RADIO CONTROL JETS
Delmar Ellis 8877 Meadowview Drive, West Chester, OH 45069
INTERNATIONAL JET SCALE QUALIFIER
By the time you read this, many of the early summer meets will be history. When planning your fall jet events, don't forget that the Jet Scale qualifying event for next year's international competition will take place in Metropolis, Illinois, during the week leading up to the Superman Fan Fly. The 1999 international event will take place in Austria.
Call Jerry Caudle at (618) 524-2440 to preregister for the qualifier and to verify times. For those not competing, come early this year, cheer on the competitors, and enjoy the great time that the Superman competition provides.
AMT Turbines
The eagerly awaited new 15-1/2-pound-thrust Mercury engine experienced a temporary delay in initial deliveries; minor last-minute configuration optimizations and resulting coordination of component provisions had to be finalized. Gas turbine development is a complicated and time-consuming process; it's best to iron out all the bugs you can prior to releasing engines into the field.
Initial deliveries will start to the many customers with advance orders in early July. This engine should be seen in midyear meets, such as Heart of Ohio. It certainly will be worth the wait.
RAM Microjets
The popular new-generation RAM 500 and 750 turbines are in great demand. As you may know, this engine had a recent turbine rotor problem, which resulted in some field failures and a total factory recall. Some owners have been so anxious to fly this exciting engine that they were too impatient to undergo the recall first, which produced additional failures.
Although nobody has been hurt to date, pilots have been at risk. As a result, AMA has notified all jet-event Contest Directors that the RAM waiver must be accompanied by a factory-issued certificate identifying each user's engine as having completed overhaul. RAM's rework included turbine-rotor replacement from a new U.S. source, which is an FAA-qualified source for full-scale people-mover engine components. RAM has gone all-out to resolve the problem.
It is important that everyone cooperate for each person's safety and for the continued future of the jet hobby. We also need to avoid propagating the attitude that turbines might be unsafe or more expensive to insure. The factory-overhauled engines are being delivered now (June 1998).
CAI (Crow Aviation, Inc.)
CAI provides a range of high-quality jet kits and aftermarket equipment for model turbines, such as ducts, shrouds, GSU (ground support unit), and ECU fuel pumps. CAI's initial support-equipment effort has concentrated on Sophia turbines; don't be surprised if the company coordinates additional engine brands shortly.
Use of any new ECU, in substitution for AMA-reviewed engine systems, requires resubmittal of technical data for separate AMA recognition. CAI has completed its submittals. By the time you read this, CAI's ECU will be recognized and waivers will be issued to qualified pilot applicants.
I had the opportunity to bench-test this CAI system with the Sophia engine. This is a high-quality, user-friendly system—one of the best on the market. It includes a flow orifice for simple calibration of the radio system to the ECU. Safety controls and overrides are built in.
CAI will sell this system including a Sophia engine as a package. In addition, the ECU will be offered for use with existing Sophia turbines as a retrofit. In both cases, new waivers will be required.
Turbine Technology
Jet pilots are fortunate to have witnessed recent developments in model turbines and their control-system technologies. We live in a wonderful modeling age. Engine prices are at an all-time low, and I don't suggest waiting for further price drops in the market; sales competition is very fierce and engines are probably being sold below real value. As production deliveries catch up, prices will probably have to rise. If you are waiting for bigger engines, more are on the way.
Jet Pilot's Organization (JPO)
Jet Pilot's Organization (JPO) is your Special Interest Group (SIG) for jet modeling. This year the organization is operating under a new slate of officers and district representatives led by well-known jet modeler and new president Tom Dodgen: (903) 342-5514.
Many of JPO's accomplishments are behind the scenes and largely unrecognized. It is extremely important, especially in this advanced part of the hobby—which isn't always well understood and appreciated—for us to have a supporting and protective SIG. To be strong and effective, it requires everyone's participation and involvement.
To join JPO or to voice your areas of interest, call Tom or your local district representative. Sometimes they can be found at jet meets.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
