Ok, So I got this notice from Fly Eagle today!! Has there been any failures on the elevators that came with the kit???

"Hi Sir:

Thank you for purchasing of our products. We really appreciate it. Recently we have accepted a customer who requested us to customize the new elevators for F-15 and F-16 for him because he likes to fly with a lot of exciting action with high speed in the sky. Now the elevators are available. As you are our customer, we would like to offer the elevators for free, but you should pay the shipping fee $50. If you wish to have the new elevators, you can write an email to us and pay the shipping fee. We will arrange to send the elevators to you ASAP.

If you are a dealer, please tell your customers about this information. Thank you!



Note: The new elevators will be much stronger than before."

I got the same note this morning. I asked for more information about the change and what would be involved to convert a plane that was already built. Here's the response.

There aren't too many of these flying yet and if there were any failures it probably would have been posted on RCU. I don't see any reason why the carbon fiber shafts wouldn't be strong enough. Unless there is a known defect I don't think it's worth $50 to upgrade, unless you plan on flying a lot of 3D.

Joe

hmmm, interesting... Yeah, I don't see anything wrong with the carbon fiber rods that are in them now. I really just want to fly it smooth and scale like... but I am using a 30lb thrust turbine in mine.

Mugenkidd,

With 30lbs thrust, I would definitely do the $50. Something came up in testing somewhere? It's always the same question before you fly: Is $50 worth it to save your $5000? Not sure how it changes it all that much, but maybe the factory carbon was not as strong as other carbon parts from other manufacturers. With their good prices definitely impacting the market, lots of people are hoping for a failure to justify the more expensive brands. Lets hope this is not the case! Besides, I want you flying with us trying to keep up with my BoomerangXL. [X(]

Fly200

Not trying to be cheap, I understand the value factor. There are however a ton of $50 upgrades out there that are an absolute waste of money. As joe said there are no reported failures as of yet. I just want a logical explination as to what, if any issue the original had. I talked to my builder today and he said that the area in which the shaft is held in place to the elevator mechanism was kind of small and that maybe they newer elevators had a better mounting mechanism, so I am going to tell them to go ahead get me a set coming. Just hope it doesn't take too long.

Oh no..did not mean to imply you were trying to go cheap. Just rehashing the value and smart choice! You made it. However, if ever there was someone who did buy all those wasted $50 upgrades for nothing......it's probably me. Ha!

In a follow up note FEJ told me that there is no problem with the carbon shaft elevators. They came up with these as a custom modification at the request of a customer who flies his planes hard. Then they decided to make them available to their other customers.

FEJ has a history of listening to their customers and providing what they want. That's refreshing and maybe that's all there is to it. On the other hand I'm a little suspisious that the origionals may not be as strong as they should be. Still debating whether or not I'll get them.

Joe

is the new design on the advanced versions???

Possibly, here's what the second note said:

It's not clear whether the new elevators will be standard or optional on future planes. I suggest that you contact FEJ if you definitely want them.

Joe

My advance F-16 should be delivered tomorrow, if it has carbon shafts I'll get up with them was just wondering if they've incorporated it into them already or not.

I can understand the reasons for the upgrade to alloy shaft.
Because the carbon fibres run longatudinally down the shaft if enough torque is applied to the shaft it can twist. I am sure it will take quite a bit of force and we may never be able to transfer that torque to he shaft BUT i don't want to find out, Alloy is a lot stronger as drive shafts than carbon. The only problem with Alloy is that it is prone to other stresses like vibration, however we need worry being in a turbine plane.
$50 is only a small fraction of what we pay to get these planes flying.

I haven't started on my FEJ F-15 yet, but I did notice, I think, that there were bushings for where the carbon fiber rod goes through the bearings. If so, why couldn't we use aluminum or brass tubing as an outer sheath on the carbon rods to provide some more torsional strength?

BTW, carbon rods (with longitudinal fibers) are used as torque rods in lots of jets - many more expensive and bigger than the FEJ models - my only worry is about the overall quality of the ones in the FEJ models and if there is a hidden issue there... I don't think so, or at least I didn't, but this has gotten me thinking about it.

Bob

Well I went ahead and ordered them. I'll post pictures when they arrive. They said it will take 7-10 days to make..... then there's shipping time. However, my plane will be ready to fly before then so I'll probally do a couple of flights with the stock ones then upgrade later.

Got the advance 16 in this morning, a few issues but hopefuly nothing too major. it has the aluminum shaft stabs allready though.