction 54.

But you don't have to listen to me, I'm not a jet pilot, why listen to me right?
Man I wish I was ready for a jet.

You asked for a "beginner" jet. The F-18 is definitely not a beginner jet. You may be a well acomplished pilot but the 18 is not where you want to start. The boomers are a perfect first jet. If you don't like them and want something more scale, go for something like L-39, Panther, T-33, mb339, etc. Of the modern day fighters the F-15 may be ok for a first.

buy a Baby Boomerang -- find a good used one, use it to get your waiver then move on.

cermark f16

Falcon 120 with a Wren 54 in the back can get the whole thing in the air for about £2000

Dennis

i jet must look like a jet.

must fly like a jet too so you can add to your fingers jet stic time.and not like a prop plane with a jet engine.


must use a turbine that can fly many models in the market later (jetcat p-120)

must be healthy in design in flite caracteristics

must be a mean fighter and ...must be camo in a very good price!

just my advice from my $$.$$$ plus expirience


[link=http://www.skymasterjet.com/f15.htm]F-15[/link]

Probably look at the F-22 from Jet Legend, or some other manufacturer. Should do well for a jet-trainer in my opinion.

A lot of great calls, fellas'. I know it would be easy to get carried away and buy something over my head for the first one! I've checked out a lot of the jets mentioned. The price jump from props to jets is steep. I knew it would be. Like they say, jets are just cash registers with wings!

I would think long and hard before you buy an F-18 to be used as a jet trainer.

They are great looking and flying jets but not sure if it's a good choice as a jet trainer..

Don

Don't forget about jetmach 44 and jetmach 60 from laser design services. They fly like trainers, if you don't want to mess with retracts, this is a nice airplane, but theres still breaks, flaps and its a kit so you can make it your own if you choose, make em more jet like with canopies and such. There are build threads on it, the people who designed and fly it are here on RCU so you can talk to them. And they take a smaller cheaper turbine, I am getting jetmach 60 for second jet because its fun, and others in my area can fly it and get signed off without buying or hurting there scale jet or whatever. Thats just another idea. And the boomers are a very good choice as well, if it were me, i'd get the Elan because its trainer like and aerobatic as well, all 3 of these are nice airplanes. Then most of the time, the bigger the better so take this into consideration.

I'm using a cermark mb339 for my first jet. I found it here on buy and sell page. It's ducted fan But I can learn
on this set up and move on to more power later. good luck hunting. Bill

Yes, I'm taking a real close look at the jetmach 60. I really like the BTE Reaction 54 but he's out of them right now and won't be cutting anymore for a couple months[:@]. That's ok though, gives me more time to decide.

Check with Precision Cut Kits for a Turbinator kit ($350 for a full kit) designed by Nick Zirolli. It's another Beginner catagory jet. I just finished a Reaction 54 and will maiden it in about a month. My next is the Turbinator. I can't say enough about the R54 kit. It was a fantastic kit and everyone that has built Nicks kits say the same.

Another great beginner jet is a Bob Violett Models (BVM) BobCat with a JetCat P-60 on the tail. It flies fast or slow, looks great in the air, and is extremely forgiving. I bought one last year and love it; customer service has been superb.

I think you are mixing up your mfrs.....Reaction 54 is Bruce Tharpe's kit................

My first turbine powered jets were the Yellow F-16 and the Saab Viggen. Both were converted ducted fans. Each flew ok. The first plane I purchased that was designed for turbine power was a DL Aeromodele MB339. This plane was purchased in 1998 and had quite a few flight before I finally retired it in 2001. It is currently collecting dust on shelf in the garage. The MB 339 was extremely stable in flight and basically had no nasty habits. But I would certainly agree with Randy Moore in regards to the F-18. The plane looks good on the ground and in the air, but if you get behind on it, it will bite you. For your first plane, consider the Boomerang. If you are wanting a more scale plane, I would suggest an F-16, F-15, MB 339, or Eurosport. I have owned and flown each of the planes mentioned with the exception of the F-15. All survived many flights.

More great advice,thanks! I've been investigating the Boomerangs and sure do like what I've seen and read. I need to decide between wood, fiberglass, kit, arf, etc...lots of choices!

Wayne, I'm aware of who makes the kits. What I said was the R54 was a fantastic kit and those that have built Nicks kits feel the same. Meaning that you'll find that Bruces kit and Nicks kit will be of equal quality.

You must mean design, because Nick makes plans and you cut the kits yourself.

another good trainer would be one of the Facets. they are plywood and balsa fuse and a sheeted foam core wing. yes, it is a different looking turbine powered aircraft, but it is a blast to fly, good for taking off of any field in alomst any condition. I have the Facet 2300 powered with a Jetcat P-120. it was clocked at 174 mph at top end and 24 mph on landing.


there are 3 styles of Facets to choose from. Facet 1200, 12 lb turbine ..... Facet 2300, 23 lb turbine....... and the soon to be Facet 1700RG, yes a Facet with retracts. I am building the prototype of the 1700RG and will be ready to test fly by the end of April 08


Mark