Rakaz

Hello guys,

After we built the FEJ F-15E 1:7 we were not sure to start another project from this brand. Because we had to work very hard with the F-15 to fly it. We found leaks in all the cylinders and gear ( FEJ help me to fix that problems)...and the plane was too strong and heavy. But nowadays I am flying the plane and It flys wonderfull...more than 60 flys and everything works good.

This time I contact the manufacture and He told me that the new F-18 1:6 is " another world ". He was right! In fact, It just arrived my home I was impressed. The finishing of the plane is just perfect...all the frames are carbon fiber.

We check the cylinders and gear out and they are perfect no leaks.

The landing gear is very well done and very hight quality.

We tested the doble pipe and it worked fine...It is strong and light.

The kit has big kevlar tanks.

A lot of and good kit improvements...which give to this kit a very hight quality. From here I would like to congratulate Fly Eagle Jets.

This plane is going to be powered by the last Jet-Central MAMMUT and we will put the last HITEC servos HS-7950TH on all the surfaces.

I will send more pictures as I build.

Regards,

Raúl

norbert montenegro

Hola

Congratulations Raul, a great model in your hands.

Merry Christmas and a successful 2010 for you and your family.

Norbert

readyturn

My Feedback: (9)

Very nice....

Please keep the pictures coming.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Rick

olnico

Hola Raùl,

I have a lot of experience on the 1/7th scale F-18F.
The 1/6th scale version looks very good. However here a the two things I have noted:

The main gear stance is still too narrow. You will have a lot of difficulties in cross wind. I'd recommend you to tilt the gear mounting plates outwards by 20 degrees to get a wider stance.
The rubber tank caps will leak after a while because of the kerosene/oil softening the tank fiber walls. I'd strongly recommend you to glue aluminium rings to the tanks to avoid this problem.
Also use larger bore brass tubes for the pickup and vent ( you can check Kevin's post about the F-86. These points are very well explained.
That's about it.

If you need any more advice, you can contact me directly by Skype.

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

Like Oli said,

Make sure your fuel delivery is up to snuff, ie make sure you are running all the biggest (5/32 or 9/16") and a VERY robust air bubble accumulator!

Looks great!

Raf

Peter A

My Feedback: (34)

From all the videos posted on this F18, this is the best flying F18 I have ever seen.
Good luck

jetnuno

Hi Raul

Congratulations for your new toy.... Iwas not aware that the Mammouth was already in the market. I was looking for it about a year ago for my F18 1/7 and it was not available.

I don't have the plane anymore anyway. By the pics, it seems that FEJ improved the frame by using carbon fiber and this was the only way to go for big airframes, nevertheless the aluminium used in gears seems the same and for a almost 30Kg (I estimate arround 25Kg dry?) plane ALL materials and techniques should be improved.

The cilinders look nice. Are the cockpits made in the same hard resin material?

Please keep us posted and looking forward to see you flying it. Maybe in Coimbrajets 2010?

Regards

Nuno

olnico

The P-200SX is just perfect with the 1/7th scale F-18F at 230 N.
The 1/6th scale one is going to be underpowered with a Mammoth. Bare in mind that this airframe generate a tremendous amount of drag with a Y pipe...
I'd go for the new Behotec 300...

David Searles

My Feedback: (49)

Oli,

The Mammoth is rated at 48lbs thrust, the P-200SX, to my knowledge is 51.7lbs thrust. Somehow, I don't believe that 3.7 lbs is the difference between "just perfect" & "underpowered".

When are you coming back thru LA? Give me a call!

David S

ravill

My Feedback: (11)

Dave, I think Oli is saying that the larger (1/6 th scale) F-18 will be underpowered with the mammoth. And inherently implied, is that it (the 1/6th size) would also be underpowered with the P-200sx.

Raf

David Searles

My Feedback: (49)

Raf,

Thanks, I got that.

The power needs of the 1/6th are quite different than the 1/7th though, I believe. The increase in size is not coupled with a commensurate increase in weight, ie the 1/6th has a better lift co-efficent. Look at the way it lands as compared to the 1/7. The main reason for needing the thrust of a P-200 for the 1/7th has to do with the way it handles in the landing profile. The extra thrust is needed to help get you out of trouble if you fall behind the drag curve on approach because of the planes weight and drag. The video of the 1/6th scale shown is powered by a Behotec 180=45lbs. I think 48 -52 lbs will be enough to fly it well, perhaps not ballistic but certainly not underpowered.

Just my opinion.

David S

olnico

Well I saw the video and that shows a plane that needs a lot of runway for takeoff and that needs 100% thrust during 100% of the time to fly patterns.
Yes the approach speed is reasonably low, but this is not my primary criteria when choosing a scale aircraft that needs to be demonstrative.

