Official Freewing F/A-18C Hornet 90mm EDF Thread

[Aros]

Fantastic, thank you!!

[jetpltrich]

Man, this warms my heart. Like you, I was snake bitten by this model for years. You have officially given me the courage to try once again, and I will absolutely use that Spektrum Plus RX! Hugh has been an unbelievable resource for many, including myself. That video shows how it SHOULD fly and land! My experience is that the model was so inherently unstable in flight and landing, I could never quite figure it out.

What's the shopping list exactly?

Yes sir, don't hesitate. The Spektrum Plus receiver makes this airframe fly right. Like you I had lost confidence in the plane and my ability to fly it, I wasn't going to try. However, reading Hugh's success with the Plus receiver changed my mind and the plane flies so much better.

I fly ALL my planes with GPS speed (would like airspeed instead) and have the TX setup to transmit speed every 5 seconds. Retiring from the airlines and flying piston poppers to corporate jets to airliners, I have found that speed is a very important tool for the proper approach speed and situational awareness. I think that translate to flying RC aircraft as well especially EDF's. So many times, I see fast approaches which end up in disaster. When my stepson was gifted an F-86 this past Christmas I brought in my then, now his, T-33 and let him fly it. His skill level is top notch and the first thing he said to me was knowing the speed really helps. So, in cruise I just let her rip trying not to go below 75mph. Downwind I slow to 60mph and start configuring, you'll note a rapid reduction in speed, 50mph. I keep that speed until I line up for final and put landing flaps in. She slows to 40mph and that's where I keep it, roughly 30% power. Yesterday during the flare, the left wing started a stall and the Plus receiver input almost full aileron to correct and the left main settled down and the plane landed uneventfully. The speed during that event was 30mph so it looks like I'm really close to approach speed. 40mph to touchdown is what I aim for. If that had happed without the Plus it would've been another crash.

Nosewheel gyro! trust me when I tell you nosewheel gyro on this airframe is a must! The Plus has a nosewheel gyro in it though I'm using the Assan AG-61. I will eventually configure the Plus nosewheel gyro. A fast turn with this airframe will tip the airplane up on its wing, slow turn during taxi and do not use nosewheel steering to slow down after landing, it will be a disaster with this airframe. This brings up thrust reverse. A few of my planes have thrust reverse, the F-16 does and it's all noise no stopping. With the F-18 thrust reverse is very effective, she slows down very good. Be careful when to engage so you don't blow blades everywhere.

Let me see if I can copy those gyros gain setting in Hugh's message.

Flaps UP Gains: 45/55/10 (R/P/Y)
Take off Flaps: 50/60/10
Landing Flaps: 60/70/10

Those are the settings Hugh is using, and I really like them. Three different gain settings based on flap selection. Basically, cruise not so much, takeoff flaps more, landing flaps more. I've had roll axis wobble during cruise and have had to reduce gain, each plane will be different. That said that is the only change I've made from Hugh's settings. A good start.

If I think of anything else, I definitely post it. Questions welcome.

Richard

[Aros]

With all the hype focused on the SR-71, I went the opposite direction and purchased the F-18… AGAIN. My stepson, LtCol Jesse McGough, gave me a tour of a VMFA-112 F-18, and a simulator flight. I was back into the purchase of an F-18, I had to give it another try.

My attempts in the past with the F-18 were painful and excruciating failures. Crash after crash after crash, I finally gave up on the airframe. Simply put, the airframe is inherently unstable, and my experience level with EDF's at the time along with the gyro’s then weren’t up to the task.

Reading Hugh’s success with the Spektrum Plus Receiver in the F-18 gave me the courage to give the airframe another try. I messaged Hugh and did some research and gathered some technical data. I pulled the trigger and purchased the airframe, receiver, and GPS.

