Official Freewing Twin 70mm SR-71 Blackbird with Gyro EDF Jet Thread

[Elbee]

Okay back at home....I feel she's easy peasy and I can't wait to get more flights on her!

Aros, very nicely done. I watched your ewe-toob vid and that's a great looking place to fly.

Tamms asked if that is a lake or a river, I thot lake, but could not see all that well.

Your videographer is to be congratulated keeping Habu in the frame for the entirety.

Congrats to you on a successful check ride #1, as well, Sir.

Best, LB

[GliderGuy]

The “loss into the tree line” is discussed in this video.
It’s well done and shows stall recovery and chute packing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HPr3-YPeSaU

-GG

[Aros]

Thanks!

Okay back at home. So the complete story is I fly at an uncontrolled, low traffic runway (which I received permission for) which is sweet! However, the orientation puts me smack dab staring at the Sun at this time of year and day. I really did get lucky not crashing as at least three times I flew right into the Sun line and could not see (bleep) for a few seconds each time. Yikes. Luckily I kept my sticks pretty level and she came out the other side okay. No doubt does the gyro help. I purposely kept the flight short and high altitude in case any kind of recovery altitude was needed.

As for the landing, I was too high, and she was too far away for my liking (this is only my third time flying at this runway so I am still learning it) since the wind direction was coming from the South instead of the North like I was hoping. When she dropped below the tree line to my vantage point I lost her for a few seconds which explains the "whoop-de-doos" lol. Finally once she got close enough I was able to tame her down a bit but the landing was a bit harder than I would have liked. But no harm, no foul. I was bummed that the parachute didn't deploy! I'll have to take a look at how it's all wrapped up. Maybe a bit too good.

I only flew the one maiden. I brought an extra 6000 but I typically don't fly after a maiden because as long as it was a success (i.e. not coming home in a trash bag) I look at it as coming home from Vegas with house money, lol.

The more I familiarize myself with the runway, orientation, Sun position, wind, etc, etc, the better the flights will go. I never once felt like I was fighting the sticks with her. She was docile the entire time. Any "whoop-de-doos" were on my part, again due to Sun orientation, coming in too far away, losing her in the tree line, etc. Outside of that, I feel she's easy peasy and I can't wait to get more flights on her!

[GliderGuy]

Thanks…the whoop-de-doos on final will go away fast after a few landings. Looked good to me for the maiden! Congrats!

-GG

[Aros]

I’ll report more when I get home. In the meantime here’s a short video.

[GliderGuy]

Exciting! Good job. You said 6000s / just one battery or 2? More of your impressions, please. How were the landings?

-GG

[Aros]

Maiden was a success. A bit squirrelly thanks to the sun being in a terrible spot. Very lucky I didn’t lose her from being blinded a couple times. Very easy flyer all things considered. Gyro did its job. Was a touch nose heavy as I couldn’t get my Admiral 6000s any further aft. Not a speed demon that’s for sure but I don’t mind. Just seeing that profile airborne makes me giddy.

Parachute didn’t deploy dang it! Oh the humanity!

Pics and short video coming soon.

[EDF-Jetpilot]

Great! Thank you!

good luck and have fun!

[Aros]

Great! Thank you!

[GliderGuy]

I’m sure you’ve stated but remind me, you are using the stock gyro, yes?

Yes…Stock gyro, default factory control set-ups, 50% expo on aileron and elevator, CG on the mark wheels down. Admiral 6000 mAh pushed as far aft in the front battery bay as possible. For your initial flights…Set your timer to 3:00 and get on down wind at 2:30. That’s with most of the flight at a bit more than 50% throttle. Fly faster, land sooner. Later on, you can go 3:30 at 50% and less time if hot rodding).

She feels more solid with 2-3 clicks of added throttle when you lower the gear.

Definitely leave on some power on final. It is possible to glide her in at zero power, but it is a bit tricky to judge that. So much easier to set AoA on final with about 15% throttle and let her settle in. Get slow, and she will drop…but a burst of power will stop the fall.

If you get outa synch down low, just go around. You can eat up a lot of runway trying to “save” a landing.

Good luck and have fun! Let us know how it goes.

