Official Freewing JAS 39 Gripen 80mm EDF Jet

[xviper]

As this doesn't have separate flaps I guess it will slow down nicely as long as a nose high landing approach is used? Or can the elevons be used as flaps too?

You can’t have flaps on a delta wing. Flaps would be the equivalent of DOWN elevator. It would dive into the dirt.

[TangoVector]

You can’t have flaps on a delta wing. Flaps would be the equivalent of DOWN elevator. It would dive into the dirt.

No problem on a canard when you mix in up on the canards together with down on the rear elevons, that's one of the beauties of the design.

[Warbirdfan29]

You're right, I do always have a sensible reason for sensible design, don't I?

The stock location of the Gripen's landing gear made the model incredibly prone to tipping over, which was significantly reduced once we adjusted the nose to its current position. Fun fact: We relocate the position of almost all scale aircraft so they are easier to handle on the ground. Most people don't notice its diversion from scale. For those that do, consider it a fair challenge: We made the airplane itself, so you're 99% of the way there, and now you get to tweak the landing gear to your own satisfaction.

Beware, though, the ground landing of the airplane will change. Relocating the F-4's mains back to their scale position will result in a very nasty "pop" off the ground instead of a smooth rotation, and the same for the A-4. Using a scale gear layout for the F-22 and T-33 will reduce its capabilities on grass, and same for the F-15. The F7F and OV-10's struts are optimized for mass-producability even though they weren't strictly scale. The F-18 and F-14.... most people were enjoying flying the airplane to not fret too much about their gear's non-scale configuration.

While we're at it, none of our wheels are ever scale sized, either. *gasp*

Sensible changes and a balanced feature set that make a flying model available to the masses at a sensible price. That's my target.


Mizer67 I think you'll find that the Gripen's door setup is very different from what we did on the Mirage over five years ago. The Gripen's door hinges, control arms, geometry, and spring tension are all optimized to keep the doors closed only when you want them closed, and open only when you want them open.

Hello Alpha,
please don´t understand me wrong. I´ve eleven Freewing jets in my hangar and the new MIG-29 stands on the top of my whish list.
-
The F/A-18 Hornet ist a good example. The Freewing 90mm Hornet is a very good compromise between scale look and grass capabilties. I´m glad to own the Freewing Hornet. Everbody knows the E-flite / FMS 80mm Hornet. Many people have problems on grass. That´s the price for a more scale looking landing gear.

I was looking forward to the JAS-39 Gripen but when I saw the position of the front landing gear I was a bit dissapionted. On closer inspection of the original JAS-39 Gripen you realize that the wheelbase is difficult to implement in the model. Anyway the new JAS-39 has turned out to be a beautiful model, and you have to come to terms with the optical compromise of a non-scale looking gear yourself.

(My Freewing Hangar: F-16 70mm / F-104 70mm / ME-262 2X70mm / SU-35 2X70mm / F-5 80mm / Mirage 2000 80mm / A-4 80mm / L-39 80mm / F-4 90mm / F-15 90mm / F-22 90mm )

[Chiefy]

This is my favourite photo for now Alpha. It could almost be real. It’s just awesome. The paint scheme is stunning. Pre ordered mine. Can’t wait to fly it now. 😊👌🤛👍

[Monty500]

No problem on a canard when you mix in up on the canards together with down on the rear elevons, that's one of the beauties of the design.

Thanks TangoVector, That makes sense.

Looks like this will be the model that encourages me to get under the hood as far as mixes are concerned!

[Monty500]

Here's a recent air show clip of the full size Czech Air Force’s 100th Anniversary JAS-39, in action. Check out the low speed high alpha pass around the 3 minute mark.

[RRHandy]

When you move the nose retract to the back of the bay so that it’s in the scale location under the pilot, you’ll have to turn the retract around and have it retract forward in the stock bay, to have the nose gear under the pilot and still retract.

Yes and I stated that if the gear was in the correct spot that it would interfere with the battery, the gear location will still not be in the right spot hence the comment that I made and Alpha said that it was for handling.
I was saddened that the poster about gear location was a killer for them. Please forgive me for I'm not attacking you, just conversing the facts as I seen them.

Ron

[RRHandy]

Asked Alpha about this in today's stream as I had considered doing the mod.
Short answer: They already did and settled with this not-so-scale layout because placing the nose gear on the scale spot makes this jet extremely prone to tipping over. More so than the Freewing Eurofighter for those that may have had one, so there's that. Now if you still want to do it, do at own risk and know what to expect! ;)

Have no insertion into modding the plane, made a comment about a poster saying they were unhappy with gear location and was or wasn't going to get the plane because of that.

[JLambCWU]

Afterburner on the JAS-39, Yes or No?!

JAAAASSSSSSSSS!

https://thercgeek.com/the-centerburner/

[AceMigKiller]

I see what you did there.

[xviper]

Have no insertion into modding the plane, made a comment about a poster saying they were unhappy with gear location and was or wasn't going to get the plane because of that.

