What kinds of things have you seen get sucked into the mouth of a hungry model jet? I was test running an EDF (HET F-18) on a workbench to get some amperage readings when my electricity bill, lying about two feet away on top of the envelope it came in, slowly slid over and then leapt into the intake! Instant confetti and a groaning sound not unlike a chipper/shredder! But it didn't seem to hurt anything- Just lucky, I guess. It's had a rough life since then. How about your hungry jet- EDF, Nitro, or lamp oil burner? Dinner, anyone?

Now-Now guys! With all the people flying jets these days, I find it hard to believe that NOBODY (besides me) ever saw something go into the front of their jet! I remember back in the early days of ducted fans, before remote needle valves, I heard about an individual (not me) who lost half a finger while tuning his K&B. So don't be afraid to jump in and say something- there's no shame here, only lessons learned the hard way. I mean, after all, what are you fellas, men or mice? Come on SQUEAK UP! - Here's a pic of me feeding an F16- More fuel that goes in means more gases out the back!

Just in case anyone noticed the almost gone scar on the tip of my index finger, that was a run-in with a powermatic 10" table saw blade. Split the tip of my finger and nail. I was able to count to six on that hand for a couple days. And I'm the guy at work that always preaches safety!! -Frank

OK...I'll bite...I've had paper towels sucked up in the intake twice...Both times required a complete disassembly of the engine (BVM 91R) as the bits of towel actually got sucked into the engine...I once saw a nicad cable assembly sucked up into the inlet but was caught before it contacted the rotor blades...

And the story about a guy loosing a finger was probably the one about a friend of mine but the circumstances are different...(You know how a story can get twisted-I heard this from that and so on...) He picked up a Byron MiG 15 and accidentally stuck his hand (finger) in the rotor and it promptly cut it off...If you have ever owned a Byron MiG you could see how easily it would be to acomplish this...

Kevin

See there, I knew I wasn't the only one who flubbed the dub! I've even heard a story about a gentleman in a suit that leaned over to have a look at a spinning rotor through the intake ducting of a plane (something I do not allow) and almost lost his necktie! I'm sure there are other near misses and horror stories out there. So come on guys, just this once, act like you've got a pair hangin down there, and step forward with your story. And Kevin, I always thought that was a 'hand hole' on the bottom of the Byron Mig15!

I don't remember how long ago it was, but in RCJI (I think it was that mag) there was a report of some bonehead to stuck his hand over the front of an airstart turbine and sucked his finger into it and chewed it up, it showed bits of cooked finger on the compressor wheel and through the turbine.

Can't say I've had anything get sucked into an engine outside of typical FOD that you get from typical running.

I had the thin plastic by pass on my sapac composite T45 sucked in and spit out the back. I decided to test run the engine before securing the bypass. I found out the engine is powerful. Once I got a new bypass in, i decided to do another bench run, this time I sucked in the antennae wire . had to fix that by soldering whip antennae. I guess this only happens to the best of us.

I have never had anything sucked into the inlet of my turbines when it was running, BUT, i watch for it all the time. I have my ex wife look up the exhaust tube when I start it and tell her to stay there and keep watching for any debrit that might be spit out....and to yell out if it gets to warm back there........

I have seen a few curious bugs disappear into a friends manual start Wren 44. [X(]

It would have been amusing if the engine burped, farted or spat some flame but
it didn't miss a beat. A bit disappointing actually. [&o]

I bought it & fitted the pod start/fod screen so no more bug eating fun. - John.

My Mom caught me with my pee pee sucked into the vacuum hose. Now she calls me "hoover" [:@] Havent tried that with my turbine yet.

You sure 'bout that?

I always wondered what happened to Mr.Bill.-Oh NOOOOOO

WELL I HAVE A STORY TO TELL BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE TURBINES WERE NEW TO US THERE WAS 3 OF US THAT HAD A HOBBY SHOP (TOYBOX R/C AVIATION, we went over there to meet benny and Hans to get the AMT turbines and bring them back here also the JPX turbines if that tells you anything on the time)went to the show that AMA puts on in Indy. We had a booth setup with the engine on a stand to show. Well during one of the demo's Richard was pointing at the front of the intake when it sucked his thumb right into the turbine .
I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 97 OR 98 FORGOT BUT BET A FEW OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT WOW what a thing to do right there at the AMA headquaters

Well, there was this one time at Band Camp....

Now about the picture of my Pegasus below, I don't know how it happened but I was missing about 6" of propane line and the turbine made a nasty noise (although it kept running). Not my fault of course but now I'm a little more particular about securing those lines inside the bypass.

Back in DF days (which wasn't that long ago) I was doing some wrenching and test running in my pit area (remember when we could do that? :-) ) using a DSC cord. At full oomph, you guessed it. Sucked in the cord. Broke every blade off the Viojett rotor. Eventually fixed the DSC cord and discovered that I didn't really need that missing two feet anyway. As for the rotor, it was replaced with a spare.

No dangly bits are allowed near the intakes of my fire belchers.

...jim