Official Freewing 80mm EDF L-39 Albatros Thread

[MNFinn]

Looking at getting a second EDF to add to my hangar, I have an E-Flite Habuss 70mm as of right now. I'm looking at the L-39 ans my possible number 2. The only thing is that I fly off a grass field. How does the Albatross handle grass?

[paulrkytek]

Looking at getting a second EDF to add to my hangar, I have an E-Flite Habuss 70mm as of right now. I'm looking at the L-39 ans my possible number 2. The only thing is that I fly off a grass field. How does the Albatross handle grass?

I fly off short DRY well mowed grass no problem, 1/2 flap take off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5XYs4wQjWk&t=16s... If you can get one with the new 2150kv 12 blade edf motor then do so. lighter the battery the better off grass

[MNFinn]

I fly off short DRY well mowed grass no problem, 1/2 flap take off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5XYs4wQjWk&t=16s... If you can get one with the new 2150kv 12 blade edf motor then do so. lighter the battery the better off grass

Thanks for that info. I made the order. It looks like it's got the 12 blade 3658-2150Kv in it, just going by the description on the page. I generally don't fly within 2-3 days after rain, so the grass is generally pretty dry.

Going to read through this thread to try to get more info on the plane.

[MNFinn]

So, I've been doing even more reading on the L-39 and Freewing in general, since this will be my first Freewing plane. It seems like the blue box has been an issue for folks in the past. Is that still true of the newer planes? I'd hate to lose a plane due to a control box failure in flight.

[Evan D]

The older blue cubes did have some quality issues. The newer MCBe is much more reliable. I have heard many blame thing on it and get Motion to replace it and then find that didn't fix the issue they had. I guarantee the vast majority of people that buy FreeWing planes, pretty much all, not all but most, have them, use them without any problems.

The MCBe does a few things. Mainly it reduces or eliminates the need for Y connections, simplifying the wiring. It also has the ribbon cable outputs that simplifies connections to the wings and in some newer planes the tail servos. None of that is modifying or making any control changes. In addition the MCBe has circuits to control the sequential opening of the landing gear doors some planes need and also have outputs for lights and circuits for flashing lights. All the light outputs have resistors in line to reduce the output voltage to about 3.3V that the LEDs use.

In addition to the male to male connectors between the receiver and MCBE and the ribbon cables you also have the connection board on the other end of the ribbon cables at the wing roots and, in some newer models, the tail. Personally I have seen more issues where the factory plugs a servo in wrong on the back side of the wing root board than in the MCBe itself. Also some have reported issues with the ribbon cables themselves. And yes some report issues with the MCBe, many being that they powered their plane with a separate BEC or a replacement ESC or a LiFe battery all of which was putting more than the 5.5 V that the FreeWing and Flightline electronics are rated for.

All that said I have bypassed some functions on some of my planes. But not because I don't trust the MCBe. Mostly so that I can have specific servos on separate channel on my receiver and get tailerons, full span ailerons, crow, and rudder air brakes.

On my high flight time L-39 I have the wiring stock as it came wired through the MCBe with absolutely no issues.

Bottom line is do what you feel the most comfortable with. If you choose to remove it entirely do so, if you want to bypass the main flight controls do so. Do what you are comfortable doing.

[MNFinn]

The older blue cubes did have some quality issues. The newer MCBe is much more reliable. I have heard many blame thing on it and get Motion to replace it and then find that didn't fix the issue they had. I guarantee the vast majority of people that buy FreeWing planes, pretty much all, not all but most, have them, use them without any problems.

The MCBe does a few things. Mainly it reduces or eliminates the need for Y connections, simplifying the wiring. It also has the ribbon cable outputs that simplifies connections to the wings and in some newer planes the tail servos. None of that is modifying or making any control changes. In addition the MCBe has circuits to control the sequential opening of the landing gear doors some planes need and also have outputs for lights and circuits for flashing lights. All the light outputs have resistors in line to reduce the output voltage to about 3.3V that the LEDs use.

In addition to the male to male connectors between the receiver and MCBE and the ribbon cables you also have the connection board on the other end of the ribbon cables at the wing roots and, in some newer models, the tail. Personally I have seen more issues where the factory plugs a servo in wrong on the back side of the wing root board than in the MCBe itself. Also some have reported issues with the ribbon cables themselves. And yes some report issues with the MCBe, many being that they powered their plane with a separate BEC or a replacement ESC or a LiFe battery all of which was putting more than the 5.5 V that the FreeWing and Flightline electronics are rated for.

