High Alpha Made Easy! E-flite F-16 Thunderbirds 70mm EDF Jet BNF Basic - Model AV8R Review
In Model AV8R Episode 40, we feature the awesome E-flite 70mm Thunderbirds F-16. In our review, we'll share our take on this amazing jet...which happens to be one of Adam's favorite all time EDFs to fly! We'll cover a bit in the assembly, what we like and dislike, and show you a nice amount of great flying footage that explores the wide flight envelope...including a crash we had flying formation with our first one!
If you'd like to support our channel please make purchases through these links. We appreciate it very much! Thank you!
The F-16 has been updated with a more powerful power system, the links below are to the updated version (2024).
Link to the updated F-16TB 70mm at Horizon Hobby - www.avantlink....
Link ti the updated F-16TB 70mm at Tower Hobbies - www.avantlink....
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:12 A Tale of Two F-16s, A Crash!
05:31 Packing, Assembly, and the AS3X RX
07:20 Likes and Dislikes
13:05 The Changes We Made, Setup Page
15:58 Flight Footage!
23:30 Our Final Thoughts
Пікірлер: 72
You totally sold me on this jet airplane Adam Thanks for all your honest and straight forward information about it.
@ModelAV8RChannel
14 күн бұрын
Awesome man. They are on V2 now...I have one. It has more power and they fixed the issue with having to cycle the retracts to get them to work. Interestingly enough, the flight time is the same.
Hi Adam - Loved the High Alpha - it was a little like follow the leader - but fun to see - , I have the E-flite 64mm EDF F16 - smaller sister still in the box - grey, blue , white and Red.. no retracts, thanks for all the information on this one great informative video - did not think I would hear you say you like AS3X - but I hear what you are saying - you like the AS3X in THIS F16 , all the Best Adam - 😁😁😁😁 -see what I did then LOL - NO but do stay "Safe and Well" - 😃😃😃Martyn
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Martyn! Yes...yes I did see what you did there! YOU stay safe and well...as well!
Love the almost constant throttle during Hi Alpha .👌🇬🇧
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks man! I'm used to 3D planes so that is just what I do automatically.
That pass at 23:06 looked great, flying in formation isn't easy either is it, great review 👍
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Cliff! No...no it isn't easy. That's what happens when your flight plan takes 30 seconds to complete...lol.
Great video, I fly my F-16 with CG at 95mm as well. Flies fantastic there. I'm running 6S 3300mAh packs though, no tail weight needed and 3:30 flight time. If you want a little more fun from it I upgraded the power system to the FMS V2 1900Kv system with an 80A ESC and it gives it some extra thrust making those climb outs even more impressive.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Thanks for the power upgrade info.
EXCELLENT video, Adam. Full of interesting comments and suggestions. Very impressed with the flying skills of you and your friends. I really appreciate the time and effort you took to make this video. I purchased a used T-Bird from a friend a year ago, and your description at the end suits me to a “T”. I’m an older (experienced) pilot with his first jet. It scares me to death, but so far I’ve managed to keep it in one piece for its first dozen flights off grass. I’ve been practicing on a simulator over the winter, and keeping my fingers crossed that I can keep it in good shape this year. Your video has encouraged me. Thank you.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Randy thank you so much man! Glad to hear you have one and its going well. You can get away with a lot with it...except getting hit by another one! Lol.
My nose wheel does the stay down every once and while, I got rid of the missiles, really like flying the eflite and Freewing F16s, great video Adam, Go Thunderbirds Go, Jeff in LA USA
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Jeff! I like the empty rails too...
Great review and Display! Mine came with the AS3X Ailerons reversed, lucky I noticed on My Maiden whilst taxiing. Beauty Adam. Brilliant Flying and a bonus Crash scene.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Jono thanks buddy! Glad you caught the reversed aileron correction...that would have been interesting!
Ooh! Shame about the crash, but it was very spectacular, Adam! But crash bonus = new model 😄
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
"If you're gonna go down, don't half ass it." - One of the guys that taught me to fly Gina...Lol.
That was some of the nicest controlled high alpha Ive seen Adam. This bird is a favorite of a lot of pilots for just that reason. Another great high alpha machine that has power to spare is the freewing F22. great stuff my friend.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
David thank you my friend! Great plane for sure.,
Looked great right before they met. 😁👍
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah Jude...it was awesome until it wasn't! Lol.
as always GR8 video and flying friend
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you SlowJo! Love the use of the 8 by the way...awesome!
Thanks again Adam . 🇬🇧 Great video. Slow mo over the water ? Next time. Missed your brother. 🤣🤣
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Slo Mo over the water...hmmm....
