Official Freewing B-2 Spirit Bomber 86" Twin 70mm EDF Jet

[GliderGuy]

Hi Radar-Guy,
Great job on the mods. I agree MRC should offer a grass operations upgrade kit.

She flies SLOW very well. Don’t be afraid to float her in. You were screaming fast!

Try this….assume 10 clicks from bottom is mid throttle

Reduce to about 25% power on downwind (still a lot of power)….don’t fear. About 5 clicks lower than mid-throttle at this point.

On base reduce 3 more clicks…to about 10% power. Stay with this setting until over the threshold. Plenty of power still for a gentle descent at 10%!!!! Don’t fear! Note you will need to hold a little up elevator as you reduce power. If she tries to settle in early, add a click or two of power if needed.

Go immediately to zero power over the threshold. She will glide into ground effect so slowly as you hold her off.

Using the above I used 1/2 or less of a 200 ft area including the roll out on pavement. She can land short. On grass, the roll will be sooooo short.

In strong winds you may want to reduce only 4 clicks from 50% for downwind then reduce 2 more clicks on base leg.

SLOW THIS BABY DOWN….you were way way faster than she needs.

Glad no damage. Think BIG WING = lots of lift = can fly slowly

-GG

[Mud Duck]

Try this….assume 10 clicks…

SLOW THIS BABY DOWN….you were way way faster than she needs.
-GG

Great advice, well stated and added to my pre-flight notes. 🏆

[GliderGuy]

Great advice, well stated and added to my pre-flight notes. 🏆

Yep….In full scale sailplanes we call that video a high speed pass! From which we can pull up, climb to down wind, complete a pattern and land. Tons of energy to dissipate.

For the B-2, one’s mindset must change from “EDF JET” to “BIG WING FLIES WELL ON 25%” while in the pattern.

I am lazy, so I’ve set a mix to add a bit of up elevator while in the pattern so I don’t have to hold it. See my prior post about this.

-GG

[Radar-Guy]

Thanks GG! I fully agree with your conclusion, I was way to cautious and reduced throttle too late each time to avoid stalling or unrecoverable sink rates. Training approaches are on the list.

[jasmith41]

Yep….In full scale sailplanes we call that video a high speed pass! From which we can pull up, climb to down wind, complete a pattern and land. Tons of energy to dissipate.

For the B-2, one’s mindset must change from “EDF JET” to “BIG WING FLIES WELL ON 25%” while in the pattern.

I am lazy, so I’ve set a mix to add a bit of up elevator while in the pattern so I don’t have to hold it. See my prior post about this.

-GG

still don't want one....
yet. 🤣🤣😎

[Evan D]

Me either, too expensive...

still don't want one....
yet. 🤣🤣😎

[GliderGuy]

Me either, too expensive...

My first thought, too. But so many products are the “same-ish” in terms of their in-flight planform presentation. Unique examples are: F-22, A-10, F-14, AL37, PJ50, SR-71 (if ever), XB-70 (if ever). F-117 (if ever), and so on.

The B-2, IMHO, presents such a unique planform in flight that, albeit not cheap, it is hard to pass up.

Another thing to consider, if we want mfg’s to give us unique options…we need to support them when they do come out with unique products.

Fortunately, FW and MRC did their homework and ended up with a NICE flyable AND unique product that looks GREAT in the air and handles well.

No…I am not affiliated with these companies! I simply like unique birds. I don’t want 30 planes that all look about the same in the air. Nothing wrong with that….but not my plan.

-GG

Hangar: F-4, AL37, MiG-29, PJ50, B-2, P-38,
and formerly the A-10…crashed before I knew about RF chokes. May get another A-10….also so unique.

[kallend]

Hi Evan,
No gear issues so far, but I’ve only landed on pavement.

I hasten to add….all perfect landings so far (LOL - just kidding, but couldn’t resist).

Actually, I only got 3 bouncy-ish landings. So not much stress on the gear so far. Give me more time.

One other thing I’ve done is set up a mix with my unused rotary flap control channel. I made the channel I normally use to control the flaps (for aircraft that have flaps) the master and the elevator the slave. Now when I slow down and put the gear down, I roll in full what normally would be “flaps down control”. This adds just the right amount of additional up trim needed for the slow, gear down, pattern part of the flight. I can set 1/2 what would normally be “flaps” for take-off for just the right touch of up trim needed during the slow part of the flight right after liftoff.

I just pretend like I am flying a “flapped” bird…but of course the B-2 isn’t a flapped bird.

