Aircraft Decisions
 

Hey fellas. I'd like to dip into your vat of experiences here. I'm trying to decide on a plane that will do the following.
Quick Build
Fly off of 350' (paved) runway
Relatively "inexpensive" (relative term, dosen't work here really)
and reasonably quick

From these criteria i've come to expect it'll be a 12# turbine size, because of runway restrictions, and if kept light, hopefully it'll do alright. I want an everyday, take it out and have fun, bang arround turbine. The planes i like are the TG Interceptor, DL Cyclone III, and YA Starfire. Are these planes suited. how bout a lil pro vs. con discussion? No attacks please. Thanks again fellas.

Aircraft Decisions
 

Greg,

If you want cheap and wickedly fast, then also consider a Trim Spectre.

If you want relatively cheap and very fast, consider a MAS Renegade or Vigilante with a 12 pound turbine. The Renegade and Vigilante in the deluxe kit versions also build very quickly.

Here's a photo of my Renagde. It's only a touch smaller than a Bandit. I could grab a side by side photo of the Bandit fuse and the Renegade if you want a comparison.

Regards,
Garrett

Aircraft Decisions
 

In my opinion, "quick build" means a tradeoff in visual quality. If you want a really good looking bird, you're going to have to invest the time and skills. But if you don't really care about that, then "cheap" is the issue. If you want a plane you can take to the field every day and fly the crap out of and still doesn't break the bank, its more of an issue of new vs used. Quick, cheap, and easy don't normally apply to jets, but let someone else deal with getting everything working. All that time and effort never comes out in the selling price. There's your cheap and easy.
I can't speak for the other planes, but the Cyclone and Renegade would be my picks for turbine aircraft. Then get a tubine that has a good history of happy customers. If you like the screamin' Indy sound of a DF (I know I do) then get youself a Spectre. The big cheeks don't favor turbines, but people have done it.

The FACET-1200
 

Hi Greg:

I wish to suggest a FACET-1200 fitted up with a SIMJET-1200 to fit your needs.

Great Northern Models has Christmas combo deals with some of the Aircraft your have named with a SIMJET-1200 (12# ) turbine. Check it out.

www.greatnorthernmodels.com

Please go to the "New Products Anouncemnets" for More details on the FACET.



Thank you.

Kerry J. Sterner (Vampire)
SIMJET of Penn.
[email protected]

choices
 

I just bougght a prefab interceptor from TGA about 3 weeks ago ...they are on sale for xmas right now @ $495.00...When you take it out of the box,it has presheeted wings/stabs all with preinstalled leading edges,primer/filled epoxy glass fuse 100% ready for paint(or atleast mine was)..all formers and nose gear mount preinstalled with aeropoxy,and all spars installed and ready to glue on wings/stabs.there is very little to do to get this jet complete....interceptors are one of the sweetest jets out there right now as far as sport jets go,and veryy fast too.Also with all that I hear about them they are very stable & have great slow speed characteristics ,fly great..they will fly off grass too.I will have mine done & flying in a few more weeks...good luck with the decision process,consider the interceptor if you want a great jet thats nice looking at a awesome price,and requires very little work to get ready!


steve

thanks, keep it commin
 

hey fellas, thanks for the good info. Now i'm gonna get perticular, anyone have experience with the planes i mentioned, and the ones introduced as far as runway requirements, sped ranges, and flying qualities? Funny you mentioned the bandit, we're almost to the painting stages on the one i have. I am looking for this plane as an everyday practice machine to bang arround other than the bandit, which is the pride and joy with countless hours invested. Thanks again guys, lookin forward to it.
Greg Murphy

Hi Greg
 

These planes all fly good, I have not seen a Cyclone 3, but I built a Cyclone and have seen them fly, very nice. The starfire is a classic and I have seen many Interceptors fly nice and that 495 ARF price is going to be hard to beat.

IMHO the choice is yours.

The problem with your requirement is

1.) Cost - Once you gear up the deltas in cost between any of these options are minor. You will still be looking at 4-5 grand. I have never had a bang around 5 thousand dollar plane


2.) 350 foot runway - You can certainly fly any of these planes from 350 feet, and the Bandit as well. The problem is consistency. It will be hard to hit that time and again, so you need to make sure your run off area is good and the gear is very strong, and wire as well, I would not use struts. Again these 3 designs are very similar (foam wings I think) so the gear strength could be the same on any of them.

