Official Freewing 80mm EDF F-86 Sabre Thread

[Beeg]

Anyway, you guys have been flying the F-86. Would you recommend it as a first jet for guy who's pretty experienced in prop warbirds and wants to move to a twin EDF (Me-262)?

Yes. Definitely as a first EDF! For grass you can upgrade the wheel sizes by about a 1/4" without too much modifying of the airframe but they add weight.

[Oxotnik]

Hey, everyone. New to this forum. I picked up a Freewing Me-262 for a great price at swap meet a few weeks back. I'd always planned to get a Me-262, but hadn't planned on getting one quite so quickly. I'm a prop warbirder, but have never flown jets, other than the UMX A-10 Hoglet. I'm extremely hesitant to fly the twin EDF 262 as my first 'rea'l EDF. I want to get good single-engine EDF and have been considering several possibilities. This is my trade space: Single engine, capable of grass-field take off and landing, retracts, military. Many people have recommended the Freewing F-86. I've also been considering the Mig-21 and the Venom. The F-86 seems to be the most recommended as a starter jet. The Venom gets high marks, too, but I hate to spend an extra $100 for a starter plane. The Fishbed seems to fly more like a delta wing than a conventional plane, and may be pitchy and hyper-sensitive to CG (but it scores the highest marks for coolness). I have heard at least once that the F-86 gear may struggle on a grass field, but that seems to be the only negative.

Anyway, you guys have been flying the F-86. Would you recommend it as a first jet for guy who's pretty experienced in prop warbirds and wants to move to a twin EDF (Me-262)?

[gooniac33]

It will fly slower with the tanks but looks amazing! It is also easier to landing since the tanks help with stability.

[DCORSAIR]

It flies great with the tanks on, it is a little slower but looks way better, landings are the same to me, didn't really notice any difference.

[StewW]

Thanks for the posts. I love this forum, everyone is so helpful.
they really do look good in flight with the tanks. It is definitely going to be done the next time I go to the field.

[RCjetdude]

I go in spells it seems, flying with the drop tanks on. Some days, all my flights will be with them on. There is some difference you can feel with them on. But no big deal for sure.

Here's a video when i had the drop tanks on.

I'm with Lon. I go in spells as well. I like the appearance with them on and they help me with orientation but there are times I fly it without them too. I like it either way.

[ryramZ]

here is ours Lon. We filmed one video in Muncie without tanks and this one at our home field with. Sorry for the lens noise. Someone forgot the external mic.

[Lon]

Here's another flight with the drop tanks on. It was pretty windy that day. I don't think it mattered that much with the handling. BUT, you will see i didn't judge my final approach speed very well, and didn't have a very pretty landing into the wind.

[Lon]

One thing I would like to know, the videos never seem to have them flying with the drop tanks on. I am sure you can but was wondering why people don't do it more often. Is it simply a matter of additional drag and battery drain?

I go in spells it seems, flying with the drop tanks on. Some days, all my flights will be with them on. There is some difference you can feel with them on. But no big deal for sure.

Here's a video when i had the drop tanks on.

[dkalwishky]

None that I ever noticed.

[StewW]

Any nasty habits with the tanks on? Guessing just a little bit sluggish and requires a faster approach?

[dkalwishky]

One thing I would like to know, the videos never seem to have them flying with the drop tanks on. I am sure you can but was wondering why people don't do it more often. Is it simply a matter of additional drag and battery drain?

I don't fly with them on because of the extra drag. I think it looks better with them on.

[F106DeltaDart]

I actually fly with the drop tanks on most of the time. The last video I posted, I accidentally left them at the apartment, so I had no choice. Sure they are a bit of extra drag, but I like how it looks with them on.

[StewW]

The Freewing F-86 is my first EDF and had the maiden flight two weeks ago, winds have kept it grounded since. I got a lot of useful information from these threads, thanks to all who have posted to them. I did a little weathering on the finish and and added chequers to the tail and some colour to the drop tanks. There are so many livery options for a Sabre and they fly so well that I see a garage full of them down the road. One thing I would like to know, the videos never seem to have them flying with the drop tanks on. I am sure you can but was wondering why people don't do it more often. Is it simply a matter of additional drag and battery drain?

[gooniac33]

Thanks man! It exactly how the F-86 loves to fly. And, conserving the throttle to only the climbs I've extended some flights to as much as 5 minutes.

Yeah that is the proper way to do it!

[F106DeltaDart]

Now that was some great flying! Great low speed and low level aerobatics too! It is nice to see that others will not just leave the throttle pinned and go all out!! That isn't the right way to fly but what you did is dead on! Just like what I do!

Thanks man! It exactly how the F-86 loves to fly. And, conserving the throttle to only the climbs I've extended some flights to as much as 5 minutes.

[gooniac33]

Very nice Gooniac, great flying! I was also flying my F-86 this weekend and it is always a joy to fly!

Now that was some great flying! Great low speed and low level aerobatics too! It is nice to see that others will not just leave the throttle pinned and go all out!! That isn't the right way to fly but what you did is dead on! Just like what I do!

[F106DeltaDart]

Very nice Gooniac, great flying! I was also flying my F-86 this weekend and it is always a joy to fly!

[gooniac33]

fun flights with the F-86 and other jets this weekend

[Grossman56]

That would look amazing!!!

Grossman56