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

[sharam]

Having tried this many times in the past, this becomes a bit of a hit and miss, especially for something in this weight category. Good power to weight is only one part of the equation for a successful hand launch. Unless you can robotically and consistently throw the plane the same each time, the tendency for it to roll is high. Most people throw overhand with a bit of a twist. The toss must be fast and straight/level so that sufficient airspeed is obtained for the plane's power system to keep it going. This is where an electronic device comes into play.
The best examples of good hand tossed planes are those from Eflite and Flex Innovations that come with "launch control". You can purchase just the Aura 5 Lite and add it to most planes for the launch feature BUT if you need a lot of channels, you'll lose some features (however, there are ways around this). These will allow you to set your TX down till the plane is airborn. It sets the elevator for a pre-determined pitch angle and the gyro will achieve "level" (roll) very effectively even if the launch is a bit "off". It basically takes off in "SAFE" (or auto level) but with about a 10 degree up incline. The plane will continue in that trajectory until you touch the right stick (mode 2). EG. I can throw my Flex Pirana in any fashion, turn around and walk back to my chair behind the pilot station, sit down before flying the plane. I don't worry about losing sight of the plane because it goes in a straight line till I move the sticks (We generally use a spotter whenever we fly. I don't recommend this for safety reasons, but only state that it's that stable and predictable.)
Flitetest markets this Aura 5 Lite for many of their foamboard plane kits.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I started using “Safe” on the Spektrum receiver for hand launches and it really does make the launch process much easier. I tried a couple of launches yesterday w/o gyro; it was a bit hairy but manageable. I am used to it now and if I get a good powerful launch, it’s smooth sailing.

BTW, here is a picture of the foamy F-18 next to his big brother, a reverse color Blue Angels 200 Turbine F-18.

[Aros]

Cool turbine! Never thought of a reverse livery. Love to see more photos.

[sharam]

Thanks!

[sharam]

Another one:

[Hugh Wiedman]

Another one:

I LIKE IT!!! Thinking outside of the box!

[Aros]

I dig yellow as a primary on jets so it works!

[sharam]

Thank you guys, I really appreciate the kind words.
🙏🙏🍻

[Aros]

Nice flight yesterday. No issues but even with reduced aileron throws I noticed she wanted to snap roll on left aileron throughout the entire flight. Right aileron was fine but left was BAM! Instant snap. Landed without issue but I am left wondering why the snap roll sensitivity on left inputs?

[Elbee]

Nice flight yesterday. No issues but even with reduced aileron throws I noticed she wanted to snap roll on left aileron throughout the entire flight. Right aileron was fine but left was BAM! Instant snap. Landed without issue but I am left wondering why the snap roll sensitivity on left inputs?

I am no flight instructor nor do I play one at my local community theatre, but...

Are you inputting any left rudder at the same time, i.e., coordinated turn?

If both ailerons have equal travel up and down more rudder will be needed

Are your ailerons setup with differential ailerons, i.e., more up aileron than down aileron on the opposite wing?

In this case of a left hand snap, differential ailerons can help control the roll without stalling the right wing.

Is the nose pitching up or down in a left-hand roll?

Being a high performance model with thin wings and scale like wing area, this design has high wing loading inherently.

You're an experienced pilot, especially with this airframe, I am certain your throws are textbook, but textbook might be too much.

I've only flown my Hornet twice and was pleased to have her back in one piece both times.

Did not experience snapping, she would simply drop off the map at too slow a speed.

I figure to go 8S if I decide t bring her out of Hanger Queen Mode.

Best, LB

[Aros]

I am no flight instructor nor do I play one at my local community theatre, but...

Are you inputting any left rudder at the same time, i.e., coordinated turn?

If both ailerons have equal travel up and down more rudder will be needed

Are your ailerons setup with differential ailerons, i.e., more up aileron than down aileron on the opposite wing?

In this case of a left hand snap, differential ailerons can help control the roll without stalling the right wing.

Is the nose pitching up or down in a left-hand roll?

Being a high performance model with thin wings and scale like wing area, this design has high wing loading inherently.

You're an experienced pilot, especially with this airframe, I am certain your throws are textbook, but textbook might be too much.

