Need help picking first jet.

[JMHansen]

I have been thinking for a long time about buying a jet and am final ready to get one. Trying to take delivery of kit and parts around the holidays. So i am getting ready to order things this month to make sure i am ready to start the build around the holiday. I am liking what i see on the Fei Bao and Fly eagle websites. I am not a great builder so something with a high level of finish from the factory is preferable. I also like big planes. Easier to see etc etc. I like things that are as close to scale as possible. I love the fly eagle netherlands scheme f16 but it lakes speed brakes. I am sure i dont need them but to not have them bothers me. The fei Bao f16 seems to be really scale but i am not in love with any of the schemes. I am also not ready to have one custom painted. The jolly rogers scheme fly eagle f18 is really nice and i love to think about the 1:6 scale version. Does anyone know if it is available yet? I think it also lacks the speed brake between the tails but the slats sure sound cool. I would buy one of the f14's in a heart beat but i am not sure swing wing dual engine is the best way to start my turbine career. I am open to all thoughts. I would be willing to consider a twin but i would rather have a big single. My first choice at the moment is the 1:6 fly eagle f18 if i can get it within my time frame. Second choice is i dont really know fly eagle netherlands f16 1:5 1/2 maybe 1:7 f18. I am open to any planes or suggestions. Key is BIG as scale as possible and most importantly availability in my time frame. Also would love to hear about the quality and finish of the fei bao and fly eagle kits.

[sweetpea]

Fly Eagle has been hit and miss on quality. RCU recently had a thread of over 20 failed pipes and numerous gear issues. Not many folks I fly with have Feibo jets either and I can't comment on the overall quality. But the price is lower.

If you are looking for quality you need to stick with companies like Jet Legend, Yellow Aircraft, Skymaster and BVM. Another good source is Global Jet Club. They typically take the Jet Legend airframes and make them better than resell them at a decent price. But even with these companies......quality is in the eye of the beholder. And instructions are typically non existent in jets. Be prepared for that. I would suggest whatever jet you get have the gear doors done at the factory! Saves some time and frustration.

Have you flown turbines before? The F-16 and F-15 are decent first Jets. You don't need the speedbrakes on the F-16. And no F-16 I know of even has the leading edge slats that the full scale has either. And most of the F-15's don't have the moving intakes either. If you want things really scale you typically have to do them yourself or buy the aftermarket part.

Lastly a good place for parts etc is www.dreamworksrc.com Todd is a good guy to work with and has most everything under the sun.

[JMHansen]

Thought i would throw up some links to the planes i like. I am sure you guys are familiar with them but just in case. Also probably should mention. I have been flying giant scale warbirds and 40% imac planes for several years. Also flying heli's for the last 3 or 4 years. So i have some idea how to mash the stix around
1:6 fly eagle F18
http://www.flyeaglejet.com/F181.6.html
1:7 f18 i prefer the bigger one but it might be to big for a single turbine
http://www.flyeaglejet.com/f18.html
1:5 1/2 f16 love the scheme annoyed by no speed brakes
http://www.flyeaglejet.com/f161.5/AF16M10.JPG
Like this plane from fei bao but cant find a scheme i like
http://www.fbjets.com/index.php?Page=13
Fei bao f15 also looks nice but i have only seen 1 scheme on the TBM website and i cant say i like it all that much.
Once we settle on a plane i will ask about turbine manufactures but for the moment i will stick to trying to find an airframe that makes me happy

[JMHansen]

	Quote: Originally Posted by sweetpea
	Fly Eagle has been hit and miss on quality. RCU recently had a thread of over 20 failed pipes and numerous gear issues. Not many folks I fly with have Feibo jets either and I can't comment on the overall quality. But the price is lower. If you are looking for quality you need to stick with companies like Jet Legend, Yellow Aircraft, Skymaster and BVM. Another good source is Global Jet Club. They typically take the Jet Legend airframes and make them better than resell them at a decent price. But even with these companies......quality is in the eye of the beholder. And instructions are typically non existent in jets. Be prepared for that. I would suggest whatever jet you get have the gear doors done at the factory! Saves some time and frustration. Have you flown turbines before? The F-16 and F-15 are decent first Jets. You don't need the speedbrakes on the F-16. And no F-16 I know of even has the leading edge slats that the full scale has either. And most of the F-15's don't have the moving intakes either. If you want things really scale you typically have to do them yourself or buy the aftermarket part. Lastly a good place for parts etc is www.dreamworksrc.com Todd is a good guy to work with and has most everything under the sun.

