RC Turbine Seminar with JetCat and swiss-scale-helikopter.ch

A turbine seminar took place on April 15. It was organized by MG Swipair. The theoretical portion was presented to the participants by JetCat (Roman Kulossek) and swiss-scale-helikopter.ch (Toni Laube). More than 40 turbine pilots eager to learn—or those who hope to become pilots someday—made their way to the regional airfield at Birrfeld.

This event was primarily aimed at beginners and those switching to the hobby, but also at advanced modelers who wanted to learn more about the technology in their turbine models and related accessories. However, the focus was not solely on the basic functioning of a turbine, but rather on related topics such as troubleshooting, hands-on practice, and tips. Participants were also able to bring their models along to have specific problems resolved on-site by the two experts.

The presentation, created specifically for this occasion, was very well received.

Often, it’s the little things that can turn a model pilot’s life into a nightmare when it comes to their turbine. Toni Laube began by describing the questions and problems he faces every day from customers at his model shop, which specializes in turbine-powered helicopter models. Often, a customer has already set their sights on a particular model, but installing a turbine in it properly isn’t even possible because the exhaust pipes can’t be routed optimally, causing the fuselage to overheat unnecessarily. The chosen mechanical components may also be too weak to handle the turbine’s power. Most often, however, the practicalities of turbine aviation are underestimated. Due to fumes, it’s not always ideal to store a turbine in your home. The ideal model and reality can sometimes be worlds apart. Roman Kulossek from JetCat then presented his segment, which was also closely grounded in practical experience. He based his presentation on the day-to-day challenges he faces with customers and model turbines at his employer’s company. Roman also informed the participants about the latest improvements and developments at JetCat. A major problem that other turbine manufacturers are also struggling with is the quality of the brush motors (Mabuchi), which are used as starter and pump motors. The rejection rate for the delivered motors is currently nearly 50%, according to Kullosek. JetCat recognized this problem early on and developed software version V12. This version can control the more robust and far more reliable brushless motors, and as a result, many problems have been resolved. Work is currently underway to update all versions to the latest standard, which will be completed shortly. It was also revealed that all brushless pumps will be run in at the factory. This allows for a lower pump voltage right from the start and minimizes—or even eliminates—turbine “surge” during later operation at startup. At the end of this seminar, even renowned jet pilots in attendance remarked: “I didn’t know that, or this is the first time I’ve heard it.” This is one reason why the organizers and instructors plan to hold a second, hands-on session in the fall of 2023 (the date has not yet been set but will be published here later) where participants can practice with their own models at an airfield.