RADIO CONTROL: JETS
Delmar Ellis, 8877 Meadowview Drive, West Chester, OH 45069
JPO (Jet Pilot's Organization) Turbine America
Turbine America: it started as Turbine America, it is remembered as Turbine America, and it will continue to be called Turbine America. It is coming to AMA's International Aeromodeling Center at Muncie June 13–15. Spectators are welcome.
There will be open flying all weekend for turbine- and ducted-fan-powered jets. The meet will showcase jet manufacturers and their latest products, and turbine engine suppliers and the majority of jet model aircraft suppliers have committed to attend. There will be much to see and do.
The site is beautiful, with 70 x 700-foot paved runways and a large ramp. With any improvement from last year's intermittent rain, it should be a great event (contingency plans have been made).
Airborne Precision Models' F-86
In addition to the new jet entries described in prior Heart of Ohio and Superman discussions, another significant manufacturer entry has surfaced: Airborne Precision Models, founded by Herney Serrano, will be kitting a Giant Scale F-86 derived from the well-known scratch-built model by Dick Rotkosky.
The new kit version of the F-86 is well prepared and complete, including a fiberglass body and hatches, sheeted-foam wings and tail surfaces, molded gear doors (inside and outside forms), and a cockpit kit. The turbine version includes molded shrouds and titanium double-wall tailpipes custom-fitted for the Turbomin engine or the Sophia engine. The finished weight with the turbine should be about 23 pounds. A ducted-fan version is also available, and scale landing gear is offered as an option.
There should be more than one example of the F-86 at Turbine America 1997. Orders are being taken with delivery in 4–6 weeks, at a cost well below $2,000. Herney says they are already planning their next kit model introduction.
Turbine Engine Approvals
The current production turbines for model jets have received AMA approval. Manufacturers have been busy satisfying AMA information needs, which include detailed data regarding engine design, safety considerations, controls verification, and testing.
Jet fliers are fortunate to have several suitable engines: JPX, Golden West, Turbomin, AMT, and Sophia. Engine approvals required a process, and in 1997 pilot waivers were released; the turbine-powered hobby has the green light. Very important — much work has gone into turbine power; everyone should work to keep it safe and acceptable.
AMA Turbine Testbed Aircraft
Leading up to turbine approvals was part of AMA's development of data and experience. Engine operation and flight experience were gained through volunteer committee efforts. Although turbines are approved, information-gathering will continue. AMA will also continue to collect reports on field successes, manufacturers' product developments, and new engines.
Special credit goes to Jim Hiller, who built the Golden West turbine-powered CS Models Terminator and designed the installation. It is AMA's first liquid-fueled turbine installation. The Terminator was test-flown as AMA's testbed aircraft. Primary concern is to protect fuel storage from rupture, particularly engine penetration upon impact. Jim's design demonstrated a logical solution. AMA does not conduct crash testing. Since Jim demonstrated the turbine Terminator, Superman has included installation refinements, and the engine/aircraft combination turned out to be a successful performance package.
Although AMA's evaluation of the Golden West turbine has come close to completion, Jim will continue to campaign the model for the remainder of 1997 meets. Look for a fast red streak doing aerobatics. Also look for a full construction article in R/C Jets International.
Graphics
Several high-tech sources for model aircraft graphics have produced results we have seen. Scale meets and other competitive events recently asked for graphics. Turbinetime Maverick tried an alternative approach using computer-cut vinyl, 0.002-inch graphics material. It is durable, fuelproof, can be clear-coated or painted, and is simple to apply. The biggest advantage is low cost.
Sources that have equipment to cut graphics are available; you can develop custom-designed layout details to suit design tastes, such as logos and government markings. I was fortunate to have Kirby's Kustom Vinyl Graphics in the Southern Ohio region, although Kirby is better known for support of Giant Scale, Pattern, and Tournament of Champions (TOC) aircraft. He provided the graphics for many of last year's United States competitors.
Kirby's has been supplying graphics support to jet modelers (it worked well for me). If his prices are representative, it should be possible for him to decorate a jet, including custom layouts, for less than $100.
Sources
- Airborne Precision Models
8441 63rd Ave. Middle Village, NY 11379 (718) 672-6645
- CS Models
9522 Biggs Way Windsor, CA 95492 (707) 837-9920
- Kirby's Kustom Vinyl Graphics
903 Settlemire Rd. Lebanon, OH 45036 (513) 932-2422
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
