RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

TOTAL BUMMER!!!!!  I have about 50 flights on mine with a Falcon 100. At this time I have had no problems and I really ring it out!! I inspect the wing EVERY flight with NO issues to date!  I do have the Falcon down to 19 pounds of thurst. Did you use the washer and screw they give you only? OR did you add a bigger washer to keep from going down into the wood?????? Just wondering.  Me????  I would get another!!!!

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

The Shockjet is a great little flyer...

When Iassembled my Shockjet the first time, Inoticed when installing the wing bolts that the balsa used was very soft in the wing. Way too soft for my liking. So Isoaked the balsa blocks in thin CA, then added washers. Ihave noticed some common mistakes made during construction of the ARF in key areas. So Itreat my jet like eggs in flight. It is powered by a P-60 and is flown as a trainer. After disassembling the fuselage and finding soft balsa with very little plywood to match, Idecided to take it easy with this jet.It is designed and built for a trainer and is safe to be used in such a manner. Iwent through the fuselage and reinforced all the joints Icould with Aeropoxy. This strengthened the joints and corners quite a bit. The corners of the fuselage in the rear are of soft balsa and use very thin and soft balsa sheet. Less than a 16th inch at the corners in thickness. Ihope the wing is not indicative of my findings thus far. Its a good trainer and lots of fun to fly and is great for someone looking to get a turbine waiver.

MACE

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

I DISAGREE!!  It is a trainer, BUT it is capable of  pulling up to 30G's.  I have thurast mine around and have had NO problems!!  If you are treating your Shock Jet Like a Baby Trainer, YOU are missing out!!! Go up and throw it around!!!!!!!!  Set your throws to 150 percent and go have some fun. 

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

I added larger washers to the wing bolts, but the wing bolts and wood around the wing did not fail, it was the wing itself. The bolts holding the wing onto the fuse was still in the fuse at the crash sight, still holding parts of the wing. I did not baby my Shock, gents at the field would agree, but the wing failed during, IMHO a lower G pull, than I have flown before. I too also inspected the airframe before and after each flight. I will post pics of what is left of the wings when I get time. My bee needs a new home and I am still undecided on purchasing another shock.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

As requested, here are some pics of the wings.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Will try uploading pics later.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Overall size of wing joiner channel.</p>

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Right outer side of wing joiner channel very little if no glue at all.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

HUMMM Very Strange!!!

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

No glue between left wing spars, dry fit only.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

No glue between right wing, wing spars, dry fit.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

As the first picture shows the rear wing, through bolt blocks, are missing, they were still on the fuse at the crash site with the bolts still attatched. The lack of glue on the main spars, two pieces, makes me wonder why the wing did not fail sooner. I hope my wing was a fluke in manufacturing. In conclusion, the Shock jet did its job by introducing me into the worldof turbine aircraft and therefore served me very well.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

PLease Forward!!  Sent you a PM

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Hmmm!

They must have changed the design at some point. My wing has a tube in it.

Bob

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

They changed it when they went to the 2 piece wing.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Maybe they should have left it one piece.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Are the hinges preglued or do you have to glue them in yourself
Thanks
Glenn

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Some are glued and some aren't.......Gerry

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

I don't see any glue on the aluminum channel joiner. Did you glue it in?

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

I glued mine in to make a one piece wing...  I used Hysal and really ruffed the wood and al. spare.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

The aluminum joiner was glued in with epoxy and sandedwith rough sand paper to giveit some tooth.The epoxy in the channel and the joiner is still there. If the joiner was not glued correctly, I dont think is would has lasted about 100 flights.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

True!!!  I also Drilled a few holes in mine. REALLY good grip, now!!! 

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

&gt;The aluminum joiner was glued in with epoxy and sandedwith rough sand paper to giveit some tooth.The epoxy in the channel and the joiner is still there. If the joiner was not glued correctly, I don't think it would has lasted about 100 flights.

Iwouldn't think so either, but strange things sometimes happen. Ijust noticed that in your picture posted at 5:15 am, the half of the aluminum joiner at the lower right of the picture looks like it's brand new with no epoxy or wood stuck to it. Do you think the epoxy didn't get a good bond?

Thanks.

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

Yes strange things do happen, it is possible. I went out just now and removed the wood around the joiner, what was left of it on the right wing, and found epoxy on the inner wood channel. I then broke apart the left wing joiner and also found epoxy on the aluminum and inner wood joiner. The epoxy does feel brittle, but it  is stuck to all parts, including both sides of the aluminum.  Should I have used Hysol, probly better than the Z poxy that I used. My other jet is a TAM Hawk and I used Hysol on its construction.
If I used the wrong epoxy or not enough I completely take the blame for the wing coming apart, but my purpose of posting pics, asked by RCU members, was to show the construction of the wing and to share the retirement of my shock. I conside the almost 100 flights a successful intro to turbines. The only damage was a destroyed air frame.
I would still recommend a Shockjet to anyone just getting into turbines.

Lorren

RE: TBM Shock Jet
 

When we first got our tbm shock jet ther was some talk of wing faliure some where.  I think it was one of the test models?  I want to know from tbm how many wing failures have ther been.  Not just the current production but all of the different shock varients flown or sold through tbm.   My main concern is that we are flying a safe plane and the pic posted above make me worry.   Lots of liability with model jets.  Also any one needing past history of  the plane should talk to the guy that this design was copyed after the jetmach by laser design service.     Andy</p>