Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[Evan D]

I don’t but when I bought my F-14 from a friend I got the kit and didn’t use it. Make me an offer.

[lt1pwr]

Does anyone know if the metal upgrade platters to reinforce the fuselage / main landing gear area for grass runways are still available? I sent a PM on another forum where the fella that made them advertised them but he hasn’t responded. Any suggestions?

[Evan D]

Congrats!

[kallend]

Cool!

I don't see any trim change either, but mine does have a wing wobble when swept back. Someone suggested replacing the FFS servos to reduce "slop" so I bought some Hitecs but haven't got around to installing them yet.

[xviper]

SUCCESS! Did my very first wing sweep this morning. Thanks to the suggestions and cautions posted here, I was prepared for anything to happen. To my great surprise, from the time I flipped the switch to the time they were fully swept out, NO unpleasantries occured. Absolutely no trim change. It didn't roll or pitch in any direction. It just kept flying flat and straight. Banking into the first turn was effortless and once in the straight, rolling was superb. Coming back out of the sweep, same thing ................... very benign, no surprises. The only thing I noticed this time out that I never detected before was an odd thing with the flaps. I have full span flaps. At 1/2 flaps, the plane would roll slowly to the left but very easy to counter. At full flaps the roll went away and it flew perfectly trimmed. It's very puzzling, although not alarming and completely manageable. Thanks to all for the hints and encouragement.
(I was going to wait for the little Eflite F-14 to try the wing sweep but as it's now pushed back to November, I didn't want to wait any longer.)

[rifleman_btx]

Good luck. It’s a trainer with the wings out. I sweep the wings while banked in a turn. That way any trim change is not noticeable.

It also looks very cool watching the wings while in the bank turn

[Evan D]

Good luck. It’s a trainer with the wings out. I sweep the wings while banked in a turn. That way any trim change is not noticeable.

[rifleman_btx]

You got this, just flip the switch and go for it!

[xviper]

Thanks, guys. I'm flying it tomorrow. Will see if have the nads to do it.

[DCORSAIR]

Can those who have typically flown this plane please comment on the trim change when going from wings "out" to wings "swept in"? I'm still gathering the nerve to sweep the wings in during flight, having read about extreme trim changes that happen during and after a wing sweep and back out again. Some have indicated that they have put different trim settings on flight modes to make it less busy. Does the plane suffer from severe nose dive when sweeping in or does it balloon?

I had three and only one had a bad roll to it that I had to really do some mixes to get it straight, other two flew great with just a slight trim needed but nothing serious, to me the best way to test your first wing sweep is to hit the switch and watch what it does to see which way it rolls or if any roll at all and be ready on the switch to extend them quickly if something is not right, do this a few times until your for sure everything is good, I flew mine all stock right out of the box and they flew great actually in swept wing, I was expecting a little more excitement but it was like, oh that's it moment, but it looks cool, I didn't notice any drop in the nose or anything strange there, it was just a slight roll trim on the two which I mixed in with my wing sweep switch, I just kept mine simple and flew them per the manual except CG of course, we all know to move the CG back a little, good luck and I think you will find it not so bad if you do the short wing sweep test.

[Evan D]

Both mine, had one when it first came out and flew it about a hundred flights and sold it and now have #2, dive a little swept. Both also have a slight change in roll. I have four modes and trim for roll and pitch is linked to each mode. Modes are wings out flaps up, mid and landing and wings swept. I have standard flaps, not full span.

[xviper]

Can those who have typically flown this plane please comment on the trim change when going from wings "out" to wings "swept in"? I'm still gathering the nerve to sweep the wings in during flight, having read about extreme trim changes that happen during and after a wing sweep and back out again. Some have indicated that they have put different trim settings on flight modes to make it less busy. Does the plane suffer from severe nose dive when sweeping in or does it balloon?

[Evan D]

I believe they’re steel…

[Elbee]

That's was my thought as well. i hope to replace all alum with CF in this one when I get to it. Best, LB

[rifleman_btx]

Thats what I wanted to confirm, thanks! I might just cut one out of CF

[xviper]

I need a metal brace for the retracts. I lost one of them and it's been a pain in my A.. trying to find it. Am I missing where they are sold on motion? Or should I just buy full metal retracts for it?

I've never seen these metal plates as a separate item. You don't even get them if you buy a retract. If you know someone who does metal work, they may be able to make you one.
I have purchased a pair of JP full metal retracts with controller. The next time I break a retract on this plane, those go in.

[rifleman_btx]

I need a metal brace for the retracts. I lost one of them and it's been a pain in my A.. trying to find it. Am I missing where they are sold on motion? Or should I just buy full metal retracts for it?

[xviper]

Wings are too short to cut in usable flaps and the plane is too short for rudders to work well. I suppose you could always cut some in but I don't think they'd be very effective. It's a cartoon after all. Amazing that it can actually fly with those stumpy proportions.

[jasmith41]

Yes, it's got everything except rudder and flaps. It's a PNP, comes with gyro.

who needs rudders or flaps...

oh - that's right - i do... :) especially flaps...

[xviper]

it's got retracts...?

Yes, it's got everything except rudder and flaps. It's a PNP, comes with gyro.