Official Freewing 90mm F-16 Falcon Thread

[rifleman_btx]

Those things had to have some kind of stress fracturing already, can't say I've ever seen anything like that before.

[DCORSAIR]

I would say they snapped in flight, you said you pulled a hard G dive, when I flew with them on, you can see that are bowed one way or another, depends on how sharp or high G your turn is, my buddy saw his do the same thing but we didn't try a hard G dive, just normal flying they flex really bad, I won't fly with them on now. Run a small dowel down the middle or carbon rod?? just a thought.

[fhhuber]

The foam missiles are weak and you not only apply G when pulling high G, you apply side load airflow to the missiles.

Watch the direction they bend in videos, they bend nose to the inside of the turning arc. G is not pulling the nose of the missile out, airflow is pushing the nose in toward center of the turn. The side load air far exceeds the G force acting on the missiles.

I plan to remake the foam missiles I have using model rocket tubes.

[C17loadmaster]

Yeah, I,ll put either a small dowel or servo linkage in the center for support.

I know the airflow assisted in them breaking. The wings flexed so much that it created wrinkles in the foam on the wings and dented the top of the fuselage where the wings join together.

[rifleman_btx]

Damn sure gave it hell! Wow!

[C17loadmaster]

I wish I recorded it. It was actually me pulling hard to avoid hitting the trees. Haha

[rifleman_btx]

Lol oh yeah that would have been an epic video!

[purduephigam]

Anyone have any thoughts on the 3D F4 exhaust nozzles fitting the F16?

[gooniac33]

Rob repainted his and had it up recently ... Dude has rude piloting skills AND airbrushing skills too!

Good looking plane!! I am still considering getting one of these birds and putting in the new fan set ups that have worked out really well in the F-15... And my buddy has a new afterburner design that will make this look even more like the plane that flies at nellis!!!

[DCORSAIR]

Get one goon, you won't regret it, no need to upgrade, I can get 3 minutes with throttle management, little slow at first but once you get the gear up it moves along pretty good, by far my favorite to fly, of course I do love the F-16 anyway. It does everything well, slow flight is unreal how it can sit there with a high AOA and holding up elevator, it will just sit there and float along. Turning, no problem, kick in some rudder at the same time and you will have a high G turn, it snaps rolls very well too.....:Cool:

[gooniac33]

Get one goon, you won't regret it, no need to upgrade, I can get 3 minutes with throttle management, little slow at first but once you get the gear up it moves along pretty good, by far my favorite to fly then f course I love the F-16. It does everything well, slow flight is unreal how it can sit there with a high AOA and holding up elevator it will just sit there and float along. Turning, no problem, kick in some rudder at the same time and you will have a high G turn, it snaps rolls very well too.....:Cool:

I have flown a stock older 1450kv equipped plane and it flew great! It take a lil bit to get started as you said but once up and moving there is no issue. It is severely overweight in stock form and needs to lose some weight which will really boost performance! I would get a kit plus and then go from there. I have at least 4 set ups just sitting there with no plane to go into...

[C17loadmaster]

Wasn’t my best landing :) dropped straight to the ground from 8 feet or so on final. It wasn’t a stall... but if it was windy so who knows.

[rifleman_btx]

Been there done that, I hate it when it happens too.

[fhhuber]

First flight with a 40cc power Cap 232 (my first larger than .91 glow size model), I thought everything was going just fine on landing approach until the airplane just fell 4 ft straight down.

No used to the appearance of a big plane on approach and misjudged speed.

Wind shift near stall and the airplane can become a rock with no warning also.
When they just drop like a rock... its a stall.

[rifleman_btx]

Exactly

[dkalwishky]

I picked up the Thurnderbirds version over the winter at a swap meet, did the maiden flight yesterday. My first impressions are she flies heavy. I wouldn't say the plane in under powered but she takes time to build up speed (I see that others in the thread had had the same experience).

I'll decide at the end of the flying season if I'm going to keep the plane, sell it or upgrade the EDF to something with more power.

[C17loadmaster]

I did the FMS 90 1900Kv and YEP 150. It’s much lighter and cheaper than just a Freewing Inrunner upgrade. It flies a lot less heavy and has a big performance increase. You do have to modify the fuselage to fit the motor but with balsa filler and paint matched at my local hardware store for $5 it looks like it’s brand new

[gooniac33]

I did the FMS 90 1900Kv and YEP 150. It’s much lighter and cheaper than just a Freewing Inrunner upgrade. It flies a lot less heavy and has a big performance increase. You do have to modify the fuselage to fit the motor but with balsa filler and paint matched at my local hardware store for $5 it looks like it’s brand new

You have done what I actually thought about doing myself! The FMS set up is so much lighter and it helps a lot! I swapped it out in my F-104 and it transformed the flying of the plane! Much easier to fly and land now. Higher top speed and much better climb!!

[dkalwishky]

Thanks C17loadmaster, I'll check out the FMS option.

[dkalwishky]

I just ordered the YEP 150a ESC from HobbyKing. I had $6 in bonus points so I added the programming card and I got free shipping. Now I'll decide on which 90MM EDF unit to use, I'm looking at the FMS unit now. :)

I'll scan the thread to see if there are any posts about putting it in the plane and what mods need to be done.