Official Freewing Twin 80mm/90mm A-10 Thunderbolt II Thread

[Kferros]

[Kferros]

went with suggestions on battery placement in forum. To be safe used MCR 5000. Have thunder power 5000 70c but wanted to have cg right.

[Evoman]

Day 362:

Well...I'm done with the A-10...after several good flights and landing I thought I had this bouncing crap figured out and about an hour ago it bit me again. I'm going to fix her one more time then I'm getting rid of it, out of 16 flights I've had to work on the nose gear 4 times with this last time being the worst so far. I just can't enjoy a plane that I'm not comfortable with...it's just got too narrow of a sweet spot on landings for my liking.

I have not flown this particular A-10 yet but I have flown the A-10C in a flight simulator setting in DCS. Even in the simulator I have also experienced bouncing in some landings. Which goes to show just how realistic the simulator is.
I have found the A-10 to be a bit of a challenge to land when I go too long with out flying it but when I start up again practicing with it on a regular basis I am able to nail the landings every time there after.
But I can see how practicing with an RC A-10 can become some costly training. Which is why I keep telling people that its to their advantage to also train flying in a simulator where they can become more familiar with a particular airplanes flight dynamics and mistakes don't cost you anything. I recently started flying the AJS-37 Viggen in DCS and nailed the landing on my first try! which goes to show how much easier the Viggen is to fly.
I recommend you checking out DCS which is free to download and it includes the Su-25T and TF-51D. But right now all add on modules are on sale till July 24. https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.c..._a10c_warthog/

DCS A-10C Landing Fundamentals

[dahawk]

Knocking on wood but after 15 flights, no bouncing. I fly off a grass field and I'm sure that helps- a lot

At best, I'm an intermediate pilot but I had her figured out from the get go, especially after hearing from others here and similar bouncing experiences with my Yak-130

FWIW, here's my SOP.

1). gear down, take off flaps and full flaps all deployed on the downwind. Flaps are your friend with this plane. Very effective and I didn't need an elevator mix.
2) make the base with with light power. She'll still be bleeding off speed
3) turn to final and as I'm already prepared and don't have to worry about switches, it's just a matter of throttle management to control a steady and smooth glideslope, sink rate and speed. And I have to first clear an obstacle( wall of trees).

4) This plane will slow to a crawl if you want her to but I don't like plop landings. Looks bad and is hard on the equipment. So once I'm in ground effect I start to ease in a little alpha effectively stalling her and she gently touches down on the mains first. Then the nose gear settles in.

I've completely chopped the throttle on a few approaches and she still glides in surprisingly well. Very forgiving in that respect. But I can almost guarantee if you come in too steep or too hot, she will bounce like a beach ball.

My nose gear is a little wobbly front to back mainly from taxiing down a bumpy runway. What has usually worked to cure this is to apply some blenderm tape to the trunnion. It will remove the slop for the most part. Usually.

Don't give up on the hog. She's my all time favorite edf. I have the Mig-21, A6, Stinger 90, F5, Yak-130, 70mm F-16v2 and squadron of 64's. The A-10 fly's like a big trainer even making pilots like me look pretty good. Lol

[TiredIronGRB]

Oh the stall came on the departure end of runway. I pulled back a little so it was flat and climbing then just rolled hard right so fast I could not correct.

Yours looks very fixable.

[Kferros]

To many wires were pulled out will start from new. On the way. Lots of parts though.

[Aros]

Ouch, sorry to see that TI. Although my damage wasn't as bad, I can certainly empathize with you. That landing last weekend that destroyed the nose gear was my worst in years, and in fact I never had a model buck like a bronco like mine did, it was so weird and excessive, it was like it had a mind of its own. Of course I have to take ownership of the landing but the violent bouncing was shocking.

[downwindleg]

It's just getting the energy just right...I've had several perfect landings but if it's not dead on perfect it's "Ride'em Cowboy!".

