Turbines are tough!

Model Airplane News, Aug 1998

Turbines are the new kids on the block when it comes to powering model aircraft, though the modeling community now has several years of safely using them, and we're coming to expect great re;liability from these power systems.

Rei Gonzalez of R.A. Microjets did a little experiment at Top Gun, During takeoff with his Mirage 2000, powered by a RAM 750 turbine, his turbine ingested a hunk of Wayne Siewart's P-47 (may it rest in .piece"). The chunk of balsa made its way through the turbine, shutting it off, and was ejected out the back of the plane. While this cost Rei an "attempt" (an attempted but failed flight), it didn't prevent him from continuing to compete, as he was quickly in the air to put in his scored flight. In fact, Rei and his buddy Albert took third place in team scale.