WELCOME TO JETEX.ORG

jet01

Jetex.org was set up in 2004 and, with its active forum, quickly became a comprehensive online resource for free flight jet modellers all over the world.

The original Jetex.org site covered the historical and technical aspects of small rocket motors used in model aircraft, hydroplanes and cars, of which the British post-WWII Jetex motors and modern Rapiers are the best known.

The original Jetex.org site is well and happy, but in retirement.  It can still be accessed at: archivesite.jetex.org.

Building on the old website's success, the present Jetex.org site includes lots of new information, a model gallery, links to other relevant sites and a growing online store.

The active forum discusses everything from how to build and fly small model jets, to reports of meetings and collecting vintage motors. 

We welcome contributions from fellow modellers, rocket scientists, historians and micro rocket enthusiasts.

We hope you enjoy looking around the site.

roger

Do join the Jetex Forum or contact us if you have any questions or would like to contribute.

And please visit our About Us page – why we're here, how we got here, who's behind it, and, most importantly, how you can help Jetex.org become even better! 

 


Hello from Terry and Tendera developments

This blog is different from the usual in that this is Terry Kidd writing. Roger has kindly (and bravely) trusted me with the keys to Jetex.org . So I’m hoping to get this written and uploaded without scratching the paint work! I anticipate a little hesitation as I get accustomed to the controls, please be patient if things are not as polished as with Roger.
 
As some of you may recall I was, before Roger’s time, the Jetex correspondent for SAM 35. At the time my interest in Jetex was re-ignited (sorry) by the then availability of Jet-X. While Jet-X fuel left much to be desired the unique thrill of reaction powered flight was certainly there.
 
Well, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then and in the interim we’ve had the end of Jet-X, the launch and demise of Rapier and now the introduction of Tendera. I took up a 6 month employment contract in Bavaria in Germany and after 16 years I’m still here. I’ve met Dr Zigmund on a couple of occasions -- the last of these last year when he produced the final Rapier batch. And I’ve had the pleasure to meet Piotr Tendera, who manufactures the Tendera motors and we have had some interesting conversations.
 
But now the big news is that the Piotr’s range of sustained thrust solid fuel motors (as I’m inclined to define the Jetex type) has achieved CE approval. With this CE marking there is now the possibility of model shop over-the-counter sales of these unique motors. Of course, many of the readers will have already had the opportunity to try the initial Tendera products that we’ve seen in the last 18months and that Roger has sold at Old Warden and other UK events.
 
The new CE marked Tendera range will comprise the following variants:
 
 
Type Thrust mN Duration Seconds
L1 100 11
L2 170 17
L2HP 250 15
L3 500 17
L4 1000 19

 

 
 
 
 
 
Distribution in Western Europe Scandinavia and the Benelux countries will be handled by the Klima Raketenmodellbau, Klima have for a number of years been manufacturing a range of short duration solid motors for ballistic rockets. They are not too far from me here in Bavaria in Emersacker and I've visited them a couple of times. For the UK The Vintage Model Company, who of course do a large range of classic kits, will handle distribution.
 
Now I know from comments placed on my You Tube channel that a substitute for classic Jetex has long been sought in the USA. And some progress has been made here too. Piotr has some contacts over there with one of the free flight/vintage product distributors and he is investigating what additional permits might be needed to import the Tendera product to the USA.
 
So this is all quite an achievement. I know Piotr has put a lot of effort and investment into this and I’m sure we all wish him well.
 
With world-wide distribution of these motors we now have the possibility to see some real innovation in reaction powered, aerodynamically lifted free flying model aircraft. The Jetex of the Wilmot Mansour era was famous for innovation and novelty with, for example their Tailored kits and such as their pendulum stability systems. In the 70 years or so since W&M were around some huge technological changes have taken place. And now, perhaps, can we see some new technologies applied to the structure and stability of reaction powered models? More on this next time!

New L-1 and L-2 Motors from Poland

Regular 'Jetex' flyers and readers of the various motor-related threads on the forum will know that motors are in a bit of a short supply at the moment.  We have no Rapier L-1's and stocks of about 300 Rapier L-2's.

I have sorted out  these last motors for distribution and measured their performance: 

These are all very useful in the right model, so and please contact me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you would like some.

 

Fortunately, when these are all gone, we have an alternative, a brand new, and hopefully secure, supply of motors for our beloved rocket  planes.  These are the new TSP 'Tender' motors.  Below are examples of the L-1 and L-2:

 

These are very close to the sizes of the Rapier L-1 and L-2 motors.  Note these are 'used' motors and that the casings have done their job well!

 

Below are the TSP L-2's with the Rapier L-2's:

Note they are similar in size to Rapiers, if a bit thicker.  No problem, though!

 

The performance of the Tender L-'s are great:

And the thrust is consistent:

 

The Tender L-2 motors too, measure well:

 

And the thrust on the test rig with different sizes of nozzles is predictable:

 

Boring out the two types of L-2 and L-2L to 1.7 mm gives particularly good results:

Piotr, who is responsible for the development and manufacture of these motors, tells me he will now concentrate on the 'L-2L' type.  These can be used with confidence in any of the profile Jetex.org kits, or the many Jetex kits from the Vintage Model company:

https://www.vintagemodelcompany.com/jetex-powered-models.html

More about these motors can be found on two forum threads, see

http://www.jetex.org/index.php/jetex-forum?view=topic&catid=8&id=317

and

http://www.jetex.org/index.php/jetex-forum?view=topic&catid=8&id=319

Piotr is happy to discuss the supply of these motors to flyers in the UK.  His email address is:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I shall be getting a supply of the Tender L-1 motors from him, and and I look forward to trying out Piotr's motors on the flying field.  The motors are beautifully produced and can be put in that precious scale model with confidence!

Above:  a TSP Tender L-2L motor on the test rig.  The reading equates to a steady thrust of 150mN, just perfect for those vintage models!

All of the above is very much 'work in progress' so do look at the forum for news of further developments, like an L-3 and a TSP L-2 HP!