Official Freewing 70mm Yak-130 Thread

[xviper]

Video

I had those on mine. There are a couple of things you have to do to get around the problem your video showed. First, the reason why they seem to get stuck in the "raised" position is that the strut/tire hits the roof of the wheel well and prevents the retract from reaching the "end" contact switch. That's why if you push on the strut, you help it get to the end stop and it deploys. By reaming out or hollowing out some material where the tire makes contact, the end stop can be reached. You will know that you have removed enough material when the tire can be rotated freely.
Next, on mine, the wheel well cover openings weren't quite allowing the assembly to move in and out without some impedance. I used mini-scissors to cut away the offending bits to open up the hole.
However, lastly, that wasn't my only problem. Because the trailing links were mounted on the retract pin a bit off center, every time the thing rolled on the ground (take off and landing), the force of the ground (vibrations) tried to "straighten" out the strut. I did finally resolved this but it involved grinding a very distinct flat and in the exact needed location so the hex screws would grab and keep the strut in the correct orientation. This also wasn't enough. The strut worked itself loose easily and it wasn't till I used some FoamTac on the grub screws AND in the hole of the strut itself that it stayed put. By then, I got very good at belly landing, so didn't use the gear when coming down. By the time I started at a new field where there was a prepared runway, I had sold the plane.
I now have the 90mm Yak 130 and because of the huge stock trailing link retracts and wheels, no mods are needed and those work flawlessly.

[Evan D]

Keep it simple and just use the wire struts on this plane...

[MeyerVW]

You dont see it in the video but I did cut a bunch of foam out because of the issue you mentioned. I will double check it when I get home but I may put the wire gear back on. They work and I dont have issues with the

[paulrkytek]

Video

Looks like you need to cut out some foam to ensure clearance, Also you need short grub screws otherwise they hit the plastic servo holders and trigger the anti jam circuit. Have fun.

[MeyerVW]

What i found is the strut hits the retract. The ends are thicker than the center and because of this the end part that comes in contact with the retract and the center does not connect with the sensor. I shaved down the strut a bit with the Dremel where they were contacting with the plastic of the retract. It works. I did have to shave some foam out as was recommended but that part was good. Trimmed the covers a bit. I did put a flat spot in the wire to help it from turning while landing. Tomorrow I will go test it out. Ill get a video later showing what my issues were.

[GoBrandon]

Has anyone found better landing gear that still retracts correctly?

[jetpltrich]

After numerous flights on my YaK and constantly adjusting the nose gear back straight (sod field) it fatigue cracked at the base of the retract assembly. I figured at some point in time this would occur and a replacement was necessary. Definitely stronger gear would facilitate more cycles than say 10 before it fatigue cracks and I sought out a solution this morning.

I rummaged through my boxes of spare parts and came across the Beam of Death Venom gear. I looked carefully at the nose gear assembly and came to the conclusion it may work. I took the strut out of the main housing and compared it to the length of the YaK’s strut, less than a 16th an inch difference. I took the YaK’s retract assembly out and took it apart to modify the up/down housing main strut shaft hole so as to accept the Venom struts main shaft diameter. A 5/32 drill did the trick. I then shortened the Venom main shaft for clearance and press fit it into the up/down lock assembly from the YaK’s retract assembly. I accept the fact I will have no steering, however, I can set it in position and blast off as I often do anyway. I got some clearance issues out of the way and here are the results.

Looking at what to do about the main gear, I’m think the OV-10 Main gear maybe a candidate.

test flight sometime this week, will report!

JPR

[jetpltrich]

Additionally, after removing the steering servo the W&B was spot on.

JPR

[paulrkytek]

Additionally, after removing the steering servo the W&B was spot on.

JPR

see post 169 above, i found wire mains and trailing link nose work best off grass so maybe quit while you are ahead

[jetpltrich]

see post 169 above, i found wire mains and trailing link nose work best off grass so maybe quit while you are ahead

Yea, I saw it. Made 6 T&L’s on my sod runway. The nose gear held up superbly though the left main is suffering... need to tighten the set screw. It is amazing to me that a better gear setup hasn’t been introduced. My landings aren’t greasers nor carrier types and they bend so easily. 🤔

JPR

[paulrkytek]

Having re arranged the molecules on my Yak 130 after an argument with a distant tree a couple of new wings and some filler and paint resulted in my Dirty Little Yak, this time complete with a couple of lights ( 5volt leds)in the vain hope it will assist with orientation.

