Official Freewing 90mm F/A-18E Hornet V2 Thread

[Aros]

Nice video Bill!

gooniac33, I never did like the TV but she's such a sweet flyer I can't quit her! LOL
I just finished painting my 7th Blue Angel...Just waiting on Callie's decals...And since all 6 before were in the wrong variant any ways I may as well put number 7 on the tail! ;)

[DCORSAIR]

I could do with out the TV also, I don't use it anyway and it does have a goofy look to it when sitting on the runway but it flies so good and looks great in the air with gear up, I think that is the problem with the looks, the landing gear just doesn't look right when locked in the down position. It's just one of those jets that flies better than it looks, I don't think I will be selling it anytime soon....:Cool:

[Mike_Then]

I'm also on my 2nd one, and absolutely love it. I disabled the TV on both versions. While it takes off fine from my grass runway, I continue to tweak the landing gear and the AoA of the plane while it's on the ground. I'm doing this so it doesn't "pop" off the runway. Here are a couple of photos of my V1 which is now proudly guarding the entrance to my Man Cave.

I personally think the 12-blade fan sounds awesome on the V2 and provides more than enough thrust.

[Aros]

I'm also on my 2nd one, and absolutely love it. I disabled the TV on both versions. While it takes off fine from my grass runway, I continue to tweak the landing gear and the AoA of the plane while it's on the ground. I'm doing this so it doesn't "pop" off the runway.

Nice shots! What methods are you using to tweak the LG and AoA? I takeoff on high rates for full pitch control and around V1 I make sure to apply slow but steady back pressure...I find by doing that she rotates nice and scale and avoids that dreaded "Pop" off the runway we all hate...lol

[Alpha10]

Nice shots! What methods are you using to tweak the LG and AoA? I takeoff on high rates for full pitch control and around V1 I make sure to apply slow but steady back pressure...I find by doing that she rotates nice and scale and avoids that dreaded "Pop" off the runway we all hate...lol

Really? My V2 rotates BEAUTIFULLY with half flaps and my mix in it. :)

[Aros]

I don't know why but I don't like taking off with this jet dirty...I think I like the clean look on takeoff for some reason...Old dog, new trick syndrome. LOL

[DCORSAIR]

Mine doesn't pop off the runway, it just lifts off nicely, haven't changed a thing on it, bone stock as it comes out of the box. Maybe because we all fly with the cg in different locations, or some run expo, I don't fly with dual rates or expo, just very soft on the sticks I guess works for me. I do have my TV mixed with Elev. maybe that makes a difference moving exactly with elevator, just thinking.?

[Mike_Then]

Nice shots! What methods are you using to tweak the LG and AoA? I takeoff on high rates for full pitch control and around V1 I make sure to apply slow but steady back pressure...I find by doing that she rotates nice and scale and avoids that dreaded "Pop" off the runway we all hate...lol

Thanks! I can't take credit for the pics but I can take credit for the piloting. ;) I fitted larger wheels to the nose gear to elevate the nose, and lowered the rear landing gear by drilling out the hole in the strut so it would sit lower on the retract unit itself. I even cut off some of the rear struts to make it sit even lower still. It's helped but I need a little more AoA I think as it still pops off the runway.

Really? My V2 rotates BEAUTIFULLY with half flaps and my mix in it. :)

What's your mix? I have half flaps and it still does that. Granted I have the TV disabled and I knew that would add to my takeoff woes, so if you're using TV then that explains it.

[gooniac33]

If we can get an 80-90mm that looks and flies like this one I am sold... I don't care so much for the Super Hornet that is on the market already...

[Alpha10]

If we can get an 80-90mm that looks and flies like this one I am sold... I don't care so much for the Super Hornet that is on the market already...

Man... Now you've got me thinking... A hot 80mm might be a nice change of pace for the F-18. The 90's a great size and all, but the performance is nowhere near the 80mm class.

I'd gladly take either, but a clean and lightweight 80 WOULD be pretty sweet!

[gooniac33]

Man... Now you've got me thinking... A hot 80mm might be a nice change of pace for the F-18. The 90's a great size and all, but the performance is nowhere near the 80mm class.

I'd gladly take either, but a clean and lightweight 80 WOULD be pretty sweet!

I would go for a 70-90mm of the plane. The one I posted was a 64mm that originally used a 5 blade fan. Just adding the extra blades made it a bullet! A 70mm would be even better with an 80mm being better still! I think that a 90mm with scale landing gear could be done and I would be willing to pay for it if they made it! But yeah the 80mm fans are making things much more viable. Just look at the F-5 and Mirage!! They are bullets!

[Alpha10]

I would go for a 70-90mm of the plane. The one I posted was a 64mm that originally used a 5 blade fan. Just adding the extra blades made it a bullet! A 70mm would be even better with an 80mm being better still! I think that a 90mm with scale landing gear could be done and I would be willing to pay for it if they made it! But yeah the 80mm fans are making things much more viable. Just look at the F-5 and Mirage!! They are bullets!

I'm with ya... My Mirage 80 was clocked at 155 downwind last season. Gotta love it!

[HifinSword]

, , ,
I fitted larger wheels to the nose gear to elevate the nose, , , ,

I fly off grass exclusively but have been hesitant to buy a plane with small wheels (under 2.5") because there are some divits due to prop strikes on the runway. What size is the nosewheel and what size did you upgrade yours to? And did it require any cutting to get the new wheel to retract properly? Thanks,
Don

[Aros]

Finished up Blue Angel #7. As always thanks to Callie for the awesome decals!

[Alpha10]

Nice man! I'll bet it looks GREAT in the air!

[Aros]

Thanks! Yep, that's my favorite part...Really has impressed folks through the years. We have the Blues that come to SeaFair every August. It's a big deal here in the Pacific Northwest (hydroplane races and air show that ends with a fantastic show by the Blues) so people go nuts when they see a model version flying around. One of these years I'm going to get a composite version for the smooth finish alone.

[Alpha10]

Thanks! Yep, that's my favorite part...Really has impressed folks through the years. We have the Blues that come to SeaFair every August. It's a big deal here in the Pacific Northwest (hydroplane races and air show that ends with a fantastic show by the Blues) so people go nuts when they see a model version flying around. One of these years I'm going to get a composite version for the smooth finish alone.

Definitely... Such a great flying airframe. I had a HOT 5s 70mm Starmax Blue Angel F-18 a couple years back with carbon all through it that we clocked at 147mph... It was a blast!

Hands down my favorite F-18 scheme...

[Aros]

147?? NOW we're cookin' with oil! :Cool:

[bill34207]

A good friend crashed his F-18 yesterday at Florida Jets. Not a Freewing model but a big twin turbine Skymaster. It hurt me just watching it go in through the viewfinder. Almost didn't upload it but he asked me to so he could try to analyze what went wrong.
It's in the Florida Jets 2017 playlist on my You Tube page https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...5sqZdRSiCXua60 Look for Death of a Hornet if you wish to see the carnage. The rest of the list is more enjoyable as it won't make you squirm in your seat.

[Aros]

Ugh, that's terrible. It's one thing to crash a $400 foam jet but a several thousand dollar turbine? I can't imagine. Looks like a potential loss of control surface leading to a sudden torque roll and unrecoverable spin.