AK Models - F-16 kit
08-24-2006, 12:33 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
Now for the bad news.....it took-off in about 150', as a matter-of-fact, while we ran up the engine and held it vertical (nose straight up) the plane could almost life itself. But after take-off, the plane went about ten feet in the air on a normal/shallow dep. path and then took a SHARP nose down attitude, struck the fabric runway at an angle that hit the prop and shut the engine down then bounced the aircraft back into the air. it went about 5' back up, once again at a shallow angle and then started to settle to the ground in a normal flare and then snaped back to a nose down attitude. This happened two more times, each time we (the people that observed it) thought the plane was going to land unhurt/dead-stick. unfourtunatly, the last time was harded then the rest. ending up nose first with the gear bent and broke into the fuse and small but significant other damage. Firewall forward was broken off (engine still good-whee) small cracks in the side of the fuse where the wing meets the plane and fiberglass skin on the bottom of the plane was broken in places that the gear hit!
Posible problem with the flight: the CG may be a contributing factor but Alex has used this wing and setup before VERY SUCESSFULLY! So the other change that I did that I blame myself on is the full flying tail (stabulator). Since it was a prototype, I think I should have built it Alexs way first and then motified it in the 2.0 version
! Why the stabulator....well, I belive (being there personaly-I do enjoy others thoughts and ideas, but please don't be an armchair NTSB crash theriost!) that after the plane got airborn that I pulled back to hard and stalled the horizontal tail (too much angle of attack, probable due to to much in the throws!)which inturn made the nose take a sharp nose down attitude. It bounced and then the same thing, as I would flare the plane, I would have a high angle of attack on the tail and WHAMO, nose over. The reson I said that "Iwas there" and you were not is cause it did not look like a "normal" stall where the plane falls/lumbers over. This thing snaped as if it pivioted on the wing axes, as if there was no tail making downward lift to hold the nose up!
I showed Alex the plane (thank you Alex for the opportunity to try to be the first and for being so helpfull and not to discourage me when I thought this or that would work better. Thanks agine) Alex offered me to finish the one he was building (it only needs some covering and a little this and that....it looks great) and I would like to start to finish it (this time the way it should be done) ...if I start it...I will keep posting its progress!
marc
Posible problem with the flight: the CG may be a contributing factor but Alex has used this wing and setup before VERY SUCESSFULLY! So the other change that I did that I blame myself on is the full flying tail (stabulator). Since it was a prototype, I think I should have built it Alexs way first and then motified it in the 2.0 version
! Why the stabulator....well, I belive (being there personaly-I do enjoy others thoughts and ideas, but please don't be an armchair NTSB crash theriost!) that after the plane got airborn that I pulled back to hard and stalled the horizontal tail (too much angle of attack, probable due to to much in the throws!)which inturn made the nose take a sharp nose down attitude. It bounced and then the same thing, as I would flare the plane, I would have a high angle of attack on the tail and WHAMO, nose over. The reson I said that "Iwas there" and you were not is cause it did not look like a "normal" stall where the plane falls/lumbers over. This thing snaped as if it pivioted on the wing axes, as if there was no tail making downward lift to hold the nose up!I showed Alex the plane (thank you Alex for the opportunity to try to be the first and for being so helpfull and not to discourage me when I thought this or that would work better. Thanks agine) Alex offered me to finish the one he was building (it only needs some covering and a little this and that....it looks great) and I would like to start to finish it (this time the way it should be done) ...if I start it...I will keep posting its progress!
marc
01-03-2007, 04:37 PM
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RE: AK s - F-16 kit
Hey....thanks for still taking an interest....I talked to AK (alex) in-person, with the destroyed F-16....both he and I thought that built CORRECTLY (per, his plans) the plane would be great!....he offered to let me finish the one he started....but I had already started a GP F-4 phantom.....I will include pictures in a "soon to be" post....now I am reto-fitting all my planes with the new spectrum DX-7 and AR7100 receivers (no more hits)...after all that is done i'm thinking on calling Alex to see if the offer still stands (this time, he gets to fly the first flight).......I will try to keep you posted....tell me what you think!
Marc
Marc
01-27-2008, 09:57 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
I just started a F-16 prototype build for Alex on this thread
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_69...tm.htm#6973585
I will just be going on the stock plan and if proved airworthy then version 2 can be modded all to heck
cheers
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_69...tm.htm#6973585
I will just be going on the stock plan and if proved airworthy then version 2 can be modded all to heck
cheers
07-01-2008, 08:13 AM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
I finished the F-16 this May and the test flight was around the end of may and is one hot little plane for sure. It now has or 12 flights and going strong
I think you may have been right about the c/g mach92 and the work around (mod) that I made was to move the mains back 1.5" so that I could have the c.g at 6.5" ... the mains came out at 7" ... I have not moved the c/g or mains since the first flight.
