hi all
I picked up a BVM F- 16 that was setup for ducted fan , the plane needs some internal repairs I've already done the external repairsexcept the rudder which has been locked in position due to flutter when previous owner flew it, wonderinf if I should repair or not also wondering if parts are available from BvM, it currently has fixed gear I would lke to go retract also i want to go turbine, the wing has been modified to make the flight more friendly and stable basically he gave it a slightly larger wing, although I do have the origanal wings any thoughts would be appreaciated.

A BVM F-16 with removable wings? And fixed gear?

Sure doesn't sound like BVM....
What were the initials of that Foam F-16?
Post some pictures!

CBM?

But even that one doesn't have fixed gear....

I bet its a Byron....

the wings aren't removable unless I get out the saw

according to the prints and instruction while building you had a choice of retract or doing a fixed gear

at the moment these are the only pics I have . and they only show the modified wing
I also have the instruction manual and 2 pages of photo instruction plus the print. the previous owner built it and installed a fixed gear, he didn't like the way it flew so he removed the origanal wings and installed a different set which made the plane behave better,
and if Mr Matt is who I thinhk it is he may know the previous owner out of bruinswick oh.
I can't believe you all seem to think it was not possible for someone to modify a plane from it's origanal I'm sure most of you have modified a plane or 2 .

Well does it say BVM in the prints? BVM did not have a fixed gear option?

Sorry I do not know anyone in Ohio.

Jonnycrash,

Looking at the photos it is hard to decern if it is a BVM kit. Things that show up different are the small stabs. It appears to have the Block 10 stabs not the Block 25 stabs. Also it appears as though the dorsal is not the enlarged hump version used on the "C" models, it appears to be the same size as the "A" models.

Also the BVM kit did not have any instructions in regards to fixed gear. The only option was the scale retractable landing gear with full gear doors.

See if you can get some better pics of the bird. It appears to be a Byron F-16. Not a bad thing, just a bit slower thasn the other variants out there.

my bad I checked the instructions and no they don't have instruction for fixed gear, turns out that was for my D.C. F-20 but that doesn't stop it from being a BVM
and instead of argueing over whether it's a bvm or not why not just respond toi hte original questions.

The reason they are questioning the BVM status is that it MATTERS what kit it is before anyone can tell you what you need to do to strengthen it or to install turbine. All kits are set up different. I have never seen straight wings on any of the f-16s i have had, bvm, byron or yellow.. You can do the job, you just need to know what you are dealing with. Russ

print says it's F-16c/ndesigner Bob Violett rawn by David J. Ribbe revised 28 feb 96copy right 1990wing span is supposed to be 45 in but is differant due to the installed modified winglength is 70 in

and hey matt are you the jett guy from San Fernando Vaslley Fliers Club. First name Matt last starts with a C.?

thank you but how many times do I have to repeat these WINGS ON THE P)LANE ARE NOT THE ORIGANAL BUT A MODIFIED WINGS TO MAKE THE PLANE BEHAVE BETTER

SORRY MY DIG CAM IS A PEICE OF CRAP, so the pics aren't that great

Yeah that is me.

As for your plane, I guess everone is asking about BVM cause BVM gear (power plant and landing gear) is highly integrated, I cannot imagine getting any other equipment to fit. And if it has already been built somehow with fixed gear then who knows how to get the fixed gear out and get retracts back in.

As for the rudder if I was going DF I would leave it locked (if it is "locked" good) if going turbine and i wanted to fly with AMA coverage then you will need the rudder, BV sells spare parts for everything.

Good luck,

Boy are those some UGLY wings. Looks like they fitted a AVISTAR TRAINER wing to that thing.[:'(]

lol matt See you do knoqw someone in ohio
I moved from van nuys jan 03
was a member of sfvf and also giant scale, I flew mostly a miss america from world models with ys 91, but not with ron and friends.
oh yeah and if you see torrey tell him Frank Tombiolia said hello
he's the ohio pilot i thought you might know as he has been to apollo and various events for jets as a competor and has even won a few

actually there from a spectrum

Looks heavily 'MODIFIED'
FWIW, confirmed, I don't think any of the flying surfaces are BVM. And, the BVM did not offer any landing gear options... Only BVM scale retracts.
Is the inlet still in there?
I have no idea how to reinforce it, it looks so modified, that I wouldn't know where to start.

But, the only F-16 plans I drew were the BVM F-16.
Clearly, the best propulsion to use is the BVM fan system....

The turbine should only be attempted by someone with quite a lot of turbine experience. It is a unique plane, and heavily loaded, and will be over its design weight with a turbine, so it needs to be treated well.

Do a SEARCH, I have written plenty, my tips are on my web page...
dribbe....
AKA David J. Ribbe

Dave is about the one and only GOD when it comes to the BVM F-16 with turbine power. Heed his statements.

I have to agree with everything he has mentioned. Can't imagine why anyone would change the setup from the original. The Viper flew great, it just had some things you couldn't overlook in the landing pattern, just like the real one!!

If you try and land the BVM F-16 like a regular jet then it will bite you hard. It flies like the real one and is sweet once you understand the characteristics. They aren't hard to get down, just different.

Good Luck.

Hi,

I hope you can understand our skepticism. If that is a BVM F-16, it's probably the only one in the world EVER modified thus. With all of the different kits available, it just seems extremely unlikely that someone would take the most expensive one (and the one with the least amount of equipment/system crossover) and....well....RUIN it by installing fixed gear and glider wings. Since there were F-16 models with wings like that, and fixed gear already available for a fraction of the cost--it didn't seem reasonable that someone would take a superb kit like that and do to it what those photos depict.

HOWEVER, if you write a post later on asking about dealing with a BVM F-100 modified to use Sig Kadet wings, fixed wire gear with DuBro wheels and a Futaba Attack-4 radio, I'm sure all the guys will take your word and get right down to answering the questions without challenging your identification of the airplane's make.

thank you for your replay. The comment as regards the fixed gear option was my mistake got confused with my F-20. he has another f- 16 with less modification, sounds like I should have bought that one instead.
reason I asked about reinforceing is inside the plane just behind the cowl is a broken ribwhich is allowing the vertical fin to flex Alot
But on Another note winter is coming and I wasn't expecting to fly it this season

johnnycrash,
what you have is not a BVM F-16 for god sakes, it's a Kress JET F-16. I real piece os SH&^&T. It won't fly, trust me.
Chris