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

[davegee]

I just finished up another mod for the F/A-18C Hornet. This is a movable tail hook via a small servo in the tail. 3D printed parts courtesy of Elbee that I printed up from his STL files and put it together. I had to order a small Du Bro connector pin that came today, so once I had it in hand, the finishing up went relatively quickly. There's always a bit of fiddling to do on these things like servo travel, checking security of the mechanism, and all that. But it is well worth doing, for me. I have put a movable tail hook in my F-14D, A-4E, and a Grumman F6F Hellcat years ago. This one is not stressed to actually "catch" the airplane, but I'll probably do some photos of it in the air with the hook down, just for yuks.

Cheers

Davegee

did an experiment carving out a more scale tail hook end point "shoe" for the Hornet. First attempt out of basswood, might try another one but this one suits me, for now.

Cheers

Davegee

[salali]

This is only a guess, but have you recalibrated your throttle? I fly off grass as well and have 2 F-18's, both still on 6S with the 12 blade 4068-1835 Kv inrunners and they get off very quickly on a single 6S SMC HiV 5900, so yours on 8S should be even better. I did convert 2 F-4's and my F16 to 8S with the same fan you are using in the F-18 and fly all of them on the SMC 8S HiV 5900 packs. Those "rocket" off the grass so I would think your F18 would also, especially since the SMC 5300 packs have a slightly higher C than the 5900's. I felt the F18 on grass with the 12 blade 6S fan flew just fine (and didn't want to add any more weight in using an 8S fan and battery) so I have yet to convert the F18's to 8S.

If you can, put a power meter on and confirm the amps and watts drawn. If I'm not mistaken, my 8S fans with SMC HiV packs are drawing about 138 Ah and 4300 watts at full throttle with a fresh pack (static on the bench). If you're not close to that, you are not getting to max output. Let me know as I'm very curious to find out how the F18 would be on 8S, as I'm loving it with the F4 and F16.

Thanks Hugh Wiedman Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendation to recalibrate the throttle. I hope that's the fix. I'll let you know either way. I might also change the ESC all together. I read that the new Hobbywing ESC (rebranded ESC sold via Motion) act or sound are slightly different from previous ESC versions.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-airplanes/rc-jets/382664-freewing-hobbywing-skywalker-v2-reversing-esc-programming

[Elbee]

did an experiment carving out a more scale tail hook end point "shoe" for the Hornet. First attempt out of basswood, might try another one but this one suits me, for now. Cheers,Davegee

DG, Well it's like I always say, "If the more scale tail hook end point "shoe" fits, wear it." Best, LB

[davegee]

DG, Well it's like I always say, "If the more scale tail hook end point "shoe" fits, wear it." Best, LB

Thanks, LB. This was V2, just "eyeballed" and dremmeled (is that a word?) from a small block of basswood. I can easily remove it for a V3 or V4 version, if I decide to go that far. For now, it'll work.

Cheers

davegee

[salali]

Thanks Hugh Wiedman Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendation to recalibrate the throttle. I hope that's the fix. I'll let you know either way. I might also change the ESC all together. I read that the new Hobbywing ESC (rebranded ESC sold via Motion) act or sound are slightly different from previous ESC versions.

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-airplanes/rc-jets/382664-freewing-hobbywing-skywalker-v2-reversing-esc-programming

Hi Hugh Wiedman I think the mystery has been solved by MRC tech support. The issue might be the battery connector i'm using. I purchased a parallel connector instead of series. This makes sense. I'll confirm once the new connector arrives.

[Parafpv]

Hi All ,
Lucky to have stumbled across this post. Just placed and order for a Blue Angels version , will be dropping a Xicoy45 into it for a turbine conversion .

Couple of questions straight up that my research hasn't' found me the answers ..

1. What turbine conversion kit does people recommend . I saw the BIGBOYRC , doesn't seem to do it anymore.. The NOVAJETS site is down .. So far my best option is the TOP-Design version.

2. What size main wheels are the Hornets.. I need to put electric Brakes on it . so want to order the same size Main Wheels.

3. Anything that i need to know / Modify Straight up on this Jet ? 290 pages .. im on page 14 .. ill Keep reading each post but a breakdown would be Great.

Thanks in Advance..

Brgds
Michael

[Elbee]

Parafpv Welcome to "the Squawk". Glad to have you onboard, Sir. Best, LB

[Parafpv]

Parafpv Welcome to "the Squawk". Glad to have you onboard, Sir. Best, LB

Many Thanks LB . Up to page 41 on reading so far .

Brgds
Michael

[airmanhurley]

Has anybody put EFlite/FMS main gear struts on this jet? I've seen Brent Hecht's video with them and it looks amazing. Thinking of doing 90 degree rotating retract units - maybe the ones for the A-4 Skyhawk. Does anyone know if those will fit? Screw hole spacing the same? I'm determined to make this work :)

[Elbee]

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Angels-Brian-Allendorfer/dp/B0CV2G2198/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LO96VSEZTM82&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8v-JGrDwBaUm9UL76pLcJw.TZ6LMumHCRDaO1tXsFt8jxYu3J-MVCHQEO1UjAFPT6s&dib_tag=se&keywords=blue+angels+2024&qid=1716653612&s=instant-video&sprefix=blue+angels%2Cinstant-video%2C101&sr=1-1

Hornet Homies,

For anyone who has Amazon Prime Video (comes with your Amazon Membership) there is an absolutely 'must watch' doc on the Blues.

Great in every respect IMHO.

Enjoy and "Never Forget".

Best, LB

[Aros]

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Angels-B...o%2C101&sr=1-1


Hornet Homies,

For anyone who has Amazon Prime Video (comes with your Amazon Membership) there is an absolutely 'must watch' doc on the Blues.

