RC Turbine Engines: Models, AMA Rules and the Path to a First Jet

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

The first time a real RC gas turbine spools up, the whine climbing into a steady roar, it stops feeling like a hobby accessory and starts feeling like aviation. If you are an experienced EDF pilot or a scale jet flyer who has been watching turbines at your club, this guide is for you.

It is not for beginners. Turbine flying demands a mentor, a formal AMA waiver for solo operation, a disciplined fuel and pre-flight routine, and a budget that makes foam crashes look cheap. If you landed here looking for something simpler, the EDF jet guide is the right place to start.

This page is a researched guide built on manufacturer data and official documents, not on our own turbine operating experience. Specs come from JetCat's and AMT's own pages, availability from the makers' and distributors' listings, and rules from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Gas Turbine Program document 510-A, approved in October 2024. Performance figures are manufacturer figures. Rules can be revised, so check the current document before you apply.

How an RC Gas Turbine Works

The engines here are single-shaft turbojets. A centrifugal compressor draws in air, a combustion chamber burns kerosene, a turbine stage driven by the hot gas turns the compressor on the same shaft, and the exhaust leaves through a nozzle to produce thrust. JetCat lists a pressure ratio for each engine, for example 2.9 on the P100-RX-BL and 3.9 on the P220-RXi.

You do not manage the engine by hand. An ECU (electronic control unit) handles the start sequence, monitors exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and rpm, and manages the cool-down after shutdown. JetCat describes its RX engines as starting directly on kerosene, with an ECU that powers down automatically after the cooling process, an ID chip on the turbine so settings follow the engine, and internal bearing lubrication from 5% oil in the fuel. Many engines also use a handheld ground support unit (GSU) for configuration and run data.

The Path In: EDF First

The experienced advice is to arrive at turbines through jets, not around them. A sensible ladder is a foam trainer, then a capable sport plane, then a fast EDF jet, then a turbine. The best RC jets guide and EDF guide cover the EDF steps, and the simulator guide helps you practice fast approaches safely.

The AMA agrees in its own way. Its program says turbine waiver applicants should have at least 50 flights on a high-performance model, and for fixed wing that means one capable of sustained speeds of 100 mph or higher. Turbine throttle response also has lag compared with an EDF, which is one of the skills the waiver tests, and a crashed turbine airframe with its engine and systems is an expensive lesson.

Engines: What Is Current and What Is Not

JetCat

JetCat's English website lists its current RC turbines in the RX-BL series (100 N, 130 N and 150 N, with a brushless pump). Several engines that older guides recommend now sit in JetCat's own discontinued-products list: the P20-SX, P80-SE and P180-NX.

Search for the JetCat P100-RX-BL turbine on Amazon

A few notes on those numbers:

• RX-BL series. JetCat says the RX generation reduces cabling and tubing, with one hose from pump to turbine and a single PowerBus cable to the ECU. The P130 and P150 are described as suiting medium-sized models or two-engine models where weight matters. Warranty is listed as 36 months, and the engines are made in Germany.
• P20-SX. The smallest engine, at 245,000 rpm. JetCat says it fits compact jet models that could previously only use electric impellers. Idle consumption is 12 ml/min.
• P80-SE. JetCat says its SE engines use a new characteristic-diagram control and a revised compressor and combustion chamber for better throttle response.
• P180-NX and P220-RXi. Per JetCat, they have a brushless, fully encapsulated fuel pump integrated on the turbine and a brushless starter/generator system.

Older sources often quote different weights and dimensions for these engines, so check JetCat's table when comparing.

AMT Netherlands Titan

Search for the AMT Netherlands Titan turbine on Amazon

AMT's Titan is the high-thrust option in many guides. Per its June 2013 specification sheet:

AMT says the system weight includes the engine, ECU, pump, battery, thermo sensor, valves and mounting straps. The sheet is dated 2013 and pricing is by request, so confirm current availability before planning around it.

Kingtech

Horizon Hobby lists the KingTech K-102G4+ with ECU and the K-160G4+ as backordered. Horizon's K-102G4+ page lists a total weight of 2 lb (907 g), a length of 8 in (203 mm), a width of 3.3 in (84 mm) and an rpm ceiling of 160,000. It says the G4 uses SBus data transmission, a digital brushless pump, a brushless starter and a built-in FOD screen, and that engine and ECU integration records operating parameters including total run time. Kingtech's own site could not be reached for this guide, so no further specs are listed.

