essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

I know these are old news but if someone with experience can chime in. Basically full of fuel I am at 28 lbs 14 oz. So by the time I add some nose wieght or install the cockpit I'll be at 29 lbs. That seems very heavy to me based on what I am reading. I know the are heavy for f-16 this size but 29 lbs seems a bit high.

I have the advanced version with the fancy gears and canopy. Mine is the older version with fiberglass layup, not carbon fiber.

Gear is as follows:
Rabbit 100
3 fuel tanks as supplied
Small CAT (Composite air trap)
UP3 sequence valve run by a ST47 servo (standard size nylon)
UP6 for brakes with ST47
Two air pressure guages from Dreamworks.
Two robart valves ran by two HS82MG servos (81 kept stripping) for canopy.
Another small sequencer for the canopy.
Servos are all around hitech, hi end for tail (7995), hi end for wings. 645MG for steering. The servo weights are on par with JR.
I also installed a details4scale lighting system with the multiwatt pro.
Batteries are a 3300 3s LIFE for the turbine and two 2100LIFE for the RX,ECU and lights. The lipos basically balance it on the spot with maybe 2 oz needed for maiden as just in case.


Does 29 seem about right and is this thing going to fly or not? The only thing I can see doing is dropping one LIFE pack (5 oz) and remove the lighting system (maybe another 5-7 oz).

dubd

The weight of your f-16 is consistent with other reports I've heard.

john josey

I have the same airframe as you....and your right, it weighs 29lbs wet.
I have a p-70 in mine, the take-off run is quite long in calm weather but it does fly ok. The landing is fast, it comes in like an expresss train because of the weight.

My cermark f-16 of similar size weighs 22lbs wet which is much more managable especially on tight strips.

Good luck
john

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

Fortunately I have a very long runway for it but as a 2nd jet I am not sure about that yet. With a P70 I have no doubt the takeoff roll is long! With a rabbit 100 I would expect it to perform much better, but the landing are going to be fast no matter what!

I may try to sell it only because I may not have the experience for this one. Is it hard to fly and land?

rcjetsaok

My Feedback: (7)

They fly great and land fine.. just a little faster. 10kts down the runway, you will have no problem... ( As long as the nose gear stays extended !!!! ) They have yet to crack that Coconut !!!


Danno

FenderBean

Yeah the new honeycomb is much less, they are right that's normal weight and website power plants are always under powered. I found out the hard way buying my first turbine that was to small. They will fly with the power plants listed bit u have to build light, that works for any jet building light should always be a must. Just my thoughts and fej has made lots of improvements which is always a good sign of a company that cares. I would just go a little bigger on turbine if possible.

Pepperpete

Mine came in at the same weight. And it flew like crap. I have no idea how someone thinks these fly "great" at that weight. The landing was always hot as heck and the nosegear never stood up to that extreme wieght on such a small frame. If I slowed down at all she would start to rock side to side. I sold mine as soon as I could and bought a Tamjets 1/8th. 10 pounds lighter all around in approximately the same size. I have heard that FEJ has made great strides in lightening up thier aircraft but that 1/8th F-16 was a waste of money.

This was one of only a handful of flights before the front nose gear started to collapse everytime. Even when I replaced it. I had to fight this aircraft on landing and takeoff due to the weight. It was never easy and I've flown much more than my post count might indicate. I had the same thrust as you and my takeoff roll was horrid but I did make it a bit better with increased throws.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLObsGwb9GA

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

Any idea where the weight is on these? Is it the gear? I hink the pipe weight 1.5 lbs easy

FenderBean

Gear is actually light, its the old material that is heavy I think, on average u save 6+lbs with the new material. I checked my new parts against the old and it was a bit less. My elevators were about a 1/2 lb less in new material vs the old.

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

I am finishing one with Sport gear and so far it feels lighter than my Skymaster.

FenderBean

I will say the new gear is heavier than my old, they chose not to cut the lighting holes in it. I think they should since this saves weight and does cause any issues. The problems they fixed had nothing to do with this area. Two thumbs up for the mew gear, mine is on its way to have my down and locked motors moved over. Can't wait my f-16 flies like a trainer so having the new gear will be the icing on the cake.

john josey

I have to say that i didnt have any issues with the nose gear holding up, although i did move the pivot point, effectively giving me a longer stroke on the ram.

FenderBean

Yeah even old gear worked fine my nose finally gave out when I was taxing out to take off when I hit a groove in pavement. It would have been easy to fix but I just went ahead and got the new set since I plan on selling my f16

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

I switched my gear to Skymaster, just because.

dubd

To the original poster. Fly it and if you don't like it, sell it. I can't see how it can fly well at that weight. I had a 1/8 Tam F-16 with a P-120... Overkill!! The plane weighed 18lbs dry.

smitty1001

My Feedback: (29)

The old one with the sport gear = normal weight, the old one with the scale gear = SUPER HEAVY.
Criag P from Austin is the resident expert on the heavy one - P-80 powered. He did master it although it has never looked like much fun to fly. It will fly but as others have said, be prepared for it to eat up the whole runway on takeoff and be prepared for the scale nosegear to collapse on landing. I don't think the answer is a bigger motor in this scale/case - better to remove all non-essentials. (batteries, lighting systems, cockpit/pilot, etc.)
My Tam 1/8 weighs about 19-20lbs full of fuel powered by Rabbit - that's probably the feel you're looking for. As said above, fly it, and if you don't like it, sell it.

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

One last question, with the rabbit 100,, can I fly by fast and pull up out of sight?

smitty1001

My Feedback: (29)

Fly by fast, YES. Pull up, YES. Out of sight? NO.
It is all about energy management after the engine and weight discussion is long over. You will not want to try that for a while...

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

Well if it has strong pull outs from a fast fly by I am happy. Hmm, I'll report back here if I fly it. I'll get it on video.

If I recall, the gear of the advanced version is only a little heavier than the normal gear, not enought to account for 4 lbs though.

smitty1001

My Feedback: (29)

Yeah, not sure where the weight is? I just know the old Sport version is much lighter than the old Scale version. Can you check the engine clinic? I just posted on your thread and am interested in your rabbit problem.

FenderBean

the new gear looks just like the skymaster, my f-16 thread shows it. There is only one part that has a thread/rotation point and its on the nose gear.

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

exactactly, but Skymaster's doesn't leak and it is externally identical. Not taking chances.

FenderBean

even before I converted mine to electric the air cylinders didnt leak, but im just on person im sure it could happen or has happened. I think people should really put some stock in electric, motors have become very reliable and over all I lost weight going electric. I will say that electric/air is the best way, with jets and all the gear doors/air brakes having air on those things minus the gear is the best way. If you have something like the f-16 which only has 3 doors all electric is the best, my f-14 and f-15 will be a hyrbid.

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

Smitty, my rabbit issues were caused by a slightly pinched fuel line, I mean sligtly. The rabbit ECU will read RPM from the RX noise from the digital servos. I thought that was originally my issue. It wasnt.

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

So is it safe to say that this is in fact an "advanced" jet, needing advanced skills to fly it, and if one can flly this one can fly and jet out there?