I've only flown my Hornet twice and was pleased to have her back in one piece both times.

Did not experience snapping, she would simply drop off the map at too slow a speed.

I figure to go 8S if I decide t bring her out of Hanger Queen Mode.

Best, LB

You know my friend I actually do not use much rudder on this jet. Yank and bank is the usual M.O. No differential ailerons but what a great idea! I actually reduced my throws significantly from manual and she still made me skip a few heartbeats! Closer analysis is a must! Thank you!

[Aros]

#12 is not going to die just lie my Seahawks!!

[f4u ausie]

Wrong thread.. but since the info is here. ,, here will do... I was was wondering if this above coordinated turn thing would apply to the f4 phantom,, with it's different shape wings.. it's easy to fly especially fast. My friends turn to final looks better than mine... But boy it looks very slow..scarily. He said he tried a rudder mix,, but it didn't like it!!!.. so Steve , i was wondering on the above stated,, regards to the phantom. don't think I've ever touched the rudder

[f4u ausie]

And just 4 U aros go the seahawks

[jetpltrich]

I was a brand new first officer at Southwest flying with an aerobatic champion and while I was turning base to final landing in San Antonio he said "ahh, someone who knows how to use a rudder." Yes, even though the 737 has a yaw dampener you need to add a tad of rudder to coordinate a turn. My EDF's have gyro's though adding a little rudder helps the turns. It's very noticeable with the A-10 and I do add a tad when dirty and in the pattern with the F-18.

Rich

[Elbee]

Wrong thread.. but since the info is here. ,, here will do... I was was wondering if this above coordinated turn thing would apply to the f4 phantom,, with it's different shape wings.. it's easy to fly especially fast. My friends turn to final looks better than mine... But boy it looks very slow..scarily. He said he tried a rudder mix,, but it didn't like it!!!.. so Steve , i was wondering on the above stated,, regards to the phantom. don't think I've ever touched the rudder

F4u,

Even more so with the Delta wing configuration.

I noticed on my 6S Phantom would want to tuck the nose without the addition of some Rudder, so I added a mix.

Differential Ailerons is something I put into any RC model airplane.

Easy with all the programmable radios, we used to it with servo linkage setups.

I added an Aileron/Rudder mix on my Hornet, too.

Best, LB

[f4u ausie]

Thankyou as always will try

[Hugh Wiedman]

Nice flight yesterday. No issues but even with reduced aileron throws I noticed she wanted to snap roll on left aileron throughout the entire flight. Right aileron was fine but left was BAM! Instant snap. Landed without issue but I am left wondering why the snap roll sensitivity on left inputs?

Both of mine have a tendency to do that, especially on take-off if I don't keep the right stick PERFECTLY centered left to right (aileron) while giving up elevator. The F18 is a touchy bird with the ailerons. I added some extra expo on the aileron and solved that snap roll.

[Aros]

Noted, thanks! Although I think I am already around 50% expo as it is.

[Airguardian]

50% expo are rookie numbers!



Just kidding, there's no one single correct way to set up an aircraft, but I tend to be 70-85% expo all around on my birds... sometimes even more!
Then again, I fly very aft CGs and extreme throws, so that's that too...

You know my friend I actually do not use much rudder on this jet. Yank and bank is the usual M.O. No differential ailerons but what a great idea! I actually reduced my throws significantly from manual and she still made me skip a few heartbeats! Closer analysis is a must! Thank you!

I use a lot of rudder as a default, it's baked into my flight style... but on the F-18 I find it absolutely paramount to keep turns sane. More so on my more rearwards CG centering. If I just bank and yank, the jet doesn't turn at all. It starts climbing at an angle, lol.
I'd program some differential on the ailerons but first I'd need to split the aileron servo leads... will probably end up doing it, by migrating from FrSky to Jeti and adding a stabilized receiver to do the stabilization setup a tad better.

[Airguardian]

Airguardian,

Great rebuild, Sir.

I have used the foam-safe before, but not on this scale.

Good to know you're happy with the results on structure strength.

She is one beautiful Hornet, congrats.

Best, LB

Thanks LB!
I'm starting now to get notifications for all the threads after a long while of them just not working for whatever reason, so I just read your message now :p