Official Freewing 80mm A-4E/F Skyhawk Thread

[Alpha]

Welcome home to Hobby Squawk, Flazz! Ground test and check your timing. If you got the 130A from a PNP with an outrunner motor, you should be fine.

The guys here can post their preference for CG. I weighed in with my preference (I wrote the manual ;) ).

[flazz]

Thanks guy's, that's what I need to hear. The reason I'm using the 130a, I have one, motion is out of the stock 100a, and funds for edf's are low. My concern was if I used it and it was some how restrict the power required it may not get of the ground or once in the air its wallowing around the air with the hope I can make it back to the runway. Would not be a good situation.
Also, any correction to the 195 cg call out? And is that with gear down or up? The 3 gear all swing forward so that will shift the cg forward giving it a little nose have depending on in which configuration it was balanced. Any up or down elevator trim with flaps deployed?

Glad to be aboard with you guys .............

[RCjetdude]

Hi guys, I’m new to this forum and can use some info with regards to EDFs. I’ve been in the hobby for many decades but new to Edfs. I’m putting together a FW A4 and I’m using the stock motor and fan. I have a FW 130a esc with the 8a bec. Although the its suggested that the plane use the 100a esc, do you see any reason why the 130a would interfere with the over all performance of the motor/fan? Any feed back will be appreciated.
thanks

Welcome to HobbySquawk and the wonderful world of EDF's flazz! The 130A ESC is a little heavier than stock but should work fine. If that is what you have then go for it! To Seaviper's point it is a little overkill.

[seaviper]

I have roughly 200 flights on my a4. All stock.
The 130a esc won't do anything bad. But it might be heavy. Why not go stock? The stock 80mm units are very good.

[flazz]

Hi guys, I’m new to this forum and can use some info with regards to EDFs. I’ve been in the hobby for many decades but new to Edfs. I’m putting together a FW A4 and I’m using the stock motor and fan. I have a FW 130a esc with the 8a bec. Although the its suggested that the plane use the 100a esc, do you see any reason why the 130a would interfere with the over all performance of the motor/fan? Any feed back will be appreciated.
thanks

[Petronio]

I totally agree with Dcorsairs statements. I noticed too that the A4 seems to fly better with the ordinance on so sometimes I fly with rockets on, sometimes rockets and droptanks but mostly I fly with just the drop tanks on. Besides they are a great indicator of n undecent landing...if they move slightly or fall off you did a ****ty landing Lol! I also used to come in slower but besides making the touchdown more difficult the droptanks may touch the ground..ever since I come in slightly hotter and I got really the hang of landing this thing now. Today we have been flying 6 guys at thea same time in the air...3 Vipers...1 Stinger and my A4, it was awesome!
I wished I could decide to push the button that easily but I am still paying off the A4. I need to save money for a while to get one so need to carefully think which one I would love to have next.

[RCjetdude]

Awesome set up sir! I have always wanted a Trex airbrush.

[e4dragongunner]

Great write up ALPHA! agree on all counts! I have been ignoring other larger projects.... ( gassers) to work on my Motion gear..... Just upgraded my airbrush system to the Grex T3 and haven't looked back.... its like building scale models as a kid.... but these FLY....I am in danger of amassing a fleet like George Baker.



BEST TIME TO BE IN THE HOBBY!

[DCORSAIR]

Any trouble keeping your drop tanks on?

Nope, only when I first got it and was doing some AOA landings and found out they will hit the runway and pop off, so I land with a little less flare and they have never come off again, other than that I have never lost them in flight or anything like that. I do recommend checking the magnets, I've had several of my magnets on my other FW jets installed wrong and want to push them off, my F-4 had one set of magnets installed backwards on the drop tanks, the A-4 had two sets of magnets installed wrong on the hump part, lucky I never lost it in flight. You should get a good pop when you install the tanks, if not, check the magnets.

[RCjetdude]

Any trouble keeping your drop tanks on?

