Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

I missed out on a pre-BITW maiden, so I had to do it after the event was over. Here is some video of the second flight. Nothing too "rigorous" yet, but I did sweep the wings. :) Overall, I'm very impressed with the plane. No stab/rudder flutter or wings stalling on landing. It's very stable with the wings out... when I swept the wings it was a handful, so I'll need to make a few adjustments and try again. The Tomcat is powered by 2 Jetcat P-140RXs which provide plenty of blow. Thanks to Lowell, B1Bob, Ali, and EDF Jim for giving me tips for a successful maiden and Ian for the awesome build.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UM4JRlRHRo[/youtube]

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

congrats, what is your final take off weight? and did u use flaps for landing?

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Awesome man! Congratulations. Do you need more or less throw on the tailerons with the wings swept?

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Not sure on the final weight. I'll weigh the plane soon and report back. I did not use any flap for landing.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Thanks! Less throw with the wings swept, which I had set, but it was still too much. [:@]

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Looks good!

It seems as if FEJ has come a ways from when I bought two of their first planes a number of years ago. I'm still not ready to pull the trigger on another one, but its getting closer...

I have yet to hear anyone say that any F-14 model is easy to fly with the wings back - all of them, Jetmart, JHH, Avonds, seem to be a handful with the wings swept.

Congrats!

Bob

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Congrats Dantley.
Nicely flown! Thank goodness you had all that runway ;) Wow, that looks allot lighter than the one of B1's I fly. Looks like a great set up to me, perfect power as well. You really do need so little movement in roll when those wings come back. A roll gyro would be ideal. Not essential as I first thought, as Bobs is handling ok now when the wings are back, just as long as that roll rate is turned right down.
Regards Al

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Bob: This plane has really changed my perception of FEJ. Plus, their customer service is top notch.

Ali: Thanks! Good thing my brakes work or I'd run out of runway! ;) I'll keep reducing the roll rate until I'm satisfied. Does Bob's F-14 tuck in the turns with the wings back?

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Thats you rolling into it as you have too much ail movement.. Check out the Vids of B1's at Kentucky if there are any with his set up on the roll and compare to how it was flying at BITW. Also for some reason I found it needed less movement in roll one way compared to the other.. but that could just be a B1 thing :eek: Try wings swept straight and level and rock the ail stick left to right, right to left and see if it all feels balanced. Even with the smallest of roll inputs I can get the Bbunny to roll easily.
I am with D on the perception thing. This time last year I would not have touched a FEJ model, but the more I see of them in action and actually get to fly their newer products, the more impressed I am.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

I'll check the left and right roll movement in the next flight. That's interesting that there was a difference.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Hey, and the gear went up on only one system!! Who'da thunk it???!?!? ;);):D

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

I guess that they have finally listened to the end user here on RCU. That is a real testament to the manufacturer getting the message !

So, I guess that I need a F-16 and F-14..... :D:D

Cheers
Rick

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Congrats Dantley on your maiden!!!

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

This.

You could see even Ali was anticipating the 14 tucking into corners and such.

And Ali had a glorious pass right over the runway with the wings out, he then pulled up and swept the wings. Absolute awesomeness.

I have found with other 14's the CG really does need to move to make it more stable in the different configurations. I will be playing with this with my 14. And it will also get a gyro treatment as well.

The 14 with swept wings is a nose HEAVY delta. Delta's need VERY little aileron and lots of elevator.

If you try to move that CG back, when it gets time to land with the wings out, nose up and slow, well 14's REALLY don't like that. [:@] Ask me how I know.

And the gear REALLY did ALL go up, gear doors close and then all the doors opened and all the gear came back out!! WooHoo! The flight was a bit short at 4 min, but apparently there is room for maybe a min more?

Oh and you're welcome for the moral support D. ;) :D

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Of course the gear went up despite the fact that the FEJ guys said you need 3 valves to run everything. If we would have followed their advice Dantley would have sunk over $1000 alone into the air system. As far as I am concerned, no aircraft should have to cost that much to have pneumatic gear go up and down. [&o][&o]

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Yeah, I was kinda cringing when I was overhearing the conversation that Dantley was having with the FEJ guys about each gear and the stand alone systems for each gear.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Hi Dantely:

congrats on your F14. Also, it was nice to meet you at BITW. Hope to see you again sooner.

PS: Separately valves will cost $170 extra fee (two more 2 way valves). But I am glad to hear one valve works on his. Good job again.

Thanks
James

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

True James, add that to the EVSD-5U he has, plus airline, plus festos, plus fill valves and gauges and you have over a grand!! Just sayin...

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

James, it was nice to meet you as well. I bought the extra EV-2 valves just in case. I'll use them on a future project.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Rav.. Dont worry. We all know he couldn't have done it without you. ;)

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Raffi,

why don't you add weight on the wingtips? That way, the CG will move back when you sweep them back.

just a thought

And dantley: congrats on the maiden, too bad i could not make it. Are you bringing it to Lodi this weekend? bring the f14 and f100!!!!! (you should sell everything else haha)

Jack

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Ali speaks the truth. I knew you were a cheaky, err, smart guy. :)

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Its already a tad roll touchy. I dont think adding weight on the tips will make this any better [X(]
Yes there is a C of G shift when the wings go back, and yes its noticeable, but noting unworkable. I still had enough elev to pull up vertical with ease and do that wing swing that Rav liked so much ;) Gotta admit, it did look pretty sweet ( I almost wanted an F-14 for a moment there )
Regards Al

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Ali, i did not mean weight on the tip to make it more stable,but to have the CG move back when you retract the wings.

The other option is to have a weight being moved with a worm gear, but that is hard and complicated.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Now you want me to bring the F-14!! :D You want me to bring my F-100, but you're not going to bring yours???

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Haha... F100 will be taking a break. bringing the Rafale (I need a toy hauler to be able to bring both of them haha)

So, what are you bringing?

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

F-100 and maybe the F-14 if I get a chance to go through it before the event.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Nice job Dantley!
Scott

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Good job Dub. 

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Thx Scott and Warren!

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Congrats on your maiden flight. Enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing.[8D]

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Thanks, David!

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Thanks, Joe!

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

I forgot to mentioned dub, i luv the music at the end :).

Did you cg at the front metal bar?

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

:)

CG is at the front of the bar. It feels slightly nose heavy right now.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Congrats Dantley.  Looks like it flew great.  Did you guys get a weight of the airframe and gear before the build?

Kirk

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

Actually Ali that should help by adding inertia in roll. Putting weight in the tips will also help the CG shift when you sweep the wings.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

I was going to say sweeping the wings back should decrease the moment of inertia as compared to when wings are extended and should make it more roll sensitive and roll "better". The F14 is a fascinating aircraft. Congrats Dantley. Its a winner.

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat
 

I don't like complicating things, so I won't be adding weight to the wing tips as raffy is suggesting. Nor will I have worms traveling through holes as Jack suggested. ;) I did tone down my roll travel, so we'll see if I tamed her down. Looking forward to flying the Tomcat again!!

RE: Another Fly Eagle F-14 Tomcat