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

[Hugh Wiedman]

Looking back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUo5aOxBYEU

Nice Video, but you should have the F4 Blue Angel, on 8S, it flies much better! Bang Zoom, to the Moon Alice!


Sorry, Couldn't Help Myself!

[Hugh Wiedman]

No Really, got out last week and we got some great photos of the F4 8S Blue Angel, F16 8S Wild Weasel, one of My two 6S F18's the Canadian and a few others I put on a video below of just still photos.

The F18 starts around 2:45 into the video if you want to skip directly there. Here's a couple F18 photos to wet your appetite:

[Elbee]

Hugh Wiedman, great photos and beautiful liveries, Hugh. Keep 'em coming. Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh Wiedman, great photos and beautiful liveries, Hugh. Keep 'em coming. Best, LB

Thanks LB, although I need to spend more time now flying and less building or upgrading (where have I heard myself say that before) More time building equals less time crashing!

[Brinka]

Not the most forgiving jet, but indeed rewarding when dialed in. I had to do a rebuild as I lost reception and she went crazy on a high speed pass then flipped over.

This very incident prompted me to buy a new Radiomaster TX16s and Lemon 7channel telemetry receiver with satellite, I had to become proficient in math and algebra to get her back up in the air. Smh.

[Aros]

I salute anyone who has luck flying this model on a regular basis, as there are many in this thread alone. For me personally, I found this particular model to be the most finicky EDF jet I have ever flown and sadly had to give up having one in my hangar until a new version - hopefully less finicky and lighter wing loading - comes out. It's especially frustrating to me since the F/A-18 Blue Angel is my favorite jet.

If one would come out with the flight characteristics of the old Hobby Lobby/V1 one we used to carry I would be in heaven. That jet flew marvelously.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Not the most forgiving jet, but indeed rewarding when dialed in. I had to do a rebuild as I lost reception and she went crazy on a high speed pass then flipped over.

This very incident prompted me to buy a new Radiomaster TX16s and Lemon 7channel telemetry receiver with satellite, I had to become proficient in math and algebra to get her back up in the air. Smh.

Nice to see you back and good luck with the Radiomaster! If anyone can handle the F18, you can, showed me how plenty of times. One thing I noticed on both of my F18's, the flap servos rarely had enough guts to consistently deploy correctly. Virtually every flight with both, one flap did not deploy when going to landing flaps, and it was never the same one. On the bench they always worked perfectly, but something about the aerodynamics when in flight caused a problem. This obviously caused some immediate rolls that were tough to correct. Spent months trying to correct the problem from bypassing the circuit board to adjusting the servo horn positions. None of that worked and it got to the point that I was reticent to deploy flaps in flight or even fly the aircrafts. Eventually got smart and replaced both flap servos on each with hitec servos and I have never had a problem since. I now really enjoy flying this one.

[Gravythe clown]

My buddy and I must be two lucky SOB's. Both ours fly very well, great vertical good seed and lands very nice. I'm not discounting anyone's tales of woe as I have see it in a couple of other friends that had them and had the issues everyone talks about.

I'm glad I got lucky on mine because I love flying her.

It is getting harder to pick what to fly since I went from the mini van to my Jeep JLU. Lately Ive been on my F-15EX and F-22 kick. Last time out was my 22, A-10, 86 and AH-6. That filled up my back.

Gravy

[DCORSAIR]

My buddy and I must be two lucky SOB's. Both ours fly very well, great vertical good seed and lands very nice. I'm not discounting anyone's tales of woe as I have see it in a couple of other friends that had them and had the issues everyone talks about.

I'm glad I got lucky on mine because I love flying her.

It is getting harder to pick what to fly since I went from the mini van to my Jeep JLU. Lately Ive been on my F-15EX and F-22 kick. Last time out was my 22, A-10, 86 and AH-6. That filled up my back.

Gravy

Gravy you have way to many to choose from, your like what I used to be....

I'm glad you enjoy that F-18, your right though, I hated that thing, but I loved the old version way better as for flying but the new version looks much better....

[Gravythe clown]

Gravy you have way to many to choose from, your like what I used to be....

I'm glad you enjoy that F-18, your right though, I hated that thing, but I loved the old version way better as for flying but the new version looks much better....

Yeah it really is getting hard to choose what to take. But now after all this talk of the 18, I think she’ll be loaded next time I go. 😁

I did start working on the B1 again. New redesign 3D parts coming for her soon.

i need another van just for Sundays.

Gtavy

[DCORSAIR]

Yeah it really is getting hard to choose what to take. But now after all this talk of the 18, I think she’ll be loaded next time I go. 😁

I did start working on the B1 again. New redesign 3D parts coming for her soon.

i need another van just for Sundays.

Gtavy

I have to admit, I do like hauling the jets in my wife's family van and you may have to get another one if you keep buying more planes............

[davegee]

I just received in the mail an ARF+ F-18C airframe from MRC. My previous Hornet I had for about 2 years until I “pancaked” it after it bounced high on landing and tried to save the landing. I Should have gone around for another landing attempt, but didn’t. The fuselage was substantially damaged and eventually I decided to get a new airframe and part out my old plane for spares, as needed. All the “guts” went into the new plane and I’ll be ready for a new maiden when the snow clears out from this latest snowstorm we got today.

The previous F-18 I had I put close to 30 flights before I fumbled the last landing. I am using most of the original settings in my radio as I had this plane pretty well dialed in.

