Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread

[Desolation Angels]

Thanks Evan!

[Evan D]

Good luck!!

[Desolation Angels]

Thanks for the input fellas!
Going to try and maiden my Delta version I've had built since Dec 2020- thread here:
Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread - Hobby Squawk RC Forum for Airplanes, Boats, Cars, Helicopters, Tanks, and Trucks
Supposed to be very windy tomorrow but we'll see, might be Sunday but I'm going for it!

[avanti127]

I use no elevator to flap mixing anymore since I started using servo slow function, 5 seconds down, 2.5 seconds up. I no longer see any effect in pitch.. Do this on all my planes.

[GliderGuy]

Do you guys recommend using half flaps for takeoff on pavement?
Do you also recommend using the elevator / flap mix at book values?

I did the book mix, but removed it after a couple of flights. Mix isn’t needed. I typically use 1/2 flap for take-off and full flap for landing (pavement).

Cruise at 1/2 throttle to get longer flights. But….She’s fast when you want her to be.

-GG

[avanti127]

Thanks Avanti!

NP

[Desolation Angels]

Thanks Avanti!

[avanti127]

Do you guys recommend using half flaps for takeoff on pavement?
Do you also recommend using the elevator / flap mix at book values?

Depends on the wind conditions. Yes if no wind not necessary of you have wind. The plane will take off all by itself in almost every case I have flown mine and at 50-60% throttle.

[Desolation Angels]

Do you guys recommend using half flaps for takeoff on pavement?
Do you also recommend using the elevator / flap mix at book values?

[GliderGuy]

I measured via Google Earth “measure tool” the places I typically fly the AL from. These are concrete hard surface.

Shows me that 200 to 250 ft is typically used when a scale-like power up is used…this time of year (hot = thin air) and an Admiral Pro 6000 battery.

So on a hot day and high density altitude AND grass….she’s gonna need a long run.

Try flying her off your grass field during a cool time of the morning (low density altitude) with 1/2 flaps and a rapid application of power.

Might need a lighter battery at your field / SMC battery = measured 40C high performance and lighter.
At 684 grams….much lighter:

https://www.smc-racing.com/index.php...&search=Flight


-GG

[xviper]

I need a little help. I tried to maiden my AL37 earlier today. Unfortunately, I had to abort the take off due to a lack of power/thrust. I fly at a RC field with very well groomed and short grass which was cut a day ago so I don't believe the grass was an issue. Additionally, the AL37 is very popular at my club so I know the gear can handle the surface. The ESC's and high/low throttle settings are calibrated. I used an Admiral 6S 6000Mah batter with about 10 cycle with a full charge. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I'd love any troubleshooting ideas. Thanks.

I have flown the AL from a rough grass field that is mowed prairie grass. The AL takes a bit longer run to get off the ground. I'm guessing about 250 feet. My only suggestions are to make sure the wheels are spinning freely and not "sticky". Check your battery's internal resistance. Even brand new batteries, especially if not "seasoned" by doing charge/discharge cycle X 3 on the charger before use can show early signs of poor performance. Do you use 1/2 flaps when taking off? This helps, especially from grass. Use high rate on elevator? Do you go full throttle right off the bat? This may be needed to break the initial resistance of the grass. Doing a "scale" take off by gradually speeding up doesn't work so well on grass.

[salali]

I need a little help. I tried to maiden my AL37 earlier today. Unfortunately, I had to abort the take off due to a lack of power/thrust. I fly at a RC field with very well groomed and short grass which was cut a day ago so I don't believe the grass was an issue. Additionally, the AL37 is very popular at my club so I know the gear can handle the surface. The ESC's and high/low throttle settings are calibrated. I used an Admiral 6S 6000Mah batter with about 10 cycle with a full charge. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I'd love any troubleshooting ideas. Thanks.

[Swarick]

Yes. That was me and my SWA 737. I remember your Kulula jet now.

[MeyerVW]

Same aircraft?

[Swarick]

As to the question asked above about a slope soarer. Windrider did have several videos on YouTube some time ago of testing for their 737. They first flew it as a glider on some cliffs by the ocean. Then it was sold as a complete ARF or airframe only. I purchased the airframe plus their gear over ten years ago when it was available. shipping was reasonable at the time. I still have the plane today.
It is meant to be a 737-700 vs 8MAX, but lacks some of the refinements of the Freewing model. Such as no flaps, no gear doors, no lighting. The build was also VERY light. Made the plane awkward to fly on even the slightest windy day. However I could stay up for over 6 minutes on 3300mAh packs.

[GliderGuy]

VERY NICE!

[mshagg]

Recently mastered the art of printing with ABS and flexible TPU filament. One thing I've always liked the idea of is getting the wheels on the AL37 running on bearings, to reduce the rattling when taking off and landing. Anyone who has a late model FMS EDF would know how smooth they run.

Sourced some mini bearings with a 4mm inner diameter and got to work in CAD.

The result is a set of wheels (only mains so far) that are a straight swap for the stock items. The rim is printed in ABS and the tyres in TPU. There is no play at all and the bearings run smooth as silk on the stock axle. Added a bit of scale detail from pics I found online.

[GliderGuy]

After being a No-Gyro pilot for 60 years, I put one in the PJ50 and was IMPRESSED!

So impressed, I am putting one in all my EDF jets….including the AL37 (doing it at this moment).

Sans gyro, you may want to dial in about 30% expo on the ailerons to reduce their initial response to stick inputs. Helps to tame her on approach.

-GG

[xviper]

I'm new here and have searched this forum but cannot find the answer I'm after. The question I have is regarding the recommended control throws for the AL37. Per the manual, the recommended aileron is 15mm and elevator is 28mm. That's max throw! Will the plane be twitchy or docile at these settings? I'm getting close to maiden and wanted control throw advise for my initial flights.

This is a big RC model. Reaction to AIL input is quite docile. Reaction to ELE input is a bit more responsive but still fairly docile. You already have dual rates for RUD, so that's not a concern except for ground handling. Since the published rates for AIL and ELE are the same for Hi and Lo rates, there is a simple solution to this. Use and set those throws as your MIDDLE rate. Dial in a rate that's a little higher and dial in a rate that's a little lower. Start your first flight with the posted throws (now your mid-rate) and see what it feels like. Put both AIL and ELE rates on the same switch, so that if you don't like the feel of it on "mid" position, you can easily flip the switch to a lower or higher rate to get you by till you land, at which time, you can separate the AIL and ELE rates to separate switches IF you want and if you need it. You may like one control surface on a different rate than the other. The RUD can be put on its own switch as you may find it handy to use lower rates for the ground roll and higher rates for turning around on the ground.
"Twitchy", this plane is NOT. The only thing that looks twitchy in the air is that tail "waggle" when coming out of a banked turn suddenly when there's a bit of wind but a gyro fixes that. Even without a gyro, the waggle is not a dangerous thing. It just looks awkward.

[Reaper1974]

I'm new here and have searched this forum but cannot find the answer I'm after. The question I have is regarding the recommended control throws for the AL37. Per the manual, the recommended aileron is 15mm and elevator is 28mm. That's max throw! Will the plane be twitchy or docile at these settings? I'm getting close to maiden and wanted control throw advise for my initial flights.