Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[Aros]

I did put the mains down first. It looked to me like a good solid landing. Approach looked solid. Good glide slope, AoA looked right where I wanted it (slight nose high, but not high like the F-16). Landed on the mains and then the nose. That's when it bounced back up into the air. The only thing I can think of is I came in a lot hotter than I thought. With full span flaps I need to trust she can really slow down. I've seen plenty of video and it can slow down really nicely with full span flaps. But you know how it goes with maidens...9 times out of 10 you land hotter on the maidens than you need to until you figure them out. For the second flight I will focus on really bleeding off more airspeed and trust the flaps to do their thing...Then a slight nose high flare and soft landing to avoid strut compression and spring action back into the air...

[Porkster]

Good luck for the outing on saturday, I know its difficult with EDFs and their short flight times especially on a maiden but you really need to give time within that flight to slow her right down into wind and see how slowly she will go before a stall, obviously you need to try this high, high up!!!! All the best.

[Aros]

Thanks will do!

Got my decals from Callie yesterday. The only thing left to do is paint the sides of the fuse under the canopy to place the yellow and black diagonal JR stripes...Definitely looking the part now!

[RCjetdude]

Looks really good Todd.

[Aros]

Thanks my friend!

[scootergenie]

Very elegant !

[Aros]

Flights #2 and #3 today and I still can't figure this bird out. Even though I adjusted the aileron/taileron trim, it still wants to roll severely to the right. So I was fighting the sticks the entire time. Went to wing sweep mode for the first time and HOLY CRAP was it roll sensitive! Even with the lesser rates from RC Jet Geek's DX file, yowza! So I quickly brought the wings back out. But what has me bummed more than anything is these dang landings. I cannot get her to stick once the feet touch. I have tried everything. Slow with full flaps, touching down as lightly as I can and as soon as the nose gear is on the ground she pops back up. This is the only landing that wasn't a complete train wreck. I had to force the down elevator to keep it from popping up and doing the bucking bronco.

Reminds me very much of the A-10. The struts are very springy. I can't be the only one with this issue on pavement?

[MOFO1]

Aros, you might want to check the settings on the ESCs. Mine had a similar issue. Turned out to be that one ESC was set to low timing and the other was set at high timing. This cause thrust differential, causing sever roll issues. Good luck.

[fhhuber]

Having to hold it down means you landed to fast.

Take it high and find the lowest throttle where you can maintain level (nose will be high. I mean stay the same altitude) flight with appx 30 deg flaps. Reducing throttle will either cause loss of altitude or stall if you force it to maintain altitude.
(you want it high enough so if you stall you have plenty of time for recovery)

Note that throttle setting and do a level figure 8 pattern around the field like that so you know what the aircraft attitude looks like from all angles.

Now do your approach at barely below that throttle setting.

If you are at minimum speed for stable level flight when the wheels touch, drag of the mains touching down will pull the nose down and the airplane will not hop back into the air.

Its a bit of a heavy airplane so you will want some more speed than most similar size models.

[Aros]

Interesting MOFO1, I will indeed check the ESCs for timing... fhhuber, I do have a high approach (I have to clear tall trees) which may be creating a faster approach speed but on one landing in particular I kept her in ground effect and bled off all the airspeed I possibly could before stalling and it still popped in the air. For the record, I don't have a problem landing any of my other jets - including the much heavier and larger HSD F-16 105mm EDF jet - on this same runway.

[RCjetdude]

Could it be nose heavy?

[fhhuber]

Could it be nose heavy?

Its possible. Mine needed 2 oz on the tail to hit recommended CG.

[Aros]

Could it be nose heavy?

Definitely possible. Although when I check the CG it teeters ever-so gently to the tail side. It's worth investigating and maybe scooching the batteries back a bit to see.

[Aros]

Got her finished in her Jolly Rogers livery. That Flat Gull Gray was indeed a great match. Now I need to check the timing for both ESCs. I assume they are supposed to be on low? Also, what's the best way to check the timing of both (one with the BEC and one without)? I really want to start enjoying flying this bird. So far it's been a bear far more than any other 70/80/90mm jet I've flown and landed. I will get her figured out.

I would have taken the shots outside but I know this will come as a massive surprise to you all but it's pouring down rain outside. LOL :Angry::Rainning:

[e4dragongunner]

Excellent! I am doing the Wolf Pack livery ! Will post pics!!

[Aros]

Thanks! Yes please post when you can!

Got a break in the rain so took some better shots outdoors.

[GPJ]

Now I need to check the timing for both ESCs.

I use one of these Aros:

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...ogramming-card

It's a piece of cake and comes with an instruction manual.

I use low timing on Freewing and Jetfan inrunner EDF motors (used with Freewing ESC's) and use medium timing on Freewing outrunner EDF motors (F-14 has outrunners).I haven't had any issues so far.

BTW, BEAUTIFUL JOB! on the JR Tomcat!

[wolpertinger]

Hey Aros, great paint job and scheme. Really makes the bird pop.

[Aros]

Thanks GPJ for the info and wolpertinger!

[F106DeltaDart]

Looks awesome Aros! Excellent work.