Official 64mm Freewing Banshee EDF Sport Jet Thread

[DougCLind]

Ok, got a Banshee as a Christmas present. Liked it so much I bought a 2nd one. I hand launch/belly land the first one but put the landing gear on the second for when I fly off of a runway. I have to say that this is far and away the best flying 64mm jet I've owned and actually, it's really my best flying EDF period. It's smooth and it's QUIET! And the stock version has very adequate power, even for jet aerobatics.

I have a comment though on it's use as a hand launcher. There is no good hand grip. I absolutely have to launch with 2 hands and that means I have my hands off the TX during launch and immediately after, while frantically searching with the hands while keeping my eye on the plane! So what have I done? I put a Flex Aura Lite stabilizer in it. The Aura has a launch assist mode where it keeps the wings level and keeps a 30 degree up angle until you move the sticks. Then you regain control. So I heartily recommend it for hand launchers like myself. It works well, very well.

I'm experimenting with Spektrum telemetry so I pulled the stock ESC out and put in an Avian 45 Amp ESC. I also put in an AR6610T telemetry receiver and I'm mostly flying with a 4S, 2700 30C SMART battery. The battery is virtually identical to the Roaring Top 2700's which I also use. (For those counting the $$, RX: $80, Aura: $60, Avian ESC: $60, SMART Battery: $55. More than the price of the plane and I now have 2 extra 45 Amp reversing ESC's that I took out. Anyone want one?) I had to cut some foam from the barrier which is aft of the nose gear servo in order to fit the battery in, but the snug fit helps to hold the battery in place. I move it as far forward as I can as you can see in the pics and this seems to give a good CG. I'm getting 5 minute flights and usually landing with more than 20% left on the battery.

Here are the calculated telemetry numbers from one of my flights:
Max power 949 Watts
Max current 62.9 Amps
Average power 446 Watts
Average current 30.3 Amps

I only use full throttle on takeoff and otherwise only in brief bursts depending on the maneuver. So even though I go way over the 45 Amp rating of the ESC I get away with it because I keep those high amp times short. I get temperature readings from the ESC telemetry but they don't mean much to me because I don't know where the danger points are. I think the main thing is those averages and they're well below the rated limits.

I practice jet aerobatic routines and I have no trouble with double loops, full cubans, half reverse cubans, shark fins, square loops on edge (so you're doing 45 degree angles each leg), humpty bumps, knife edge and a few others. It does lack the power to do a pretty "Z" maneuver. This is where you come into it straight and level and then pull back 135 degrees so you're going upwards, on your back at a 45 degree angle. Then you push over 135 degrees so you're level again. You lose too much airspeed to push over at the end. I set my elevators to 125% throw and keep the upslope very short so I don't lose too much airspeed and I can just barely do it with the Banshee. I suppose if I went EvanD's route and upgraded to the 6S system it would help but for the moment I'm happy with the way things are.

Anyway that's what I'm doing with my Banshee. I did notice that the one with the landing gear doesn't quite have the oooomph that the hand launched one does but that isn't surprising I guess. I have the same setup in both so the extra weight and drag of the landing gear does have an effect.

[paulrkytek]

Where can i find the freewing 2500kv 6s edf? Cant find it online for sale.

Ali Express, China, type in search Freewing 64mm 6s edf . in uk £46 plus tax delivered

[Evan D]

I got two from RC Castle but they don't show them any more. Motion says they have them coming but don't show them yet.

[Delauze1]

Where can i find the freewing 2500kv 6s edf? Cant find it online for sale.

[Evan D]

Number 2 after the unfortunate crash last weekend.

[Evan D]

I agree.

I really like my 2500 6S inrunner powered Banshee with upgraded gear but I am pretty sure there are few (maybe just the two I bought the parts for) flying like this....

I think make the whole plane a "high performance version" much like you did with the 70mm Bae Hawk and F16. Include the highest power 6s system and the trailing links. As long as you don't creep too close to the Vulcan price, I'd be in.

[JamesonC]

Question for you guys. If we do a 6S version, should it have the basic landing gear or upgraded shock absorbing landing gear with trailing links (which again makes it more $$ so think about your answers carefully)? We can always add shock absorbing landing gear as an optional upgrade instead of including it as well.

I think make the whole plane a "high performance version" much like you did with the 70mm Bae Hawk and F16. Include the highest power 6s system and the trailing links. As long as you don't creep too close to the Vulcan price, I'd be in.

[Tom]

Question for you guys. If we do a 6S version, should it have the basic landing gear or upgraded shock absorbing landing gear with trailing links (which again makes it more $$ so think about your answers carefully)? We can always add shock absorbing landing gear as an optional upgrade instead of including it as well.

[Evan D]

Tom, please consider adding the spring loaded trailing landing gear. It really makes the Banshee land better.

[JamesonC]

I had not planned on a 6S PNP Banshee. The original goal was to make a great flying sport jet which is easy to transport and reasonably priced. A 6S version does not change the "easy to transport" part but it does change the price. That said, if it is something all of you want, I can make it happen. At this point, it would be a post new year holiday project. Freewing is already going to be very busy until they shut down for their holiday. After their time off, they will be back in Feb which means it would be spring before we see it. It should be fairly easy to add a second version if the demand is there from all of you.

