RE: Skymaster F14 Tomcat
I want the version with all the good stuff on the wings. Let us know when it's available!
Posted on: 5/17/2013 6:24 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11514080

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
Before I heard it straight from Bob Wilcox, I wouldn't have believed they were modifying the turbine blades, either. But they are...the turbine blades, not the compressor blades. When I sent my first P100-RX back, they reduced the angle of the turbine blades to create more compression in the can. I asked them how they did it and they told me they have a jig for doing it. More recently, Bob said that JetCat Germany has designed more sophisticated tooling for closing down the blades and that he'll be using it instead of the jig he's using now. He also told me that JetCat Germany has issued a new software update (new as of a couple of weeks ago) for the P100-RX ECU designed to help alleviate acceleration problems and startup problems. (On my 100, I often have to hold down the Manual button on the GSU on startup, or else it exceeds the time allotted for a clean start and shuts down just seconds before the startup sequence is complete.) Bottom line is that some P100-RXs work just great out of the box, and others spit and sputter and shut down when you give them fuel. The solution for the "bad" ones is to close down the turbine blades, even though it didn't seem to make a difference in mine. Clearly JetCat is trying to work out these issues, and one wonders if they released the 100 too early. But the customer service has been great, and I expect that eventually, the problems will be worked out and I won't have to hold down the Manual button or tweak the throttle response to get a clean run. But boy, would I love to have one of those 100s that *just works*.
Posted on: 9/18/2012 4:52 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11232831

F-15 Jam
What do you get when you give GoPro cameras to a bunch of F-15 fighter jocks and then edit down their footage to 10 spine-chilling minutes? Run this video full screen and at full volume and I'll bet you can't watch it just once: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=245_1347123155
Posted on: 9/10/2012 7:29 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11224466

RE: Dreamworks Mobile Products - Officially Launched!
Wow! I'll have to bring a shopping list to Super Jet South with me. BTW, I *LOVE* the Air Power multifunction air valve you sent me. It simplified what would have been a pretty complicated setup on the F-5 I'm building.
Posted on: 9/10/2012 3:59 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11224223

RE: Is this FOD bad?
I've become very cautious about flying off grass fields, especially ones that aren't manicured. Last summer I flew my F-16 off a grass field and ingested a dirt clod right at take-off. The jet lumbered into the air at reduced power and I expected it to fall out of the sky at any time. I nursed it through the first turn and the power thankfully came back on the downwind leg. Later, I removed the FOD screen and found the intake caked with dirt (see picture below). I sent the turbine to JetCat. They cleaned it and replaced the bearings. Bob Wilcox said that if I hadn't sent it in, I probably would have suffered a catastrophic bearing failure very soon. On the same field, a friend of mine flew his Jet Legend Tutor. During the climb-out, the engine power suddenly fell off, and he essentially had no power for a few seconds until the engine spooled back up. After the flight, we noticed that his FOD screen was covered with dandelions. Evidently the jet had rolled through a patch of dandelions on the take-off roll, and for a few seconds, the reduced air flow going to the turbine almost shut it down. Like me, he was lucky to have an airplane left. I still fly off grass fields occasionally, but before I do, I ask myself these questions: 1) What is the quality of the grass? Is it short and smooth or long and clumpy? Are there dandelions or grass clippings on the surface that could get sucked in to the turbine? 2) Where are the air intakes on my jet? The low air intake on an F-16 means it will suck up just about anything in its path. Jets with side intakes offer a little more protection, but not a lot. My BVM BobCat, on the other hand, is less likely to suck things up because the turbine sits on top of the fuse and is mostly protected from stuff underneath the jet. 3) Is flying here worth the potential damage to my turbine or worse, the loss of a jet? Not saying don't fly off of grass. Just be aware of the dangers and be smart about where you choose to fly.
Posted on: 8/27/2012 5:19 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11207368

RE: P100 accelerating issue
Correct about the V10 ECU. However, I tried it and it didn't work. (The turbine would cough, belch flames, and quit when I gave it fuel.) I spoke to Bob Wilcox about it and he said the auto feature hasn't proven to be very reliable. I'm guessing that's because barometric pressure is only one of the variables (humidity being another).
Posted on: 8/24/2012 2:42 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11204783

