Simjet or Jetcat?
 

What do you guys prefer? -Steve

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

Steve!!!! I was just going to ask that!!!!! :rainfro:

Seriously!

are reps allowed to post on this :-)
 

<EOM>

RAM
 

I like RAM things should go much more smooth now that everyone's selling them,
not that I ever had any problems with them I really think REI and Albert have done a great Job and just for that I'll stick with them till I need a bigger Turbine. :D

They are ALL great
NO EXCEPTIONS and no TRASHING any of the GREAT TURBINES that are out in todays Market.


Regards.....................Johnny Hernandez

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

Well the reps can say what they want, I'm not stopping em' -Steve

I'm going to buy my second Jet Cat
 

If you want reliable and easy buy a Jet Cat. I have owned and flown a Jet Cat P-80 turbine for two years now, and I have yet to have it do anything but start and run perfectly! I did have to replace the Glow Plug when it started popping on the first start attempt of the day. This started happening after about 7 hours of run time. The ECU would re-sequence for a perfect start the second time and then run normally. I thought this problem might be the Propane/butane percentage setting or something like that, but all it took to make it start smoothly every time the first time was a new plug. It is almost scary how well it runs, this motor, by far is the best of motor on any model I have ever owned. And I've been flying powered models since 1960.

My second Jet Cat is going to be a P-120, it's going on my Bob Cat and I will use the speed controller system to keep my airspeeds within published limits. The takeoffs and vertical's should be impressive with the extra push ----------
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099

Glow plug
 

Hey Silver, what plug are you using. Im using an O.S A3. My starts have been flawless but just wondering what your useing for future referance in case i may want to change.

Andy

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

Hey Johnny

Is that your new F15 in your little pic ? looks quite large to me, and i know your a tall guy

You going to be flying at FL jets this yr ?

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

yep thats my new Project Superman will be the big day I have to test this beast properly before it hits the Big Show.



Johnny Hernandez

Simjet
 

Guys:

What experience have you had with transporting your turbines (in or out of the model) as checked luggage on an airliner? Florida is going to be my first attempt, and I'm just wondering what experiences you've had doing it.

I am aware of options like Forward Air or other freight companies, I'm just looking for experiences trying to get your stuff on board the airplane.

Thanks!

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

that really depends on what type of jet we're talking here !!! there's the Bandit that travels great on its jet case and all the models that BV has to travel with such case, you have the Hot Spot thats another winner on the Airliners if its crated properly.

I traveled to Spain and Costa Rica for jet events and they were crated properly and got there in perfect condition, and these were not small jets.

You might want to check with UPS I've seen them deliver to the Hotels or there's another company by the name of Bestway Shipping they are pretty good as well they will deliver it to the Airfield and pick it up at your home.
As for forward Air you will need to go to a drop off terminal to pick it up and that's a bit of an inconvenience if you're doing a show.


Hope this helps......... Johnny Hernandez

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

I just think Jetcats are the best of the best .

Never had a problem with them, well that was not operator error anyway.

Ive had my P120 18 months and if I bought a new one today it would be the same, Jetcat have had no need to upgrade ECU's or anything cos they got it right first time.How many other engine manufacturers can say the same?

just my opinion for what it's worth.

jason

Re: Glow plug
 

Hello Andy,
I'm using the Rossi R-5, it has a slightly larger gage wire and the top of the plug has a ball that is just right for the glow connector--
Lee-

Jets
 

Mr. Hernandez,

Thanks for your info. What I'm really looking for, though, is specific info on what's happened (especially since 9-11) when they find out that there's a gas-turbine engine in the box you want to check. I've pretty much got the skinny on the freight options, but for my own reasons, I'm thinking about checking mine at the gate. I want to know if anyone's been told that they couldn't, and if so, what were the reasons/problems.

Thanks again for responding,

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

Even before 9/11 it was illegal to take any model on an airliner that had once had fuel in it. I had to fib last FJ and tell them my MiG was a display model. On the way back they wanted me to open the Jetcase, but again a little persuasion got that sidetracked. Doubt if that will work now.

