Hey guys,

I am finally after a month and a half of waiting, getting my Freedom 20 tommorrow. It is already built, never been flown, has a Hitec radio, and a .25FP engine. I am wondering if you guys have any pointers for me in getting this thing prepped to fly. The plane is immaculate, and the firewall is absolutely clean so I know it has never been flown. The only thing that needs replacement is the needle valve assembly, which should not be a problem. And if any of you guys know, how is this plane to fly? Is it slightly aerobatic at all? The guys at the hobby shop are saying it's going to be at cruise around 70 mph. Any BIG pre-pre-flights that I need to do after break-in before actually flying it for it's maiden flight?

Thank you guys so much, and wish me very good luck please!!!!

That's the Goldberg Freedom 20 I take it?

It looks like a fine trainer. It's a tad small for my taste (I like large wing trainers.. visibility and a tad slower and more predictable).

Have you flown before?

If not, do you have an instructor with a buddy box set up for you?

That would be the best bet for success without destroying a plane that you are obvoiusly proud to own.

CGr

GET HELP. Great little advanced trainer, somewhat aerobatic, will move right along. No bad habits, but you need to be prepared to turn as it gets small quick. GET HELP.

Yes, I have flown before, I had a large winged trainer Thunder Tigre before....after 2 years of flying, I finally crashed it. It has been around 8 months since I last flew.

you should be able to handle that plane then. But, it would be well worth it to get some help for the maiden. As was said, it gets small very fast.

CGr

Also, the hobby shop said it should fly kind of like a NextStar, so I figured this is a great plane, and that's the reputation I have been noticing about Carl Goldberg kits.

I would agree with getting help after an 8 month break from 2 years flying.
A buddy box for the first couple of flights couldn't hurt just to get your thumbs working again.

Hehe, a lot of folks wouldn't consider that a compliment! Goldberg trainers do indeed have a great reputation, however, and I'm sure you'll really enjoy the plane after you get your first couple of knee-knocker flights out of the way. Have fun and let us know how the maiden flight goes!

Well, I've never (yet) owned a hobby shop - but I've built and flown three Goldberg Freedom 20 models. I've flown them with 25FP, 25SF, TT25Pro, 40FP and Saito 30 motors. I've also instructed student pilots on just about every 40 ARF trainer out there.

In the Goldberg line, the Eaglet is the 25 BASIC trainer, the Eagle II is the 40 BASIC trainer, the Freedom 20 is the 25 SPORT trainer, and the Protege is the 60 SPORT trainer. Goldberg didn't use the terms without reason. The Eagle(t) is slower and lighter wing loading, with more dihedral and a thicker airfoil. The Freedom and Protege are faster, more responsive, and less self-correcting. All are very good at flying as they were intended.

The last Freedom 20 I owned has a Thunder Tiger 25Pro on it and was a ball to fly. I even won a combat event with it, flying against 5 "real" combat planes. It is one of my favorite small airframes, and I keep watching Ebay for another - I sold all mine intact, never crashed a one of 'em. It is a very honest plane - does just what you tell it. Even with a 25FP, it does it pretty quickly.

GET HELP, at least for the maiden. Once it's trimmed out, it is a delight to fly. Just get someone a bit less rusty to get you going.

I doubt the person at the hobby shop has ever flown a Freedom 20, and maybe not a Nextstar either. I've flown both, on several occasions, with many variations in setups. If you can fly, you will have a ton more fun with the Freedom - but get help for the maiden. EVERYTHING will happen faster with the Freedom, and your reaction time may be a little slow since you haven't flown in 8 months. Chances are, if you get help, you'll be flying that sport trainer as soon as it's trimmed and will make it's first landing. BTW, it lands easier than a basic trainer - just a little faster.

With any new plane, the 1st takeoff is the most dangerous time. GET HELP. Wish I was there!