Sweetpea that skymaster f16 looks like it might be a winner. I am happy to see they have the new netherlands scheme. I was hoping for something over 100" long but i think that might be big enough. I am a little worried that it might be more then i can handle to do a nice build job and get the canopy to open and close etc. I see you can get the gear and gear doors installed at the factory. If i do that is the level of completion similar to that of a fly eagle?

[gonzalo38]

Skymaster Viperjet or MB-339.... great jets to start.

[sweetpea]

Not sure on levels of completion. I got the 1/8 JL F-16 with nothing done. After fighting the gear doors for weeks and finally getting them to work I wish I had done the pre done version. As for everything else, I was comfortable with installing it. This will be my first jet as well. I have limited Heli time and lots of 40% and warbird time.

But turbines are a different story with the lag time and the speeds of landing. I have flown others jets already so I'm a tad more experienced but I would still say I'm a rookie jet pilot.

Forgot to mention the Viperjet as well. I've seen this plane fly first hand........it was killer. You need to replace the stock wingtube though as its crap. Saw one bend on just easy flying. It just appears its cheap alum tubing.

As for turbines.....Jetcat 3yr warranty. Jetcentral lifetime warranty. Because I get deployed all the time I chose the Jetcentral lifetime warranty. But Jetcats are the most popular motor out there from the events I've attended.

[JMHansen]

	Quote: Originally Posted by gonzalo38
	Skymaster Viperjet or MB-339.... great jets to start.

Have thought long and hard about the VIPERJET i love some of the schemes and it looks like a dream to fly. One day there will be one in my collection. It just looks almost to civilized and i would like to start out with something from the armed forces. The MB 339 also looks like a great flyer it just doesnt light my fire. I forgot to mention i have considered several companies version of the BAE Hawk. Similar story as the MB 339 just doesnt really excite me like some of the american fighter jets. My dream is a F104 Starfighter but i am sure this is not a good way to start my turbine rc career.

[Thomas_W]

Any of the FEJ planes "appear" to have high level of pre-fab done. BUT they need an experienced eye to go over them to make sure everything is right...
I would not be looking at any of the bigger f-18's, F-16's, etc as a first jet. The cost is high, and your first jet is going to see lots of dents and dings from incidents, and those models typically warrant more experience in just the setup and fit-out...
The FeiBao jets i hear are much higher quality than the FEJ and the turnaround time for a custom painted model (which doesn't cost any extra from FB) is only 2 or 3 weeks longer.
if you want scale and a good beginner, i'd do with one of the smaller (28lb thrust size jets) like the yellow Aircraft F-15 (theirs a brand new YA f-15 ARF for sale on RCU for a damn good deal), Comp-Arf Eurosport, ViperJet, SM F15/F16/F18 etc.
With your first jet there is a fairly steep learning curve in learning the in's and outs of construction, operation, emergency ops, etc. And a large, heavy, twin engine, sweep wing jet is NOT the way to begin IMO

[JET FX]

All ARF's need a going over, as a matter of fact in 35 years of R/C Iam yet to come across one that does not.... There are various components that can also be upgraded as a matter of preference such as gear and door valves, air cylinders, fuel fittings and various servo linkages. As a rule however pretty much all the hardware is quite usable in modern ARF's. Value wise its hard to go past the Fei Bao and Fly Eagle models in my opinion. Both of these companies offer custom finishing and I own a number of models from both....

Yellow Aircraft and DJM produce (in my opinion) the very finest ARF jets available and also more pricey... but quality is as good as I have seen from glass work, through paint and hardware. DJM offer a simply stunning 1/6 scale F9F-8 Cougar for 30 lb thrust turbines with functional canopy and tail hook. Yellow Aircraft offer the leading F-15 ARF and the absolute king of all ARF jets the Yellow Aircraft 1/7 (twin) F-18 that is available for single 36 - 50 lb thrust or twin 18 - 30 lb thrust turbines. At the end of the day it comes down to what your looking for really as ARF jet options are plentiful. Leave the F-18's until maybe second or third jet would be my suggestion as they are a little less forgiving and are a little more demanding to set up and fly especially as a first jet...