@SuperMagnum2011
2 жыл бұрын
Next Video over the water.👍🇬🇧
Adam, great review. Really enjoyed the information. This plane is on the list... I just need to make some room in the hanger... - Will
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Will! Yes sir...you need one, but I get it...we are out of hangar space as well!
great vid and flights ! 👍
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much!
Nice dueling High Alpha but next time try not to swap paint with the replacement one 🤣 glad you got the CG more aft, I don’t have this bird but I do have the Freewing 70mm HP in arctic camo and it’s a fun one ✌️👊🇺🇸
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Ha! Thanks Mike...you know we are going to do this again. Hopefully...
Some brilliant controlled flights and tips, Adam, will have to remember the roll after a failed landing attempt 😎. Such a shame you crashed, was looking good. High alpha inverted, you have some skills sir.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Chris! Awesome plane for sure.
Awesome, awesome, awesome! I am thoroughly enjoying watching your take on all things RC (well, at least the ones with wings!) and am still amazed and impressed by your skills in front of the camera, and Heidi's skills behind the camera and in post-production! Great job by Team Gault!
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
John...thank you so much man! We surprise ourselves! Great community we have...blessed.
🤣😂🤣 You have to keep a close eye on those guys named Steve 🤣🤷♂️🤦♂️ Another great video y’all. This is such a fun flyer.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
LOL!!! Thanks man! Yes...Steve's are sketch! LMAO!
Never seen anyone fly an F16 like THAT! 👊👊 I really like that plane, I had two, but the grass where I flew, though shortish, bent my nose gear axle pin, every landing, even though they were slow high alpha landings. Great bird though! ***PS: RV-7 Maiden tomorrow 5 AM.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Mark! So how did the maiden go??
Sorry you see so many comments from me at the time, I am going back and catching up on your older uploads. Awesome video, I love seeing the EDF Jets and what they are capable of. Your buddy did a awesome job fixing that. Thanks 👍🏼
@ModelAV8RChannel
Жыл бұрын
Adam no need to apologize my friend! Glad you are enjoying the channel, and LOVE seeing your comments! Thank you! The F-16 is an amazing jet!
@adamrodgers2377
Жыл бұрын
@@ModelAV8RChannel I really enjoy all your content, from the technical stuff like setups in the Transmiter to your awesome flying and how your Wife & you modify y'all's Aircraft. In my opinion you're Chanel is the most well rounded one I have found, so again , thank you. 🤙🏼
Funny my gear did that as well, every time had to cycle it twice to get them all up. I did not know about the solution. I ditched the esc that came with mine, and have a Avian 100 amp installed now. Re tracts work like a charm now. Also I unlocked the receiver and gave it flaperons, but I do not even use the flaps any more, its just so much fun to pull back the stick, and Alpha the thing around sir. Sick edf, love it.
@ModelAV8RChannel
Жыл бұрын
It is a great EDF...really love flying it. So changing the esc fixed the gear issue? Must be a little more voltage coming from the internal BEC. Interesting.
@squibblejack
Жыл бұрын
@@ModelAV8RChannel Yes sir. Yeah I at first was wondering if it had anything to do with that capacitor, looking plug? I pulled it to run the left or right Aleron, for the Flaperon configuration. I have flonw 5,000, 30c Onyx, barley fits, and was lil heavy side, and my Spektrum 5,000 100c pack and some others like Admirals I gave up on, but I saw RC Brother, Jon flew his, he turned it side ways and fit it no problem. Looked a lil heavy, but I am gonna try that hopefully Saturday when I go out. So I think I will use the flaps to get air born, but seems like I don't need them for landing. Because I had stalled and dropped it like 10 feet, it and destroyed 1 main, and 2 pins 2 times ago when I was out with it. SO it lands real nicely with out the flaps. Lol at least last time out.
Adam. Cool plane. Eflite made a really good edf with this one. The 80mm is good too and has more scale features- but I always liked this 70mm. Ok, I’m a little bias. Since i get to see the full scale every day at my workplace. Haha. I think getting that high alpha locked in and coming in for a landing that way will help reduce those tip overs. But I get the long straight run too. Very nice review. 👍👍😎
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for checking it out Brad! I'd love one of the 80mm Vipers, but don't know where I'd put it! Has to be awesome to be around the real thing!
@payitfwdrcl6171
2 жыл бұрын
@@ModelAV8RChannel Yes. Amazing with all the high tech stuff they can stuff in a small package. This is one of those planes that a Pilot straps on and flies. Haha.
