Agree with xviper , very sound advice. Carlbrainiac, surprised you're only getting 3 mins on the Admiral 6000 50C. I have the base grey F-18 as well that I redid in the Canadian demo scheme with the stock 9 blade outrunner (same as the stock F-4) and I'm getting 4:30-5:00 minutes with the Roaring Top 6250 35 C. I've also flown it with the Admiral 6000 (which is only 28g heavier than the RT) and gotten just slightly less, but not 3:00. My F-18, with all the extra paint/graphics/3D cockpit and twin afterburners weighs 1.2 pounds heavier than the stock base grey, so you should definitely get more time. Do you like to fly with full throttle mostly? I'm still doing high speed passes, Cuban 8's, Split S, high rolls, and some tight high G turns and for some reason, getting more time than you are, not sure why.
Regarding upgrading the fans, I'm considering doing the same, but maybe for a different reason. I hate the whine of a 9 blade. I may eventually upgrade to the fan xviper mentioned, the 12 blade 4068-1835 Kv inrunner which costs $158. I upgraded my F-16 to that exact fan and it performs great, and the sound is sooo much better, more of a whoosh, and similar to a turbine, although not as loud. The other option he mentioned is the upgraded 9 blade 3672-1900 Kv inrunner that now comes standard in the Blue Angel F-18, but separately costs $90. I asked Alpha when that fan would be available back in February when I bought the base grey and they just introduced it to the BA version and he was good enough to let me know that it really wouldn't be available separately at Motion until mid summer, so I think it will be available soon if you don't want to get it at RC Castle.
Just keep in mind that the inrunners mentioned above really get optimum performance out of a higher C battery (which is also heavier). The Admiral 6000 50C has a true C (according to my IR meter and bench testing it on fans with a power meter) which is much lower than 50C (like most batteries). The RT 35C battery I use actually tests just slightly above the Admiral 50C, and in my F-16 and SU-30 that both have inrunners, using a RT 70C (or any other high C battery) results in the fan producing about 7-10% more thrust. That's not the same with all the outrunners I tested, where there is virtually no difference in power output between a 35C/50C or 70C. Since I'm getting great flight times with the battery I'm using, I may not even upgrade to the inrunner (although I still have it on my "ready to buy" wish list) because I can't really afford to add any more weight (in a higher C battery in the front) to my F-18 (primarily for the CG as I have the battery all the way aft with almost 2 ounces of lead in the tail just to get close to 92mm CG). Others in this thread (DcCorsair for one, I believe and maybe Phantom) have upgraded to that 12 blade inrunner and get outstanding performance along with great sound, so I would suggest that if you're bank account can handle it, go with the 12 blade inrunner instead of the 9 blade inrunner. Yes, I know, vanity can be expensive for the sake of a better sound, but that's just me.
Regarding upgrading the fans, I'm considering doing the same, but maybe for a different reason. I hate the whine of a 9 blade. I may eventually upgrade to the fan xviper mentioned, the 12 blade 4068-1835 Kv inrunner which costs $158. I upgraded my F-16 to that exact fan and it performs great, and the sound is sooo much better, more of a whoosh, and similar to a turbine, although not as loud. The other option he mentioned is the upgraded 9 blade 3672-1900 Kv inrunner that now comes standard in the Blue Angel F-18, but separately costs $90. I asked Alpha when that fan would be available back in February when I bought the base grey and they just introduced it to the BA version and he was good enough to let me know that it really wouldn't be available separately at Motion until mid summer, so I think it will be available soon if you don't want to get it at RC Castle.
Just keep in mind that the inrunners mentioned above really get optimum performance out of a higher C battery (which is also heavier). The Admiral 6000 50C has a true C (according to my IR meter and bench testing it on fans with a power meter) which is much lower than 50C (like most batteries). The RT 35C battery I use actually tests just slightly above the Admiral 50C, and in my F-16 and SU-30 that both have inrunners, using a RT 70C (or any other high C battery) results in the fan producing about 7-10% more thrust. That's not the same with all the outrunners I tested, where there is virtually no difference in power output between a 35C/50C or 70C. Since I'm getting great flight times with the battery I'm using, I may not even upgrade to the inrunner (although I still have it on my "ready to buy" wish list) because I can't really afford to add any more weight (in a higher C battery in the front) to my F-18 (primarily for the CG as I have the battery all the way aft with almost 2 ounces of lead in the tail just to get close to 92mm CG). Others in this thread (DcCorsair for one, I believe and maybe Phantom) have upgraded to that 12 blade inrunner and get outstanding performance along with great sound, so I would suggest that if you're bank account can handle it, go with the 12 blade inrunner instead of the 9 blade inrunner. Yes, I know, vanity can be expensive for the sake of a better sound, but that's just me.
I know you think I must be crazy or exaggerating (which I completely am, crazy that is 
), but you might want to check out the video that James did for Motion along with his instructor pilot friend (forgot his name) when they discuss their claim of 5 minutes or more with a Admiral 6000 on the F-18.
Imagine with an inrunner it would be real sweet heart! 
And I don't want anyone giving me a hard time for attaching the missiles on a demonstration livery, they just look cool and hey, you never know when you're up in the air who you may want to take a shot at these days! 
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