This could be implemented with a switch you would normally use for “flaps”, but she will jump up when the switch is first moved unless she is slowed quite a bit first. Would still work. For example, you’d slow down, drop the gear and when the nose starts to drop…flip the switch to “add flaps…I mean up trim”. A multi-position switch would make the transition smoother.

Also putting the mix on what would normally be the rotary flap knob gives me a “fine tune” capability for elevator trim.


-GG

Don't know what radio you use, but on mine I can sequence in a trim change over several seconds to avoid an abrupt "jump up". Normally activated (regular plane) with the flaps, but could be activated by dropping the gear.

[jasmith41]

My first though, too. But so many products are the “same-ish” in terms of their in-flight planform presentation. Unique examples are: F-22, A-10, F-14, AL37, PJ50, SR-71 (if ever), XB-70 (if ever) and so on.

The B-2, IMHO, presents such a unique planform in flight that, albeit not cheap, it is hard to pass up.

Another thing to consider, if we want mfg’s to give us unique options…we need to support them when they do come out with unique products.

Fortunately, FW and MRC did their homework and ended up with a NICE flyable AND unique product that looks GREAT in the air and handles well.

No…I am not affiliated with these companies! I simply like unique birds. I don’t want 30 planes that all look about the same in the air.

-GG

LOL - thank you for your endorsement. Your secret decoder ring will be mailed out today...

seriously, i agree 100% on the support them aspect. it seems as though both MRC and HH ebb and flow on new products / intros to the point that it's exciting to see something like this come out. for me, it's not so much the money (back to the wife's purse, shoes, and yes, jewelry rationale), i've just simply got no more fkg room for it, and i still suck as a noob pilot, so i have the highest likelihood of turning a gorgeous plane into mush at the push of the wrong button. I'm sitting tight for now. I have a knack of figuring out when they're about to Houdini a model and pulling the trigger just before they're totally gone-gone.

[GliderGuy]

Don't know what radio you use, but on mine I can sequence in a trim change over several seconds to avoid an abrupt "jump up". Normally activated (regular plane) with the flaps, but could be activated by dropping the gear.

Simple Futaba T6J….plain vanilla but excellent range and reliability.

LOL - Maybe a Christmas present to myself = Radio upgrade.

-GG

Aside: Early on I got the MiG-29 into a high alpha, deep stall heading away from me. She kept getting lower and farther away. Pretty soon she was WAY, WAY far away and sooooo low over there. I did manage to recover just above the trees. After this “range test”, I have never questioned the range of the T6J and its RX pair. Hate to let go of that comfort.

[kallend]

Simple Futaba T6J….plain vanilla but excellent range and reliability.

LOL - Maybe a Christmas present to myself = Radio upgrade.

-GG

Aside: Early on I got the MiG-29 into a high alpha, deep stall heading away from me. She kept getting lower and farther away. Pretty soon she was WAY, WAY far away and sooooo low over there. I did manage to recover just above the trees. After this “range test”, I have never questioned the range of the T6J and its RX pair. Hate to let go of that comfort.

As planes get more complex with things like vectored thrust, canards, tailerons, spoilerons, etc. plus gyros, then 6 channels is very limiting. I'm using 12 in my F-14 and 10 in my Gripen.

[Evan D]

GG, I agree whole heartily.

When the B-2 was announced a bunch of people on here started up about things, seemed more like a RCG thread. I said "too rich for me" and stayed fairly quiet (rare for me to do that). Five days later, or so, after reading a bunch of just crap postings I ordered one and didn't say anything here, on RCG, or even to the guys I fly with. I just wanted to see for myself how it would be. I maidened it last Friday and have to say I was pleasantly surprised in every way, design, engineering, production, packaging... About the only thing I could think would be a bit better instructions. For two reasons, first FW doesn't come as a BNF and this is one of their few that have a gyro, a fairly new to people gyro. Second not many have flown a flying wing especially one with drag brakes. I still think that even with James' and Aros' clarifications here and in the instructions that there are some things that could be better explained. I've written technical manuals and ISO quality requirements documents and it's very hard to write a clear concise manual that can be understood with people reading multiple languages.


I think it's awesome that FW came out with this and that they, and distributors were able to keep it quiet.

[Aros]

Aros, Thanks!

Any possibility of clarifying page 17 next time? For full scale pilots, instructors saying “stick up” means move the stick so the nose goes up. The “stick up” “stick down” terms therefore confused my “pilot” brain. I thought the manual drawings were wrong.