RC pilots can be goofy people. Some will NOT buy a model simply because it's the wrong color. Case in point ............................ The soon to be FMS or Eflite Rafale. There have been a significant number of people who WON'T buy it because they can't tolerate that "awful" yellow color even though the official announcement has not been made.

[TangoVector]

I guess everybody knows that JAS stands for "Jakt, Attack, Spaning" which translates to "Fighter, Ground attack, Reconnaissance". It is the Swedish way of saying it is a fully multirole aircraft.
Going back to older SAAB designs, there were a fighter version, a ground attack version and a reconnaissance version of the 32 Lansen (J 32, A32 and S32).
The 35 Draken was either fighter (J 35) or recon (S 35).
The 37 Viggen was the first that had a secondary role. The first version being the AJ 37 with ground attack as primary mission, but capability to carry AA missiles. The Viggen had two recon versions, one specialised photo-version SF 37 for land based targets and one with sea based targets as its speciality, SH 37. The last version was the JA 37 that focused on being a fighter with a secondary role as a ground attack aircraft.
The Gripen is capable of switching roles in one flight, and is only modified by what hangs under its wings. It can start with a recon-mission, land back and turn around in 15 minutes with a full ground attack load and after that come back for another 15 minute turnaround with full AA load.

Clever little fighter

[Pogo]

Question for, I guess, James or Alpha: Will the 3D printed exhaust nozzle that is offered for the Mirage fit the Gripen perchance (unless a bespoke one is offered later on)? I don't, at this point, plan on installing the TV option as I think this jet will be plenty responsive without, for me at least.
Speaking of TV, my reading so far has indicated that TV has only been considered for the Gripen but not implemented- are there actually any flying that have thrust vectoring?
Tom

[Airguardian]

Not that I know.

[Mizer67]

I'm not a great modeler, but if someone is that hard over on the gear position and doesn't mind the negative effects, it doesn't look all that complicated to reverse the position of the nose gear and have it retract forward. Then again, it's probably one of those jobs that I'd start thinking it'd take me an hour and I'd still be at it three days later and totally botch up other things in the process.

I'm more interested in seeing what this can do in the air, particularly on the stock fan. If it's not the most capable aerobatic EDF Freewing makes outside of the SU-35, that would be what's disappointing to me. Speaking of SU-35, now I've got a radio coming that can handle it, so...decisions, decisions. Might need both.

[Colorc]

Oh no😅 This has been the plane i have been wanting for the longest time. I was only aware of giant scale gripens before. The active canards are icing on the cake. Love that its a 80mm, landing gear is perfect(rather have function and not beat up wing tip over aesthetics), and the paint scheme is awesome. 2020 is definitely going to be remembered. Pandemic, buying a house, finally paying off the sports car, having a baby boy, preordering mig 29, successfully convincing wife that preordering the gripen is a great idea. Cant wait!

[Airguardian]

Gripen is definitely not more maneuverable than the Su-35, although with the TV nozzle addition it may well become comparable ;)
Aaaand... don't forget about the new MiG-29! :)

As this doesn't have separate flaps I guess it will slow down nicely as long as a nose high landing approach is used? Or can the elevons be used as flaps too?

You can’t have flaps on a delta wing. Flaps would be the equivalent of DOWN elevator. It would dive into the dirt.

As mentioned already, elevons can be used as flaperons when canard trim is used. Both the Gripen and Rafale do this to improve pilot's visibility on landing. That said, those two jets feature Fly-By-Wire systems to help them out.

Programming the same setup on a model aircraft could cause stability issues (mostly wing rocking due to increased AoA on the tips) so be very careful if you do it, or use a gyro at least.

[Colorc]

I'm more interested in seeing what this can do in the air, particularly on the stock fan. If it's not the most capable aerobatic EDF Freewing makes outside of the SU-35, that would be what's disappointing...

I have been flying the mirage hp version which comes in at about 78 ounces without battery. Looks like the gripen is going to be coming in at about 83 ounces without battery. The gripen should be a good performer being just a little heavier. I am basing that loosely on the ballistic performance of the mirage with a 4000 6s. The mirage will pull out of a slow high alpha, go vertical and accelerate to the moon. Thats with the first gen hp version with the slightly lower kv outrunner. The inrunner may put the gripen close to performance of the mirage.
The thrust vectoring on the su35 is the one side of performance the gripen probably wont out do in stock pnp form.

EDIT: mirage is 78 to 80 ounces WITH battery. Gripen will probably be in the 100 ounce range. More closer in thrust performance to the avanti with a big battery which is still good. I feel my avanti is a little better than my su35 in thrust to weight, but this is like compairing apples to oranges.

[Arcus4]

Just found out the local store has pork and beans on sale. Bought 30 cans and ordered my Grippen. Approach me with caution

[T-CAT]

Just found out the local store has pork and beans on sale. Bought 30 cans and ordered my Grippen. Approach me with caution

Ha-ha .