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

[Jimrc73]

Personally, I found the book CG to be a little on the nose heavy side. Since moving it back to 86mm I have found it easier to hold a nose up attitude on landing approach.

Excellent feedback Pat - I suspected that's what you were shooting for by moving the CG back! Any issues with control sensitivity by moving the CG back - I assume you just adjusted expo and/or reduced control throws and such accordingly?? Again, many thanks!

Regards,
Jim

[Jimrc73]

Yes Jim, I did have the ordinance on as well (although I never fly with it). Tally Ho! Rob

Great -thanks Rob. I will try with the ordnance on at first - looks way cool, and then I will see after the maiden...when it warms up a bit! Thank you again.

Regards,
Jim

[Jimrc73]

Hey Guys...I know you have all seen the news about the effort to study a replacement for the A-10. I am no expert, but I find that to be a head scratcher! This video mentions the cost difference per hour and that's the first time I have heard that rationale. I have to say, there's just something about this bird that endears me and I will never see another plane as it's equal! Rob

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=usaf+studies+replacement+for+the+a-10+thunderbolt+II&view=detail&mid=0E92E2EEFEB0888264250E92E2EEFEB088826425&FORM=VIRE

Hey Rob:

I agree with you - and given that I began my career building these awesome aircraft (back in the 70s), there would be something missing in my heart as well. Every pilot I spoke to LOVES this aircraft, so I'm hopeful that it lives on for many years to come. Hey, look at the B-52...it keeps going for now! Thanks for the video.

Regards,
Jim

[crxmanpat]

Excellent feedback Pat - I suspected that's what you were shooting for by moving the CG back! Any issues with control sensitivity by moving the CG back - I assume you just adjusted expo and/or reduced control throws and such accordingly?? Again, many thanks!

Regards,
Jim

I don't believe in expo. ;)

I notice no changes in sensitivity. This thing is rock solid in the air at 86mm.

[dkalwishky]

Every flight on my A-10 has been with the full ordinance, an A-10 just doesn't look right without it. :)

I have my forward battery at the rear of it's mounting area. I have the rear battery just a few MM in front of the control board. I am running Admiral 5000's; although I don't know exactly what my C.G. is the plane flies really well for me in this configuration.

I tried to balance it with my fingers but gave up, the plane is heavy and my thumbs are weenies. :)

[crxmanpat]

Most of my first flights were with the full load out attached. Eventually I started flying it once in a while with just the wing pylons attached, but this past weekend I flew it fully loaded to distinguish between all the other A-10s in the air, like in the video Tony posted. But thankfully I took them off on Sunday and was flying without them on the fatal final flight.

My replacement bird shipped today and should be here sometime next week.

[xplaneguy]

Beautiful flight, and beautiful day! And what is that strange type of clothing you're wearing that stops above your elbows and knees?? It looks vaguely familiar? :Ligthbulb:Rob

Thanks! We sure had great weather! It's just my old lucky polo shirt.

[Jimrc73]

I don't believe in expo. ;)

I notice no changes in sensitivity. This thing is rock solid in the air at 86mm.

Glad you said that Pat - I actually do NOT use expo either, but if it was a good suggestion, I would try. Glad to hear it is all good and solid at 86mm. Thank you Pat!

Regards,
Jim

[RCAV8R]

Thanks! We sure had great weather! It's just my old lucky polo shirt.

I was just razzing you for having short-pants weather in the middle of February (sigh)!!! :Crying2:Rob

[Jimrc73]

Every flight on my A-10 has been with the full ordinance, an A-10 just doesn't look right without it. :)

I have my forward battery at the rear of it's mounting area. I have the rear battery just a few MM in front of the control board. I am running Admiral 5000's; although I don't know exactly what my C.G. is the plane flies really well for me in this configuration.

I tried to balance it with my fingers but gave up, the plane is heavy and my thumbs are weenies. :)

Hi dkalwishky:

Thank you for your response - agree, I LOVE the full ordnance too, but it's always good to hear about experiences by others! I am also running the Admiral 5000s, and yes, the plane has some good weight to it! I also like the info you provided on battery locations - a GREAT starting point for me. I will definitely try to balance it by using either my fingers/thumbs (although that will be a bit difficult), a CG machine, or worse-case scenario, I will have my bride hold one wing tip while I hold the other. If I do that, I will be sure to triple check the location of our fingers near the wingtips!! Thank you for the information! Keep 'em flying :a10

Regards,
Jim

[Jimrc73]

Most of my first flights were with the full load out attached. Eventually I started flying it once in a while with just the wing pylons attached, but this past weekend I flew it fully loaded to distinguish between all the other A-10s in the air, like in the video Tony posted. But thankfully I took them off on Sunday and was flying without them on the fatal final flight.