Xicoy, Behotec and others

Xicoy and Behotec appear in many turbine articles. Their maker sites returned only stub pages during research, so their specs and status are not repeated here. Get current data from the maker or an authorized dealer before you plan a build around one.

Fuel and Fuel Systems

The AMA limits turbine fuels to kerosene, diesel and propane unless it approves otherwise in writing. JetCat's RX engines start on kerosene and lubricate their bearings from 5% oil in the fuel, per JetCat. Check your engine's manual for the approved oil and fuel specification.

The AMA program also sets requirements for the fuel system:

• Tanks must be rigid with consideration for burst and puncture resistance. Bag-style cells are allowed only if they are purpose-built, abrasion-protected, kept away from engine heat and filled with a pressure-sensing fueling system. IV or plasma bags are not permitted.
• Fuel lines must not contact hot engine parts.
• Two shut-off provisions are required, one manual and one remotely operated. An ECU shutdown counts as remote if it closes with loss of power.
• Fail-safe. All radios need fail-safe, and ECUs must be configured to shut down the engine within 2 seconds of fail-safe activation.

The fuel guide covers fuels for other engine types, and the LiPo battery guide covers radio and ignition packs. The flight controller guide explains stabilization if your jet carries any.

The AMA Gas Turbine Program

Under AMA document 510-A, flying a turbine-powered fixed-wing aircraft requires an AMA turbine waiver for that category. Key points from the October 2024 version:

Airframe limits. Fixed-wing turbine models have a maximum velocity of 200 mph, a total installed static thrust limit of 50 lbs, and a ready-to-fly weight limit of 55 pounds including fuel. Most models must come to a controlled stop on command with the engine at idle on a level hard surface and have a controllable rudder. Afterburners are prohibited. An engine involved in a crash with probable high G loads must be examined and certified safe by a manufacturer-approved service center before flying again.

Without a waiver. An AMA member may fly a turbine model using the student transmitter of a buddy box, as long as the primary transmitter is operated by an experienced turbine pilot.

Experienced turbine pilot. Defined as a pilot with a turbine waiver who has completed 20 or more turbine flights in the preceding 24 months and keeps a written flight log. Experienced pilots may teach on a buddy box, conduct qualification flights, sign the application (AMA document 510d) and supervise the first five solo flights of a newly waivered pilot.

Qualifying. Applicants should have at least 50 flights on a high-performance model. They first fly the turbine model on a buddy box with an experienced pilot, then perform a qualification flight under two experienced turbine pilots, one of whom is a contest director. The qualification model must be single-engine with a controllable rudder, steerable undercarriage, flaps or a speed brake and the ability to stop at idle, and it must weigh at least 12 pounds dry or be an ARF designed by its manufacturer for turbine power. Applicants must also show general knowledge of ECU configuration, fail-safe setup, fire-fighting equipment and turbine lag management, and the completed 510d goes to AMA headquarters. A fixed-wing waiver also qualifies a pilot for turboprop.

Age. A turbine pilot under 14 needs a spotter who holds a waiver and is at least 18 throughout the flight, including startup and cooldown.

At the flight line. A B/C-rated or equivalent fire extinguisher must be present for all engine starts, with water-based fire-fighting equipment on the field, a phone and the local emergency number. Exhaust must not impinge on flammable objects. Turbine fixed-wing models are not flown after dark or in poor visibility, and turbines are not allowed in speed or racing events. Waiver qualification flights, maiden flights and test flights after major repairs may not be done during an event.

Search for a CO2 fire extinguisher on Amazon

The waiver is an AMA requirement, not a federal license. Per the FAA, recreational flyers must keep the aircraft within visual line of sight, follow the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized community-based organization, take TRUST and carry proof, and register aircraft that weigh 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more.

Choosing a First Turbine Airframe

Pick the airframe first. Check the engine class the kit manufacturer specifies, since an airframe designed around a given thrust class is the safest match. Large scale jets and warbirds in the turbine class are covered in the giant scale guide, the warbird guide and the twin-engine guide. The AMA's qualifying-model rules (steerable undercarriage, brakes at idle, speed brake or flaps) are a sensible checklist for any first turbine jet.

FAQ