Official Freewing 90mm F-16 Falcon Thread

[jetpltrich]

Thanks for the CG discussion fellas! I'm hoping to get this beauty into the air and back on Sunday!

That looks like it’ll be hard to see in flight though definitely cool looking.

[SanExup]

Thanks for the CG discussion fellas! I'm hoping to get this beauty into the air and back on Sunday!

[Eric Gottwald]

Next flight out I am moving the CG forward as I'm of the opinion that you "Can teach Old Dogs New Tricks". Landing is about the only occasional stressing situation for me that any better approach is welcome in my world. Thanks DCORSAIR and Eric for showing the way to improved performance.

Dear Hugh,
very well said👍. Have fun with the new CG😉.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Dear Hugh,
as long as you feel comfortable with it, fly her like that. I didn't feel comfortable at all with that behaviour and, as also DCORSAIR, pointed out, if you move the CG forward, the landings become much more stressless.

Next flight out I am moving the CG forward as I'm of the opinion that you "Can teach Old Dogs New Tricks". Landing is about the only occasional stressing situation for me that any better approach is welcome in my world. Thanks DCORSAIR and Eric for showing the way to improved performance.

[Eric Gottwald]

Let me know if it changes landing behavior farther forward. I'll fly mine as well the next time out and try it around 115mm as well. I generally fly my EDF warbirds at least 10-20mm further aft then recommended (while the prop warbirds more on the nose heavy side), especially since I'm trying to get off grass better, but you may be on to something with the F-16. This is definitely the only one I have that lands like that, although both my F-18's exhibit it to a significantly less degree and those I fly 15mm further aft.

Dear Hugh,
as long as you feel comfortable with it, fly her like that. I didn't feel comfortable at all with that behaviour and, as also DCORSAIR, pointed out, if you move the CG forward, the landings become much more stressless.

[DCORSAIR]

I have owned seven FW F-16's and flew with the CG at 118mm, that seems to be the best all around CG for flying and landing, requires just a little up trim but it will still do high Alpha, lands so much better, 115mm works to, I flew my first three around there, lands great as well, I would never go past 120mm though, just flies weird to me and landings are easy as long as you do the same approach every time, if not and you get behind it on power it can get ugly quick, I did get into a high alpha lock as some call it, one time on approach and had no control at all, nose pointed almost straight up, it just stayed that way as I kept adding power and using rudder I was able to wiggle out of it, never did that again, but it never did stall either, love the F-16, just had so many of them I got bored and sold my last one not to long ago.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi Hugh,

yes, these were the recommended CG data which which I have flown my first one (123 mm) and from what you described, mine landed exactly like yours. I could bring her down with an extra power "shot" when touching the ground but overall this is no behaviour I would describe as "usual" for a plane. However, the videos and blogs I have seen recommend 115 mm for the CG. Let's hope it works 😉.

Thanks, Eric

Let me know if it changes landing behavior farther forward. I'll fly mine as well the next time out and try it around 115mm as well. I generally fly my EDF warbirds at least 10-20mm further aft then recommended (while the prop warbirds more on the nose heavy side), especially since I'm trying to get off grass better, but you may be on to something with the F-16. This is definitely the only one I have that lands like that, although both my F-18's exhibit it to a significantly less degree and those I fly 15mm further aft.

[Eric Gottwald]

Eric,

If I remember correctly, the recommended CG is something like 118-128mm. I'm flying mine at 125mm with the gear down / 128mm with the gear up and I use flaperons as well. I initially tried several different further aft cg locations and noticed that from 130mm to 140mm it didn't really fly much different but at 140mm and further aft there was a specific slow enough speed on landing that it immediately severely raised it's nose (without any additional up elevator), ballooned up a few feet then came straight down. I was attempting to help it get off grass easier and moved the battery back too far to see if that would help, which it really didn't help much, so I settled at 128mm and haven't noticed any issues since. The only thing I found was that I still need to come in with a little power (about 32% throttle) and it get's it's nose up and sinks nicely, but doesn't glide like some others so I can't cut the throttle until it touches down. In fact I give it a slight throttle bump seconds before the gear touch and it settles down nicely. Probably if I move the cg forward to maybe 120mm, it may land easier but I'm used to landing now as it is.

Hi Hugh,

yes, these were the recommended CG data which which I have flown my first one (123 mm) and from what you described, mine landed exactly like yours. I could bring her down with an extra power "shot" when touching the ground but overall this is no behaviour I would describe as "usual" for a plane. However, the videos and blogs I have seen recommend 115 mm for the CG. Let's hope it works 😉.

Thanks, Eric

[Hugh Wiedman]

Dear Hugh,
thx for the appreciation. It was a lot of work, as I said, but I am definitely a little bit proud of my masterpiece 😁. Hopefully, she will not end up as a hangar queen. I've had one F-16 before (which I painted in another beautiful Belgian Air Component scheme (the 2012/2013 demo team version)) but sold her due to the bad landing behaviour (which was due to the incorrect CG that was provided). However, with the correct CG (what is yours?), I hope the next pictures will be of her in the air. I will keep you posted.