With the airframe all together (I even painted the gear white) and the transmitter/receiver all configured, she was ready to go, but I wasn’t. My memories of the experience with the previous F-18’s were still fresh in my mind and I was self delaying the flight. That didn’t sit well with Jesse, he was asking if I’d flown it yet. So I gathered up the courage yesterday and drove out to the abandoned airport near me. The runway surface is in horrible condition but for a maiden I wanted to be at a good spot away from anything should issues occur.

I was blown away how rock solid the flight went, nothing like the previous airframe. The only issue I ran up against was gyro wobble on the roll axis at 110mph. I landed and reduced the gain by 10% and went back up. Landing the plane was a true pleasure, a slight nose high attitude and speed of around 40mph, absolutely zero gotchas. I was super pleased and excited. I later took the plane out to the airport where I keep my Cessna 180 and flew off the super smooth surface of the runway and put the plane through some aerobatic maneuvers. Super tight turns exhibited the characteristics of the real F-18 with the skidding through the turn. That Spektrum receiver does wonders for the airframe.

I have nobody to take video for me so bare with the poor quality.

F-18 Version 2 maiden with Spektrum plus RX

Man, this warms my heart. Like you, I was snake bitten by this model for years. You have officially given me the courage to try once again, and I will absolutely use that Spektrum Plus RX! Hugh has been an unbelievable resource for many, including myself. That video shows how it SHOULD fly and land! My experience is that the model was so inherently unstable in flight and landing, I could never quite figure it out.

What's the shopping list exactly?

[jetpltrich]

With all the hype focused on the SR-71, I went the opposite direction and purchased the F-18… AGAIN. My stepson, LtCol Jesse McGough, gave me a tour of a VMFA-112 F-18, and a simulator flight. I was back into the purchase of an F-18, I had to give it another try.

My attempts in the past with the F-18 were painful and excruciating failures. Crash after crash after crash, I finally gave up on the airframe. Simply put, the airframe is inherently unstable, and my experience level with EDF's at the time along with the gyro’s then weren’t up to the task.

Reading Hugh’s success with the Spektrum Plus Receiver in the F-18 gave me the courage to give the airframe another try. I messaged Hugh and did some research and gathered some technical data. I pulled the trigger and purchased the airframe, receiver, and GPS.

With the airframe all together (I even painted the gear white) and the transmitter/receiver all configured, she was ready to go, but I wasn’t. My memories of the experience with the previous F-18’s were still fresh in my mind and I was self delaying the flight. That didn’t sit well with Jesse, he was asking if I’d flown it yet. So I gathered up the courage yesterday and drove out to the abandoned airport near me. The runway surface is in horrible condition but for a maiden I wanted to be at a good spot away from anything should issues occur.

I was blown away how rock solid the flight went, nothing like the previous airframe. The only issue I ran up against was gyro wobble on the roll axis at 110mph. I landed and reduced the gain by 10% and went back up. Landing the plane was a true pleasure, a slight nose high attitude and speed of around 40mph, absolutely zero gotchas. I was super pleased and excited. I later took the plane out to the airport where I keep my Cessna 180 and flew off the super smooth surface of the runway and put the plane through some aerobatic maneuvers. Super tight turns exhibited the characteristics of the real F-18 with the skidding through the turn. That Spektrum receiver does wonders for the airframe.

I have nobody to take video for me so bare with the poor quality.

F-18 Version 2 maiden with Spektrum plus RX

[Aros]

Dang Hugh Wiedman you definitely have me sold! I can't wait to grab a new one with that plus RX and report back. Stay tuned!

[Hugh Wiedman]

Got my 2nd F18 out for the first time with the upgraded RX to Plus, and it flies just as well as the other I've been testing with Plus. Been holding this one off a while until I started feeling more comfortable with the airframe and mostly flew my F18 Canadian. But after about 45 flights, still wasn't confident until I upgraded the RX to Plus. The key is keeping the YAW gains down around 10% as the Plus is more active and smoother than non-plus. It's now probably the best flying EDF I have, along with the Mig on Plus.

