Official Freewing JAS 39 Gripen 80mm EDF Jet

[xviper]

Same here. I only "Tac welded" (with FoamTac) the tail piece, knowing that the VT nozzle was coming. I should have just waited as I was not able to fly the thing anyway due to winter.

[wvrcdude]

Yes. Not hard but, since I knew I was going to put the TV on I lightly glues the back half on and put no glue on the rods.

Thanks Evan. That's kind of what I had planed on doing. Minimal glue and none on the rods.

[Evan D]

Yes. Not hard but, since I knew I was going to put the TV on I lightly glues the back half on and put no glue on the rods.

[wvrcdude]

Hey all! I just pulled the trigger on this one. Has anyone added the TV unit after their build? Was it hard to pull the original half back off? I want to do the TV on this one but not sure I can wait for the slow boat to make it here to do the build and fly it 😋

[Airguardian]

Ok, finally... here's the video showing my Jetfan setup 'maiden', including a LVC-induced crash, a crash-remaiden and finally some extra mishaps before the ZTW Mantis ESC gave up on me (sigh).

[Evan D]

It would be great if I could sell my car for an extra k or two saying that's how much the gas I used cost...

[Airguardian]

Most of those that you list are common for all the fleet, wouldn't list them as 'aircraft price'.
I'd really only add the receiver, and other mounted electronic components. An X8R rx is just 40 bucks. If you use a decoder for extra channels, add a few more (15, 20 ...?). Maybe threw in a gyro? 20-100 more. Still a long shot from the $1000 tag.

Of course Li-Pos will get you there fast, but then again you can use them on other aircraft too.
And a different story applies if you have upgraded to 8S... that alone can easily get the foamy in the vicinities of the thousand depending on your gear choice. But that's optional.

[Evan D]

Pretty sure that's not the point. What did you spend $1000 on? I say spend because, in my opinion, model airplanes are not an investment.

Mizer67,...where are you getting quality lipos, along with radios receivers tools chargers & accessories for free?

[BaltimoreBomber]

Mizer67,...where are you getting quality lipos, along with radios receivers tools chargers & accessories for free?

[Airguardian]

Thank you! :D
The Gripen makes the landings so easy though, I gotta say!

[Guy Ricken]

Epic flight.......and what a B...E....A....U....tiful landing 👌

[Airguardian]

Happy Friday guys!

Here's some Gripen love :)

[Mizer67]

Or you know, they see horror stories of people wiping out their plane on maiden, and most of us aint got it like that so doing as much research as possible before flying a plane we've invested upwards of $1000 into is just good SOP

You "invested" $1000 USD into a $400 USD jet? I think I've only seen one crash related to purported "tail heaviness" of any FW jet, ever and it wasn't a maiden. However, that pilot was clearly new and I'll say, not the best at judging anything.

This plane has a very flexible CG and is virtually impossible to get tail heavy with the factory recommended equipment and no TV. Most other FW jets are similar. You don't have the battery space to get them tail heavy, or if you try, other equipment is in the way, or you run out of battery straps first. The A-4 might be an exception, but I sold mine and don't recall.

Note, I have flown several of them tail heavy and they were still controllable, just flew poorly and did weird stuff. I had to move stuff around and try really hard to be able to make that possible.

Quick fingertip check to see if you're somewhat close to the manual as a starting point is all that's ever really needed. Get it in the air and fine tune from there to preference.

[BaltimoreBomber]

Upon further research Im just going to order the Mirage 2000 3d printed cockpit as its nearly identical and will be easy to modify into a gripen cockpit. They use the same seat and controls are very close.If you pull up pics between the two its obvious they use many of the same realworld systems.
Just more info for anyone looking to complete their model. I will be lighting the controls and HUD/touchscreens.

[BaltimoreBomber]

Im trying to find a full cockpit. Is there such a thing?? I did find a small highly detailed modelers scale to build a scratch set off of if it comes down to it. its the earlier C cockpit so correct to our model just off scale by a lot.. Even shows the a/c ducts.
But id like to buy a 3d printed 1:9 sized at least. Id like to fully light it eventually.
1:48 scale version -

https://www.1001hobbies.com/saab-jas-39-gripen-model-kit/121238-aires-aire4616-saab-jas-39c-gripen-cockpit-set-designed-to-be-used-with-kitty-hawk-model-kits.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgtWDBhDZARIsADEKwgOZcicjIQJ9NnvUI5IS95-Sw_8WiMtS80s-BCThQxCiTi9h3AkgWO0aAljuEALw_wcB

[BaltimoreBomber]

Because they read on "the internet" that their plane would spontaneously combust if the CG was 1 mm off, and that "fact" was repeated endlessly by the peanut gallery who hasn't flown a plane since 1997, but enjoys dispensing the same advice over and over again to random people the don't know online?

Or you know, they see horror stories of people wiping out their plane on maiden, and most of us aint got it like that so doing as much research as possible before flying a plane we've invested upwards of $1000 into is just good SOP

[Mizer67]

^ That's crazy talk. How will people ever stay awake at night fretting about stuff like this?

Because they read on "the internet" that their plane would spontaneously combust if the CG was 1 mm off, and that "fact" was repeated endlessly by the peanut gallery who hasn't flown a plane since 1997, but enjoys dispensing the same advice over and over again to random people the don't know online?

[Evan D]

Congrats!

[Tigerman]

Maiden the Gripen today. I found the C of G on the mark on the wing OK for me. It flew fine with the C of G there. Do not know why people say the Gripen is underpowered. Mine was off the strip very quickly and goes like a rat up a drain pipe. I had to come back to half throttle. Fly great but boy it is hard to see which way it is going. Had to stay close to me otherwise I would of lost orientation of the Gripen

[xviper]

^ That's crazy talk. How will people ever stay awake at night fretting about stuff like this?