Freewing 80mm F-5....Any thoughts?

[Alpha10]

Just flew mine a couple of days ago, its been hanging up for a couple of months so I got it down and put three flights on it and WOW!!! is it fast, flew it with a brand new Gensace/Tattu 45c 5000 it had great vertical with several rolls before it ran out of steam. Forgot how to take it off I guess, it was all over the place, didn't want to track straight at all. Anyone else have this problem, I checked everything for slop or loose set screws but couldn't find anything wrong, maybe the foam tires got a little hard, did some nice drifting for sure...

None at all... It's WORLDS better than that PITA Super Scorpion... You almost clapped every time you were able to get lift even with full flaps lol

[DCORSAIR]

Just flew mine a couple of days ago, its been hanging up for a couple of months so I got it down and put three flights on it and WOW!!! is it fast, flew it with a brand new Gensace/Tattu 45c 5000 it had great vertical with several rolls before it ran out of steam. Forgot how to take it off I guess, it was all over the place, didn't want to track straight at all. Anyone else have this problem, I checked everything for slop or loose set screws but couldn't find anything wrong, maybe the foam tires got a little hard, did some nice drifting for sure...

[Alpha10]

Doors on, just looks right..... :Cool:

Agreed... AND less drag (More speed)

[DCORSAIR]

Doors on, just looks right..... :Cool:

[seaviper]

This little F-5 is a favorite of mine also. I agree. I like the nose door on.

[AZFlyer]

I really love this plane after about 20 flights now. I'm getting used the handling. I think I'll leave the gear doors on. I just like the slick front end with the door shut. I'm finding it is about the right speed for deployment and turning when setting up to land. Hopefully I'm getting that down.

Thanks again all. Very helpful stuff indeed.

[Rick227]

Have the Swiss version and fly it solely on the Admiral 5000 50c stock tray no problems. I occasionally put the Genesis 6000 65c in it .....again stock set up no problems.......probably my favorite EDF.......

[Alpha10]

Mike and I both have the F5 and we both ripped the nose gears off as soon as we were done with media work for that very reason.

Yeah, it definitely fixes the issue, but I DID notice a little more drag on the top end without the door so I bought another one and it picked right back up.

[ryramZ]

Mike and I both have the F5 and we both ripped the nose gears off as soon as we were done with media work for that very reason.

[Alpha10]

Sounds about right!! The 4000 is more than enough for this plane with the 4500 being the limit that I would use in it. I always use take off flaps just to get in the air really quickly and full flaps for landing. I have my plane set up in a way that keeps it from ballooning when flaps are lowered regardless of when they are deployed. It took a couple of flights to get right but it works perfect now. I also ripped off the nose gear door landing on grass and never put it back. Before I removed it there were some issues with the plane doing strange stuff with gear down. taking it off works great....

Yup... The big nose gear door definitely picks up a lot of crosswind pressure and can tip the plane if you're not ready for it or don't have enough speed.

Once you get used to it it's no problem at all, but it does catch some air.

[seaviper]

I found that as long as I get slowed down a bit, then gear and flaps don't cause any unwanted effects. AZflyer I use the same sequence. I might still mix in a little elevator, but haven't decided yet.
Hopefully I can fly today! My nose door doesn't cause any problems. I did remove the main doors because one of mine was interfering with complete retraction. Also the little connecting rods are so soft I thought the grass might do something funny to them on takeoff.
I love this jet. I wish they would do a 90mm super scale version. This one is a tad small.

[AZFlyer]

Yes, I can see why you left the nose gear door off. I think I have it dialed in now.

For me, it's about the right airspeed to deploy gear and flaps and not having to do any crazy maneuvers out at range when getting set up to land. I'm going half flaps after the speed comes down, then drop the gear and then go full flaps when on final. That seems to be the right sequence for me. I also dialed the flaps down a little and tweaked the elevator mix so there isn't a big impact when deployed.

[gooniac33]

OK, I've got 8 flights in on my new F-5, and a lot of what has been said I can validate.

• The thing looks great on the ground and in the air.
• It sounds really good, and that's the case not even at anything near full power. The 80mm fan sounds and performs really good.
• The thing is hard to see out at a distance in a turn. Those tiny wings just disappear out there, especially in bright sunlight. I almost lost orientation on one flight, and I think it took 10 years off my life when my heart stopped for about 8 seconds.
• No need for flaps on take off, unless you're flying off a short runway or want to get off the ground really quickly.
• This plane did not need a single click of trim. It was dialed in rock solid on the first flight, no kidding. I was very impressed with that.
• It's a little tricky to handle until you get the CG right, the throws dialed in right and the flaps and elevator mix just right. I find the nose does dip some in a tight turn, and I've found it somewhat unstable with gear down and full flaps. I've got to work on the flap/elevator mix and find the right speed to deploy both.
• Someone had made a mention somewhere about the nose gear door causing some flight issues when open, and I am finding that to be the case. I've never seen a plane want to balloon with the gear down, but that's what I'm finding with this plane...especially in a turn.
• I'm finding that unless I use full flaps, the plane lands really fast. When I tried landing with only half flaps and at what I would consider to be a good speed for landing, it wanted to stall. So, the flaps and elevator need to be mixed just right, or you've got a handling issue you're dealing with just when you're slowing down in the pattern for landing. That's how I almost lost orientation...I got too slow and in a bad attitude too far away.
• I'm flying with a 6S 4000, and that seems to be plenty of battery. I really don't see the need to modify the plane to go up to a 5000.
• It's very fast.