This airframe is inherently unstable and it exhibited that behavior on the older AR637T without plus, but wasn't too bad, just a little exciting to fly and an adventure to land. It was like the aircraft was in command and I was trying to keep up with it. Landings were never consistent, some good, some not so. With Plus, it's totally in my command, takes off super smooth, flies absolutely rock solid and does whatever I command it to, and the landings are something to behold. After some 30-40 flights/landings with EDF's on Plus, I'm now completely at ease with landing. Absolutely stable, with the nose up about 10-15 degrees, slows without any wing drops and lands so smooth the other pilots at the field that know me are convinced I've been replaced by a terrorist spy and have called the FBI. The included pack voltage wires and telemetry are also a huge benefit as I know exactly what my flight pack voltage is when flying and don't have to rely on the pre set timer, but it's still a basic guide.

If you have any of the AR637T, 8 or 10 channel ones, you absolutely must upgrade to plus. Wind/no wind/crosswind/gusty wind, no problem, it just keeps up with anything. And the nice thing about an "easy" flying and landing F18 is that it is incredibly maneuverable and with the 12 blade fan and a HiV SMC pack, it's lighter and quicker that other EDF's. And Aros you gotta get another F18 and put that RX in, you will be flabergasted on easy it makes this fly. And if you don't like it, I guarantee I'll buy it back from you a cost (unless you continue to shoot

[skyhawknut]

Hi Guys,
Could someone please measure the length and width of the NLG bay, and also measure the distance from where the strut enters the retract and the end of the MLG bay please?
I have some idea I want to try for a scale gear.

[Elbee]

Great aerial videography, How are you recording these amazing vids?

[Airguardian]

Yikes!

[f4u ausie]

In your telemetry screens after your flight you should be able to scroll over to one that shows Frame Losses and Holds. The IX14 has it and my old DX9 (and maybe my real old DX6) did, so I'm fairly certain
the DX 7 does. That should be basic information. I program alerts for holds (which is a complete loss of signal) and frame losses over 10. Frame losses are not as severe and I was told 50-100 in a 5 minute flight was OK. My older AR636 RX's used to get 100 to 150 on some EDF's, satellites helped, but now exclusively using the AR637T & 8 &10 channel AS3X with satellite's in all jets and most have 0 of each, my F18 had 1 frame loss after 6 minutes (but I think that happened on the ground when checking gains). Used to use RF chokes to eliminate ESC and battery cable interferance, which helped, but haven't had to with the newer RX's.

Thanx hugh so much 4 ya time and effort.. i will have a look.. im keen to see how many i have. Maybe i should not look might scare me,, the amount i get... lol... and thanx 4 info on avanti 90.. looks awsome as always

[Aros]

When you get ready for your next and best F18, let me know, I'll give you all the settings and trims that will make your sorties a blast. Also, I'm balanced about 15mm behind manual so with a very active gyro it lands so easily.

The heck with Like...Where's our dang LOVE button!

Wait, don't answer that.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh Wiedman, just like Elbee and davegee (and many others) you are a true rock star of this forum! Such a wealth of fantastic info you single-handedly forced my hand into #8 of this beautiful bird! I am so looking forward to that RX+ in her, along with your other great pieces of advice with the throws/rudder, et al.

I want to fly and enjoy this model SO BAD! You, my friend, just may have made that a reality. Cheers.

You will not be disappointed. Flew it again yesterday (now can't get enough) so now have a dozen flights on it in the last 3 days and I'm still amazed at how easy it's gotten and sure that any moment Cinderella's carriage will turn back into a Pumpkin.

I'm so confident I'm taking out my other F18 in the Tiger Meet scheme next time (which only has 8 harrowing flights on it) which has sort of turned into a hangar queen as even after 40-50 flights with my F18 Canadian, I wasn't convinced I could bring the other home in 1 piece and I spent way too much time creating that one. Now I am, so get the foam repair, paint and epoxy out cause she's going up!