-GG

[Aros]

I’m sure you’ve stated but remind me, you are using the stock gyro, yes?

[GliderGuy]

Reference post 239…Problem solved. Shorter take-off run and typical deceleration on landing roll is the result of the adjustments to the mains and good lubrication.
Flight total is 68 after this afternoon.

-GG

[GliderGuy]

Yes…good luck! The Windy app shows light wind opportunities for your area this weekend.

I noticed longer take-off runs and short landing roll-outs the last few flights. Wheel lubrication issue? It’s more complex than that.

1) The center “U” fork on the mains can spread putting pressure on the outer (inner and outside) axle head and C clip = braking action.
2) The inner tire material can “spread/flatten out” on the outside part of the tire. This rubs against the inside of the “U” fork = braking action.

Solutions:
1) With pliers, gently compress the “U” fork tips towards each other. Not too much, or you won’t be able to mount the center wheel back on…or cause the inner wheel to bind. The tolerance is minimal. Not much leeway either way. Gotta get the fork spacing correct.
2) With a razor knife or Dremel, reshape the inner tire so it no longer rubs against the insides of the “U” fork.
3) Lubricate well!

The main gear’s fork tip spacing will require regular checking and adjusting.


-GG

[DCORSAIR]

Finally looks like I get maiden weather this weekend so I am looking forward to taking her to the active runway I have permission to fly at! As you can surmise by my avatar this is my favorite jet of all-time so I can’t wait to experience this beautiful rendition! GG I will take your advice of 15% throttle for the landing sequence. As always, thank you for the detailed flight reports!

Good luck on the maiden Aros.

What I did on my landings was pull power back to an idle right when I turned base to final so it will slow down and get in that perfect AOA then quickly add in power to maintain that same AOA all the way to touchdown and pop that chute, it's awesome how it slows down quickly.

[DCORSAIR]

Yes…correct / she flies nicely inverted. Have you flown the B-2?

I seemed to have solved the problem of the weakish anti-torsion arm on the landing gear. After beefing them up, not seeing any more issues.

-GG

Yes, my buddy has the B-2 and loaned it to me so I could try before I buy lol, it flew great too and landed nicely as well. Taking off, now that's another story, what a squirrel on the ground but it flies very well too, I no longer have the space for too many or I would have kept the SR-71 and got the B-2 also.

[Aros]

Good luck with the maiden!

Thank you kind sir!

[Evan D]

Good luck with the maiden!

[Aros]

Finally looks like I get maiden weather this weekend so I am looking forward to taking her to the active runway I have permission to fly at! As you can surmise by my avatar this is my favorite jet of all-time so I can’t wait to experience this beautiful rendition! GG I will take your advice of 15% throttle for the landing sequence. As always, thank you for the detailed flight reports!

[GliderGuy]

Yes…correct / she flies nicely inverted. Have you flown the B-2?

I seemed to have solved the problem of the weakish anti-torsion arm on the landing gear. After beefing them up, not seeing any more issues.

-GG

[DCORSAIR]

It was breezy, but many days this week will be very windy. So, I flew…anyway. It was 8-9 mph steady with thermal gusts to about 12 mph.

She did OK, but she wing waggles quite a bit in the turbulence. For “pretty” and smooth flying, she’s better flown on special days. Still…she did not exhibit any bad habits in the wind. A couple of times, she ballooned up from ground effect height. When that happens, she responds very well to a burst of power on the down side of the balloon and touches down lightly. Note: Less waggle at faster speeds, but I fly about 1/2 throttle for 3:30 timer with an Admiral 6000. Cut it short if you hot rod any.

58 total flights and loving this plane. Graduated to loops and rolls (very fast roll rate…I did not reduce aileron throws…just dialed in 50% expo).

Great job FW and MRC!

-GG

It also flies great inverted around the pattern if your into that. I put 28 flights on mine and just sold it a couple of days ago. I just get bored with any EDF after a few flights and don't keep a huge inventory anymore so that is the reason I sold it, picked up a new 80mm Cougar only because I have never flown one. I think I enjoy putting them together more than flying now, 41 yrs of flying just about everything there is out there so I'm always looking for something different.