Official Freewing 90mm F-16 Falcon Thread

[TMoyer]

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

[Hugh Wiedman]

Has anyone used the Admiral Pro 6s 6000 packs in the F-16? I have several of these packs for other FW EDF’s. I am wondering if they would physically fit in the fuselage and if so, would they be to heavy since the recommended pack is the Admiral 6s 5000.
Thanks, Travis

I'm using an SMC 8000 mah pack weighing 903 gr and the 12 blade inrunner, so I think the Admiral should be OK. I forgot how much the current Admiral pack weighs, maybe something like close to 900 gr if I remember. Try the new HiV SMC 6200's at 848 gr, definitely one of the best packs around with a higher actual discharge rate.

[TMoyer]

Has anyone used the Admiral Pro 6s 6000 packs in the F-16? I have several of these packs for other FW EDF’s. I am wondering if they would physically fit in the fuselage and if so, would they be to heavy since the recommended pack is the Admiral 6s 5000.
Thanks, Travis

[PatrickVn]

Another winter project completed. 😀 Equipped her with a Spektrum AR 637T Receiver and added a sound card for turbine sounds and of course afterburner.. Power is a 9 Blade 90mm 3672/1900kv Inrunner with a 130amp ESC. Upgrade to Hitec D85-MG servos for the elevator control. 2 Coats Poly to brighten her up. All rates set (Spoilerons and Flaperons ) and forward programing was completed for Safe and AS3X modes. Another great looking plane that might end up a Show Bird until I can master my landings....

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

[rifleman_btx]

Here's a recent flightvid by one of my clubmembers

I fly my thunderbird all stock, and love it. One of my favorite to take out and fly

[Icarus the 2nd]

Here's a recent flightvid by one of my clubmembers

[Evan D]

Can I suggest contacting Ray? Gooniac33.

User Profile - Hobby Squawk RC Forum for Airplanes, Boats, Cars, Helicopters, Tanks, and Trucks

[Helmsman52]

Help please…
I purchased the gooniac light burner and I cannot get it to operate other than with the servo tester.

I have a Futaba 18SZ. I’ve tried a separate channel, Y’d it off the throttle channel and even disconnected the burner ring that came installed and connected in its port.

One thing I noticed is the red light on the burner board has a continuous flash no matter what I attempt with the motor disconnected to the esc.
When I connect back to the esc it will flash then blackout at 50% the turn red then start flashing again as I keep increasing.

I’ve tried end points adjustments and sub trim to note.

Thanks and I appreciate any suggestions!

[xviper]

AR637T has made this a much better flying plane!! I had no idea how bad the new LemonRX had become and will no longer be getting them.. all the old ones work great but new diversity style are horrible!!

Here is mine flying with new Socokin 4s 5200mah packs in series... FMS 1500kv 8s Fan installed...

I won't get the Lemon that has only the diversity antennas on the main RX alone. I will, however, continue to get the ones where you can add a satellite diversity antenna - primarily their 10-ch DSMX/P ones. Then I add one of the new HobbyEagle gyros, primarily the EVO. This combination (old HobbyEagles) has worked tremendously well for me in many planes for years.
But as you say and I agree ................... the one with only the diversity on the main RX unit alone is a bust. And yes, the 637T is a wonderful option (which I use also) but I can buy the 10-ch + satellite + HobbyEagle EVO, have 4 extra channels for other things and still have 40 bucks left over.

[gooniac33]

AR637T has made this a much better flying plane!! I had no idea how bad the new LemonRX had become and will no longer be getting them.. all the old ones work great but new diversity style are horrible!!

Here is mine flying with new Socokin 4s 5200mah packs in series... FMS 1500kv 8s Fan installed...

[jasmith41]

Same as rifleman_btx, although mine is running on the 6s 12 blade inrunner, but shouldn't be any real difference. And do yourself a favor and deep six those RT's and get an SMC 6200 40C graphene lipo instead, weight 814 gr, 43X52X160, about the same cost but actual C of 38-39C, where the RT 70C is more like 33C, with lower individual cell amps and of course higher individual cell IR. Used to have a boatload of them, was lucky to finally sell all my RT off just this year (at a discount), that is of course the ones that didn't go bad in the first year (something they have become known for). I even fly my F-16 on grass with an SMC 8100 20 C (actual tested C more like 28-29C), weight 903 gr for minimum of 5 minutes of flight time. I know guys, I always sound like an SMC lobbyist, but after spending over $10,000 in all kinds of brands and testing them, the SMC's are right now the only one to go with for Actual higher discharge C, cost and oddly enough weight (Liperior's are close, but they weigh at least 10-15% more and China Hobby's are supposed to be close as well). SMC's 5300 is another outstanding battery and weighs in at an incredibly low 684 gr.

