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

[Aros]

Bro, this model breaks my heart. This is my bar-none favorite full scale jet with Blue Angel livery. Thunderbirds are cool, of course F-16s are bad ass but for my money it's the sexy F-18s in Blue and Yellow. This is why I HATE that I can't seem to tame this model. I've had, what, like 6 of them? Each one ended in disaster either from no fault of my own (original bad servos) or just Dumb Thumbs where it always felt wonky and heavy.

Yoda, I call out to you. What is the magic secret here? I've flown TONS of EDFs over the years but this model gives me nothing but headaches. I want this in my hangar but am tired of fighting the sticks every single time. Thoughts?

[Elbee]

Aros.

IMHO, I sum it up in a nutshell...wing-loading.

I had thought this particular model could benefit from slightly open LE slats (scaled to the actual) but fixed maybe.

An increased lift airfoil with a cheat of up to 2" in overall wingspan.

Scale guys might flinch a bit but I think it would greatly help in flight performance.

My $00.02 USD.

Best, LB

[Evan D]

I have one of the very early ones, set up with a 8S JF. Flies awesome, love it, easily a couple 100 flights.

Built one recently for a friend and did the first flights, flew horrible. Not sure why and he hasn't investigated it.

[DCORSAIR]

Bro, this model breaks my heart. This is my bar-none favorite full scale jet with Blue Angel livery. Thunderbirds are cool, of course F-16s are bad ass but for my money it's the sexy F-18s in Blue and Yellow. This is why I HATE that I can't seem to tame this model. I've had, what, like 6 of them? Each one ended in disaster either from no fault of my own (original bad servos) or just Dumb Thumbs where it always felt wonky and heavy.

Yoda, I call out to you. What is the magic secret here? I've flown TONS of EDFs over the years but this model gives me nothing but headaches. I want this in my hangar but am tired of fighting the sticks every single time. Thoughts?

I'm with you on this one Aros, I hate the thing, had two of them and both flew goofy, but my buddy has one and he loves it and his flies great he says, so I just don't understand it and don't want another one that's for sure mainly because of that ugly main gear, if they only would have got that right or close to scale I may have bought another one.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Bro, this model breaks my heart. This is my bar-none favorite full scale jet with Blue Angel livery. Thunderbirds are cool, of course F-16s are bad ass but for my money it's the sexy F-18s in Blue and Yellow. This is why I HATE that I can't seem to tame this model. I've had, what, like 6 of them? Each one ended in disaster either from no fault of my own (original bad servos) or just Dumb Thumbs where it always felt wonky and heavy.

Yoda, I call out to you. What is the magic secret here? I've flown TONS of EDFs over the years but this model gives me nothing but headaches. I want this in my hangar but am tired of fighting the sticks every single time. Thoughts?

I'm with you, but still have/fly 2 of them, both with hitec servos and the big 12 blade 6S fans. They were always twitchy but fun to fly (if you like always being on edge), but when I upgraded my AS3X Rx's to "Plus", everything changed. It now flies rock solid and is simple to land. The "excitement " is gone, but it's now a blast to fly. Plus has completely changed all my aircraft into something special. I still can't believe how effective it is.

As I posted earlier, the F18 (and no others) had one thing different, and that is the YAW gains need to be minimal, otherwise the rudder will "fight" an aileron turn, and you don't want to know what it does. Took a while to figure it out. Usually YAW gains could be high 60/70 or even 80% with no bad issues. With the F18, yaw needs to be no higher than say 20%. Jon (2 Bro) helped me confirm this.

So if you want a sweet flying/landing FW 90mm F18, get the Spektrum 8 channel AS3X + and I'll give you a starting point for gains.

[Elbee]

Hugh Wiedman,

Which make and model of transmitter do you fly?

Best, Steve

[Aros]

I'm with you, but still have/fly 2 of them, both with hitec servos and the big 12 blade 6S fans. They were always twitchy but fun to fly (if you like always being on edge), but when I upgraded my AS3X Rx's to "Plus", everything changed. It now flies rock solid and is simple to land. The "excitement " is gone, but it's now a blast to fly. Plus has completely changed all my aircraft into something special. I still can't believe how effective it is.

As I posted earlier, the F18 (and no others) had one thing different, and that is the YAW gains need to be minimal, otherwise the rudder will "fight" an aileron turn, and you don't want to know what it does. Took a while to figure it out. Usually YAW gains could be high 60/70 or even 80% with no bad issues. With the F18, yaw needs to be no higher than say 20%. Jon (2 Bro) helped me confirm this.

So if you want a sweet flying/landing FW 90mm F18, get the Spektrum 8 channel AS3X + and I'll give you a starting point for gains.

THANK YOU brother Hugh Wiedman !! I will absolutely grab some of those RX's and maybe give her another try! Lucky number 8? LOL

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh Wiedman,

Which make and model of transmitter do you fly?

Best, Steve

Steve, I'm using a Spektrum IX14 upgraded to 20 channels. In all my jets (and prop planes), I'm using the Spektrum AR637T/AR8360T/AR10360T RX's all upgraded to "Plus" (which brings a nose wheel gyro with it) along with a 2nd remote satellite in everything except a few prop planes. Excellent signal strength and the programming options are outstanding. The previous gyro RX's were nice, but upgrading them to their new "Plus" programming has made a huge difference. All their AS3X are now plus programmed.

The AS3X gains can easily be programmed on the TX, with even several different sets of gains for control surfaces, for the nose wheel on takeoff, and a seperate set of gains for something like TV nozzles. Gains can be increased/decreased in flight and programmable call outs of the current flight pack voltage is standard so I don't have to rely solely on a timer and can land when I really need to. You can type in any call outs you want and I've found a way to call out certain throttle % so I can be consistent in my landing approach speed. For someone like me that's not exactly high tech, these features take a lot of the stress out of flying so I can concentrate on just crashing at landing! Now if they just incorporate an autopilot for landing I'd be ecstatic.

[Elbee]

Hugh Wiedman

I've not flown anything but Futaba, ever, but I'm needing more than Futaba is providing at less than $1699.99.

I am too poor to buy cheap, if you follow my meaning.

So I am looking for best bang for the buck for the 6-10 times I fly annually. (Kinda sad, huh....I know, right?)

I will look into what you fly, I am diggin' the features you rave about of late.

Thanks, Steve

[Hugh Wiedman]

Elbee
Steve, I'm no real promoter for HH, prefer Motion hands down, but the Spektrum IX 14 is an outstanding TX. Most of my buddies use the $2,000 IX 20, but now with Spectrums simple download upgrade, the IX 14 also has 20 channels, and costs less than half that of the IX20. And with the new Plus on their 6/8/10 channel gyro RX's, it's hard to beat.

You may wonder why we would need 20 channels (I certainly did). On my Mig 29 with TV nozzles, I'm using 10 separate servo connections and another 6 internal channels tied to switches, for all the surfaces, separate nose wheel with their own gyro, the TV nozzles and their own gyro, tailerons, and a bunch of other things. Using 3 separate sets of gyros. Everything is essentially pre-set with a lot of mixes so it still seems to fly as if you have the standard 6 controls.

And as I said earlier, the plus RX's are unbeatable. I'm even using 10 channels on my Corsair.

The "Big Boys" with their $20-$30,000 turbines all use Jeti Tx's (the cream of the crop) and Cortex RX"s/gyros, but then a Bentley is cheaper. For my money (which is very minimal) an IX 14 and their gyro RX's are more than sufficient. And on all my jets, I also install their twin antennae sattelite RX. You asked a question earlier about antenna placement. The reception zone around the active end is like if you stuck it in the center of a donut, with the donut being the reception area. Therefore, you need to place one antenna's active end flat, pointing forward or backward (makes no difference) and one verticle Up or down). Ideally, a 3rd would be placed lining up port to starboard. Then you have all 3 axis covered. My set up has a 4th antenna, so I place that on a diagonal. Since doing this, all my aircraft have outstanding signal reception and not only do I get no "holds", I now also have no frame losses. 50 to 100 frame losses in a 5 minute flight used to be acceptable, but I have 0.

My 2 cents.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Aros, Todd, got out today with a few aircraft including the F18 getting 6 flights on it. Wanted to confirm the potential BS I posted above about the Spektrum gyro RX upgraded to plus being the ultimate game changer for the F18. Turns out after tweaking and zeroing in the RX gains it's all 100% true. And it's spectacular! You may not believe it, and I almost can't, but now the F18 is my absolute best flying/landing military jet, along with the TV installed Mig. The F18 flies better and lands easier than even the 90mm F16!

Took some harrowing flights to get there, but I've reached Nirvana. Performs like God intended it to when He designed it! All 6 flights, in 10mph winds changing directions, were absolutely perfect. Smooth takeoffs, rock solid with aggressive flying and the best butter landings I've seen. Can hardly believe I was even at the controls.

If I remember, you fly Futaba, so basically you're outta luck with the F18. I've only got about 60 flights on my 2 F18's, and each of those had their "oh no" moments. If I got home with little or just minor damage, I considered it a Super Bowl win. No longer. Turns out the F18, and only the F18, had weird issues with rudder gains. But when you get it right, Whooo Hooo! I'm using 40/45/12 normal flight gains now (R/P/Y). Others easily handled Yaw gains up to 50-60. On take offs, using 45/50/15 & landing gains 55/60/18.

Additionally, learned a technique from some "Pro" RC pilots relative to throttle on landing. First, after plugging in the battery, I trim the throttle up to about 60/70 so the fan never shuts down even at 0 throttle. Then, put a simple and seemingly innocuous mix in of when you drop throttle to 0, a 5-8 click of down elevator comes in. Results, with the plus upgrade, is virtually consistent absolute perfect butter landings.

So my F18's are going to be quite busy from now on. Maverick, move over!

[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

[f4u ausie]

Sorry its an nx7

[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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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 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.

[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.