[DCORSAIR]

I sit in dragongunner`s boat...it wasnt my intention to buy the L39 but by hearing all the flight reports its difficult to refrain xD. I am still holding on to Foil to see if I either hate or love it...depending on that will either get Foil or the L39 :Silly:

I could careless about this foil project really, I just jump in for fun once in awhile, if I were you I would go for the L-39 now and worry about the Foil project when it gets here, who knows when..............:Cool:

Got my A-4 flying very well to, it does fly good and is the only EDF I think that flies better all loaded up.

[Petronio]

I sit in dragongunner`s boat...it wasnt my intention to buy the L39 but by hearing all the flight reports its difficult to refrain xD. I am still holding on to Foil to see if I either hate or love it...depending on that will either get Foil or the L39 :Silly:

[Alpha]

Purduephigam and e4dragongunner, no my friends, it never stops, the Cycle continues and it has got us all by the heart and mind (and wallet). Haha. Onward and upward!

I'd agree with what the others have said. The A-4 is a really great flyer, one of our top sellers, and flies very well considering it's a scale attack aircraft layout. But the L-39 is a trainer aircraft, and its straight wing contributes a lot to why many of us have observed the L-39 being comparatively a little more "stable", a little more more "locked in", etc.

Having developed them both of these, I think of them as apples and oranges --they are each the best RC version of an A-4 and an L-39, with different design intents.

Our approach with Freewing over the years has been to build out a portfoilo of aircraft that offer different experiences to customers. If they all flew identically, there wouldn't be much fun or challenge. While we want each model to be the best of its kind in the market, some models are intentionally tailored toward being optimal trainers to hone new pilots' skills and give a safe entry to the 80mm Class, some are tailored toward sport acrobatic, or scale, etc. With every model we develop, one of those considerations always leads the others, even while all considerations are balanced together. Ultimately, the unifying factor needs to be that they all fly well, land well, look good, and be a good value for what they provide.

The Mirage V2 is the Acrobat, and challenges ones eyesight at times, but it still lands very easily.

The F-86 is the Transitioner, and has small wheels, but its inexpensive for its large size.

The Avanti is the Supercar, and isn't Scale, but it's easy to fly well.

The A-6 is the Classic that doesn't fit large batteries, but is the only A-6 on the market.

The MiG-21 is the Brute that isn't a conventional choice for American pilots, but it is a big model for the price and also the only Fishbed on the market.

The A-4 is the Scaler, with twisting gear worth watching, but it's the largest and best flying A-4 on the market by far.

The L-39 is the Sport Trainer, yes it's blue, but it's the best of both Scale and Sport worlds in terms of looks and handling.


Etc, etc, etc.

[crxmanpat]

I think of the L-39 as a cross between the A-10 (stability) and Avanti (performance). Such a sweet flying bird. I need to get mine into the paint shop!

[e4dragongunner]

I have been resisting the L-39..... yet I get bombarded with flight report after flight report and video after video.... I own the A-4 ( Love her) the Avanti! the F4 and the A-10... all EXCEPTIONAL !!! this is worse than Crack.... I am addicted!

[Hardway]

Yes!!! Better for the model aviation industry... Worse on your wallet!!! LOL That is awesome stuff.. I told my wife I needed something new to fly... She looked at me like I was nuts... HA!!!

[crxmanpat]

I'd like to think that it only gets better. ;)

[Quickstop]

Damn, literally just built the A4 and now now I need to consider the L39 now?? I've been holding out for Foil but have since pulled the trigger on the 70mm F16, A4, and T45. When does it stop? Does it ever stop?

Not only does not stop, it gets worse!

[rifleman_btx]

Nope NEVER!!!LOL

[purduephigam]

I would go so far as to say the L-39 would be a good first EDF for anyone moving into them from prop jobs. It's that stable.

Damn, literally just built the A4 and now now I need to consider the L39 now?? I've been holding out for Foil but have since pulled the trigger on the 70mm F16, A4, and T45. When does it stop? Does it ever stop?