Fully agree with you on the SMCs - awesome battery. Deep sixing the RC Battery Liperiors too - wish i'd have know more when i wasted money on them... SMC, HRB, Admirals - only ones i'm buying going forward...

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hello everyone! I’m looking to buy the Freewing F-16 Thunderbirds livery.
Couple questions… it the white color a non painted foam or actually painted white? How are the grass opps? I have quite a few Roaringtop 6s 5500 70c 825gr lipos.
I appreciate the help! Thanks!

Same as rifleman_btx, although mine is running on the 6s 12 blade inrunner, but shouldn't be any real difference. And do yourself a favor and deep six those RT's and get an SMC 6200 40C graphene lipo instead, weight 814 gr, 43X52X160, about the same cost but actual C of 38-39C, where the RT 70C is more like 33C, with lower individual cell amps and of course higher individual cell IR. Used to have a boatload of them, was lucky to finally sell all my RT off just this year (at a discount), that is of course the ones that didn't go bad in the first year (something they have become known for). I even fly my F-16 on grass with an SMC 8100 20 C (actual tested C more like 28-29C), weight 903 gr for minimum of 5 minutes of flight time. I know guys, I always sound like an SMC lobbyist, but after spending over $10,000 in all kinds of brands and testing them, the SMC's are right now the only one to go with for Actual higher discharge C, cost and oddly enough weight (Liperior's are close, but they weigh at least 10-15% more and China Hobby's are supposed to be close as well). SMC's 5300 is another outstanding battery and weighs in at an incredibly low 684 gr.

[rifleman_btx]

I have the thunderbird, with the high performance 6s power system, and fly off grass all the time with it. No issues

[T-CAT]

Hello everyone! I’m looking to buy the Freewing F-16 Thunderbirds livery.
Couple questions… it the white color a non painted foam or actually painted white? How are the grass opps? I have quite a few Roaringtop 6s 5500 70c 825gr lipos.
I appreciate the help! Thanks!

I can't answer the grass ops aspect because I don't fly off grass, but the base white color on the aircraft is white paint.

[Helmsman52]

Hello everyone! I’m looking to buy the Freewing F-16 Thunderbirds livery.
Couple questions… it the white color a non painted foam or actually painted white? How are the grass opps? I have quite a few Roaringtop 6s 5500 70c 825gr lipos.
I appreciate the help! Thanks!

[rifleman_btx]

I fly the hoovo 5200 with mine and love it. I think the 6200 will fit ok but it may get alittle heavy in the stick

[Hugh Wiedman]

I am buying a F16C 9 blade PNP

Do any of you think a HOOVO 6000 MaH 60C battery weighing in at 818 grams will make a massive difference in flight and acrobat maneuvers? Would the battery fit the compartment? It is 6.1*1.89*1.89 inches. This is the battery that I have.

Do you guys think that a SMC 5300 MaH 40C weighing ~684 grams would be worth ditching the HOOVO battery and buying a whole new one?

Will the F16 fly for about 3 minutes on a 4500 MaH battery?

Can't tell you about a HOOVO battery, but the weight is not a problem. And in my opinion, after testing hundreds of batteries for IR, cell amps, etc., the SMC's are now the only battery I'll fly. I'm flying F-16 (although I have the 12 blade inrunner to give a little more punch on take-off as I fly off grass) on a 903 gr SMC 8100 mah 20 C (tests out to actual C of 24) and get 4:40 (could go to 5:00 but always keep enough for a go around or two) with 35% left at the pits. I used to fly it on the SMC 6200 40C, weight at 814 gr, flew great, got about 3:40 on it (could stretch it to 4:00 but don't like to get under 30-35%). I also flew it on the SMC 5300 (great battery, especially for the light weight) and got around 3 minutes and it's very acrobatic with that. I think the SMC 4500, which I also have, would get you about 2:30 so I doubt you'll get to 3:00 unless you fly it very conservatively. Just my thoughts. If you're flying off of asphalt, you can add maybe 15 seconds or more from the times I gave you as I'm using up quite a bit on take-off getting off grass that you won't need on asphalt.