When you get ready for your next and best F18, let me know, I'll give you all the settings and trims that will make your sorties a blast. Also, I'm balanced about 15mm behind manual so with a very active gyro it lands so easily.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh how do u no when u get holds?. Im guessing that info is in ya tx,,, so next question.. i fly my f4 on a dx7.. cheapy i no.. i guess i wana no can i check frame losses and holds on a dx7 b4 i plant it ,, like chris wolf and his beautiful t28(very sad) its a 6 channel 1 wire rx ar631 from memory. No trouble so far about 20 flights

In your telemetry screens after your flight you should be able to scroll over to one that shows Frame Losses and Holds. The IX14 has it and my old DX9 (and maybe my real old DX6) did, so I'm fairly certain
the DX 7 does. That should be basic information. I program alerts for holds (which is a complete loss of signal) and frame losses over 10. Frame losses are not as severe and I was told 50-100 in a 5 minute flight was OK. My older AR636 RX's used to get 100 to 150 on some EDF's, satellites helped, but now exclusively using the AR637T & 8 &10 channel AS3X with satellite's in all jets and most have 0 of each, my F18 had 1 frame loss after 6 minutes (but I think that happened on the ground when checking gains). Used to use RF chokes to eliminate ESC and battery cable interferance, which helped, but haven't had to with the newer RX's.

[Elbee]

Hugh Wiedman

When does the ""Wildman" Schrool of Aviation & Flight" officially open.

I would like to enroll in the post-graduate school of advanced studies.

I would like to major in some of your common sense with a minor in just plain good looks, cause I can't help it, as soon as is possible.
Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh,
When you are using your throttle trim to raise the minimum throttle , 60/70 is a percentage of full ? Could you expand a bit on this technique?
Thanks

Sorry for being vague and misleading, the 60-70 % is in trim clicks (with maximun trim available of 100%, still well below 5% of total throttle travel). With most of my Jets, after throttle calibration, the fans start turning around 45-50 trim numbers (in my TX, each actual trim click shows up as 2). So even at 60 -70 value (30-35 actual clicks), I'm actually slightly below the notch on my throttle (using a ratchet on throttle instead of smooth travel). Maybe (guessing here, will look on my TX servo travel screen when I get home to determine % of throttle travel) turns out to be 2-4% of actual throttle travel.

in this way, the fan never stops, but it is still below any significant thrust. Provides just enough stability at throttle "Off". Obviously, the turbine jet and gas prop guys are forced to have this, but it does help in landing.

The other helpful technique is to mix in about 5% in down elevator when throttle goes to 0.

[davegee]

Hugh Wiedman, just like Elbee and davegee (and many others) you are a true rock star of this forum! Such a wealth of fantastic info you single-handedly forced my hand into #8 of this beautiful bird! I am so looking forward to that RX+ in her, along with your other great pieces of advice with the throws/rudder, et al.

I want to fly and enjoy this model SO BAD! You, my friend, just may have made that a reality. Cheers.

Follow Hugh's Advice! I have a feeling this next Hornet will be the best one of them all for you!

davegee

[Aros]

Hugh Wiedman, just like Elbee and davegee (and many others) you are a true rock star of this forum! Such a wealth of fantastic info you single-handedly forced my hand into #8 of this beautiful bird! I am so looking forward to that RX+ in her, along with your other great pieces of advice with the throws/rudder, et al.

I want to fly and enjoy this model SO BAD! You, my friend, just may have made that a reality. Cheers.

[400driver]

Hugh,
When you are using your throttle trim to raise the minimum throttle , 60/70 is a percentage of full ? Could you expand a bit on this technique?
Thanks

[f4u ausie]

Sorry its an nx7

[f4u ausie]

Hugh how do u no when u get holds?. Im guessing that info is in ya tx,,, so next question.. i fly my f4 on a dx7.. cheapy i no.. i guess i wana no can i check frame losses and holds on a dx7 b4 i plant it ,, like chris wolf and his beautiful t28(very sad) its a 6 channel 1 wire rx ar631 from memory. No trouble so far about 20 flights