RE: P100 accelerating issue
I had the same issue with my P100-RX. Like Vin said, go to IdleThrottleResponse in the ECU and set it to Slow or Very Slow. Most of the 100s seem to be sensitive to temperature and humidity, so when the weather cools down, you may be able to go back to Norm. I flew mine last weekend on Very Slow and the throttle response was actually quite good.
Posted on: 8/24/2012 4:29 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11204258

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
Yep. Just to be sure, I mixed up a fresh batch of fuel from a different source while I was doing my testing. Several people (including Bob Wilcox) opined that water in the fuel wouldn't produce the same results anyway.
Posted on: 8/20/2012 6:54 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11200318

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
I wanted to provide a follow-up in case anyone is interested. I finally got my BobCat back in the air this weekend at Georgia Jets. The P100-RX performed flawlessly. I had the Idle Throttle Response set to Very Slow, but the throttle response was more than adequate. I could push the throttle stick forward and get some response almost immediately. In fact, I couldn't tell any difference in the throttle response between the 100 and the other JetCat turbines I own. In cooler weather, I may increase the ITR to Slow or Norm, but I'm happy with the turbine as is even if I don't change the ITR.
Posted on: 8/20/2012 1:10 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11199910

RE: Jetlegend CT-114 is it well made?
Yes, the gear can handle grass fields. It's very sturdy, and my friend has flown his off grass fields many times. With the T-tail, there is the possibility of an elevator stall. My friend got into one a year ago and with only a P-60 powering it, he couldn't get out. The jet drifted slowly to the ground with about a 30-degree nose-up attitude. (Caused a little damage, but he soon had it flying again.) Nothing he tried would get it out. He has since replaced the P-60 with a P-100, and I think the extra power will be enough to make sure it doesn't happen again. This isn't unique to the Tutor, but can happen with virtually any T-tailed jet.
Posted on: 8/10/2012 12:22 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11188437

RE: Jetlegend CT-114 is it well made?
By "floats a little on landing," I meant that the residual thrust of the turbine is enough to keep this bird flying for several hundred feet. Flaps help, but this is not a jet that you can drag in nose-high at 1/4 throttle and wait for it to settle in. At least that has been my friend's experience. I didn't mean for my comment to come across as negative. The Jet Legend Tutor is a good airplane!
Posted on: 8/9/2012 4:54 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11187511

RE: Jetlegend CT-114 is it well made?
I have a fried who flies one. It's well built and flies well, but likes to float on landing. The landing gear are especially strong. He has been very happy with the jet overall.
Posted on: 8/9/2012 2:05 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11187307

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
[quote]ORIGINAL: rcjetsaok Regardless of Engine brand, my question is, how to you '' Tweak '' a turbine wheel as Jetcopter claims, and how do you '' Decrease the angle '' of turbine blades as you report JetCat USA did. These items are Cast or CNC'd products... I don't think you can't just bend them to make adjustments.. Maybe I am in the dark in this. Can someone explain the process how this is done. [/quote] I had no idea they could do this until JetCat told me they were going to "close down" the turbine blades. I said huh? They use a jig to do it, but that's about all I know about it.
Posted on: 8/8/2012 12:34 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11185837

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
I spoke to Bob Wilcox yesterday and he explained something to me that cleared up a common misconception. Setting the idle throttle response to "very slow" does NOT appreciably affect the spool-up time. Instead, it adjusts four other parameters accessible through the locked menus that essentially delay the point in the throttle curve at which acceleration increases. This is consistent with my finding that I get adequate throttle response from the turbine even when it's set to "very slow." Bob went on to say that the engineers at JetCat probably should have used terminology other than very slow, slow, normal, and fast...something like very humid, humid, moderately humid, and dry. It has been VERY hot and humid in our region this year.
Posted on: 8/7/2012 6:43 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11184079

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
Not an ECU problem, I don't think. I've tried two turbines, two ECUs, and two fuel pumps. Same results. The manual does say that the "very slow" setting is for extreme temperatures and altitudes greater than 1000 meters. Some days our density altitude is exceeding 3,000 feet.
Posted on: 8/5/2012 7:47 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11182345