Best, Eric

Eric,

If I remember correctly, the recommended CG is something like 118-128mm. I'm flying mine at 125mm with the gear down / 128mm with the gear up and I use flaperons as well. I initially tried several different further aft cg locations and noticed that from 130mm to 140mm it didn't really fly much different but at 140mm and further aft there was a specific slow enough speed on landing that it immediately severely raised it's nose (without any additional up elevator), ballooned up a few feet then came straight down. I was attempting to help it get off grass easier and moved the battery back too far to see if that would help, which it really didn't help much, so I settled at 128mm and haven't noticed any issues since. The only thing I found was that I still need to come in with a little power (about 32% throttle) and it get's it's nose up and sinks nicely, but doesn't glide like some others so I can't cut the throttle until it touches down. In fact I give it a slight throttle bump seconds before the gear touch and it settles down nicely. Probably if I move the cg forward to maybe 120mm, it may land easier but I'm used to landing now as it is.

[Aros]

Eric Gottwald, um WOW!! One of the best livery jobs I have seen on this model. Simply fabulous. Bravo Zulu!

[Eric Gottwald]

Dear Hugh,
thx for the appreciation. It was a lot of work, as I said, but I am definitely a little bit proud of my masterpiece 😁. Hopefully, she will not end up as a hangar queen. I've had one F-16 before (which I painted in another beautiful Belgian Air Component scheme (the 2012/2013 demo team version)) but sold her due to the bad landing behaviour (which was due to the incorrect CG that was provided). However, with the correct CG (what is yours?), I hope the next pictures will be of her in the air. I will keep you posted.

Best, Eric

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hi all, today I finished the conversion of the F-16C of the US Air Force to the F-16AM of the Belgian Air Component in the "XTM Tiger" livery. Painting was a pain in the a... but worth it. I also constructed and 3D-printed a new rudder section as it is typcial for the AM-versions. The yellow Xs are decals from Callie graphics and they look fantastic (thx Callie). What do you think?

Eric, that is absolutely super fantastic! IMO, one of the best, if not the best looking F16 I've seen. Looks quite nefarious.

Since I conversed with you several months ago, I started flying my F16 again as it's been in dry dock awhile forfeiting flight time to others. Forgot how well it flies and gets into a nice high AOA on landing. Doesn't float as much as the Mig or SU, but after remembering to bring it in with a little power and let it drop slowly with it's nose in an FU attitude and a slight kick of thrust just before touch down it's sweet.

I'm now tempted to do another in your scheme. Imitation is the biggest form of flattery.

[Eric Gottwald]

Hi all, today I finished the conversion of the F-16C of the US Air Force to the F-16AM of the Belgian Air Component in the "XTM Tiger" livery. Painting was a pain in the a... but worth it. I also constructed and 3D-printed a new rudder section as it is typcial for the AM-versions. The yellow Xs are decals from Callie graphics and they look fantastic (thx Callie). What do you think?

[Tigerman]

thanks Evan D That is what I needed to know.Nothing to comlicated ..Was going to get the Eflite F16 but given up waiting for them to come back in stock over here in the UK.

[Evan D]

By the instructions it's "Y'ed" to the throttle channel. Some don't like the point where it starts to go orange so they plug it into a separate channel and mix it.

[Captain Moron]

About to buy the 90mm F16
I see it comes with a pre installed afterburner. How is this fitted into receiver IE what channel in the receiver does it plug into and do you have to set it up in the transmitter has well ????

[JustPlaneChris]

Hey guys! I'm wondering if someone can take some measurements for me on their F-16? I'm trying to determine if the landing gear would be an appropriate size for a scratch built A-7 Corsair I'm working on. The F-16 main gear isn't exactly correct for the A-7, but it's similar enough to the A-7 gear that I think I can make it work. The issue is it seems as if the main gear is all one unit, meaning if it's not a wide enough track for my fuselage then it won't work. So, could someone measure the wheel to wheel distance when extended, and also the distance between the hinge points on the main struts where they pivot? Thanks much! Here's an in-progress picture of my A-7 just for fun. :)

Chris

[TMoyer]

Hugh,
Thank you for the information. Also good to know that you are able to takeoff from grass as well. My field is grass. We keep it well manicured and cut very low, so I didn’t think it would be an issue. All my other EDF’s don’t have a problem with it.
Travis

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh,
Thanks. And you have no problem physically fitting the SMC 8000 in the F-16? When I talked to Motion tech support they thought the Admiral possibly might be to large to fit in the battery compartment.
Travis

No problem. Dimensions and weights are as follows:
Admiral 6000 mah: 45X58X163 910 gr
SMC 8100 mah: 45X62X160 903 gr
SMC 6200 mah: 43X52X160 814 gr
SMC HiV 6200 mah: 50X50X150 848 gr

Any of the SMC, IMO is a better option. The 8100 for longer flight times and the HiV 6200 for acrobatics. I fly off of grass so I need the superior performance of higher discharge rate for take-offs, although the 8100 gets off just fine.

[Cape Jets]

What kind of Poly product did you use to brighten her up and how did you apply it ? Looks great :-)

I use MinWax Polycrylic Clear Gloss with foam brushes. It will really make the white and colors pop and give it a good protective coating as well. First light coat and scuff up with blue scrotch-brite pad, by scuff up I mean lightly run the pad over all coated surfaces. They 1 more coat alittle heavier and re-scuff again. Then a heavy last coat and it will shine.(no scuffing after last coat) Stay away from the control hinges with the coating.