Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread

[Darrell King]

Some MORE AL-37 and a checky Hawk Flying with Dirk Streefkerk Photos Taken From Penrith Electric Model Aero Club. Photographer/Pilot Chris Lundie

[Darrell King]

Book me into first class on your next scheduled flight, beautiful smooth landing!

Thankyou Mate thats very kind

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hello this AL-37 is such a cool EDF i did my Maiden in the Qanats scheme and wow it does fly like a trainer , Photos are with Dirk.S NSW RFS (operated by Coulson) air tanker 138 in last Summer's scheme. please check out my Maiden flight Landing

https://youtu.be/TM0DMzGgMuI

Book me into first class on your next scheduled flight, beautiful smooth landing!

[Aros]

Nice livery! Great landing! Welcome!

[Darrell King]

Hello this AL-37 is such a cool EDF i did my Maiden in the Qanats scheme and wow it does fly like a trainer , Photos are with Dirk.S NSW RFS (operated by Coulson) air tanker 138 in last Summer's scheme. please check out my Maiden flight Landing

https://youtu.be/TM0DMzGgMuI

[themudduck]

Thank you so much for this thorough response, it truly has helped! Yeah I’ll have to figure out where there is a flying club near me, I live in the metro Detroit area. I’ve also heard of RC simulators and have already been looking for one to purchase. I need a receiver and a radio, what do you recommend for this aircraft? I have a 5000mah charger, should I get a 6000?

Hi there, hey you can check the AMA website (modelaircraft.org) and they have an easy tool to locate the clubs in your area. Here's the link!

Well there are many brands of radios out there, most of them are very good. The two main brands seem to be Futaba and Spektrum. There are lower-cost options that are compatible with Futaba and Spektrum but most of us use these brands. The two systems are not compatible with each other - so if you get a Spectrum system and you work with another pilot who has a Futaba system then you won't be able to link them together. If you find a local club and see what others are using then that will help. Most of the guys in my club use Spektrum, but I know that Futaba is an excellent system.

The airliner is designed to use 6S batteries in the 4000mah - 7000mah range. Many pilots use the 5000mah pack (I use a 6250). LiPos can be charged at higher rates but for the best life, they should be charged at a conservative setting of 1C (1 x the Capacity rating). So for example if you have a 5000mah battery then you should charge it at 5 amps (5000mah). That's exactly what you have. So your charger should be good but you'll be using it at its maximum setting. Keep your eyes open for other battery chargers and later on you can get a bigger one. A larger charger won't have to work as hard and you'll be able to charge your batteries faster once in awhile (but most of us don't do that).

[GliderGuy]

Always recommended to visit with the guys at the field and weigh their recommendations. I use this model for a couple of years and have had experienced excellent reliability...even after long hours of charging on hot days. Takes about 45 min to pump a 3600 mAh charge into a 6S battery. With 2 of these, I can get 20 AL37 flights done in about 2.5 hours while running the chargers off my truck’s electrical system (truck idling).

If you fly longer each flight, it’ll take longer to charge the batteries. Sucking down about 3600 mAh gives you about a 4 min flight with throttle management.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087216GMB...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Flying at a club, that much flying won’t happen...you’ll find a lot of good conversation will occupy your time.

Note: Corrected 10 to 20 flights...original posting typo.

[CaptPola]

Hey Capt, I'm an instructor at my club field, and would highly recommend you seek out that help and comradery. Its helpful if you get a radio that is compatible with the same radio that your local club instructor uses, because RC radios have a feature called "buddy box" which essentially allows the instructor to be the pilot, and for you to be the co-pilot, and the pilot can instantly take over in case you make a mistake. This is probably the least stressful way to learn how to fly RC because it takes away the most frustrating part of learning - which is crashing. (if you pick a instructor who has skills, duh)

I have taught several full-scale pilots. You already know exactly how planes fly, which is helpful. But flying RC is different because its all done from your vantage point on the ground, you don't have the benefit of your butt being in the seat. So its all about hand-eye coordination and depth perception so you'll have to get used to that. This model is not difficult to fly - one plus is that its fairly large to its easy to see. It does require some finesse. If you get someone to be your "buddy" instructor you will have great success.

While you're cooped up this winter consider getting an inexpensive RC flight simulator for your PC or laptop. You can play with that all you want and never damage your plane. Its not the same a real life but it will familiarize you with the RC controls and the experience of controlling your plane while watching it from the ground. The students I've talked who had experience with the simulator have picked up RC outside very quickly.

Thank you so much for this thorough response, it truly has helped! Yeah I’ll have to figure out where there is a flying club near me, I live in the metro Detroit area. I’ve also heard of RC simulators and have already been looking for one to purchase. I need a receiver and a radio, what do you recommend for this aircraft? I have a 5000mah charger, should I get a 6000?

[ndrew3]

I put 3 coats of PU down on the one I just built. It helps when removing masks but still had spots lifting. Had the local big box hardware store match some paint, they got it pretty close but it's difficult to do the really small pots of off white.

Your best bet is probably leave the stock paint on, paint it true white, so it's easy to touch up.

The stock paint is quite thick, so when it does lift up you get a noticeable ridge, so helps to fill/sand before touch up.

It's a big plane, hard to get it completely perfect!

Good advice for sure. I've got experience painting Tamiya models etc. with an airbrush so have a good handle on all the basics but never attempted anything close to this big or that I would care about as much so definitely not something I want to jump straight in to. Also none of those ever come pre-painted so a bit weird having to deal with someone else's base coat! I definitely would want to go for a very simple scheme too to cut down the chance of errors, thinking a FedEx livery could look really nice.