"If you build it, they will come."

[Tom]

I had not planned on a 6S PNP Banshee. The original goal was to make a great flying sport jet which is easy to transport and reasonably priced. A 6S version does not change the "easy to transport" part but it does change the price. That said, if it is something all of you want, I can make it happen. At this point, it would be a post new year holiday project. Freewing is already going to be very busy until they shut down for their holiday. After their time off, they will be back in Feb which means it would be spring before we see it. It should be fairly easy to add a second version if the demand is there from all of you.

[JamesonC]

We have Banshee 6S upgrade power systems on the way for anyone who wants to make their Banshee insane! Specifically, we have a 2949-2300Kv motor with 12B fan which requires an upgrade to a 50A ESC. For those that want true Banshee insanity we have a 2949-2500kV motor with 12B EDF which requires an upgrade to a 60A ESC.

No plans for a PNP 6s version of the Banshee?

[Evan D]

Caution to those going to the fans Tom just posted about. First they are 6S fans and the stock Banshee ESC is up to 4S. A 6S capable ESC is mandatory.

Second the 2300 draws a maximum 42A OUT of the aircraft. It will draw significantly more in the aircraft and a 50A 6S ESC should be fine but the 2500 in my Banshee is drawing just under 75A on a fresh charge so I suggest more than a 60A 6S ESC.

[Tom]

We have Banshee 6S upgrade power systems on the way for anyone who wants to make their Banshee insane! Specifically, we have a 2949-2300Kv motor with 12B fan which requires an upgrade to a 50A ESC. For those that want true Banshee insanity we have a 2949-2500kV motor with 12B EDF which requires an upgrade to a 60A ESC.

[Evan D]

As some may know I put a Arrows 6S fan and a different ESC in mine when I first built it. Free Wing came out with a series of new fans and the Banshee got one, the lowest power on of the series. These are really 65mm where the older fans were 63mm (it makes a difference) Anyway the new series had a low and high power outrunner and a low and high power inrunner.

I ordered the new high power 2500kV inrunner and upgraded sprung gear from RC Castle and got them today.

Numbers… stock low power 4S out runner was 57A 870W 990g thrust
The Arrows 6S was 49A 1135W 1290g thrust
Now it's 75A 1670W 1590g thrust

70% increase over stock. 50+g heavier.

The new gear are very nice but add another 27g.

[morganjw1]

That worked. Everything working as it should. Huge thanks for the help!

[morganjw1]

Then your reverse has been defaulted to the channel 5 gear switch. If you are also using that switch for throttle cut, then that is a conflict. Generally speaking, Throttle Cut is assigned to switch H on Spektrum. Put your TC on switch H and I'll bet your gear switch will be dedicated to only reverse and you will get normal thrust back in one of the positions. If you have only a 6-ch RX, then assigning reverse to another switch may not be possible because you've taken up all the channels. Switch H is usually for throttle cut and thus, does not use up another channel, leaving ch-5 free for only reverse. If you don't want to use reverse, then you'll have to play with the servo travel on that channel so both switch positions does the same thing - ie, forward thrust and NO reverse. You still can't use that same switch for both reverse and TC.

Got it. I'm going to work on it later today. I really appreciate the info.

[xviper]

I had channel 5 open (usually for gear) so I used that for the reverse plug. I have all of my other planes throttle cut set up on the A switch and thats what is showing defaulted to. I'm thinking I just need to go in and set up a different switch.

Then your reverse has been defaulted to the channel 5 gear switch. If you are also using that switch for throttle cut, then that is a conflict. Generally speaking, Throttle Cut is assigned to switch H on Spektrum. Put your TC on switch H and I'll bet your gear switch will be dedicated to only reverse and you will get normal thrust back in one of the positions. If you have only a 6-ch RX, then assigning reverse to another switch may not be possible because you've taken up all the channels. Switch H is usually for throttle cut and thus, does not use up another channel, leaving ch-5 free for only reverse. If you don't want to use reverse, then you'll have to play with the servo travel on that channel so both switch positions does the same thing - ie, forward thrust and NO reverse. You still can't use that same switch for both reverse and TC.

[morganjw1]

I'll ask again ....................................... Which channel did you plug the reverse lead into? Depending on which channel you used, you may not have to set up the switch. It may already be set up by default. It simply may be in the wrong position. Oh, and what radio are you using?

I had channel 5 open (usually for gear) so I used that for the reverse plug. I have all of my other planes throttle cut set up on the A switch and thats what is showing defaulted to. I'm thinking I just need to go in and set up a different switch.

[xviper]

Thanks for the info. I did have both plugs in different channels but had not set up a separate switch for reverse as I had not planned to use it due to our runway being very long. I plan to set up the switch today when I have a chance. Thank you for the info.

I'll ask again ....................................... Which channel did you plug the reverse lead into? Depending on which channel you used, you may not have to set up the switch. It may already be set up by default. It simply may be in the wrong position. Oh, and what radio are you using?