If I build it again I would turn the mains around 180 deg and have them retract forward for two benefits ..one... have the gear spring curl face forward as they should be ...and ...second with the gear turned around the center of the mains would be close to 8 to 8.5" and would allow for the c/g to move to 7 or even 7.5 ..... but flying it at the 6.5 I have now it is just fine.
I would also cut the main gear down 1.5" from stock length to give it more of a stock look and would even need less\smaller retract wells.
I also wanted to say you did a fantastic job on the tail cone and nose cone..... your part in the project did get to fly I am sorry it didn't happen on your flight
I think you may have been right about the c/g mach92 and the work around (mod) that I made was to move the mains back 1.5" so that I could have the c.g at 6.5" ... the mains came out at 7" ... I have not moved the c/g or mains since the first flight.
If I build it again I would turn the mains around 180 deg and have them retract forward for two benefits ..one... have the gear spring curl face forward as they should be ...and ...second with the gear turned around the center of the mains would be close to 8 to 8.5" and would allow for the c/g to move to 7 or even 7.5 ..... but flying it at the 6.5 I have now it is just fine.
I would also cut the main gear down 1.5" from stock length to give it more of a stock look and would even need less\smaller retract wells.
I also wanted to say you did a fantastic job on the tail cone and nose cone..... your part in the project did get to fly
I am sorry it didn't happen on your flight
07-03-2008, 11:11 PM
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RE: AK Models - F-16 kit
Sorry its been so long since I posted...WOW Blade 47...The colors are AWSOME, the plane looks GREAT and it sounds like your enjoying it....I have been flying the heck out of my GP F-4 (i will see if I can dig up a pic) and Jan 08' bought a Byron Mig-15 kit that someone had on a shelf for YEARS...she's all built and ready to fly...I saw AK (alex) and told him I'm still interested in building the F-16...sounds like he has had a great response from all the good post from your posts....hope to see some more good pic from ya!
Goose
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01-20-2015, 11:58 AM
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It seems like this thread has died. I purchased this kit a few years ago and looking to build it once I'm done with my 27% 50cc Extra 300. Is anyone building this kit. I have this uncontrollable itch to get on this kit. I have everything to build it. I'll be putting an OS 90 with Jett muffler and Spring air 101HD retracts. I'll be looking to make retract doors and fiber glassing it. Just need a paint scheme and the time to build it. Reaching out there to see if anyone out there is building this kit. And Alex if your out there has any changes been made to the kit since I bought the kit in 2011/2012. And if you got another kit for a prototype you need build and flown, I'll be gladly to help
06-11-2015, 06:31 PM
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Well since no one has posted anything in a very long time, I'll post my progress. I decided to go with an OS 91fx, spring air retracts and using Smart Fly power expander. So far this kit has gone together very well with all the laser cut parts. The fuselage is nearly complete, just have a few sheeting to finish on the bottom and install the fuel tank. Wings are next and I anticipate them to go together fairly quick and easy. I'll have to get a few photos of the bottom and show everyone the finish product of cutting out the retracts holes.
06-13-2015, 12:33 PM
#39
WOW....I did not relize that it had been a month....I was gone from home for training and also a conference for work! Sorry I have not posted for awhile...but this last week I had 8 days off and worked hard on the AK's F-16...So here is what has been done-----
All parts have been covered and closed with 3/32 balsa--Covered in fiberglass--sanded---finishing coat of finishing resin---sanded--primed--sanded and fill any imperfections--primed--and finished with wet sanding with 400 grit!
SHE'S READY FOR COLOR!
I was trying to find a cool look f-16 paint job, but in the end, I think I will give it DesMoines Iowa ANG colors with some small changes (I dont like there Viper on the tail, so I will make it the HAWKEYE'S)..I can here it already..."THAT'S NOT THE TAIL OF THE DSM F-16!" ...so I say to them..."THAT'S CAUSE IT'S MY PLANE!"
Here are some more pics....enjoy
Marc
All parts have been covered and closed with 3/32 balsa--Covered in fiberglass--sanded---finishing coat of finishing resin---sanded--primed--sanded and fill any imperfections--primed--and finished with wet sanding with 400 grit!
SHE'S READY FOR COLOR!
I was trying to find a cool look f-16 paint job, but in the end, I think I will give it DesMoines Iowa ANG colors with some small changes (I dont like there Viper on the tail, so I will make it the HAWKEYE'S)..I can here it already..."THAT'S NOT THE TAIL OF THE DSM F-16!" ...so I say to them..."THAT'S CAUSE IT'S MY PLANE!"
Here are some more pics....enjoy
Marc