Wow, I totally understand what your talking about. I have numerous planes and have been flying for over 30 years. I grease my landings on other warbirds so often that the guys at the field don't even watch my landings anymore but this plane scares and frustrates the hell out of me!!! That's why I have been bugging you about the gear. I just replaced the whole airframe due to two ugly bounces.....one with results like yours and one with a total cartwheel (serious crosswind but still normally manageable). If it hadn't bounced, the wind wouldn't have gotten under it. Everybody else talks about what a creampuff this plane is which doesn't make me feel very good but between you, Aros, and Kferros, I don't feel like the Lone Ranger anymore. However, I'm just stubborn enough to try again with tighter springs or different mains .It all comes down to too much damn bounce. Have to fly my P-38, P-40,P-51, etc. to restore my confidence.......not flying the A-10 again 'til it's sorted out.....I can't afford it!!!! Brad

[1horse59]

Sorry for your loss dude, I'm dreading this happening, which it almost did, but I caught it last second

[Thomas W]

Being fairly new to "strutted" planes, Im surprised no one has come up with an oil damped strut assembly for our planes. I know theres some pretty exotic shock assemblies for RC cars out there. Is it due to size, weight or what? BTW, my A-10 is on the UPS truck and out for delivery already this morning. 1 day from MRC, NICE!

[TiredIronGRB]

Sorry for your loss dude, I'm dreading this happening, which it almost did, but I caught it last second

I have it fixed already...just deciding what to do now.

[RCjetdude]

Being fairly new to "strutted" planes, Im surprised no one has come up with an oil damped strut assembly for our planes. I know theres some pretty exotic shock assemblies for RC cars out there. Is it due to size, weight or what? BTW, my A-10 is on the UPS truck and out for delivery already this morning. 1 day from MRC, NICE!

That was fast! See, you hardly had to wait anyway. Enjoy your hawg.

[ColtPilot]

Ouch, that's gonna leave a big mark.

[RCjetdude]

I have it fixed already...just deciding what to do now.

Keep it and keep flying it. I bet you will have more good landings than not. This plane may have a little narrower band for greaser landings but that just requires the pilot to be a little more aware which just makes for a better pilot. Still, I do understand the issue of being comfortable with a plane and some just take a little more effort to find that. My Corsair was that way. I still have it and feel comfortable flying it now but I almost made it a hangar queen. The J-10 was like that for me as well and why you now have it so I do understand. Plus the fact that I just didn't want to fix it. ;)

[TomPatton]

I see a lot of good quality videos on here and was wondering if someone could recommend a good laptop and video editing software or application for the Mobius cameras?
Thanks...

[Lon]

I see a lot of good quality videos on here and was wondering if someone could recommend a good laptop and video editing software or application for the Mobius cameras?
Thanks...

I use the free download of the Windows "Movie Maker" It does the job for me. Easy to use/edit videos from my Mobius. As far as a good laptop, ummm, kind of "Ford or Chevy" on that. The laptop i use is 3 years old. Bought it at Wal-Mart :)

[TomPatton]

Thanks for the info Lon...
I have always went with Hewlett Packard on the laptops, always have had great success with them. But yes, you are right as with Chevy vs Ford, personal preference there. I should have worded that differently as I was mostly concerned with the video card. It sounds like any newer laptop should have a sufficient video card that will work. I will try the Windows Movie Maker app. I am assuming you are using Windows 10 also...
Thanks
Tom...

[Lon]

Yes, Windows 10.

[Aros]

Cool video Lon, nice alt view!

[1horse59]

I have not flown this particular A-10 yet but I have flown the A-10C in a flight simulator setting in DCS. Even in the simulator I have also experienced bouncing in some landings. Which goes to show just how realistic the simulator is.
I have found the A-10 to be a bit of a challenge to land when I go too long with out flying it but when I start up again practicing with it on a regular basis I am able to nail the landings every time there after.
But I can see how practicing with an RC A-10 can become some costly training. Which is why I keep telling people that its to their advantage to also train flying in a simulator where they can become more familiar with a particular airplanes flight dynamics and mistakes don't cost you anything. I recently started flying the AJS-37 Viggen in DCS and nailed the landing on my first try! which goes to show how much easier the Viggen is to fly.
I recommend you checking out DCS which is free to download and it includes the Su-25T and TF-51D. But right now all add on modules are on sale till July 24. https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.c..._a10c_warthog/

DCS A-10C Landing Fundamentals

What joystick are you using?