My replacement bird shipped today and should be here sometime next week.

Good point Pat!! We all feel bad about losing the bird, and look forward to hearing about your version 2.0 A-10 soon. Thanks.

Regards,
Jim

[Tom]

Hello Tom,
Been steadfastly awaiting the oleo main gear upgrade.
Alpha posted this last July 30th on the Oleo Mains with a price/delivery date speculated for 6-8 weeks which would make for approx. the end of last Sept.
Almost 2 months ago you sort of inferred that availability is up in the air on these.
If FW had a finalized pre-prod run 8 months ago what seems to be the hold up :Confused:
Do you have any further insight ?
There's money to be made on those buggars;)

Best regards,

The first batch of the trailing link nose gear upgrade already sold out. The first batch of the upgrade suspension for the mains is en route. There is a small number of both the main and nose gear upgrades in a container which left the factory over a month ago. Container shipping is very slow right now due to the glut of containers shipping out before the Chinese new year holiday. The ETA of this container is in flux due to a shortage of equipment and trucks to move all these containers. Honestly, they could be here in a few days or 2 weeks. That is the best ETA I have. Again, the batch in that container is very small. There are a lot more of both nose and main upgrades in a container which just left a few days ago.

[OV10]

The first batch of the trailing link nose gear upgrade already sold out. The first batch of the upgrade suspension for the mains is en route. There is a small number of both the main and nose gear upgrades in a container which left the factory over a month ago. Container shipping is very slow right now due to the glut of containers shipping out before the Chinese new year holiday. The ETA of this container is in flux due to a shortage of equipment and trucks to move all these containers. Honestly, they could be here in a few days or 2 weeks. That is the best ETA I have. Again, the batch in that container is very small. There are a lot more of both nose and main upgrades in a container which just left a few days ago.

:Whew::):Cool:

[ColtPilot]

Great news! Glad to hear it mate. :)

Thanks Shirty. The photo I posted is called Hole in one". Originally posted by an A-10's pilots wife. Great friends of mine.

[ColtPilot]

Most of my first flights were with the full load out attached. Eventually I started flying it once in a while with just the wing pylons attached, but this past weekend I flew it fully loaded to distinguish between all the other A-10s in the air, like in the video Tony posted. But thankfully I took them off on Sunday and was flying without them on the fatal final flight.

My replacement bird shipped today and should be here sometime next week.

Sorry to hear that. But glad you are getting a replacement.

[crxmanpat]

Yep, it's due to arrive on Wednesday.

[downwindleg]

The first batch of the trailing link nose gear upgrade already sold out. The first batch of the upgrade suspension for the mains is en route. There is a small number of both the main and nose gear upgrades in a container which left the factory over a month ago. Container shipping is very slow right now due to the glut of containers shipping out before the Chinese new year holiday. The ETA of this container is in flux due to a shortage of equipment and trucks to move all these containers. Honestly, they could be here in a few days or 2 weeks. That is the best ETA I have. Again, the batch in that container is very small. There are a lot more of both nose and main upgrades in a container which just left a few days ago.

Hey Tom,
I hope those of us who put in our order for the mains months ago will be notified and given the first opportunity to order them?
Brad

[OV10]

Hey Tom,
I hope those of us who put in our order for the mains months ago will be notified and given the first opportunity to order them?
Brad

Brad........How'd ya put an order in for the upgraded oleo mains :Confused: I see no link in the upgrade tab for it.........just the trailing link nose gear.

[downwindleg]

Directly right here on the forum with Alpha after he announced that he would be coming out with the oleo upgrade...post #5719. It was in response to many of us asking for it who did not have heavy grass fields. I made my request as a P M but many others put their request in here on the thread.
Brad

[OV10]

Directly right here on the forum with Alpha after he announced that he would be coming out with the oleo upgrade...post #5719. It was in response to many of us asking for it who did not have heavy grass fields. I made my request as a P M but many others put their request in here on the thread.
Brad

That post #5719 I'm very familiar with................it's the one I just referenced when asking Tom for the latest update on availability.
I would seriously think that making a request on the forum or in a PM does not constitute an order though.
Can't even begin to imagine Tom or Mark asking the warehouse manager to be encumbered with the responsibility of searching through these forums for a request.
And then the task of having to load it into the MRP system when no stock number exists yet for the oleo main nor any form of payment completed like a preorder.
The in stock notification process is also part of the ordering system too.
So.........in reality, you and I are just gonna be in the same boat as everyone else watching for when a real part number shows up and order it.;)