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New Flex Innovations Flex Jet Pro
Has anybody looked at the latest announcement from Flex? A new design of their flex jet that has a composite fuse and wood wing. They’re selling it as an 8S EDF but this design looks like it would thrive on a KT 45 or X45. They even offer a set of electric brakes/wheels/controller as an option. Anticipating a turbine conversion eventually. What are your thoughts?
https://www.flexinnovations.com/prod...exjet-pro-arf/ https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...e33325cf5.jpeg |
It seem overprice to me for wood wing on a tiny jet at $699....
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Really? I think it’s a bargain compared to some HH foamies when you read what is included!
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Originally Posted by Dave Wilshere
(Post 12587389)
Really? I think it’s a bargain compared to some HH foamies when you read what is included!
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I think the price is decent, not amazing, but not terrible. For comparison, the Sebart Mini Avanti can often be had for less (although how much less depends on the vendor, and whether a coupon code is offered) and includes JP suspension struts (the newer versions) with metal retract units, three servos (one for nose steering, and two nose door servos), fiberglass fuselage with balsa wings and horizontal stabs., and can be easily converted to turbine or remain electric. I don't see anything included with the FlexJet Pro that is mind boggling by any means. You still have to purchase the servos, power system, receiver, LiPo's, etc.
However, this FlexJet Pro intrigues me, and the color scheme that was chosen I absolutely love. I would have painted mine like it anyhow as I'm a fan of it. I'm really happy to see a fiberglass/balsa jet released in this size. I didn't expect Flex Innovations to do it, but I'm pleasantly surprised they did. Kudos to the them. As much as foam planes are fun, it's nice to finally see something in this size that isn't foam. I'll keep an eye on this jet to see how well made it is and whether it's worth purchasing. Purchasing the first batch of anything though, I'm not particularly fond of these days. |
I looked at the foam version thinking of K-45 turbine conversion but did not get it. I saw several issues with converting the foamy to turbine that were more work than I wanted to do. I think the airframe design would fly great and maybe this new one would be easier to convert than the foamy.
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The FJ Pro has JP metal retracts and a refined version of their outstanding trailing link gear and JP Ball bearing metal wheels and rubber tires that are Ebrake ready plus full gear doors and servos to operate the doors and steering servo. It also has proper ducting. All this for $25 extra.
A very good value I think, even with shipping being extra. |
Originally Posted by Dave Wilshere
(Post 12587389)
Really? I think it’s a bargain compared to some HH foamies when you read what is included!
paulD |
Originally Posted by Dansy
(Post 12587391)
Does that mean I cannot have an opinion LOL.....Well I do have one mention above!
I’m sure anyone buying this will be happier with the investment than the poor folk who bought a Havoc Foamy with the upside down wing 😉 |
Originally Posted by Dave Wilshere
(Post 12587462)
We all have our own ideas...I’ve been around the hobby retail since I was born, I’m still trying to work out peoples priorities 😃
I’m sure anyone buying this will be happier with the investment than the poor folk who bought a Havoc Foamy with the upside down wing 😉 |
No one has mentioned here that it is also a bigger plane. 3” longer wingspan and length so turbine fitting may be a little easier . It does come at a 2+ lb increase in weight.
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Originally Posted by Bob_B
(Post 12587438)
The FJ Pro has JP metal retracts and a refined version of their outstanding trailing link gear and JP Ball bearing metal wheels and rubber tires that are Ebrake ready plus full gear doors and servos to operate the doors and steering servo. It also has proper ducting. All this for $25 extra.
A very good value I think, even with shipping being extra. I dont understand this marketing tactic.. “for $25 extra you get xxxxx items”. Why not just add $10-20 to EVERY airframe sold and just include that stuff as standard? |
I think he’s saying that it’s $25 more than the foamy. That doesn’t include the electronics except for the complex landing gear. EDF, servos for flight surfaces etc. the difference would be about $660 when you add the servos, ESC, EDF and received which the foamy has
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Originally Posted by T_CAT
(Post 12587421)
I think the price is decent, not amazing, but not terrible. For comparison, the Sebart Mini Avanti can often be had for less (although how much less depends on the vendor, and whether a coupon code is offered) and includes JP suspension struts (the newer versions) with metal retract units, three servos (one for nose steering, and two nose door servos), fiberglass fuselage with balsa wings and horizontal stabs., and can be easily converted to turbine or remain electric. I don't see anything included with the FlexJet Pro that is mind boggling by any means. You still have to purchase the servos, power system, receiver, LiPo's, etc.
However, this FlexJet Pro intrigues me, and the color scheme that was chosen I absolutely love. I would have painted mine like it anyhow as I'm a fan of it. I'm really happy to see a fiberglass/balsa jet released in this size. I didn't expect Flex Innovations to do it, but I'm pleasantly surprised they did. Kudos to the them. As much as foam planes are fun, it's nice to finally see something in this size that isn't foam. I'll keep an eye on this jet to see how well made it is and whether it's worth purchasing. Purchasing the first batch of anything though, I'm not particularly fond of these days. NO, I was responding to this post. I should have quoted it. Bob |
Originally Posted by Bob_B
(Post 12587557)
NO, I was responding to this post. I should have quoted it.