As far as ideal first "scale" jet recommendations go my suggestions would be- F-15, F-22, F-86, Mig-15, L-39, MB-339, T-33. The F-15 comes in as best modern jet choice and generally is the most popular when you ask around. Ideal size would be the 1/9 scale that can be set up with 20-30 lb turbines... Yellow Aircrafts version is the nicest although the other Chinese ARF manufacturers fly pretty much all the same, just the finish thats a little more detailed on the Yellow. The Fei Bao 1/9 F-15 ARF is about the best value for $$ I reckon, you can set it up to fly on tailerons as primary flight controls and have a light no fuss great flying and looking Eagle for relatively low expense, hard to ignore...

F-86 if you like the golden era jets, The Sabre is a brilliant flying scale jet Fei Bao offer a nice easy to set up 1/6 scale version and Fly Eagle have an amazing looking new release big Sabre with slats and operating canopy.

My two first scale jet "ideal" success guarrenteed suggestions would therefor be F-15 or F-86 based on ease to set up and general flight performance, also a great variety of colour schemes to choose from...

Cheers- Marty

[JMHansen]

I am considering this YA f15 that is on RCU at the moment. I was thinking about something bigger but as i am hearing bigger is not necessarily going to be better. How much work is involved in the YA to get the canopy working and getting it RTF. Similar to a large scale gas warbird or much more indepth. Also figured bigger would be easier to assemble.

[JET FX]

	Quote: Originally Posted by JMHansen
	I am considering this YA f15 that is on RCU at the moment. I was thinking about something bigger but as i am hearing bigger is not necessarily going to be better. How much work is involved in the YA to get the canopy working and getting it RTF. Similar to a large scale gas warbird or much more indepth. Also figured bigger would be easier to assemble.

If its the ARF version it would be rather straight forward. Installation of an aircylinder and mounting hard points, plus locking pins (servo activated). Just use the RCU "Search" feature for operating canopy's Iam sure you will come across various threads and photos etc showing installs that would help.

Bigger is better to see obviously in many cases, with that however goes more complexity generally also... I have one of the new 1/7 Fei Bao F-15E's on the work bench at the moment. Its "BIG" and a fair bit more complex to rig than the 1/9 size F-15 and also a challenge to transport in one piece. I dont think bigger is necessarily 'easier' to assemble (rig) in this case either definetely not on the wallet anyway. I reckon the Yellow F-15 is a nice easy to manage size especially for a first scale jet, its still quite large and does have good presence in the air you would not be dissapointed with the Yellow version...

[Thomas_W]

If i had the $$$ the F-15 arf on RCU would be the way to go IMO if i was looking for a first scale jet. Their is only a matter of putting in 3 air cylinders and a valve (if you decide to go air powered) or 3 servo's for electronic for the canopy. And the YA quality is excellent and hard to beat IMO. You will be pleased with that model, if thats how you chose to go. And the customer service thru shawn (YA west coast rep www.yellowaircraftplanes.com) is great as well

[DadsToysBG]

My first jet was a PST Panther. I put a P-80 in it. All was used. Total price was $5,000. Very easy to fly, top speed about 150 and you can fly at half throttle. Easy to land. Dennis

[JMHansen]

Anyone have an experience with an aviation designs Rafale. Looks like a nice airplane and i just talked to a super nice guy who has one. He is interested in a possible trade with for my 46% hanger 9 ultie that is on RCU. Rafale is minues turbine. Will have pics soon. Any advice please let me know. The current owner is super friendly and very knowledgeable so i am pretty excited about the possibilities. Looking forward to your responses.

[VF84sluggo]

I decided to take the jump into turbines with the Skymaster L-39. BVM has a sale here.

After a lot of research and asking questions of experienced turbine folks that I know, the concencus was that the L-39 would make a good 'newbie' jet. There is supposed to be a 2-piece article about this very subject soon in Fly RC magazine.

I have the Czech Arctic Camo scheme. I'm about 3/4 done, with the turbine/tailpipe and the receiver installation being the major components to go. The inevitable 'clean-up' items after a build this big will no doubt add a little more time.

I'm going with a JetCat P-120 for power. The P-80 is also ok. I went with the 120 because I can always throttle back. I'd rather work a turbine a little easier to get the same performance as working a less powerful one harder. Then, as my experience and skill grows, the extra power will no doubt be nice.

Good luck in your search!