Ask me sometime about the 1997 F3A World Champs trip.

Personally, I don't think you'll have any luck checking a model onto an airliner now. They for sure will want you to open the box and inspect it. If they use any sniffers you'll be out of business. A call to your airline will probably confirm this.

I haven't talked to a single person who has even tried to check a model since 9/11. Everyone ships them or has somebody who's driving take theirs. But you could be the first. Maybe somebody will let you fly their model at FJ!

Turbines
 

Tony,
are you going to the El Mirage jet fly March 3,2002 ? and please send me a Email-I had to restore the computer and lost ALL my addresses.Thanks.


Jackjet

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

A lot of us took jet models to Thailand for the Jet World Masters and I am bringing my BobCat to Florida on Qantas to LAX then AA LAX to MIA. There is an IATA regulation which enables air transportation and that involves flushing the fuel system. As an ex transatlantic captain anything that ensures safety is fine by me !

Flushing
 

Hi David - what exactly do you flush it with ?

Also, are you talking about just flushing the tanks, or all fuel lines, the fuel pump, etc ?

TIA,
Gordon

Engine transportation
 

I know of guys who have carried engines in their carry on baggage & put them in the overhead. Probley can't do that any more..Good luck

Dan M.

Jet transportation.
 

Hi guys,

I have been putting this several times on the forums already, and see that some people still need assistance. So, here come the recommendations once again. Hope these are usefull for whoever might consider to attend FJ as well, and this being the last stepstone for a confirmative decision for attending this "hot" event.

Last year, I have been to jet meetings almost every weekend. Several were overseas and I had to take my model and turbine with me.

If you're not well prepared, it'll end up in a very frustrating and expensive experience. Last year, while returning from FJ, British Airways charged me about 1000$ and eight weeks of nail biting to get my plane back to Brussels airport. They held me in Orlando as suddenly it was too heavy, too large, smell like kerosene, "ready to start", had an (empty !) scuba bottle, etcetera etcetera. Things of no importance when I checked in in Brussels. So... don't give stubborn egos a chance ! (Golden Rule #1).

When you book your flight, ask your travel agent for your flight reservation number. Usually this is a six digits code (something like "KMOUF9"). Also ask for the phone number of the airline company. Call them a couple of days in advance, give them your reservation number and explain that your hobby is R/C planes and you like to attend a meeting and have to fly thereto. Tell them that there might be a tiny chance that the box you're bringing at the check-in desk, might be "a little bigger", "a little bit overweight", and that you're unsure if all the goods you're taking with you will be accepted for check-in. Make sure you have a person on the line with some authority. Ask for his name and ask him politely if he can mark this in your file in the computer, and remind him this will also be the case for your return flight(s). Don't forget ! Upon check-in, it will be the first thing they will see on the screen on the desk and there is even a chance they will give you priority check-in as they will see you are struggling with that crate. If the lady at the desk shows some second thoughts, tell them you have an agreement about this with Mr. X.

I packed my jet in a BVM Jet Case (the SpiderJets F-16) and have the wings in my suitcase. The weight of the Jet Case is some 15 kgrs. They will ask you for the dimensions and weight, and if reasonable, they will make no objections to this (added) luggage. If you travel with two persons, even less. (The excess luggage for you is spread over both persons. I did never had to pay for excess luggage if they accepted the Jet Case.)
They will explain you on the phone that acids, fuel, gas, filled compressed air bottles,... are not allowed. Of course you know and you swear them on the head of your mother in law that none of this products will be in the crate. Even more, you anticipate by telling them that you have taken out your Nicad battery packs, the turbine itself, and emptied completely the fuel tanks. Not one drop of fuel is left in there. Carry the turbine and Nicads with you as hand luggage in a plastic bag and store it in the overhead compartment. Nobody will object, to my surprise they did not even ask me anything at the X-ray controls !!!

Connect all fuel and gas lines in the model together, block off everything, prevent any smell of fuel being in there. Some use methanol or pure alcohol to clean the tailpipe first before packing.

Also the transmitter is to be taken with you as hand luggage (much safer).

