Skymaster F-18F
06-19-2015, 04:35 PM
#127
Got 2 more flight on the F-18F this afternoon. I'm really loving this thing, I feel very comfortable already! I increased the flaps to 75mm with more up trim mixed in and I hit the sweet spot! Works great, I love the slow flight now, just what it needed, I'm also using spoilers for landing. On the second flight I did a nose high landing approach and was at full up elevator at touchdown! I used brakes and was at a stop in about 50ft! lol! Short field, no problem! The slow flight it awesome, even did a tail hook pass. Some was caught on video, I will see what I have and make a short clip.
What I like most right now is at half throttle you can turn and bank and not touch the throttle, very nice.
Anyway here are some pictures of the day with my friend Bob and his own design speed demon!
What I like most right now is at half throttle you can turn and bank and not touch the throttle, very nice.
Anyway here are some pictures of the day with my friend Bob and his own design speed demon!
06-20-2015, 02:46 PM
#132
Thanks dbsonic!
Got 3 more flights on the F-18F this morning, the extra flap (now set to 75mm) was what it needed. It now has plenty of drag and I'm able to carry some power during approach.
Tail hook as I detailed it in this thread works great, my low hook down passes are getting lower!
One little item that needs attention is the rear nose gear door. I see lots of solutions to this door staying open in flight, some are overdone, or could look better lets say.
I used a small piece of plastic coated cable, tied a knot in one end and drilled two small holes through the door. Just loop it around the strut and out the other hole, then retract the gear.
I then pulled it tight and marked the wire where it was in the retracted position. Then when you extend the gear you have plenty of slack to tie another knot. Then just heat the plastic and it will melt and hold
the knot, I added a little CA also. No one even notices it and from 5ft away you can't see it.
OK, now I need some pilots!
Got 3 more flights on the F-18F this morning, the extra flap (now set to 75mm) was what it needed. It now has plenty of drag and I'm able to carry some power during approach.
Tail hook as I detailed it in this thread works great, my low hook down passes are getting lower!
One little item that needs attention is the rear nose gear door. I see lots of solutions to this door staying open in flight, some are overdone, or could look better lets say.
I used a small piece of plastic coated cable, tied a knot in one end and drilled two small holes through the door. Just loop it around the strut and out the other hole, then retract the gear.
I then pulled it tight and marked the wire where it was in the retracted position. Then when you extend the gear you have plenty of slack to tie another knot. Then just heat the plastic and it will melt and hold
the knot, I added a little CA also. No one even notices it and from 5ft away you can't see it.
OK, now I need some pilots!
Last edited by dionysusbacchus; 06-22-2015 at 04:29 PM. Reason: Added example picture
06-26-2015, 10:58 AM
#134
OK, one more thing everyone should do as they assemble this plane, is replace the nose gear pin and bushing with the BVM unit. Don't assemble the plane without doing this first.
The BVM unit is expensive for a pin and bushing but it is worth it, just be careful that you add in the notes of your order that it is for the Skymaster F-18 nose gear pin. The BVM UAT and the Skymaster nose gear pin both have the same last 4 digits in the stock #, so I got a UAT instead of a nose pin! It all it took more than a week with the mixup and I had to buy a UAT because I didn't want to be bothered with going to the post office to send it back.
Also don't forget to use BVM Super Lube axle grease on the pin and bushing.
Well that is about it for me, F-18F is flying great so I have nothing else to add, hope you found this thread entertaining and informative!
Luke
You can see how bent the pin is, it's easy to straighten by hand!
The BVM unit is expensive for a pin and bushing but it is worth it, just be careful that you add in the notes of your order that it is for the Skymaster F-18 nose gear pin. The BVM UAT and the Skymaster nose gear pin both have the same last 4 digits in the stock #, so I got a UAT instead of a nose pin! It all it took more than a week with the mixup and I had to buy a UAT because I didn't want to be bothered with going to the post office to send it back.
Also don't forget to use BVM Super Lube axle grease on the pin and bushing.
Well that is about it for me, F-18F is flying great so I have nothing else to add, hope you found this thread entertaining and informative!
Luke
You can see how bent the pin is, it's easy to straighten by hand!
06-29-2015, 03:40 AM
#135
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Moss Vale, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I replaced the one on my SM F18C with an intairco Pin and Bush for the same reason. It just required boring out the leg itself slightly to accomodate it, just make sure you take the screws out before you drill it.
07-06-2015, 01:28 PM
#136
Thanks for the info Mackey.
I have 21 flights on my F-18F now, had a blast 4th of July weekend! I stuck a GoPro in the back seat, I've since moved the camera to the front, but this was the easy way to do it on short notice.
If you want to skip to the flying part, start at 3:32. We fly off of the old Randolph Field WWII training ruways, most of them have been destroyed but we managed to save a pretty good section to fly on, thank you Randolph! Next to the old runways is the still active training runway that they just refinished, T-38 Talons do touch and go's for student training. Ailerons are still a little sensitive, but I'm starting to get used to them, you will see this beast do a very nose high and slow touchdown!
Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRnziF-tBU
I have 21 flights on my F-18F now, had a blast 4th of July weekend! I stuck a GoPro in the back seat, I've since moved the camera to the front, but this was the easy way to do it on short notice.
If you want to skip to the flying part, start at 3:32. We fly off of the old Randolph Field WWII training ruways, most of them have been destroyed but we managed to save a pretty good section to fly on, thank you Randolph! Next to the old runways is the still active training runway that they just refinished, T-38 Talons do touch and go's for student training. Ailerons are still a little sensitive, but I'm starting to get used to them, you will see this beast do a very nose high and slow touchdown!
Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRnziF-tBU
07-06-2015, 02:28 PM
#138
Thanks!
I did not add any toe in, but I did have to shim the gear so the tires are 90 degrees to the ground. The mounts are at the wrong angle, at least on my plane they are. Like I said before, I think the stability comes in part from my steering servo, JR8711. I'm very pleased with the ground handling, one of my big concerns before flying it.
I did not add any toe in, but I did have to shim the gear so the tires are 90 degrees to the ground. The mounts are at the wrong angle, at least on my plane they are. Like I said before, I think the stability comes in part from my steering servo, JR8711. I'm very pleased with the ground handling, one of my big concerns before flying it.
