sweet review! i have been looking at the swiss one since it showed up on thier home page!

I just found my new EDF PLANE

I flew mine this weekend for the first time.

It didn't come with an instruction book but after talking with Mike Hines at HL I found out that if you use the stock battery pack that comes with it the CG is right on. With a standard radio at 100% ATV on the servos the control throws are just fine. I had to make a new wire rod for the L/H landing gear actuator. Even with ATV adjustment and sub-trim adjustments I could not get the servo to stop stalling or give positive downlock. I made the new rod 1/8" shorter and that helped. I believe the red servos they use are wired for opposite travel without having to use a servo reverser and that's what may cause the problem. Mike also said to reduce the throw on the nose wheel steering because it's a bit much. I didn't have any problems, however.

The provided screws for the elevator control horns were too short. If you used them you would really crush the foam. I had to dig around my hardware to fine some screws that were small enough in diameter and long enough. I found some long ones but had to cut them to length with a Dremel. Make sure you cut them to length BEFORE installing them as the heat generated will melt the plastic and the foam (ask me how I know). The rudder and aileron horns are pre-installed so no worries there.

I used 15 min epoxy to glue all the styro parts together. Mike from HL said that was fine. 5 min epoxy might not be strong enough, especially if you did some high G pull-ups. I made sure I had a nice fillet between the joints for added strength.

The decals are water slide and I put on a coat of acrylic dullcoat afterwards to seal them. I've found waterslide decals don't hold up well to handling and need something to help protect them. Make sure if you do the same to use something foam friendly.

I also scratch built an ACMI pod to hang on the left pylon. The real aggressors use this to data link the air combat maneuvers to the situation room and for post flight briefs. I made mine from some balsa dowel, tape and plastic tubing.

AUW was 36oz, a tad heavier than the advertised 33.5oz. It wasn't a factor.

If some guys out there decide to detail the cockpit keep the weight down as much as possible. It would be nice to have a known CG point and some nubs on the lower wing to at least check it.

After some pics I took her up. The take off roll was straight with minimal rudder/nosewheel needed. The t/o roll was about 150'. She needed full up elevator trim to fly level, however. It wans't due to nose heavy condition but where I set the neutral position of the elevators. I set them where I thought the trail position would be and this was wrong. Once the trim was set she flew fine (elevator trim was all that was needed). Full power for loops. Rolls were very quick and axial. The plane scoots along well on the stock motor. Plenty of power in the vertical. Low level, high speed passes are AWESOME. The plane is not really an aerobat but will do the basic stuff just fine. I'm sure there will be guys trying to put in a more powerful motor but I have to say the stock one is just fine.

After 6 minutes I decided it was time to land. I found you need to keep a bit of power on approach as the plane slows quickly when you bring the power back to idle or off. Landing was uneventful, if a bit off centerline.

I proceeded to adjust the elevator clevises when during the process one broke. Not good. The plastic is a bit brittle. I had no spares and the wire used is too small a diameter for a standard Goldberg/Dubro mini nylon clevis. No more flying for that day. I'm glad it broke on the ground and not in the air. I've since replaced the wire with some .032" music wire with a z-bend and Du Bro mini E-Z connectors. Much better.

The pack was slightly warm upon removal. Not bad though. After charging the battery I saw I put in about 1250mAh so for a 6 min flight I used a little over half the pack. not too bad. I bought a spare battery with the plane so next time I fly I'll be able to 'round-robin the packs and get maximum flying time.

I would not fly this one off grass. The gear struts just aren't made for it and the method the retracts are attached/fitted into the wing isn't strong enough to withstand repeated stress that grass fields would impose. Now if you belly land it then that's another story.....

here are a few pics on the ground...no in flight shots since I was by my lonesome that day....

Ohhhhhh MAN but that is a great looking plane! NIce review but I think my wife may be wanting to talk to you when one of these shows up in my hangar soon.

In case anyone is wondering the high speed pass at 1:20 in the aerobatics video is 74-75 mph. It might be higher or lower depending on what the temperature was when the video was shot. Still, that is better than some of the other Starmax planes.

nice review...looks like a sweet plane

Got the F-5 completed today. Maiden will be this weekend! I Went all stock. My came with instructions but I really didn't even use them. Anyone with any building experience can figure out how to put this thing together. I went with 5min epoxy on the wings with no spar! I'm sure the wings will stay attached but judging from videos I'm bound to get some wing flex. I'm still worried about the gear though. I ajusted them as close to lock out as possible so i hope to God they don't collapse on landing. It's a big bird and my first retract. I put it next to my Skyrc A-7 and my EDO F-15. Much bigger and heavier. Hope she flys good!

Sounds awesome! Can't wait to get mine!

I have heard people talk of the landing gear, control servos, and Fan unit being of suspect quality. From the looks of it though, the equipment is typical ARF fair, and looks like it gets the job done. I personally follow an upgrade-as-it-breaks policy anyway.

Also, why does it need 6 channels, Cant the Nose wheel steering/rudder be Y-clipped together and use a single channel?

Actually a five channel will do!
Ailerons
Elevator
Rudder/steering
Throttle
Retracts
Thanks for the catch. If you have a five channel transmitter and receiver that will fit the bill you are good to go. My mistake. Mike H.

well, to be fair HL also says it needs 6 channels.

Oh goodness, I have been eyeballing this for a while. I couldn't even contain myself to read the whole review before posting. (insert giddy, girlish giggle here.)

If my history is correct the F-16 beat this bird out for contract with the airforce back in the day. I have always loved this bird.

Anyone want to buy mine new in box F-5 swiss schemed one? It brand new, all I did was take the horrible stock fan out and disconnected the esc. That essentially is a favor!! As a het or wemo fan is much better for use in there with a 2w-20 or equivelant motor. It was not broken once removed. No need for pics really as its nib other than the above. I'll take 200.00 paypal and you pay shipping of your choice.

Joe, now if it was the camo one, you and me would be sitting down to talk sir!

Minuses

* The instruction booklet isn't very helpful
* Good glue, but I could have used a smidge more.

someone needs to read around the groups forum here!!

glue?? instruction manual?? thats it?? what!!!??

i love this plane, would get another one in a second if i could get just the airframe minus the junk radio gear and retracs.

i had to strip mine clean to fly it, and now ive got the biggest and best looking edf jet around my area.

people love it but have all had the same big problems with it i had.

once stripped and re-kitted you got a great looking plane.

i just had to replace the stock battery here yesterday, on its fifth flight it finally puffed up too big to take a chance with, ill be looking to replace it and that will make it a complete overhaul. the battery was the last holdout.

i was lucky, most have had their battery swell on the third or fourth flight.

so, i think your review was great, you got a free plane that was one of the very few that flew great out of the box. i envy your luck.

now, on to my new sapac jas 39, which i finished yesterday and flies like a champ.

i now have two great looking big edf jets that im extremely proud to own.

my hobby lobby f5 and sapac jas grippen.

now excuse me while i don my flak jacket!