May be silly, but “stick back” and “stick forward” seem less confusing. Or….maybe there’s even a better way? Please give it some thought so full scale pilots are not potentially confused.

-GG

You ask, we deliver.

Freewing B-2 Spirit Bomber Instruction Manual
This is the latest version of the manual (2.6) which covers the proper measurement for the "clamshell" rudders and trim settings for the elevators and ailerons. Refer to page 8. Verbiage on the elevator diagram has been changed. Refer to page 7.

[Aros]

GG, I agree whole heartily.

When the B-2 was announced a bunch of people on here started up about things, seemed more like a RCG thread. I said "too rich for me" and stayed fairly quiet (rare for me to do that). Five days later, or so, after reading a bunch of just crap postings I ordered one and didn't say anything here, on RCG, or even to the guys I fly with. I just wanted to see for myself how it would be. I maidened it last Friday and have to say I was pleasantly surprised in every way, design, engineering, production, packaging... About the only thing I could think would be a bit better instructions. For two reasons, first FW doesn't come as a BNF and this is one of their few that have a gyro, a fairly new to people gyro. Second not many have flown a flying wing especially one with drag brakes. I still think that even with James' and Aros' clarifications here and in the instructions that there are some things that could be better explained. I've written technical manuals and ISO quality requirements documents and it's very hard to write a clear concise manual that can be understood with people reading multiple languages.


I think it's awesome that FW came out with this and that they, and distributors were able to keep it quiet.

I heard about this model a year or more ago and I was so thrilled. Outside of the SR-71 and Concorde (crossing fingers), this was the model I have been waiting for (from Freewing) for years. When Alpha talked to me about the challenges, it was immediately clear how much thought and R&D goes into such a model. Alpha and the rest of the R&D team worked their tails off to deliver the most scale, stable EPO foam EDF B-2 Spirit that could be imagined. To me, the clear V Stab is such a small concession to insure added stability in flight even though it's not mandatory. Employee or not, I would have the same opinion about these fine models. It's a thrilling time to be in the hobby.

But yes Freewing, step up to the SR-71 and Concorde challenge.

[Gravythe clown]

Love to see a SR-71. I miss flying my LX one. Just to brittle of foam, but EPO twin 70... would now be a good time to do a Antonov 225 with 6 50mm EDF;'s? That would be a nice show boat like the B2.

Gravy

[Aros]

Not to hijack the thread but I think the SR-71 if done right would be a 64mm because Freewing would (I assume) be about scale. Where the LX was definitely not scale in the nacelles, I would assume the Freewing version would have to have the lower-end mm EDFs to build the frame around in order to maintain the scale profile. At least that would be my hope. Otherwise a scale profile Blackbird at 70mm or more would be massive.

As for this B-2, I will finish up getting the clams right and I joined the closest club to me with a paved runway so hopefully a maiden is in my near future.

[jasmith41]

I heard about this model a year or more ago and I was so thrilled. Outside of the SR-71 and Concorde (crossing fingers), this was the model I have been waiting for (from Freewing) for years. When Alpha talked to me about the challenges, it was immediately clear how much thought and R&D goes into such a model. Alpha and the rest of the R&D team worked their tails off to deliver the most scale, stable EPO foam EDF B-2 Spirit that could be imagined. To me, the clear V Stab is such a small concession to insure added stability in flight even though it's not mandatory. Employee or not, I would have the same opinion about these fine models. It's a thrilling time to be in the hobby.

But yes Freewing, step up to the SR-71 and Concorde challenge.

You guys all did a helluva job and you should all be proud of what you've turned out here - that's an amazing bird in appearance - hard to resist not getting in line for one now, but like Wayne's guitar, oh yes, i will have her one of these days...

The great thing about this site is, after reading everything everyone has posted and then looking at the manual, i could probably put one together like someone who knew what they were doing... 🤣

[jasmith41]

one fleeting question, however...

To V-stab or not to V-stab...?

Go bare or go home.

[Aros]

Good question. I think I saw at least one maiden or flight video where they didn't use the V Stab and to my eyes I didn't see any real noticeable difference. Maybe someone here can expand on that who have flown her without the VS.

[jasmith41]

Good question. I think I saw at least one maiden or flight video where they didn't use the V Stab and to my eyes I didn't see any real noticeable difference. Maybe someone here can expand on that who have flown her without the VS.

saw that as well more than once and didn't really notice any difference. in fact, one of the guy's flights without it was smoother than another vid i saw, but that was probably the pilot's skill level vs. the other...