Great in every respect IMHO.

Enjoy and "Never Forget".

Best, LB

Watched it over the weekend. Agreed it's fantastic!

[Rich049]

Please tell me the height of the plane with retracts retracted as the rear shelf is low, about 17 inches clearance. Also, how do you guys transport this jet,... wings on or off? My hatchback is only 36 inches wide. Do you routinely remove both or just one wing? Thanks you in advance. This would be my first large edf.

[Elbee]

Rich049, Welcome to Hobby Squawk. Glad to have you onboard, Sir.

I just measured my Hornet and it is just at or <12 inches top of the vertical stab to the bottom of the fuselage with the MG retracted.

I transport my Hornet with both wings on in the back of a pickup.

I store mine with one wing off and that side against the wall on a rack.

I hope this helps, you;re going to love this fast mover.

Keep the speed up with full flaps on landing, though, just sayin' as she has high wing loading and a thin rib profile.

Best, LB

[66Stang]

All looking for some help. IF you had it to do again which motor and speed control? My wife bought me this plane but got the one missing the EDJ and Speed control. I went to purchase the one they are installing in the PNP but it's out of stock. Any ideas? I want to keep it on 6 cell but want as much power as possible.

Thanks,

Brian
'

[Evan D]

Money is power… a JetFan/HET would be best but expensive. FreeWing has a good fan too but my recommendation would be this, fairly cheap, good power and light weight. Also get the 120A reversing ESC.

https://www.motionrc.com/products/freewing-90mm-12-blade-edf-6s-power-system-w-3668-1960kv-inrunner-motor-e72216

https://www.motionrc.com/products/freewing-120a-esc-with-8a-bec-with-reverse-thrust-function-070d002010

[Elbee]

All looking for some help. IF you had it to do again which motor and speed control? My wife bought me this plane but got the one missing the EDJ and Speed control. I went to purchase the one they are installing in the PNP but it's out of stock. Any ideas? I want to keep it on 6 cell but want as much power as possible.

Thanks,

Brian
'

Hey Brian,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Glad to have you onboard, Sir.

Great gift and her heart was in the right place.

Can't go wrong with Evan D 's advice.

Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

All looking for some help. IF you had it to do again which motor and speed control? My wife bought me this plane but got the one missing the EDJ and Speed control. I went to purchase the one they are installing in the PNP but it's out of stock. Any ideas? I want to keep it on 6 cell but want as much power as possible.

Thanks,

Brian
'

Also agree with Evan! Have 2 of these Hornets both with the big 12 blade. Plenty of power. And I fly off grass which requires a little more thrust. Went to 8S on F4 and F16 but this F18 doesn't really need it. Suggest you power it with a SMC 6S HiV 5900, gets over 4 minutes. Also balance it further back than manual, which I think was at 88mm. Start at 98-100mm. Lands better when not nose heavy. I've even gone to 110mm to 115mm when feeling frisky, very responsive but can get you in trouble if you're not on top of it.

[Elbee]

https://www.printables.com/model/958206-freewing-fa-18c-90mm-edf-vents-louvres-and-antenna

Hornet Honchos.

I know I am a bit tardy with these files.

I've posted the 3DP files for all the fuselage vents, louvres, and antennae I added to my Legacy "BUG" on Prusa Printables.

As usual these are downloadable for free. WooHoo!!

Some of these parts require some 'foam surgery' which violates any warranty real or imagined, but nothing new about that.

Any issues, let me know.

Best, LB

[Airguardian]

[Hugh Wiedman]

Not a lot of action on this thread lately.

Some thoughts/recommendations for anyone updating their Spektrum AS3X to Plus:

1) Definitely worth it for all aircraft, especially the 90mm F18. Turns a somewhat finicky/wonky bird into THE most stable EDF I've encountered and makes landing a complete no stress perfect landing bird. However, there are a couple things I found, only with my F18 (and I have 2), that was unusual compared to my twin tail other aircraft (Mig/Su-27,F22, B24, A-10,etc.). On all others, I use relatively high YAW gains (50/60/70) with no issues. On the F18, I found that the more active corrections of the rudder on "Plus" with 2 tail rudders ends up actually "fighting" the other surfaces when doing a bank and yank, or even a normal bank turn. The rudders try correcting, putting them in the opposite direction of your turn, resulting in it climbing and fighting the turn. Increased Priority and decreased expo won't solve that unless you give input to the rudder. Of course if I also use rudder in the turn, it would alleviate the problem but don't use much rudder except on the B24 and A10 (and my 3D planes) in turns. Finally had to reduce the YAW gains to like 15% from 60%. Problem solved and left the roll and pitch gains fairly high. Now it's a sweet bird to fly/land. What's strange is that with my Mig, SU-27, etc., I have high yaw gains with Plus and it does not affect my banked turns. I usually have weird gremlins that only affect me, so this may be another one of those.

2) If you use the Plus nose wheel gyro (which is outstanding), HH recommends some "heading" gain, equal to the rate gains. I know Jon with 2 Brothers says don't use it, although my programming expert flying buddy does use it on all his aircraft with no issues and perfectly tracking take offs. My concern is that if you extend gear on say the downwind leg before landing, then turn to line up the runway (without using any rudder input), the nose gear is fully turned to the right after the turn (on a counter clockwise flying circuit), so when you touch down, bad things may happen. Removed the heading gain, just used rate gain (of about 35%) and I felt the tracking on take off was fine and no worries on landing. Now my buddy is accomplished enough to use rudder on lining up the runway, so even with his heading gains, he has no issues. I gotta get more expertise to be there as well.