[Gilatrout]

I like the green, but why didn’t you upgrade those awful wire gear struts? If you had, I would have ordered one. It’s a shame really.

[Evan D]

I actually prefer the wire. I think they either offered the aluminum as an upgrade before or people tried to adapt the FMS ones. I remember that those that did had issues with them twisting because the set screws wouldn't hold. We all have preferences. With the FMS being $100 more (plus tax as Motion doesn't charge tax) you can buy the aluminum gear...

[Gilatrout]

I actually prefer the wire. I think they either offered the aluminum as an upgrade before or people tried to adapt the FMS ones. I remember that those that did had issues with them twisting because the set screws wouldn't hold. We all have preferences. With the FMS being $100 more (plus tax as Motion doesn't charge tax) you can buy the aluminum gear...

No, the FMS gear won’t fit without major surgery due to a difference in geometry between the two models. I tried once.

[rc.wingdinger]

Hi out there in Yak land. I realize this jet has been around a while and is a proven design. I inherited a wreck that needed a new fuse, and finally they came in stock. Issue I have is landing. Bounces like crazy! I have the wire gear, flying off pavement, admiral 3700 6 cell. Landing with 1/2 flaps. Landing with very low thottle. What am I doing wrong? Slowing down too much? Landing too fast? Too much flap? Too little flap? I have no problem with the elite 70mm viper.... But that's almost a trainer ... Any ideas anyone? Thx!

[xviper]

Hi out there in Yak land. I realize this jet has been around a while and is a proven design. I inherited a wreck that needed a new fuse, and finally they came in stock. Issue I have is landing. Bounces like crazy! I have the wire gear, flying off pavement, admiral 3700 6 cell. Landing with 1/2 flaps. Landing with very low thottle. What am I doing wrong? Slowing down too much? Landing too fast? Too much flap? Too little flap? I have no problem with the elite 70mm viper.... But that's almost a trainer ... Any ideas anyone? Thx!

This thing tends to be a bouncer with wire struts and even with trailing links, it can still bounce. It takes practice. Try it full flaps, keep throttle up a bit, plan the approach a longer way out, flare at just the right time.
Do you have grass at the sides of the runway? If you do, clear tape the bottom, full flaps and belly land it on the grass.

[jetpltrich]

Hi out there in Yak land. I realize this jet has been around a while and is a proven design. I inherited a wreck that needed a new fuse, and finally they came in stock. Issue I have is landing. Bounces like crazy! I have the wire gear, flying off pavement, admiral 3700 6 cell. Landing with 1/2 flaps. Landing with very low thottle. What am I doing wrong? Slowing down too much? Landing too fast? Too much flap? Too little flap? I have no problem with the elite 70mm viper.... But that's almost a trainer ... Any ideas anyone? Thx!

Full flaps my GPS on a calm day with no wind barks out a speed of 35mph ever 5 seconds and that puts the YaK in a nice constant rate of decent to the runway and I just let her plop down no flare. Like xviper says I start the approach pretty far out and get speed attained and then hold that until touchdown. YaK-130, T-33, L-39 like 35mph, A-4, F-16, and I assume the F-4, will find out tomorrow, like 38-40mph, the A-10 seems to like 40-43mph, however, she’s a heavier and bigger plane. Speeds are ground speed so you have to know wind speed and make your adjustment from that. My YaK has trailing link gear and landing out of a constant rate of decent approach doesn’t hurt it at all. Variable wind speeds above 5mph and or gusty winds I use takeoff flaps for landing and carry a tad more speed or I simply won’t fly. Keep at it you’ll figure it out, the YaK is a fun plane to fly.

[rc.wingdinger]

Thanks for the help guys. Now I know what to try! The GPS setup sounds very good, how do you have that set up?

[Niceguy9605]

I'm a new guy on the thread and was wondering about Yak 130 6S flap to elevator mixing that you guys are using and happy with. My new Freewing Yak 130 arrives today and i am gathering info
on the jets D/R likes and Flap to Elevator mixing. Any info would be helpful. Thanks

[Nightshadow]

Im considering buying the yak 130 in 2026, is it still any good? If so is it safe to use whit a adapter