All that said I have bypassed some functions on some of my planes. But not because I don't trust the MCBe. Mostly so that I can have specific servos on separate channel on my receiver and get tailerons, full span ailerons, crow, and rudder air brakes.

On my high flight time L-39 I have the wiring stock as it came wired through the MCBe with absolutely no issues.

Bottom line is do what you feel the most comfortable with. If you choose to remove it entirely do so, if you want to bypass the main flight controls do so. Do what you are comfortable doing.

Thanks for the good write up on things. I actually like the concept of the MCBe, so if it functions as advertised, I'm planning on keeping it.

[NEWBIE]

I recently put this together and I put a 4000 battery in it and the cg is still to tail heavy. I am going to get a heavier battery. 5000+

[jetpltrich]

I recently put this together and I put a 4000 battery in it and the cg is still to tail heavy. I am going to get a heavier battery. 5000+

I’ve run the 5000 and 4000 Admirals and getting CG with the 4000’s is no problem, however, I’m not running the book advertised CG, I think I’m 10-15mm aft of it.

Rich

[NEWBIE]

I’ve run the 5000 and 4000 Admirals and getting CG with the 4000’s is no problem, however, I’m not running the book advertised CG, I think I’m 10-15mm aft of it.

Rich

I will put my thumb behind the tape to do my CG. I honestly rather be a tiny bit tail heavy. I am not a fan of having to being nose heavy trying to land a jet on a maiden. Thanks for the tip.

THE NEWBIE

[jetpltrich]

I will put my thumb behind the tape to do my CG. I honestly rather be a tiny bit tail heavy. I am not a fan of having to being nose heavy trying to land a jet on a maiden. Thanks for the tip.

THE NEWBIE

So I took a look at my CG mark this morning and they are only 8mm aft what the book advertises. So I do my CG check on this plane gear up and the plane flipped upside down hold the plane with my index fingers on the CG marks on the tops of the wing. That’s how I do it with this plane other planes are different and everybody has their way of doing it. She flies great for me where I have the marks and the way I check it.

Rich

[Flyingjunky]

Is it normal for the red wing light to go out when I raise the gear? not a big deal , but my others the red land green light stays on entire flight

[Evan D]

Sounds like you have it plugged into the landing light slot. Or you have a bad blue box (MCBe).

[Flyingjunky]

Ok. I'll go back through it. Thanks.. I also just noticed that the new freewing 100 amp esc has a lead that says reverse brake ? Is this there new reverse thrust like the avian esc has ?

[Evan D]

Yes and no. The Avian works in the Spektrum eco system and programs different. The FreeWing is a HobbyWing and you plug the yellow into a spare receiver channel and assign a switch with -100/+100 travel to that channel. It should come with reverse enabled out of the box. If not it’s fairly easy to enable through the programming using your throttle stick.

[Flyingjunky]

Maiden the new 12 blade version yesterday and was very rock solid. I was a little disappointed on the speed. I really was expecting a little faster. My avanti s is way faster . Maybe I'll have to go back and recalibrate esc ... strange

[Evan D]

The 2150 has been a good upgrade to some of my planes and disappointing in others. Great in my Gripens and Avanti. So-so in my L-39 and my Mirage was slower with the 2150 than the 1950 outrunner from an A-4 that I had been running and put back in.

[Flyingjunky]

Can anyone suggest an upgrade fan and motor. I have an extra 130amp avian. A direct drop in would be great if it exists

[Evan D]

Unless you want to go 8S the 2150 FreeWing EDF is as good as you can do.

[Flyingjunky]

Yup, foud that out today. My esc wasn't calibrated on the Maiden. Totally different Bird and flies great.

[NEWBIE]

So I took a look at my CG mark this morning and they are only 8mm aft what the book advertises. So I do my CG check on this plane gear up and the plane flipped upside down hold the plane with my index fingers on the CG marks on the tops of the wing. That’s how I do it with this plane other planes are different and everybody has their way of doing it. She flies great for me where I have the marks and the way I check it.

Rich

I am astonished how well this jet flies, thank you for your tips. I noticed it likes to climb when i give it gas. I have to see how it behaves without all the ordinance loaded. I been eyeing the 90 mils, I have a spare high performance engine, ohh decisions decisions.