Hey Matt, nice to see ya
 

i know there all similarly priced, and trust me, i've never had a bang around plane nearly this expensive. Ever since the bandit begun however, well actually since i flew BV's on the buddy box, anything else is boring. I want a turbine that i can fly everday, at my home field. I'd never dream of flying the bandit on this short runway. There's too much time in it to bang up my pride and joy on an everyday basis. I want a turbine to fly at home, practice for the bandit, reliable, fast, and most importantly, fly off home runway. Limiting drive time to fly, don't wanna travel. i know prices will all be relatively the same. and nowhere close to cheap, but cheaper from a financial, and even more so, time standpoint than the bandit. aditionally, do you think putting a p-80 (since price is close to 12# class anyway) in any of these planes would be an unnessecary weight penalty over the 12# motors for the short runway? Thanks, keep it commin, Greg Murphy


P.S. Anyone at all attending JOD.......hope to see yall at FJ if not

lil addition
 

Just to update everyone, the bandit has become a joint project between my father and I, and the funds for this second (practice turbine) and the final couple G's for the bandit are comming from the sale of my car, and buying a cheap old truck......hope to see you all at a jet event down here soon, merry christmas and happy new year...Greg

Aircraft Decisions
 

Man you should look at the Yellow Aircraft Stingray. I choose it for my first turbine plane. Just make a search here with 'Stingray' you will see by yourself.

Re: The FACET-1200
 

I looked all over that site, and I didnt find a new product page. Did I miss it?

Aircraft Decisions
 

Check out PCM Models AV8R. Easy and cheap to build. Takes off in 150 ft. No retracts to get tangled in the grass. I had mine framed in three days and finished in a little over a week. Kit comes with everything except the covering and brakes. All the other birds mentioned will not sit down on a 350 ft runway without a tail hook
see www.flypcm.com

Aircraft Decisions
 

look here..

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...light=stingray

and here

http://cincyjets.rcclubs.com/photo3.html]

New product announcments
 

Look here

New products]

Re: New product announcments
 

Thanks, I was checking the Great northern site..

Keep um commin
 

thanks for all the great opinions. As far as the PCM AV8R, from the planes i listed, you can see what i'm looking for. something slick, fast, and looks like a jet. Anyone with actual experience with all the planes listed above and runway requirements??? Thanks, Greg

Facet/New Products Page
 

Hi John

Kerry posted some info on his new Facet Kit in the New Products and Manufacturers news section here on RCU. We haven't add the section to our website as yet.

There is a section on our page with Christmas Specials.

Ed

Aircraft Decisions
 

Hi Greg,

I haven't fitted my Renegade out yet, so I can't offer personal experiences here but I have seen guys down here fly turbine powered Renegades and Vigilantes off paved strips that, by my estimation, were around the 350' mark. Admittedly, these guys are good, consistent pilots but it is managable.

As for choice of choice turbine, both the Renegade and Vig will take 12 pound engines and upward (some Vigilantes down here are flying with 30lbs). In terms of gear, both have substantial flex plates that appear to be able to absord plenty of abuse and run-offs as well as operating happily off grass strips.

I have seen DF Spectres fly off the same length strips, but not a turbine powered one. With a 12lb turbine I would imagine it should be doable. Maybe someone who has a turbine Spectre will chime in and give an opinion.

Personally, I'm building a Boomerang for home-field operation. No, it's not sleek and missile like but it will allow me to fly turbines whenever I want. Plus it will do a whole lot of stuff that just isn't possible with other jets and I can save my show-queens for travelling away to nice, loooong sealed strips.

Regards,
Garrett

Very SWEET Deal!
 

Ed, you and Kevin have some very SWEET deals going on right now! I'm tempted ;)

Greg, 350' is going to be tough to hit EVERY single time with some of the sleeker jets mentioned, but maybe you're that good :) , I know I'm not that consistent :(

Just food for thought, Think about the Face or AV8R.

George

Sport Flying Turbine
 

And another option - Probably the best and one of the most affordable turbine sport jets for MW54 would be the 5 Jet.....IMHO
This model performs extremly well on any MW54 size turbine. Very economical to build, light and easy to operate.
This pic give a good size comparison to the BobCat and Trim F86 in the background all have MW54 size turbines fitted and are awesome fliers.

5 Jet
 

lil more info on the 5 Jet would be nice, Merry Christmas everyone, Greg Murphy

Aircraft Decisions
 

Greg,

Here's the link -> http://www.arrakis.es/~rcpalma/Five-Jet/

Regards,
Garrett

Top gun Mig 29
 

It does not get much easier to build, under 500 bucks , cheap retracts,short field capable, good size, easy to fly lots o room for fuel turbine stuff,


but...... you will need a tams pipe for the twin nozzels. $$$$

Aircraft Decisions
 

May be you want to consider the Planes plus deal, a P80 and free Kangaroo!!! (if you do not have a turbine of course) That may be the best balance between cost, ARF, quick build and 350 feet take off. The 350 feet is not a problem with brakes AND clear surroundings ie no trees coming in for a landing.

Aircraft Decisions
 

Gsmurf,

How are you? I haven't seen you since FJ right? I hope things are going well.

Anyway, for the difference in price, I'd consider going with the P-80. There's not much difference in wieght, either, compared to a 12-pound engine. Obviously, my vote would go with the Starfire as far as sport jets. Your flight performance is going to be very similar to that of your Bandit, but with a fraction of the cost. With a P-80, the airplane is going to be a very nice flier, too.

If you're interested, lemme know, I'll get a you a real good price on one. If you need an engine too, then I'll get you an even better price on the bird! Good luck, bro--nice to see you in here!