| Is it Really Possible to Build a Working RC Jet Engine? | | | | small local engineering firms, so that you might just |
| I have been doing some research on this question | | | | need to carry out assembly of the components. |
| because up until now RC Jet Engines have been, as | | | | The Turbine will be used to produce a centrifugal type |
| you can imagine very expensive to buy. Certainly in | | | | jet engine. This is the type of format favored by the |
| the thousands of dollars range, one major | | | | majority of commercial RC Jet engine manufacturers. |
| manufacturer is Jetcat USA, who have a fantastic | | | | It is the type of engine first designed by Sir Frank |
| range of products, but the do come with a hefty price | | | | Whittle and used in many early designs of post war |
| tag. The problem has always revolved around the | | | | aircraft such as the Gloster Meteor, the UK's first |
| turbine and the material it needs to be made of to | | | | operational Jet Fighter. Later developments saw a |
| work efficiently, and absorb the heat involved. Indeed | | | | switch to the slimmer axial flow engine design, such as |
| this was exactly the same problem faced by the | | | | we see fitted to modern fighter jets. |
| engineers in Germany at the later part of WW2, they | | | | I'm sure some very talented modelers out there will |
| simply could not get the most suitable alloys to ensure | | | | just be able to take the of the shelf turbine wheel and |
| the reliability of the early jumo series jets. | | | | go and produce a working RC Jet Engine. For the rest |
| During my research I have found that it is now possible | | | | of us mere mortals there are plans available that give |
| to buy an off the shelf Turbine that will form the basis | | | | us a blue print to work with. |
| of your home built RC Jet engine. It is clear however | | | | Clearly this will be a major project, but the satisfaction |
| that you will still need a reasonable amount of | | | | gained, not to mentioned the money saved, will |
| engineering skill to use this turbine and produce a | | | | certainly make this project a truly worthwhile one. The |
| working Jet engine. I think that it would still be possible | | | | only question is, are you up for the challenge? |
| to out source the manufacture of the components to | | | | |