Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Hello friends.

I just purchase an Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF today at my LHS. I will pair it up with a Magnum XLS 52A Engine with Apc 11x6 prop.

Can some one here who is familiar with this plane help me build it? any tips and hints are welcome. I will sure post some pics on my progress.

Im very happy that I made this purchase. it looks verry cool plane I hope this will fly well on me.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

That should be a winning set up. Make sure all the screws on the engine are
tight, and use a fuel with castor in it for that engine. ;)

FBD. :D

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

I have the Sportsman Aviation F20 which I'm guessing is similar to yours. Mine was nose heavy with the Magnum 52, had to put the battery in the tail section compartment to balance. F20 is a fantastic flyer. You might want to get some air whistles from i4C and upgrade the muffler to Jettstream for 50 bucks for big sound and performance. I just love that jettstream muffler, giving the motor that high octane sound of a jet.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Im building the kangke f-20 right now,which builds easy enough.It seems to be really lite but the fuselage is kind of big and boxiee.......nice looking plane tho.Wonder what kind of speed and performance it will have.I have a weston magnum 50 engine I might try on it.I have been flying my electrics for the past 8 months so it should be a nice change to go back to the glow for a while.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

You will see 125-135 easy enough, but beware....it may flutter due to the
non-jet lay-out of the control surfaces....(straight across). :eek:

I have one....it flutters. The tail on mine is locked solid, so are three other
F-20's at my field....poor design. [:o]

Dave. ;)

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Is the rudder the only place for flutter.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Keep all the hinge gaps tight, and seal them with mono-cote, or what ever you
use. The planes were only designed to go 100 mph (as per Ray at Kange) so
deal with it like you would any other plane you are hopping-up. ;)

Dave. :D

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Did some research on it last night and I think I will leave on the big wheels that came with the kit and engine and prop it to stay around 100mph.It should still do well I think.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

The good news is....it is a good flying plane, with no bad habits or nasty snaps.
It flys like a pattern plane. ;)

FBD. :D

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

The good news is....it is a good flying plane, with no bad habits or nasty snaps.
It flys like a pattern plane. ;)

FBD. :D

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

The good news is....it is a good flying plane, with no bad habits or nasty snaps.
It flys like a pattern plane. ;)

FBD. :D

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

I have a sportsman F-20, great flying aircraft, I've been flying it for a long time, my recommendations to you is, the nose gear is very weak, you should beef it up, pay alot of attention to the rudder setup, I'm using a OS 46AX with a performance specalties muffler from the the web site, www.pspec.com, I also replaced the tires, and make sure your receiver and battery are secure, you don't want them moving around, I also have air whistle install on mine, as for speed, mine flies about 120 MPA a real screamer.



Wayne

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Sounds great but you might wanna consider a 10x7 or even 9x8 APC for any decent speed- The 11x6 maybe for a test flight or two but you nned RPM's on that bad boy!

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

On my Tigershark, I seem to get best cruising speed and accel with the apc 10x6 on the OS46 with Jettstream muffler, keeping it at 13,500rpm on the ground to allow it to unload more in the air without overheating. The apc 9x8 just did not put out enough speed on that motor. The 10x6 gives me 130mph range easily. I think the OS seems to put out more torque than say TT or ST.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Try a 9x7 then... a 10x6 @ 13.5K does not seem like it would yield 130MPH - My Jett-50 and 9x9 apc did not hit 130 I bet...

Just my experience- a 10x6 is simply not enough pitch to get going very fast---:eek:

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

What kind of RPM's you get from the jett 50.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

17.2K on a 9x8 APC, and this engine has been rebuilt with some spare parts so I bet it was higher when newer...

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

have you had a problem getting your C.G right I have to place my reciver battery all the way to the tail just to balace it.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Flew mine today for the first time. I balanced it at 5 and 3/4 from lead edge but CG seem way off......flew like it was tail heavy.Plus the carb came off the engine.I was able to land safely but I have to do some CG and engine work to night.Where do you guy's balance.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

I did flew mine today it was amazing how good this thing flew. It was so great that is just float like a real jet.

I had to trim about 2-3 clicks on my up elevator and 2-3 clicks on left aileron. It lands so smooth that I did not stress on controls...
My cg is on 5'3/4 back from leading edge I have to place my receiver battery all the way to the tail on my F-20
It is very relaxing to fly this model. I have not weight it so doesn’t know how heavy it is.

I will give these 2 thumbs up. Now im ready for this week end to show of my new airplane to my club members. Im very happy.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

I’m going to ask if some one here had a problem on apc 11x6 prop not fitting a 2 inch spinner.

I have to modify my dubro plastic spinner just to fit. Just asking coz im very concern on balance of this on my engine

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

think I will try mine at 5 inch's from lead edge on the next flight. It was really quick tho with the jett 50..... just didn't feel right with the CG issue.Got the carb back on nice and tight so I hope to try to fly again Thursday.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Got a chance to try my tiger shark again today and all I can say is this plane and the jett 50 were made for each other.After I move the CG forward and went from a 9x8 breakin prop to a 10x6 this thing really flew nice and is fast to.I wonder if the black master airscrew 10x6 prop can take the high RPM's the jett engine puts out.

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

I wouldn't turn the MAS prop over 18,000. They have a limit. I use a good
pair of safety glasses around the higher performance engines, just in case. ;)

FBD. :D

RE: Aviat F-20 Tiger shark ARF
 

Glad to hear the aircraft is flying well for you! Sounds like you are having fun.

Dub and I typically discourage folks from using the MAS 10x6 on the Jett .50. Be very careful. The unloaded RPM of the combionation tends to be around 17,500-18,000 depending on where you are in the flight. If that is indeed outside the safe limit of that MAS specifies, then it's not a good idea.

The APC 10x6 is ok. Gives you a good balance of takeoff, landing performance, and some good top end and vertical.

On the F-20, try a 9x9 standard blade APC if you have the opportunity.