[mshagg]

I put 3 coats of PU down on the one I just built. It helps when removing masks but still had spots lifting. Had the local big box hardware store match some paint, they got it pretty close but it's difficult to do the really small pots of off white.

Your best bet is probably leave the stock paint on, paint it true white, so it's easy to touch up.

The stock paint is quite thick, so when it does lift up you get a noticeable ridge, so helps to fill/sand before touch up.

It's a big plane, hard to get it completely perfect!

[Straightshooter]

I would say paint adhesion is random. Testing on spare parts show that removing ALL the paint wouldi be difficult. Hence, seal it is best approach.

Freewing should sell some unpainted rather than base white for those wanting to customize, include glassing over foam.

[ndrew3]

I've been looking to pick one of these up so badly to customize (the base grey version), but have heard some horror stories about the paint and see some of those in this thread.

Do you guys completely strip the paint before repainting? Or just put down clear coats on the base?

[Straightshooter]

Nok Air maidened today. Uneventful. Consistent performer of all the variant livery (TWA, Frozen Jet, Thai Airways, Nok Air).

[themudduck]

Hello everyone, I’m brand new to this forum and brand new to the RC world. I am an actual airline pilot and have always been fascinated with RC planes. I purchased the AL37 but have yet to purchase any of the required items. If anyone could help me get started I’d greatly appreciate it. I hope everyone is doing well! (Also I’m pretty sure this is a very advanced aircraft to start RC flying with but I’m hoping to get help from local guys at flying clubs.)

Hey Capt, I'm an instructor at my club field, and would highly recommend you seek out that help and comradery. Its helpful if you get a radio that is compatible with the same radio that your local club instructor uses, because RC radios have a feature called "buddy box" which essentially allows the instructor to be the pilot, and for you to be the co-pilot, and the pilot can instantly take over in case you make a mistake. This is probably the least stressful way to learn how to fly RC because it takes away the most frustrating part of learning - which is crashing. (if you pick a instructor who has skills, duh)

I have taught several full-scale pilots. You already know exactly how planes fly, which is helpful. But flying RC is different because its all done from your vantage point on the ground, you don't have the benefit of your butt being in the seat. So its all about hand-eye coordination and depth perception so you'll have to get used to that. This model is not difficult to fly - one plus is that its fairly large to its easy to see. It does require some finesse. If you get someone to be your "buddy" instructor you will have great success.

While you're cooped up this winter consider getting an inexpensive RC flight simulator for your PC or laptop. You can play with that all you want and never damage your plane. Its not the same a real life but it will familiarize you with the RC controls and the experience of controlling your plane while watching it from the ground. The students I've talked who had experience with the simulator have picked up RC outside very quickly.

[CaptPola]

I'm not so sure this would be a good first RC airplane for a "brand new" RC pilot. Being a "real" airline pilot may not necessarily translate into success in flying a model for the first time. I once flew with a veteran Tudor jet pilot and his first season at the field resulted in many, many "SPLATS". Also, I wouldn't call the AL-37 as a "very advanced" RC model. It's big (and expensive for a foamie), has typical control surfaces and can fly like a *****cat but .............................................
"Required items" ............................ receiver, transmitter, batteries, tiny screwdriver and some foam glue. This is assuming that someone brand new to the hobby has none of these. Yes, get help from the locals at the field.

Got it, thanks.

[CaptPola]

Welcome to the forum. May I suggest you read all the posts and then come back with specific questions you may still have. You will find information on CG, control set-ups, RF chokes, flying methods, etc. A lot of experienced RCers have posted on this forum.

The AL37 is a fun bird! Enjoy....

-GG

Thanks!

[xviper]

I'm not so sure this would be a good first RC airplane for a "brand new" RC pilot. Being a "real" airline pilot may not necessarily translate into success in flying a model for the first time. I once flew with a veteran Tudor jet pilot and his first season at the field resulted in many, many "SPLATS". Also, I wouldn't call the AL-37 as a "very advanced" RC model. It's big (and expensive for a foamie), has typical control surfaces and can fly like a *****cat but .............................................
"Required items" ............................ receiver, transmitter, batteries, tiny screwdriver and some foam glue. This is assuming that someone brand new to the hobby has none of these. Yes, get help from the locals at the field.

[GliderGuy]

Hello everyone, I’m brand new to this forum and brand new to the RC world. I am an actual airline pilot and have always been fascinated with RC planes. I purchased the AL37 but have yet to purchase any of the required items. If anyone could help me get started I’d greatly appreciate it. I hope everyone is doing well! (Also I’m pretty sure this is a very advanced aircraft to start RC flying with but I’m hoping to get help from local guys at flying clubs.)

Welcome to the forum. May I suggest you read all the posts and then come back with specific questions you may still have. You will find information on CG, control set-ups, RF chokes, flying methods, etc. A lot of experienced RCers have posted on this forum.

The AL37 is a fun bird! Enjoy....

-GG

[CaptPola]

Hello everyone, I’m brand new to this forum and brand new to the RC world. I am an actual airline pilot and have always been fascinated with RC planes. I purchased the AL37 but have yet to purchase any of the required items. If anyone could help me get started I’d greatly appreciate it. I hope everyone is doing well! (Also I’m pretty sure this is a very advanced aircraft to start RC flying with but I’m hoping to get help from local guys at flying clubs.)

[GliderGuy]

Welcome aljoma - Happy to have you join.

Several members have done fantastic paint jobs and might be able to assist you to answer questions.

Please post photos as you make progress.

—————-GOOGLE TRANSLATION——


Bienvenido aljoma - Feliz de que te unas. Varios miembros han realizado trabajos de pintura fantásticos y es posible que puedan ayudarlo a responder preguntas. Publique fotos a medida que avanza.

-GG