new Canadian turbine

[nony]

As pointed out in the latest MAAC mag, a new turbine under developement using some different technologies.....

http://www.dragonmechanical.ca/

[RC_MAN]

I was all over the site.

So far I have been burned three times on turbines that are no longer in production. One Turbomin, one JPX and three RAMs and one other Canadian homebuilt that never made it off the ground.

Before I buy another one I will definitally check out the companies backing and track record.

Good luck.

[AJCoholic]

Thats the chance you take with production engines I guess Peter! Your RAM's can still be serviced as you must be aware of by Carlos V. in the USA.

The JPX and Turbomin - well they are from the early days of model jets. I think today things are different IF you choose something that is of a proven design. Take the 54' size engines for instance. The Ram 500, PST J600, SWB Mamba and Simjet 1200 are all using the Wren wheel and NGV casting, and I would think are similar (not exactly buit close enough) enough to each other to be serviced by another company if one goes belly up. Same as the KJ66 based 18-22 pound thrust engines.

The trouble is when the engine needs to be serviced (and they all do - just a matter or time) thats when you hope someone is around to service them!

That is one reason (and a big one) I wanted to build my Wren 54 from a kit. At the bare minimum, I know I can do a bearing change, and rebalance if necessary. A simple job taking a few hours. I dont have to ship it away and pay some guy $60 US an hour to swap my bearings out.

Another reason I chose to try and build a KJ66 myself - if I can build it I can service it. My next choice would have been a Mert Moore 66. At least you dont have to send out of country... but if Mert decides to stop making/servicing the engines you are also out of luck.

Its a chance you take - like you said research the company and their track record. Best you can hope for is they will be around as long as you own the engine!

Andrew

[nony]

Sometimes that doesn't always work....who would have figured 3 years ago that RAM would go out of business? Companies not only have to have a great product and great service, but have to be well managed to keep the business end of it viable so they will be around when we need bearing changes.
Thank goodness there are only two moving parts, but sometimes software problems rear their ugly heads....