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
Thanks for the info, Beave. Now I know that there's at least one 100 out there that runs fine in the heat and humidity. Having to turn down the acceleration to the slowest it will go is inconsistent with every other JetCat I own. It's strange, though, that BOTH of the 100s I've owned have behaved almost exactly the same way. I'd still love to hear from other 100 owners so I can determine whether my experience is "normal" or an anomaly. My friend, the other 100 owner, and I are going to work with Bob by phone tomorrow to see if ECU tweaks will solve the problems we're having. Maybe Bob can work a little turbine magic for us...
Posted on: 8/5/2012 6:37 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11182264

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
bevar, looks like you and I are of alike minds! My P100-RX is on the same orange-and-white BobCat. Funny...I brought my BobCat and P100-RX to Jets Over Kentucky. John Redmond spent 5 minutes trying to get the turbine to run and said "send it back. There's something wrong." What's interesting is that we were both in the same place at the same time (same weather conditions, obviously), and my 100 wouldn't take fuel, while yours did. What is it about these 100s that makes two identical turbines perform so differently?
Posted on: 8/5/2012 5:52 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11182207

RE: Question for P100-RX Owners
Let me add a little more to the story. I sent the engine back to JetCat USA. They decreased the angle on the turbine blades. I reinstalled the turbine and tested it; same results. I sent the engine back to JetCat USA a second time. Bob graciously sent me a new turbine. Even the new turbine won't accelerate unless I set the idle throttle response to "very slow." I'm wondering if there is something seriously wrong with the design of the P100-RX. I have run my old P-60, my P120-SX, and my P160-SX hundreds of times in the same humid conditions, and they have never missed a beat! FWIW, I have a friend in Knoxville with a P100-RX and he is experiencing similar (though not identical) problems. His fails to start about 2/3 of the time (usually reporting low acceleration, although occasionally the error code is low temp indicating a possible flame-out). Bob has been very supportive throughout our travails with these engines, but if the problem is a design or manufacturing flaw, there's little Bob can do. Is anyone in Florida flying P100-RXs? Surely they have to set the idle throttle response to "very slow" as well unless I've been unlucky enough to get two bad turbines in a row.
Posted on: 8/5/2012 5:11 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11182157

Question for P100-RX Owners
Just wondered if there are other JetCat P100-RX owners who find that in hot sticky weather, their turbine won't run unless they set the idle throttle response setting to "very slow?" These turbines come from the factory with idle throttle response set to "normal." Several people on RCU have switched to "fast" to decrease the throttle lag. But in East Tennessee this summer, where it has been routinely above 90 degrees with high humidity, my 100 won't accelerate at all unless I change to "very slow." On any other setting, the turbine tops off between 60,000 and 70,000 RPM and then starts coughing and sputtering. It then either goes back to idle or shuts down with a "Low RPM" indication. This is my fifth JetCat turbine and none have ever been as sensitive to heat and humidity as the P100-RX. Anyone else seeing the same thing?
Posted on: 8/5/2012 11:40 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11181753

RE: VIRGINIA JETS - NEW EVENT JUNE 9-10
Bill, thanks for the awesome hospitality yesterday. I'm already looking forward to next year's event and will make sure I have a working fuel pump (or two) this time!
Posted on: 6/11/2012 5:19 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11114174

RE: VIRGINIA JETS - NEW EVENT JUNE 9-10
The Knoxville crew is loading up and heading north. I can almost smell the Jet A now!
Posted on: 6/10/2012 3:21 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11113003

RE: BVM E-Brakes / hydraulic brakes ?
I just installed a set on my BobCat and did the first taxi test Thursday. You don't have enough braking power to skid, but there's enough to stop the jet with a little distance. There's plenty enough power to hold the jet still with the turbine at idle. It is absolutely crucial to keep the brake lines as short as possible. I did a simple test. I put an 18" air line between the brake cylinder and a pressure gauge. With that setup, the brake cylinder generated 50 psi of pressure...not enough. Then I shortened the line to 6" and got 80 psi. These tests were performed with standard air line, not the smaller brake line. Using brake line is important, too, because the smaller volume means there is less air to compress. With the setup in my BobCat, you can set the brakes on full and the wheels can still be turned by hand, but only with a fair amount of effort.
Posted on: 6/9/2012 1:52 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11112529

RE: VIRGINIA JETS - NEW EVENT JUNE 9-10
Me and another jet guy in Knoxville are planning to make the trip next weekend. We're tied up Saturday showing our jets at a local vacation bible school, but intend to drive up Sunday morning. Save some runway (and Jet A) for us?
Posted on: 6/2/2012 2:06 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11103981

RE: Special Thanks To Jet Cat
I'm about to replace the P-60 in my BobCat with a P-100 that arrived a few weeks ago. Can't wait!
Posted on: 3/14/2012 6:48 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11000406

RE: Skymaster F-5 Build Question
[quote]ORIGINAL: scoeroo How long did it take to get your F-5 ? [/quote] I bought it over a year ago, and it took maybe 6 weeks to come. I ordered it through BVM, not Skymaster.
Posted on: 1/29/2012 5:55 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10934246

RE: Skymaster F-5 Build Question
[quote]ORIGINAL: Erik R Jeff, Mine came with the rails installed.Seriously consider reinforcing the 2 bulkheads where the wing spars plug in.The integrity of the whole spar system depends on the bottom glue joint of the bulkkhead to the fuselage skin.I had an issue with that,and will be reinforcing,and adding a cross brace on the top of the bulkhead on my replacement. aside from that,you will love the jet.Flies great,and slows like a kingcat to land if the cg is correct.Stubby wings can be difficult to judge orientation at certain attitudes,as it gets far out.Adding missiles will help.I found myself flying it a little closer in than usual for that reason.Good luck, Erik [/quote] I saw an F-5 go down at Kentucky Jets last year when the spar system failed. I have planned all along to build and install a spar brace, for insurance if nothing else.
Posted on: 1/29/2012 5:52 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10934238

Skymaster F-5 Build Question
I'm halfway through a winter build of a Skymaster F-5 and had a question for anyone who has built one before. I was about to attach the missile rails to the wingtips. Each rail has two holes in it, and I assumed there would be matching holes (hopefully with threaded inserts) in the wingtips, but there aren't. I can drill holes, but when I built a Skymaster F-16 year before last, the wingtips had threaded inserts for the missile rails that had been glassed over. When I inspected the wingtips of the F-16 carefully, I could see where the holes had been glassed over and knew exactly where to open them up. If the F-5 has predrilled holes in the wingtips that have been glassed over, they're glassed over good, because I see no evidence of them. Does anyone know if the Skymaster F-5 has predrilled holes for the missile rails, and if so, can you give me a measurement to one of them from the leading or trailing edge of the wing?
Posted on: 1/27/2012 6:32 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10931510

RE: In Need of Prayers From My Jet Buddies
Praying her up.
Posted on: 1/27/2012 4:09 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10930209

RE: The Perfect RC Wife
10,278 views. Time to recharge the video camera...
Posted on: 1/15/2012 7:54 PM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10910810

RE: The Perfect RC Wife
[quote]ORIGINAL: InboundLZ It's at 6000+ views as of 05:28 pacific time this morning, she should be getting geared up for her sequel! [/quote] I just texted her (she's at church while I'm having to work this morning) and told her to get the make-up ready! When I first asked her to do this, she was a little - shall we say - reluctant. But she's a good sport. So she agreed to do it, and THEN, once we got started, she totally got into it. During one of the takes, she flubbed a line and stopped and said "Let's do that again. I don't want to look like a fool." [:D] Too bad I had already turned the camera off; I missed the best blooper line of the whole reel! The video is now a huge laugh between her and her friends, and her best friend's husband asked her to help him make a "How to be a Perfect Tennis Wife" video. Lori has never been to a jet event. In fact, she's never seen one of my jets fly. But I'm hoping to attend Florida Jets this year with a new F-5. If I can talk her into coming with me, maybe I can also talk her into wearing a T-shirt that says "Perfect RC Wife" in big letters. You'll be able to spot her a mile away. If the rest of you guys will bring your wives, we'll arrange a training seminar. Each wife that attends the seminar can wear a "Perfect RC Wife" T-shirt, too. [:)]
Posted on: 1/15/2012 6:45 AM by Author "Jeffpro" in the forum "RC Jets"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10909644