It comforts me into the fact that this aircraft needs at least a P-200SX to give it justice ( ie to get the authority in vertical maneuvers that the real F-18F has )...

olnico

Hi David,
I'd certainly give you a call when I get a chance to get a flight to you. Possibly next month.

SJN

The F-18 is known for draging its ***** along the runway......must be underpowered

olnico

Awesome picture Sonnich.

SJN

Found it on this page....check out the fantastic pictures of the warbirds and jets...

http://richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/A...hts/index.html

olnico

Check again that video David:
http://www.geohei.lu/olin/videos/Hob...flight%206.wmv

I am using full thrust almost all the time on this bird. Even in the loops I have to keep 100% thrust till 3/4 otherwise the speed would drop dramatically and I would end up in the drag corner at the bottom of the figure ( check the lop at 1:17: I keep power all the way because the nose gear is out )...
Look at 1:37 and 2:46. I do a vertical rolls after a medium/high speed pass ( full thrust pass but the nose gear is out so obviously the speed is a bit lower than usual ). At the end of the roll the plane is already dragging around...

220N is a good value to fly the 1/7th scale F-18F in a realistic display way ( as the real one is flown in meetings ). It is not overpowered with the P-200.
The 1/6th scale F-18F will need at least 20% more thrust to achieve the same flight characteristics. That is why I believe that the Behotec 300 will be the perfect engine for this plane.

The Taiwanese video that is available confirms this and also confirms the fact that the plane needs power for proper aerobatic. It also shows a much easier approach capability due to the lower wing load, which is nice.

jet time

My Feedback: (75)

Guys, mine will be here next week and we were going to use the P-200 in it. I am told with the new construction, it weighs the same as the 1/7 model. I will have it in our booth at the AMA show in Ontario, Ca. Jan.8th. Hope to see a lot of you there. The new F-4 will be there as well.
Lowell

David Searles

My Feedback: (49)

Oli,

I could be mistaken, but I was under the impression that your P-200 was limited to 45 lbs thrust when you were doing the flights you reported on in Jet International. I believe that it is what you wrote in your article. That might explain the performance. I never had those same power issues with my P-200 powered Hornet, which was turning out the full 51.7lbs. It was more than enough.

I lot of folks would think the Skygate Hawk is underpowered with only a P-160. Mine was powered by a Rhino, same thrust, and flew fine, I thought. It really just boils down to individual flying style and definition of "underpowered" or overpowered. Hell, the guys out here fly the Comp Arf Flash with P-160's and if they could fit it in, would probably put a P-200 in it!

Had I ordered the 1/6 my plan would have been to order the twin version and put two 36lb Rhino's into it(a little more than the Behotec 300). But I decided on the F-4 instead. I guess my definition of "underpowered" probably differs a bit from yours a bit. I just think that 48-52lbs of thrust will provide "adequate" thrust for this plane. More would definitely be better.

David S

olnico

Hi David,

Here is the power curve of the P-200 that I am using in the F-18F.



It is a normal P-200. Max thrust 220 N or 49,5 lbs force @ISA. I have tested a 4 of these engines with my laboratory grade test bench. None of them has gone above 50 lbs force.
Similarly, the P-200SX has given me 222N or 49,9 lbs @ISA.
There is a difference between the advertised thrust values and the actual measured ones, as usual...


The boosted version is only available to military customers. I have tested it and although the thrust increase is significant, the EGT increase is not compatible with our modelers needs.

WhoDaMan

My Feedback: (164)

I guess I never understood what folks were talking about the gear needing to be wider till I saw this photo. So I ask what does it take to make them sit correctly

Dave

Rakaz

Hello again guys,

I am attaching you more pics about the construction.
It is just amazing the fast that you can build this kit.
We have finished all the surfaces...all the servos are already built. And also all the engine conections.

Next week we are receiving the Mammoth!

I keep you informed.


Raúl,


Jet-Central, Hitec, Fly-Eagle.

olnico

Yes Dave,
Here is another view from the back.



The outer wheel rims are almost as wide as the fin tips. Or in other words, the outer stance is nearly 50% wider than the fuselage...
This is a crucial point to get correct crosswind capabilities to the plane, along with proper main struts spring rates ( not too soft ! ).

3DAV8R

My Feedback: (39)

Just an FYI, I have a good friend flying the F-18F out of Lemore NAS in CA. Quote" It's an F-18 but no vertical performer"

jetnuno

Hi Raul

Nice pics and nice work.

If you look carefully to pic nº2, the rudder movement will not be ok if you don't put ball links on the rudder shaft side. The pin from the sullivan type link shall neve be aligned with the rudder horn. FEJ used to send aluminium with ball brass links to allow this movement.

Keep us posted.

Regards

Nuno