HSD F-16 105mm EDF Jet

[Porkster]

Oh and to add it was a balmy 10*c here today and the gear was still very stiff. I can not express enough that I really dislike it. In the summer it might be OK but here in Suffolk I'll be lucky if it see's over 25*c for more than a few days. I guess the average temperature of only 15* - 18*c and they will still be too hard.
Annoying that I need to find a suitable grease or oil of a lighter weight!!!!!:Angry:

[Porkster]

Off pavement Aros, you will understand how happy I am to finally get decent flight out of this one. I'm looking forward to the next flights.
Considering I haven't flown my original F-16 in a while this felt reasonably quick, but it really does like to keep the speed up during the turns. I landed a little hot on my 2nd flight but it was smooth touch down. Mainly due to almost zero wind.

[Aros]

Good to hear! This jet has a way of putting our hearts in our stomach that's for sure! Glad you got it sorted out for the second flight. I haven't noticed any extra elevator sensitivity on mine. Maybe the Cortex dampened that? However, if you are flying at 178mm CG that could contribute to the sensitive feeling elevator...Rotation and landings are easier but the elevator is more responsive feeling. Just a thought. I flew my first one at 165mm and while rotation and landings where more of a challenge, she was definitely easier to tame in flight mode for me...But at 175mm I feel pretty comfortable there. Are you flying off pavement or grass?

[Porkster]

Success! At last! Thank god lol
first flight was nearly a total disaster, as I rotated I relaxed the elevator and spat! Down she came lucky I kept my nerve and powered on and back up on the elevator as I was headed straight into the rough at the end of the runway.
It was really sketchy and felt like the batteries were moving and changing the CG. Never even tried to raise the gear. Got her back down which again luck was on my side. Thought that the throttle mix may have some how turned back on?
Checked everything back on the ground and all looked ok. Gear survived and batteries were where they should be? No throttle mix?
Not sure I like the resolution of the new elevator servos and the fact I’d turned the expo down too.
I went for another flight and turned the expo up quite a bit and reduced the throws a bit more.
Success, it seems this new version is more sensitive on the elevator than the V1
I'm not happy I had to add a little up elevator even at this CG but it flew well and tracked nicely. Got a decent flight in and the gear to elevator mix worked well too.
I do have a Cortex gyro I could try but wanted to get the basic flight sorted first.

Happy again.
I might even try a little further back to reduce that elevator trim.

[Aros]

Great good luck! That reminds me I need to still do that elevator/gear mix as well. I've had two flights on mine with the Cortex gyro. That gyro is awesome. I have my CG at 175 and I may keep it there...Just bought some Roaring Tops 5500's I can't wait to try them out to give her a much needed boost. Eventually I will invest in a new power system...Stock is too "meh" for me, especially at her size and weight.

[Porkster]

Looks like the weather might hold up tomorrow and I'll get another chance to try the Artic camo F-16. I'm moving the CG back to factory and I've added me gear to elevator mix.
I've also done some more to my original F-16 project.

[Aros]

Looks like maiden is tomorrow. Weather looks sunny for the first time since 1912.

Going to try out my new RunCam camera. Looks like really nice quality HD 60fps. Going to top off my batteries and get this girl in the air!

Anybody have this month's Model Airplane News? There's a really good article about throws and expo that really hit home to me. Truly changes the paradigm of how I've been setting up my rates and expo over the years. In a nutshell, less expo is better than a lot of expo. I used to think the other way around. It would also explain - in part - some of the problems I was encountering with this jet. This is all in line to what Andy of RCJetwerx told me. So no more 40% expo. Hello 15-20%.

If you get a chance check out the article it's one of those "hand slap to the forehead" articles. At least it was for me.

(And now that the cat is out of the bag I can't wait to get my hands on our F-4D Phantom II! Been waiting YEARS for a Phantom this size and quality!)

[Aros]

Good luck my friend. As we see, this one takes some real research to crack her code.

[Porkster]

exactly as you said, the plane gets nose heavy with gear up.
I initially set my elevator at neutral at 178 gear down but as the gear extends it adds down elevator as I'm going to be adding up trim in flight with the gear up due to its nose heavy in flight. so it should keep it level at all times.
I was very nose heavy on my first flights with this one, I've checked and double checked my CG for exactly 178 so am looking forward to trying it.

[Aros]

So with the CG at 178mm with the gear down it shifts aft when the gear is retracted? I thought it was the other way around (gear shifts forward when retracted creating a nose-heavy CG?)...Either way a mix with retracted gear sounds like a good idea.