Bob |
Is there a build thread for the turbine conversion? I’m about to start the conversion with an X45 and this is looking more difficult the more I study it. I’ve done several small EDF to turbine conversions and this one looks much more difficult than any of the others. E.g. there is no way to access the area where the turbine is supposed to go? Thinking about mounting the turbine where the EDF goes and getting a shorter exhaust pipe, not sure what that will do to the CG though. Any help is appreciated. I looked at the Wiki page but did not have much detail. -Tom
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Originally Posted by Tip22v
(Post 12695508)
Is there a build thread for the turbine conversion? I’m about to start the conversion with an X45 and this is looking more difficult the more I study it. I’ve done several small EDF to turbine conversions and this one looks much more difficult than any of the others. E.g. there is no way to access the area where the turbine is supposed to go? Thinking about mounting the turbine where the EDF goes and getting a shorter exhaust pipe, not sure what that will do to the CG though. Any help is appreciated. I looked at the Wiki page but did not have much detail. -Tom
I converted mine. I posted photos in the groups thread. You have to work through the EDF hatch. Did you look here: https://wiki.flexinnovations.com/wik...bineConversion I used an HAB pipe and turbine mounts. |
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Originally Posted by Bob_B
(Post 12695532)
If you mount the turbine where the EDF mounts you will end up with a heavy model as it will require extra nose weight. The empty weight of my model is 9.45lbs the models with the rear mounted motor are in the 11lbs range.
I converted mine. I posted photos in the groups thread. You have to work through the EDF hatch. Did you look here: https://wiki.flexinnovations.com/wik...bineConversion I used an HAB pipe and turbine mounts. |
Originally Posted by Bob_B
(Post 12695532)
If you mount the turbine where the EDF mounts you will end up with a heavy model as it will require extra nose weight. The empty weight of my model is 9.45lbs the models with the rear mounted motor are in the 11lbs range.
I converted mine. I posted photos in the groups thread. You have to work through the EDF hatch. Did you look here: https://wiki.flexinnovations.com/wik...bineConversion I used an HAB pipe and turbine mounts. |
TIP22v I sent you a PM
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Okay, I now have two flights on my FlexJet Pro. The first flight went okay, except I quickly realized that it does not want to roll with the flaps fully deployed. I also noticed during flight that my left main gear door broke a hinge in flight so the left gear door would not close. With full flaps she slowed down nicely, but the rate of decent was little more than I like (I just need to tinker with the flap throws until I find the right balance). On the day of the first flight I did not fly any of my other jets and at the time I felt the X45 seemed to push it around the pattern pretty well. Before the second flight, I configured the elevators to switch to Taileron's when the flaps are fully deployed. I also replaced the hinges on the left gear door (went with more robust Robart hinges). On the day of the second flight I flew one of my T1 minis, powered by an X90, before I flew the FlexJet. After flying the T1 (which is powerful and pretty fast), the Flexjet seemed really slow, even though I was flying at very near full throttle the whole flight. I have not checked the telemetry logs yet but I'm guessing it was not even hitting 100 mph. The Tailerons worked great, after some in flight testing, I put the flaps full down just as I started turning to base and the aircraft rolled nicely around to final, problem solved there:). I was a little nervous about the tailerons because I have never used them before, but they worked well. While I was flying around (second flight) I noticed the right-side gear door would not close. I'm thinking this may have contributed to my feeling of slowness as I'm sure that would create additional drag. After landing I checked the hinges on the right side gear door, they were fine so I'm thinking the servo just does not have enough gusto to close the door (I always cycle the gear immediately after take-off before the aircraft accelerates to higher speeds). I've got some more tinkering to do so I'm going to hold off on calling this one a keeper until I get a couple more flights on it. What I can say thus far is that I've got two other X45 powered jets, they weight 8lbs and 10lbs ready to fly, and thus far IMO they fly much nicer than this 12lb FlexJet, but this is all very subjective as we all have different likes and dislikes:). -Tom
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While Ive never clocked my FJP, it easily does 140. I too cycle the gear at TO.
What pipe are you using? Mine weighs 11.25lbs fueled so I imagine at TO its close to 11 and has impressive vertical after cycling the gear and raising the flaps. I will say I flew mine as an EDF first and sorted it out over 30 flights. |
With all of the Flex retract systems you must do and up/down gear cycle after arming radio. Otherwise the gear will retract while the doors are closing and jam the doors, often burning out the gear door servos. It is only a 1-2 sec up/down retract switch actuation but it must be done.
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Originally Posted by Bob_B
(Post 12710852)
While Ive never clocked my FJP, it easily does 140. I too cycle the gear at TO.
What pipe are you using? Mine weighs 11.25lbs fueled so I imagine at TO its close to 11 and has impressive vertical after cycling the gear and raising the flaps. I will say I flew mine as an EDF first and sorted it out over 30 flights. |
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