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RC Turbines. . ."RC Turbines are Ultimate RC Experience!"
Have you ever witnessed a true turbine powered RC jet scream through the sky? If not you've gotta take a few seconds to check out this video! Up until recent years, ducted fans were the only means for propelling an RC jet. Ducted fans are neat, but they hardly compare to a genuine gas turbine jet that looks and sounds just like a full-scale jet fighter! Listening to one of these bad boys spool up is enough to give you chills.... How Turbines Work
RC turbines operate by the same principle as full-scale jet engines. Heck, they even use the same 'Jet A1' fuel! There are three sections of a turbine engine. There is the compressor, the combustion chamber, and the turbine as you can see on the image to the right, courtesy of DYI's" Radio Control Hobbies". The compressor compresses the incoming air. Because of this extreme compression, the air is heated up in the process. Heated and very high pressure air makes its way into the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber has a glow plug similar to the glow plug in a basic glow engine. When the air in the combustion chamber reaches the appropriate temperature and pressure, a fine mist of fuel is introduced and the glow plug is lit. The fuel explodes pushing the exhaust gases through the turbine and eventually out the small nozzle at the rear of the jet. The high velocity of these exhaust gases is what produces the thrust to propel the jet. The turbine and the compressor are connected to a common shaft. The exhaust gas from the combustion process turns the turbine which drives the compressor. In order to get this process started the turbine must initially be powered by an outside source until the air in the combustion chamber is at the right temperature and pressure. This Jetcat RC turbine has a small electric motor that spools the engine up to obtain the proper temperature and 
Most RC turbines have a Ground Support Unit (GSU). The GSU is a terminal for programming the turbine's parameters as well as monitoring the engine's performance. The GSU makes it possible to adjust the turbine's parameters in real time while the engine is running. The GSU can be connected or disconnected at any time without affecting the engine. The GSU connects to the ECU through an LED board. The LED board indicates what function the ECU is performing while spooling up and starting the engine.
Purchasing an RC Turbine EngineRC turbine engines are by far the most extreme aspect of this hobby! However, these engines are very expensive and even more dangerous. It takes years of practice and dedication to acquire the necessary skills and confidence to fly a turbine powered jet. These turbines, along with the sophisticated electronics needed to run them, will set you back several thousand dollars. And that's just for the engine, not counting the cost of the aircraft. So you had better be pretty darn confident in your flying abilities before putting that much money on the line! Here are some places where you can buy a gas turbine engine when you are ready. Make sure you are setting down before looking at the prices! Jetcat RC turbines are probably the most popular and arguably the best RC turbine engines on the market. If you're serious about purchasing a turbine engine, your best bet is to visit BMV Jets. The president of BMV, Bob Violett, has spent his entire life designing and manufacturing RC jets and equipment. BMV Jets also sells Jetcat turbine engines. They can help you select both your aircraft and the power plant. Jet Central is another well know manufacturer of quality RC gas turbine engines. They are direct competitors of Jetcat. The Gas Turbine Builders Association in the UK has an excellent website with tons of information on model gas turbine design and history. This organization helped to improve the design of the Kamps Micro turbine engine. Wanna see one fly?Similar pagesBack to Top
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pressure before fueling and igniting can take place. The entire starting sequence is controlled by the ECU (Engine Control Unit), which is the computer that controls the fuel valves and ignition system. Once the turbine is lit and running the computer turns the controls over to the transmitter.