That's my experience so far. Looking for any tips on elevator/flap mix and throw settings.

Thanks guys

Sounds about right!! The 4000 is more than enough for this plane with the 4500 being the limit that I would use in it. I always use take off flaps just to get in the air really quickly and full flaps for landing. I have my plane set up in a way that keeps it from ballooning when flaps are lowered regardless of when they are deployed. It took a couple of flights to get right but it works perfect now. I also ripped off the nose gear door landing on grass and never put it back. Before I removed it there were some issues with the plane doing strange stuff with gear down. taking it off works great....

[AZFlyer]

OK, I've got 8 flights in on my new F-5, and a lot of what has been said I can validate.

• The thing looks great on the ground and in the air.
• It sounds really good, and that's the case not even at anything near full power. The 80mm fan sounds and performs really good.
• The thing is hard to see out at a distance in a turn. Those tiny wings just disappear out there, especially in bright sunlight. I almost lost orientation on one flight, and I think it took 10 years off my life when my heart stopped for about 8 seconds.
• No need for flaps on take off, unless you're flying off a short runway or want to get off the ground really quickly.
• This plane did not need a single click of trim. It was dialed in rock solid on the first flight, no kidding. I was very impressed with that.
• It's a little tricky to handle until you get the CG right, the throws dialed in right and the flaps and elevator mix just right. I find the nose does dip some in a tight turn, and I've found it somewhat unstable with gear down and full flaps. I've got to work on the flap/elevator mix and find the right speed to deploy both.
• Someone had made a mention somewhere about the nose gear door causing some flight issues when open, and I am finding that to be the case. I've never seen a plane want to balloon with the gear down, but that's what I'm finding with this plane...especially in a turn.
• I'm finding that unless I use full flaps, the plane lands really fast. When I tried landing with only half flaps and at what I would consider to be a good speed for landing, it wanted to stall. So, the flaps and elevator need to be mixed just right, or you've got a handling issue you're dealing with just when you're slowing down in the pattern for landing. That's how I almost lost orientation...I got too slow and in a bad attitude too far away.
• I'm flying with a 6S 4000, and that seems to be plenty of battery. I really don't see the need to modify the plane to go up to a 5000.
• It's very fast.

That's my experience so far. Looking for any tips on elevator/flap mix and throw settings.

Thanks guys

[BIG JETS JOE]

I have the F-5 also. I fly the 4000 because the 5000 makes it feel heavy. The first flight was exciting to say the least but when I toned it down a little it flys great. I put a guardian stabilizer in it and it makes high speed low passes much easier . well over 100 mph. You will love this plane.

[seaviper]

[gooniac33]

Well the maiden was uneventful. The book Cg is spot on. Zero trim. Excellent flier.I used the Admiral 4000. Acceleration is a bit slower than the Scorpion but top speed appears to be higher. The Scorpion did 114mph so there you go.
I love the F-5. Got two flights on her today as well as two on the Scorpion. Rain is going to set in for a week here I think. Can't wait to fly her again.

She might need a little down elevator mixed in with flaps. All landings were done with 40mm flap extension.

I got Mobius video that will be uploaded probably tomorrow. Couldn't be happier.

Super big congrats!! We got a radar reading of 121mph on our F-5s a while back. It is a lot faster than people realize and with the inrunner it may even be faster!

[seaviper]

Well the maiden was uneventful. The book Cg is spot on. Zero trim. Excellent flier.I used the Admiral 4000. Acceleration is a bit slower than the Scorpion but top speed appears to be higher. The Scorpion did 114mph so there you go.
I love the F-5. Got two flights on her today as well as two on the Scorpion. Rain is going to set in for a week here I think. Can't wait to fly her again.

She might need a little down elevator mixed in with flaps. All landings were done with 40mm flap extension.

I got Mobius video that will be uploaded probably tomorrow. Couldn't be happier.

[seaviper]

Still waiting on weather to maiden mine!

[DCORSAIR]

Glad you like it, it is a fun one for sure. I went with a 5000 because that's all I have but I might have to pick me up a couple of 4000 to try out. Mine flies great too, glad you got it flying okay.