My question is, I did put some Up elevator trim for deploying flaps. I took the measurements off my wrecked airplane and transferred them to the new model. Thing is, I couldn’t find anywhere that indicated I needed to add Up elevator when you deploy flaps. I have no idea where that info came from, although it seemed necessary to keep the plane in trim while using flaps.

Does anyone know where these figures came from, as well as other proven flight surface throw settings that work well for this airplane? Mine that worked well were at some variance with what the manufacturer recommends. I don’t really want to change what I have unless I’m sure they are better than what I used to use on my old airplane.

Thanks for any comments on this.

Davegee

[JeremySean]

Got a question. I’m looking to replace the aileron, flap and horizontal stab servos, what’s a good brand that won’t break the bank?? Also if you could list the servo model for each control surface that would be awesome considering their names can be confusing. Thank you guys!

[Elbee]

JeremySean,

I suggest either Futaba or HiTec for the servo brands.

Also, consider buying "all metal gear" servos from either brand for all your control surfaces where you change out servos.

As for size, there are just too many options; however, if you'll go to either website there are case sizes usually listed or diagramed for each servo.

You should be able to compare the OEM sizes to those listings if you have calipers.

That is what I do.

In any case the torque values for the 'metal gear' servos will be more than sufficient compared to the OEM servos.

Make note whether the OEM servo mounts are 'single hole' or 'double hole' per side.

Though it is not complicated, remaking servo mounts in the airframe can be a pain-in-the-butt if you are not familiar with that type of construction.

As you have probably figured reading the this forum, the elevator control surfaces could use a beefing up with stiffer hardware, and possibly the flaps and ailerons, as well.

Hope I've helped.

Best LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

Got a question. I’m looking to replace the aileron, flap and horizontal stab servos, what’s a good brand that won’t break the bank?? Also if you could list the servo model for each control surface that would be awesome considering their names can be confusing. Thank you guys!

I agree with Elbee. I have 2 F18's and both had issues with the stock FW 9gr flap servos and IMO it's absolutely imperative you at least upgrade those. In flight, one would usually not deflect, and it was almost never the same one (on the bench fine with no air resistance), making for a seriously squirrely (to say the least) flying aircraft when getting ready to land. The stock 9gr just didn't have enough guts in flight. Tried everything to correct it from reducing deployment speed from 4 sec to 2 to 0 (which was even worse when only 1 came down leaving it instantly rotating) and bypassing the control board and plugging them in direct. Finally accessed one of my few brain cells and replaced them in both F18's to the 11.9gr Hitec HS-5065MG+, essentially a drop in fit. Cost is around $38 each. Works like a dream now. As far as the others, I've never had a problem with the stock aileron or elevator servos so they both fly stock with those, not that it's a bad idea to replace those either, especially the elevator ones. Just check the dimensions on the Hitec site under Digital Micro/mini/wing all metal gear servos and pick your poison. I think the 21.9gr HS-5085 MG might work for the elevator/aileron, as I seem to remember those stock being the 17 gr servos but not positive.

[Elbee]

JeremySean,

Hugh Wiedman is "The Guru" among a bevy of guessers when it comes to these things.

Sage advice is what he does.

I think you have a good place from which to start your servo search.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Question on a small momentary "pop" sound when I do a static runup to full power. I took my new F-18C (with the old motor, ESC, wiring,etc) onboard out to the field to do a full power static runup, run taxi tests, range tests, etc. The wind was too strong a crosswind to hazard taking it up, so I got a lot done on the ground. It is very solid and seems to be ready for a new maiden (even though I got almost 30 flights on it before I "pancaked" it on a botched landing attempt about 6 months ago. That prompted me to just buy a F-18C ARF+and put the undamaged "guts" inside.

Everything was totally normal, except that I could hear a small, momentary "pop" sound when I ran the motor up each time to full power. It almost sounded like a little pop of air, and doesn't seem to come from anywhere back near the motor. Seems to come near the front of the fuselage, although I may be mistaken.

Holding the model by the vertical tail, it has gobs of power and I think the motor is very strong and healthy. But I still get that very momentary "pop" sound and then it goes away.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever had a similar occurrence with an EDF jet. I haven't. I'm still tempted to take it up for a quick flight around the patch later this week, for starters.

Appreciate any comments as to what this might be. Battery is solid and everything seems to be normal, otherwise. I've already pulled the motor cover and it looks to be normal.

Cheers

Davegee

[Evan D]

Maybe the fan adapter on the motor shaft is loose?

Also there may be a clear plastic piece where the ESC wires go forward that is moving?

[davegee]

Maybe the fan adapter on the motor shaft is loose?

Also there may be a clear plastic piece where the ESC wires go forward that is moving?

Thanks for those suggestions, Evan. I am going to physically pull the motor out of the airplane today to inspect the fan area, just to be certain it is secure. This sound almost reminds me of when we were kids and would take a finger inside our cheeks and pull it out quickly, making a distinctive "pop." It only comes on when the throttle is advanced to the stop, and then only for half a second. Everything else seems to be in perfect working order.

I like your idea of maybe some plastic piece that is pulled in the suction of the airflow when it gets to max power. I'll look in those areas to see if I can come up with where this strange noise is coming from. I certainly have never heard it before in all the EDFs I've had over the years!

Take care,

davegee

[Alpha10]

Such a great airframe...

I just finished my second custom 12s FW F-18 build... Came out awesome! :)