Official FlightLine 1600mm P-51D Mustang Thread

[BL_41]

3/10/26 I maiden my Flightline P-51 today. Flew for a little over 4 minutes, starting with a fully charged battery. Probably used 20-25% of the battery.
This plane came with their plug and play gyro. Flightline claims it is ready to go with this plane. There were 10-15 mph winds from the SSW, right down our runway. I decided to leave the gyro as is for this first flight. The plane was rock steady, all the way down and through the landing. The only hitch in the flight was that the plane went almost straight up after take-off. I got it under control and put all the down trim available in it. Still needed some down on the stick. I know the elevators looked level, but on close inspection they really did have a few millimeters of up.
No video, no one else flying in this weather today.


3/12/26 The gyro in my plane never showed any lights nor did it seem to respond to the TX switch assigned to it. But it was working based on ground test and the maiden flight was really smooth even in gusty winds. After that flight I got the gyro programmer from Motion RC. Connected the gyro and android device. I made no change, but the gyro lights up now. Solid green, blinking green, and off as I move the switch. Apparently that corresponds to full gyro, self leveling (it won't let you bank more than about 20deg, Thanks to Evan for that info.), and off.

I did not find the gyro app in the Apple store. It did show up in the Android store. Maybe a different name search would find it in the Apple store.

[GliderGuy]

Thanks…it was…but several years ago. Ended up in the ER with several prop cuts on one hand from a smaller FW P-38 prop. This much more POWERFUL
P-51 power train deserves its due respect.

If you decide to leave the prop on, make sure the P-51 is tied down extremely well and stay clear of the prop when plugging in the battery for the first time or for any ESC calibration, motor function work!

-GG

[Evan D]

Good warning GG, I hope that wasn't by experience.

[GliderGuy]

Umm all the newer FreeWing come with that power tap. For afterburner on jets. The ESC has an internal BEC.

Ok…now I know! Thanks…

Yep…works fine just as it came. Power to RX is supplied via the throttle connection from the ESC to the RX.

WORD OF CAUTION. Very early in the instructions the prop assembly is screwed together and attached to the motor shaft. WAIT WAIT WAIT to attach the prop until you bind the RX and calibrate the ESC and get the motor running correctly.

DANGER! Messing with the throttle, TX settings, and ESC calibration with the prop attached is risking personal injury worst case or at least you risk damaging your plane as it jumps off your workbench when you didn’t expect it to come alive at full power!


-GG

[Evan D]

Umm all the newer FreeWing come with that power tap. For afterburner on jets. The ESC has a internal BEC.

[GliderGuy]

Mine arrived in perfect shape. HOWEVER….the UBEC is nowhere to be found.

Disregard…see next post.

See photo as to my confusion…no UBEC was attached where I am used to finding it…just this open ended connector.


-GG

[xviper]

Yes I can get from RCC. But dumba??? Australia Post has a limit on size. Some 70 mm. R ok. But mostly they have to use. Other shipping companies so more$$. Hobby store in Sydney is very fair got my new al37 from him hese researching

I did not know this. Canada Post has size limits, too, BUT only for sending. If a very large box can make it here by EMS, C. Post will deliver it.

[Evan D]

The p51 box is huge

[f4u ausie]

Yes I can get from RCC. But dumba??? Australia Post has a limit on size. Some 70 mm. R ok. But mostly they have to use. Other shipping companies so more$$. Hobby store in Sydney is very fair got my new al37 from him hese researching

[xviper]

X viper. Personaly I think U r correct. Shipping has been largest increase overall. It will get worse... I think box size also is larger on a 1600. Bigger than the jets.. I contacted my normal AliExpress store.. they shipped the V2 F16. But said to use their words... Don't have a good carrier 4 this.. they must b bigger box!!! Not in stock 4 them yet anyway

Of course, I'm referring to the listed prices on MRC. They say free shipping to Con US but you gotta know that the shipping cost from Hong Kong to MRC is worked into that listed price. To ship to me, I have to pay again and by FedEx/UPS, which incurs huge brokerage fees because they are required by law to declare full retail price on the customs forms. Even sending smaller items by mail is NOT cheap. I'm not dissing MRC, just stating the economic reality. I bought my Ares from MRC, shipping and brokerage be damned.
Have you gotten a shipped price from RC Castle? I believe they allow you to select AUD on their website and they ship EMS, which is basically postal service, at least that's how they ship to me in Canada. Brokerage by Canada Post is very cheap. My last plane was $1200.00CAN and the brokerage and tax was $20.00. This is primarily because RCC declares a "value for customs" that is very, very low. Looking at the world map, you are a lot closer to Hong Kong than I am, so I would think shipping would be less than what I would pay. That last plane cost $200.00CAN to ship to me. Wouldn't hurt to just go there and price one out. If it's too much, just skip it. You don't even have to put it in the cart to get a shipping quote.

[f4u ausie]

X viper. Personaly I think U r correct. Shipping has been largest increase overall. It will get worse... I think box size also is larger on a 1600. Bigger than the jets.. I contacted my normal AliExpress store.. they shipped the V2 F16. But said to use their words... Don't have a good carrier 4 this.. they must b bigger box!!! Not in stock 4 them yet anyway

[Evan D]

I’ve seen a few 1700 props blow apart. I don’t fly with stores…

[xviper]

I'm very impressed with what I've heard about this model. However, still on the fence since I have the 1700mm FMS Red Tail. I'm debating on upgrading the power, but don't know if the stock prop can take it. I find it a bit sluggish for my tastes. I would consider using the motor and prop from this P-51 but I'll have to do some eCalc to see if it's worth the trouble.
My old 1700mm FMS Corsair got an upgrade motor/ESC and promptly exploded the prop on the first high speed level pass. Pretty much tore up the whole plane with the prop bits and the final ground hit finished it off.

This new FL looks very spritely and has all the features I'd like in my FMS. Any of you going to get the bomb drop pylons? I see that RCC now has that option available when purchasing the plane. As for the final price (MRC), I'm wondering if a lot of that has anything to do with the higher cost of shipping these days.

[Evan D]

Factory. Note that the forward bomb mount tab is the factory CG. Very easy to use it.

[f4u ausie]

Evan r U still on factory cg?? Or forward of it. 12 minutes. Fantabulous

[Evan D]

My sound system added a little nose weight and I’m flying 590g HV batteries quite far forward for 12 minutes.

[GliderGuy]

That is very old Alpha has been gone for quite a few years now, 5 maybe 6.

Yes this plane is crazy expensive. $166 more than the similar (no gyro) 1600 Spitfire. That said I have the new Mustang and it's really nice and flies great.

Mine arrives later this afternoon. 40 mph wind today, but looking forward to tomorrow’s maiden in light wind conditions.

Will be flying with 6000 mAh batteries.

-GG

[Evan D]

That is very old Alpha has been gone for quite a few years now, 5 maybe 6.

Yes this plane is crazy expensive. $166 more than the similar (no gyro) 1600 Spitfire. That said I have the new Mustang and it's really nice and flies great.

[Elbee]

Hey all,

There's been posts about the end user cost and obviously this is a major consideration for purchase by most of us.

I do think there is also the manufacturing side that should be considered.

Many of you might have read this already.

It is relevant to price as well.

Best, LB

https://www.modelaviation.com/foam-aircraft-made

[Evan D]

I'm liking mine.

https://youtu.be/H2eBpV33oNs