[Porkster]

Yesterday I removed the old gyro and set the CG for 178 by placing the Rx battery under the electronics bay hatch then added a mix which adds down elevator with extended gear, giving a more nose down/neutral stance once trimmed for flight. The shift in CG when the gear moves is quite significant. This once you've trimmed for level flight make the plane pitch up when you lower the gear. My personal preference is for a little back pressure when landing on the elevator stick not having to push forward.
I've also reduced my rates and expo. Like you Aros, I'm waiting for good weather. Took it to the field this afternoon but it was gusting upto 31mph so it went back in the car again!
shame as I'm going to unable to get to the field for a couple of weeks now.

[Aros]

Got the Cortex gyro installed and calibrated. Just need to tweak the throws/rates and she's ready for maiden. Going to maiden at 178mm CG with low expo and rates as advised by Andy. Just need the weather to cooperate. Sooooooo, I'm thinking a June maiden.

LOL

[Aros]

Like I said in my response on the RCG thread it sounds strangely similar with some of my flights with my first one. I was fighting her tooth and nail in some flights. I thought it was acting very tail heavy so I ended up moving my CG to 165 (I believe my initial CG was closer to 180). Someone in this thread said to try 165 and that they swore by it and sure enough I found her to be much more stable. However, Andy from RC Jetwerx has some good points about a CG in the 178-180 range:

"...The biggest part of the equation is the cg. Sure it'll fly forward of 170 but there are a few complications that the forward cg presents. One, it leaps off of the ground at takeoff and that poses its own complications. Two, the up trim needed for level flight cuts down on the up elevator travel that the plane likes for landing. Three, holding the nose up during the whole flight prevents it from achieving a scale speed, which is why so many believe its underpowered. I've had a lot of conversations with the designer and we both agree that 178-180 is optimal."

He also mentioned to decrease the expo and rates for more scale-like flight. Where are your settings at?

I am a bit nervous to maiden at 178 but I am going to give it a try with the lower rates and expo and trust the Cortex gyro will tame this girl for me. I feel your pain man. This jet has at times made me pump my fist in the air and shout "YES!" after a wonderful flight from takeoff to greaser and has at other times made me question my flying ability. It's one of the reasons I wanted to get another one so quickly after selling my first. I know this jet is very sensitive to CG and settings and I am determined to get her dialed in and flying sweet on every flight, not just once in awhile, lol.

Hopefully some others can chime in. I think the rates, settings, setup and CG is as varied with this jet as the opinions of the flyers that go along with them.

[Porkster]

Like I said my other one is a peach.
the only difference is the gear suspension and the esc
I've already decided I don't like the new gear either, controversial I know but the compression is to hard especially in the cold weather the fluid in them must be very thick.

[RCjetdude]

Hmmm. I have heard nothing but mostly good things about how the plane flies.

[Porkster]

So, I did my maiden flight this afternoon and it was truly awful. I had my CG at 178 maybe a little more forward as George (my pilot) was added after the CG setup. It flew very tall heavy and was extremely pitch sensitive especially with the gear down. I was lucky to just about land it ok. Second flight I moved the Rx battery a little further forward - not much. This made it a little better but it still wanted to balloon with the gear down?!
Im now thinking I might need to add a mix to add down elevator with the gear down? I had to dial in quite a few clicks of up trim as well, indicating nose heavy?
Oh a just another point, I have the throttle to elevator mix off...but....if you turn the stock gyro on it enables the mix again!!
Second flight again I really struggled to get a decent landing and nearly pancaked it in! It's pulled the front gear mount off but that looks like it didn't have much glue on it.
I'm really quite annoyed as my first one was a complete ***** cat to fly, this was a complete dog! If this was my first experience with it, it would now be on the classifieds or in the bin! :Confused:

[Aros]

LOL I have maxed out my garage space already.

[Porkster]

I’d love a 1:5 scale f-16! The rate you’re buying planes you should have kept him just in case!!!!!

[Aros]

Top section is done painting-wise. Still need to add Callie custom decals...Next up, paint the bottom white sections. I also found out I ordered the wrong size pilot. 1/5 scale instead of the 1/6-1/7 size. DOH! <face palm>. So the wrong pilot will get shipped back to base and I will have to get his shorter associate.

[Aros]

Yeah that would be pretty sweet! As for the bright white, I guess the snow is pretty white here in the Pacific Northwest. :Silly: