RADIO CONTROL JETS
Jim Hiller, 6090 Downs Rd., Champion OH 44481
I'll start this month by extending my congratulations to all members of Team USA who will be representing us at the sixth Jet World Masters in 2005. The team includes:
- Dustin Buescher
- Sung Kim
- Don Reger
- Dave Ribbe
- Rod Snyder
- Bryce Watson
Roger Shipley will serve as the team captain. Roger organized the qualifying event, recruited skillful and motivated participants, and continues to work hard to secure sponsorship for the team. This is no simple task for Team USA because the Jet World Masters will be held in Hungary.
The variety of ARF kits available to the jet modeler is expanding at an unbelievable pace. It started a few years ago with the highly successful Eurosport — a great-flying, large model that introduced many fliers to turbine-powered aircraft. The Eurosport, along with a variety of other jet ARF models, proved the ARF concept, and now there is a huge selection of quality aircraft available.
Skymaster Manufacturing
Skymaster Manufacturing is relatively new to the U.S. kit market but is establishing itself as a serious contender. The company's line of ARF kits is built from molded fiberglass with carbon-fiber reinforcements. All formers appear to be quality plywood, glued in place with an epoxy fillet reinforced by carbon-fiber cord.
From a strength standpoint, these models appear ruggedly built. All Skymaster models are available painted in the mold as ARFs, ready for radio and landing gear. Many are available with landing gear specifically developed for each model.
Skymaster models include:
- F-15 Eagle — painted in red, white, and blue or plain white. Designed for 18- to 28-lb thrust turbines. Available with tailerons only (no flaps or ailerons) or with ailerons and flaps. Ailerons and flaps are center-point hinged. Prices: $1,485 to $1,850 depending on options and color.
- F-18 Hornet — available in the Blue Angels paint scheme. For 18- to 28-lb thrust turbines. Bifurcated tailpipes available.
- Saab Gripen — for 12- to 28-lb thrust turbines. Functional canards provide impressive maneuverability. Available in scale white or two sport schemes; a JetCat P-70–powered Gripen demonstrated excellent performance at Superman 2004.
- Prototypes shown at Superman 2004 that will be available soon: F-5E Tiger (small wing but good slow-speed and tight-turn characteristics) and BAe Hawk (classic red scheme).
- F-18E Super Hornet prototype — white with orange trim. Impressive large model, intended for 28- to 30-lb thrust turbines; available with the same scale landing gear as the F-18 Hornet.
Future Skymaster developments include an F-16 Falcon, an F-22 Raptor, and a Mirage 2000. Skymaster is quickly becoming a supplier of a large selection of ARF sport-scale jets.
Skymaster models are distributed in the U.S. by AirPac. Check:
While visiting AirPac's site, note other items such as:
- Artillery packages (missiles and bombs suitable for the F-18 or other scale jets)
- A pneumatic drum brake system (two brake pads expanding into a wheel drum for positive, smooth braking)
Bob Violett Models (BVM) — BobCat Composite
The BobCat Composite is now available as an ARF and complements the larger KingCat Composite. Specs and features:
- Wingspan: 66 inches
- Intended turbines: 11- to 18-lb thrust
- Four painted-in-the-mold schemes optional
- Complete package includes: composite airframe with flex-hinged control surfaces, flex-plate-mounted landing gear, retractable landing-gear system with wheels and brakes, and all required air accessories
- Fuel system: two 1-liter Kevlar tanks, a 16-ounce header tank, and an Ultimate Air Trap (total ~2.5 liters / approximately 82 ounces)
- Prices: $3,195 (all-white model) or $3,695 (painted-in-the-mold models). Airframe-only price is lower.
BVM's landing-gear and fuel-tank systems are noted for quality, durability, and dependability.
Jet Model Products (JMP) — Hustler
Though not marketed as an ARF, the JMP Hustler builds like one. It is a large twin-boom sport jet intended for serious turbine modelers and is becoming common at jet fly-ins.
Features:
- All-molded composite airframe with extensive carbon-fiber cloth
- Primer finish (not painted)
- Center-point hinged control surfaces
- Predrilled control-horn locations with factory tooling
- Complete landing-gear doors
- Wingspan: 81.5 inches
- Designed for 18- to 35-lb thrust turbines
Pricing:
- Basic airframe: $1,995
- Complete package: up to $4,499.80
The complete package can include:
- Rugged MK-30 landing-gear system with wheels and brakes
- Molded landing-gear-door system with air cylinders and hardware, including electronic gear-door sequencer
- Clear canopy, pilot, ejection seat, and instrument panel
- Large 140-ounce fuel system with conformal fuel tanks
More information at www.jetmodelproducts.com.
Century Jet Models — 1/4-scale F-18E Super Hornet
Century Jet Models is releasing a 1/4-scale F-18E Super Hornet that is a showstopper:
- Length: 105 inches
- Wingspan: 79 inches
- Largely composite airframe (fuselage, wings, horizontal stabilizers, fins, rudders, ailerons, flaps)
- Scale landing gear developed for the Hornet
- Options: canopy open-and-close kit, cockpit kits, wheels and brakes, bifurcated stainless-steel tailpipe
Prototype demonstration flights at Superman 2004 showed smooth, impressive performance. More information at www.centuryjet.com.
That concludes the information about the latest dream machines available as ARFs or ready-to-paint ARFs. If building isn't your thing, these manufacturers have you covered.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
