Official Freewing Twin 80mm F-14D Tomcat Thread

[pullupnow]

have fun

[pullupnow]

The forecast finally was OK yesterday so I took it out to maiden it but by the time I got to the field the vis. had dropped to 1/2 mile and the ceiling to 600ft and it was starting to drizzle, so I just flew my trusty old (Dynam) Meteor instead and came home.

Questions for those who have disabled the ailerons when the wings are swept - what did you do with the aileron rates? Also is it worth implementing full span flaps?

Most of the guys flying the tomcat are locking out the ailerons during swept wing flight. About 60% rate on roll and 100% pitch for swept. On mine that gives a pretty decent roll rate and not too sensitive. Make sure you leave full pitch travel as it tucks the nose in a steep turn with the wings swept. As far as the full span flaps, They look cool but you lose quite a bit of roll authority on the approach and there is quite a lot of nose down pitch moment with the ailerons drooped as flaps. I personally had some pretty heinous landings in that configuration. Its much more predictable and docile with the factory flap configuration. Probably the best upgrade I did was replacing the stab servos with hitec d 85's and 440 hardware. Much more positive feel. It's fine in the meantime stock.
You will love this plane! It's like your own personal airshow.

[kallend]

The forecast finally was OK yesterday so I took it out to maiden it but by the time I got to the field the vis. had dropped to 1/2 mile and the ceiling to 600ft and it was starting to drizzle, so I just flew my trusty old (Dynam) Meteor instead and came home.

Questions for those who have disabled the ailerons when the wings are swept - what did you do with the aileron rates? Also is it worth implementing full span flaps?

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah thats what I was thinking as well, I would shut them down on sweep, that's my plan anyway, I'll let you know how it works out for me when I get it back out next week.

[xviper]

Yes I have those but I have it setup completely stock and when I try to bank it doesn't do a thing until I'm at almost full bank defection. Then it just whips over uncontrollably. I'm feeling like the ailerons are canceling out the tailerons until the deflection is enough to get beyond the ailerons. Seems weird but that is what it feels like is happening now

Each of the ailerons on mine only go UP, not down (unless they are being used as flaps) and they go up very little, maybe a few mm max. This is the same when the wings are swept, even though I haven't flown mine swept yet. You may be right about the ailerons blanking out the tailerons. With either open or swept wings, my tailerons do most of the work for banking.

[rifleman_btx]

Yes I have those but I have it setup completely stock and when I try to bank it doesn't do a thing until I'm at almost full bank defection. Then it just whips over uncontrollably. I'm feeling like the ailerons are canceling out the tailerons until the deflection is enough to get beyond the ailerons. Seems weird but that is what it feels like is happening now

[xviper]

I'm guessing I'll need to run the ailerons on a Y on a different channel. I can't get it to turn worth a crap swept.

Do you have tailerons? In swept mode, this thing needs tailerons on high rates to bank and turn.

[kallend]

I'm guessing I'll need to run the ailerons on a Y on a different channel. I can't get it to turn worth a crap swept.

What is your current channel configuration?

[rifleman_btx]

I'm guessing I'll need to run the ailerons on a Y on a different channel. I can't get it to turn worth a crap swept.

[kallend]

Do-it-Yourself Afterburner test on the F-14.

https://youtu.be/WWvHbaPgdK8

[rifleman_btx]

You're going to love it!

[kallend]

Probably down to the upside down RESCUE sticker...

I had noticed that before, but it didn't bug me until after reading your post. So I finally painted out the offending word (Testors "sand" matched pretty well), printed "RESCUE" on my wife's label maker (black on clear) and stuck it on the right way up.

Still awaiting decent weather for a maiden. It's been strong winds from the south (crosswind to our runway) ever since I finished it.

[rifleman_btx]

Here is my nose gear mount reinforcement plate I used. Carbon fiber as well

[kallend]

Here is the STL file for a mounting rail for the underbody Phoenix missile. (The missile itself is also available on Thingiverse from another designer)

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5172406

[rifleman_btx]

The all cats day has commenced
didn't like the first pic

[rifleman_btx]

Tomorrow I have the f6f and f7f flying with the f14 I need that panther, hint hint, Alpha lol and a f4f, then pickup the f8f and I'll be set.

[EA-6B Geek]

My two planes of choice of the day. Flying the 104 to get the nerve to fly the f14 lol

That’s the Varsity Squad right there! Way to go!

[rifleman_btx]

I did sweep the wings on the maiden, and then on the second one after some adjustments. It didn't want to change direction very well the first time, but after I set the aileron rates lower during sweep, made all the difference. Now I just have to dial back the gyro just a bit. Had some minor oscillation at high speeds. Otherwise man she's a beauty.

[rifleman_btx]

Yes indeed! And she's going back out tomorrow!

[T-CAT]

Maiden in the books, December 21,2021 51 years on the day the full scale first took to the sky. Pretty cool deal. Sorry I know, hat cam...

Congratulations! It makes it even better getting the jet flying on the same day of the month the full-scale first flew, December 21, 1970.