Love this plane... it's my go to jet for just having a good time. I usually never buy the same plane again after I crash it, but I like this one so much I'm on my 3rd one. Like you, I got a battery extension to push the battery back and my neg is the front gear. It bends too easily. But as far as easy and fun, this jet is it. As long as you can see the underside of the jet on approach, you can't mess up the landing. Just goose the power right at the end to arrest the decent and you grease it in every time on the mains.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Yes sir Kent...awesome plane! I see one in my hangar for a long time...
Takes TWO to TANGO! NIIIIIIIIIIIICE! 😎👍🛩💥
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
We danced...and then got thrown out of the bar! Lol!
Now you’re just showing off!! Awesome review, that minimum radius high speed turn was especially impressive/anxiety inducing haha. In the case of the F16 I think it’s actually more scale to use a gyro, since the real one was designed with negative stability and requires an advanced fly by wire system to be flyable.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Ha Ha! Thanks very much! You make a great point on the fly by wire...I guess its more scale than I thought!
Just built my 2nd F16 ….1st I sent to foamy heaven , was surprised to see added weight , I may add 1/4-1/2 ounce in rear of mine , I have looked at moving rx back and carve more room to move CG back from 90 mm
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
They are so great...so many comments from folks like you that bought multiple F-16s. I got it too far back and came a bit back forward. Worth testing to see how far back you want it.
Great review Adam and Heidi!! Fab EDF Jet, I'm glad I watched because I had no idea what Hi Alpha was but now I fully understand that it is beyond my capability 😂🤣 Saying that love the way the thing flies and looks great in the air!! As you know I'm a big E-flight fan and also love AS3X but I know what you mean when you say that sometimes it's set up badly!! Any way great review both and keep up the great work 😀👍
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much Ian! Yeah they got the AS3X right on this one, at least for me. Lol.
Just a little rub, and rubbing is racing my friend. Just not in aviation, right? I love this plane. One of my favorites and I am planning on buying a second one also....a back-up or insurance policy. I'll admit it. I'm not a big High Alpha fan. Whenever I'm watching the Blue Angels solos do their high alpha routine, I take a break, and get something to drink or something... it kind of bores me. I can do it once during my flight but won't waste my battery on it. I never had the issue with the nose gear not reacting with the mains. This is the first I've heard about it. Curious if my back up plane will have that issue. But I like the dirty roll on an aborted landing. I do something similar..... when I do a gear pass, an many pilots do, too check their landing gear, I usually turn that pass into an inverted gear check pass or a dirty roll. Nice flying. Great video. I enjoyed watching. I hope to always have mine in my operating fleet.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching! That is the nice thing about this plane...whatever you like...it does well! Happy flying!
Nice work man. Now let's see you do it with the 80mm. 👀 I'm betting it'll be just a touch more difficult due to the difference in wing loading but should sound phenomenal with the FMS 2100 Pro inrunner powering it.
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Jon thanks man. I'd LOVE to own one of the 80mm Vipers but I am so out of hangar space. I flew a buddy's...wasn't too bad in HA, maybe a bit harder but not much if I remember right. I was more focused on him about having a heart attack when I did a pass at about a foot...Lol.
@TwoBrosRC
2 жыл бұрын
@@ModelAV8RChannel A man after my own heart. Now do it with the Viper 90 and tag me in the upload!
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
@@TwoBrosRC Lol...that kind of Viper is your thing Jon!
It's too bad the pilots helmet is not painted like the Thunderbirds. But nice jet model.
@ModelAV8RChannel
Жыл бұрын
True!
Well it's not hard to set up your dial to adjust gains. Odd that you feel that way. You don't like gyros if they aren't perfect out of the box?
@ModelAV8RChannel
Ай бұрын
This must be one of the first times you've watched our channel. This is an older video. Yes, I use Gyros...specifically AS3X. I've learned how to program them in Forward programming and have quite a bit of experience doing that now. However...I still think learning how to set up a pure airframe is a great thing to learn, and many can't do it. I also don't believe every plane needs one. Some of the best flying airplanes I have with a gyro were set up first without it, and then I bring the gains in slowly to refine the set up...like the cherry on top of a sundae. I also don't use the dial for gains...its too easy to have it in a different place from plane to plane and always have to make adjustments. I dial it in, get it where I want it, and I don't have to mess with it again. So, I have planes with and without it, and I see the advantage of experience in both. As far as planes with AS3X being set up well out if the box (the gyro) that is still useful info for many pilots. It takes all kinds...many still fly with pre-forward programming capable TX's. Many that do have a modern TX still can't do it, and don't want to learn, so its helpful knowing it doesn't need adjustment for those folks.
all it takes is money and lots of it,,, hdhehheeheh
@ModelAV8RChannel
2 жыл бұрын
Lol! Yeah Jim...It does when you're a moron! Thankfully we only occasionally hit that button...