Official Freewing 90mm F-16 V2 EDF Jet Thread

[Airguardian]

70%? Jeeze... I usually reduce throw before using that much. I was at 30% on the first flight and went up to 40% on the second one.

Reducing throws curtails aerobatic capability and safety margins. If you need the throw and don't have it, that can easily cause a disaster that would have otherwise been avoided.

Well I'd rather have a CG that's too forward than too far back ;)

I respect the sentiment, but I do not endorse it. Many people just don't realize how damaging nose heaviness is to flight performance, to the point that it makes flying more dangerous. The stability derived from excessive nose heaviness comes at a heavy price. I've seen more airplanes lost due to excessively nose heavy setups (typically due to nasty stalls on final causing models to lawn dart to their ultimate doom) than from slightly tail heavy ones. ;)

[Dividebysandwich]

When you say "neutral" ELE, do you mean as per this photo:

Yes. That was what I used on the first flight, and reading through posts moving that to 24mm from the top edge is definitely better.

Not being able to get off the ground might indicate you didn't have enough elevator and/or you were flying off grass that was a bit too thick.

Travel and Expo was set as per manual. We have a plastic runway (it's from a big paper machine) so grass was not a factor.

As for "fighting for survival" on the second flight after you moved the CG back 10mm ........... a rearward CG is not for everyone. Those who swear by it, fly in certain ways and have gotten used to handling the plane that way. You might want to resolve the flight characteristics before starting to move the CG back. You might have too high of travel or too low of EXPO or both.

Yeah I'll go back to the stock CG but keep the altered elevator neutral position. As I said both travel and expo are set up as per manual.

Are you even using expo? Lack of expo can usually be the reason for too sensitive pitch control, even on a nose heavy model.
Most of my models run about 70-85% expo on pitch and roll, even after installing a gyro on them.

70%? Jeeze... I usually reduce throw before using that much. I was at 30% on the first flight and went up to 40% on the second one.

Don't go back to stock CG. Too nose heavy. I'm flying like 40mm behind stock (with a gyro, though, ofc).

Well I'd rather have a CG that's too forward than too far back ;)

[Airguardian]

Hi, first post here!
I'm on my second flight on the 90mm v2 and I have to say I'm having issues. First flight was almost impossible to get off the deck - elevator neutral and CG were set to what the manual recommended. So I read up and changed elevator neutral and also nudged back the CG by 10mm. Bad idea, had to fight for survival on the second flight. I did install a gyro before the second flight but had the sensitivity dialed low to avoid oscillations at the first try. Turning on that gyro saved my bacon, but only barely.
So now I'm wondering. Folks here report flying 10mm behind factory CG without a gyro - how?

For the next flight I've dialed up the gyro sensitivity a bit and will go back to stock CG, though I'll definitely keep the new elevator neutral position.

Are you even using expo? Lack of expo can usually be the reason for too sensitive pitch control, even on a nose heavy model.
Most of my models run about 70-85% expo on pitch and roll, even after installing a gyro on them.

Don't go back to stock CG. Too nose heavy. I'm flying like 40mm behind stock (with a gyro, though, ofc).

[Elbee]

Dividebysandwich

Welcome to Hobby Squawk, glad to have you onboard, Sir.

Best, LB

[xviper]

First flight was almost impossible to get off the deck - elevator neutral and CG were set to what the manual recommended. So I read up and changed elevator neutral and also nudged back the CG by 10mm. Bad idea, had to fight for survival on the second flight. I did install a gyro before the second flight but had the sensitivity dialed low to avoid oscillations at the first try. Turning on that gyro saved my bacon, but only barely.
So now I'm wondering. Folks here report flying 10mm behind factory CG without a gyro - how?

For the next flight I've dialed up the gyro sensitivity a bit and will go back to stock CG, though I'll definitely keep the new elevator neutral position.

Re: Gyro ............. Consider putting the gyro on a master gain knob or slider so you can adjust on the fly and not have to change it on the ground for the next flight.
When you say "neutral" ELE, do you mean as per this photo:
This is the starting neutral ELE.
Not being able to get off the ground might indicate you didn't have enough elevator (or set in the wrong place to start with) and/or you were flying off grass that was a bit too thick. As for "fighting for survival" on the second flight after you moved the CG back 10mm ........... a rearward CG is not for everyone. Those who swear by it, fly in certain ways and have gotten used to handling the plane that way. You might want to resolve the flight characteristics before starting to move the CG back. You might have too high of travel or too low of EXPO or both.

[Evan D]

No gyro in mine and balance is an inch behind the marks.

[Dividebysandwich]

Hi, first post here!
I'm on my second flight on the 90mm v2 and I have to say I'm having issues. First flight was almost impossible to get off the deck - elevator neutral and CG were set to what the manual recommended. So I read up and changed elevator neutral and also nudged back the CG by 10mm. Bad idea, had to fight for survival on the second flight. I did install a gyro before the second flight but had the sensitivity dialed low to avoid oscillations at the first try. Turning on that gyro saved my bacon, but only barely.
So now I'm wondering. Folks here report flying 10mm behind factory CG without a gyro - how?

For the next flight I've dialed up the gyro sensitivity a bit and will go back to stock CG, though I'll definitely keep the new elevator neutral position.

[Shaun Evans]

interested in sellng that one{longEz) in the back ground?

Haha, No Sir!

[Airguardian]

*Blushes visibly*


How was that saying... slow is smooth, smooth is fast!
Better safe than sorry! :D

[400driver]

Can always start with less and slowly add to it and see how good it feels to you! :)
If you check my vids closely, you can get a visual reference on take offs and landings by pausing as the plane flies by in front of the camera.

I have been doing that ! You are my guru!!

[Airguardian]

Windy flights!

[Airguardian]

Can always start with less and slowly add to it and see how good it feels to you! :)
If you check my vids closely, you can get a visual reference on take offs and landings by pausing as the plane flies by in front of the camera.

[400driver]

I will try that ! Thanks.

[Airguardian]

Finally getting around to opening this box up, was planning on flaperons and tailerons.

Can someone offer some guidance as to how much deflection for take off and land flap settings?

Air Guardian , i see in your videos you are using flaperons, cant quite see how much you are using.
Many thanks
Mark

I don't know where I left my measurements... but it's probably about 7-10mm for take off and 15-18mm for landing (Measured at root).

[400driver]

I use about 5mm for take off and 10 for landing. 50% taileron mix.

much appreciated

[Elbee]

Gopher,

Great modification...well done.

Best, LB

[Gopher]

Concerning making or adding Leading Edge Flaps/Slats (LEF). I am not a good scratch builder, and I decided to add LEF's to my F22 for slower landing. I added two servos and connect both to my main (right and left) flaps. I am not a good pilot and like slow flying and landings. The LEF's solvd my problem. Pics attached.

[Evan D]

I use about 5mm for take off and 10 for landing. 50% taileron mix.

[400driver]

Finally getting around to opening this box up, was planning on flaperons and tailerons.

Can someone offer some guidance as to how much deflection for take off and land flap settings?

Air Guardian , i see in your videos you are using flaperons, cant quite see how much you are using.
Many thanks
Mark

[f4u ausie]

Keep up the teck stuff guys. Goog learning