[Syntha]

I am buying a F16C 9 blade PNP

Do any of you think a HOOVO 6000 MaH 60C battery weighing in at 818 grams will make a massive difference in flight and acrobat maneuvers? Would the battery fit the compartment? It is 6.1*1.89*1.89 inches. This is the battery that I have.

Do you guys think that a SMC 5300 MaH 40C weighing ~684 grams would be worth ditching the HOOVO battery and buying a whole new one?

Will the F16 fly for about 3 minutes on a 4500 MaH battery?

[sam51401]

Appreciate the feedback Hugh and the CG info. The good thing is the actual retracts didn't fry but it was just that short lead that goes from the board to the receiver. Seems there were some stray wire strands that caused a short where it was soldered at the board. Easy fix but it led to find other issues in the that if power can not be routed to the board by using each of the three failed plug points on the board, then that means the power coming from a ubec on that plug won't power the board. The throttle won't work and the flame light won't either. If I try to plug the battery to any of the receiver inputs on the board, it doesn't work. This should be the same as providing receiver voltage to the board via each of the common + and - leads on each of those leads.
So my setup will be repaint to the prototype scheme, Shubebler fan with 1680kv for either mild 6s or hot 8s flights. JP brakes, and either my RT 6250 6s or some 6000ma twin 4s packs for that extra rush. Will setup for flaps and tailerons and start the CG around 120 for maiden. I also have the SMC 8100 that fits with no mods so should get very good flight times with it. As for the upgraded fan mounts and angle, I'll set it inline with the fuse datum 0 line and report any results that may seem different. I believe your spot on that the previously reported ballooning is more closely tied to CG based on your experience.
Thanks again and I hope to read other replies and shared ideas on real experience.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Wow, no reply since my inquiry on April 18th. Same goes for the support thread on RCG also
Well update is the repaint is coming along to replicate the prototype scheme with some help from Callie and a remake of the tail flash graphics. I ran across a problem on the mixing board
when i wanted to extend the gear using a servo tester. So in order to power the tester and the board to extend the gear, i used a 6.6 LiFe pack powering the tester and the LG extension to the servo tester from the board. Just as plugged up to test any servo output. With this connection i was able to extend the gear but i noticed that the lights weren't working and as i moved the servo tester to get to the board, it let out a lot of magic smoke. Well it wasnt from the board or the tester but the lead that is for the gear that is soldered to the mixing board. It took most of the insulation of the wires off as teh short was found to be loose
and i was quick to unplug the battery. Well the lead was replaced with no problem but as i fixed it and started to test further, i found three points that fails ot apply power to the board. The UBEC port doesnt nor does the Flame light or Throttle allow power to the board. With the UBEC port dead, i think its a dead board. I sent a request to MRC and see what they say.
Anyone else seen this problem among other boards?

I would have answered you earlier, but not sure myself as it relates to the fan thrust angle. I installed the 4068-1835 Kv 12 blade FW inrunner in mine along with a caste 130 amp ESC with 10A UBEC. I did not change the thrust angle and it works fine for me with no ballooning when reducing throttle but that's at a CG of about 125mm, as opposed to the CG as per the manual of about 115mm (if I remember correctly). I initially played around with the CG point (primarily to help get off grass-eventually changed nose wheel to 2" Hangar Nine ProLite wheel-works great) and found some rather odd things, at least for me. Moving the CG back from 115 didn't really affect the in flight trim much, but when I got back to 130mm or more, when I dropped the throttle it immediately raised it's nose and ballooned up, followed by a wing stall and drop to the runway. When I got it back to 125mm or less, no more ballooning on landing if you cut throttle, so whatever you do, I think the furthest aft CG you should use is 125mm (seems to fly and land the best there, at least for me, with no "uncontrolled" rise of the nose). You can always start out at 115mm and work it back a bit. I also found that at 125mm, I can use an SMC 6200 (weight 814gr) or an SMC 8100 (weight 902gr) and can't tell any difference in take-off distance on grass, in-flight performance including vertical or landing with a nice higher AOA. Therefore, I've been using the heavier battery and get flight times of 5 minutes or more.

Regarding frying your LG servos, yes, I've seen this, not myself, but a friend RudyD54 who did an 8S F-16 Thunderbird and installed the Avion ESC from Spektrum. Turns out that ESC uses a higher voltage on the servos which the stock F-16 LG can not handle. He fried his on the 2nd flight. Hope he chimes in here to give you a better explanation.