Free Wing 64mm F-18 belly landing

[DDawg]

This will be my first EDF, but I am an experienced 3D pilot. I have a grass runway that won't work for EDF takeoffs. The reason I chose this F-18 is because many people online fly this plane without the wheels and belly land. For those who belly land, what do you do to protect the two elevator servo arms that hang down?

Thanks,
David

[xviper]

I consider the F-18 as a "mid to high wing" aircraft. As such the servo arms and control surface arms are a bit above the ground when the plane is sitting flat. If you have moderately tall grass, there is always a chance that something could catch but that's a chance that all belly landers must take. You can glue on some of those little 1/2 circle, clear furniture cushions just in front of a servo arm like the ones at the rear of the plane or you can get "servo protectors" and glue them in place. These are like little skids that help shield the delicate bits when you touch down. As for the actually belly of the plane, you can apply some clear Gorilla tape to the fuse and leading edge of the wings. Other than that, you should learn to do the "pancake" or "plopper" landing. That's when you come in and begin to apply more and more elevator so that the plane pretty much stalls onto the ground at the last few feet and does a "PLOP".