For pilots coming overseas, there is a more problematic issue : customs upon return. You have to proove that you took it out of the country now you want to get in with it again, or you have to pay import duties, VAT, and all these nice things. The best solution is to go to a customs office in advance and have your model marked somewhere with a lead customs seal. In this case, it is a job you only have to do once instead of filling out documents and documents all the time. Bring also the invoices of all expensive parts (radio and turbine) with you, clearly showing the serial number as proof you bought it back home.
Even more, I make sure I always have with me nice photos of that plane and myself and some easily recognizable local things, stressing the origin of the photo and avoiding two hours of discussion with the customs officer. Of course it would not be logical to go to the Eifel Tower to take pics there but your car with your (national) license plate on the background is excellent.
I even had the first time by accident photos of the huge box and us taken at Brussels Airport just prior to check-in to the US. That was perfect.

If you wish to fill out temporarily export documents instead of having a customs' seal -like I advize to anyone-, remember that you MUST take the model back home, even if you crashed it and it completely has burned out !!!

Never take a jerrycan with you, it will always smell like fuel and will cause trouble. Buy one at K-mart and give it away to a friend afterwards.

By all means, stay polite, friendly and patient. You are "an ignorant hobby tourist doing this for the first time" (despite you do it every weekend :) ) and you did not know about all the regulations but did your best not to cause trouble to anyone. (Golden Rule #2.) Some airlines are more flexible (Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa,...) than others (British Airways,..).

Last remark. I had the severe impression that since Sept. 11 it has not been more difficult to travel with R/C jets. On the contrary, they want to focus on so many things that they did not have time to check my stuff. Others have confirmed this experience.

Anyway, make it obvious to anyone this is a safe toy you took, and you'll have a very relaxed and well deserved jet weekend.


Good luck !

Nicolas Goddeeris,
SpiderJets.

SpiderJets
 

Nicholas,


What an excellent post! Thanks so much. I'm still not sure if I'm gonna try or not, but the information you posted is definitely going to help.

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond with such a thorough post.

Best regards,

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

Nicholas has said it all really but the recommeded cleaner for ALL parts which have had contact with fuel is Methanol.
A certficate of compliance is also recommended and if Davie Mathews is reading this perhaps he can give us the benefit of his research.
Problem is, if you seal all tanks etc the diff pressure of 8,5 psi in the cabin couild cause damage.
The only problem I have had is with BA at Orlando airport, (no problem at Sydney or Bangkok for the WJM) even though the operating Captain was happy ( my F4 had one ounce of residual fuel in the hopper, the 747 had 80 tons of the stuff on board) to carry my F4 the station manager insisted it go cargo the following day, and several hundred dollars paid for air cargo ! Even the cargo agents didnt see the problem. Virgin, by the way are great Having said all that I am about to find out any problems with Qantas and AA when I leave for Florida Jets on Monday with brand new BobCat which has never been fuelled.

My experience with customs in Sydney is that they are very happy to attch a paper seal to the model for easy re-entry without any customs hassle. Good luck.

Plugs and engines
 

Steve,

If you are considering JetCat all I can say is it's one fantastic piece of machinery; easier to operate than a glow engine and absolutely reliable, I've had no problems with it whatsoever.


Andy,

Regarding plugs it doesn't matter much what you use in a JetCat as long as it is not a four-stroke plug. More important than the brand is that it is properly modified. You need to pull out two separated coils a distance of about 1/8." Light the plug with an ignitor battery a few times before you do it to anneal the element and keep it from breaking when you pull it out. The OS A3 works fine as does the Rossi. I am currently using an Enya 3 and it works beautifully, my JetCat starts right up without delay. The Enya has a nice big ball on the end like the Rossi which gives the plug wire something to hook on to.

Simjet or Jetcat?
 

hi dustflyer,


please can you explain why not to use a four stroke plug?

just wondering, cause my turbine manufacturer recommends the use of a OS four stroke plug.

mec

Four stroke plug
 

Mec,

I was replying to Andy's question to Silver182 as to which plug he was using in his JetCat. I'll edit my post for clarification.