This is how the Costa Mesa Electric Flying Field looks like after one year of closure ...

The environmental activists running the CM Fairview Park commission managed to get the field closed, claiming it affected birds and wildlife.

Now the city of CM (113,159 people according to 2019 census) has no more opportunity for RC plane flying, or any other recreational activity - except bird and wildlife watching

The pictures below, taken last week on 7/12/2021 around noon, show how well used this resource has become ...

The complete closure - except the above listed activities - affects around 208 acres, the overall size of Fairview Park :

https://www.costamesaca.gov/residents/fairview-park

The pictures below show how the environmentalist activists managed to turn this beautiful field into what is largely an environmental wasteland ...

Note that not a single soul is to be seen walking around, at least not when I was there.

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I got this one

http://www.hsdrc.com/content/?441.html

from the US HSD distributor,

https://hsdjetsusa.com/hsdjets-doubl...amo-colors-pnp

Here are some other vendor sites:

https://www.scaleflying.com/hsdjets-...olors-pnp.html

https://www.natterer-modellbau.de/HS...EPO-1890mm-PNP

https://aerobertics.be/en_be/rc-models/hsdme262gr

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001797523746.html

https://www.rctrader.com/category/31...m-EDF-PNP.html

We shall see what work needs to be done when it gets here

The original had a wingspan of 12.6m and a length of 10.6m

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_262

whereas the model has a 189cm wingspan and a 162.5cm length, giving a scale of 1:6.67 to 1:6.52 approximately.

Below are some nice pictures I found on the internet,

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I got this one as a pre-order, the PNP version ... They finally switched to more efficient inrunners

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-pnp

https://www.motionrc.eu/products/fre...mm-edf-jet-pnp

Some pictures that have appeared on the internet are reposted below ...

Here's what the original looks like,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-29

Mine will get repainted in a russian camo scheme, that Slovak Tiger digital camo on a MiG-29 looks a bit odd to me (plus I have enough boring gray planes ).

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I bought this one from ArtHobby :

http://www.arthobby.com/index.php?pa...ry=31&item=252

Here's another website:

https://www.pp-rc.de/arthobby.htm?sh...ionId=&a=catal

and here is the website for the manufacturer in Poland,

http://www.arthobby.pl/szybowce/product/colibri-v-1m/

It is a very nice lightweight model at a very reasonable price

Below are some self-explanatory pictures of mine ...

Here's a short video (taken by my wife with her phone) of how mine flies on a hill in Turtlerock (Irvine) a short walking distance from my house,
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Colibri V-Tail 1.0m Glider by ArtHobby (1 min 35 sec)

I bought this one from Aloft Hobbies,

https://alofthobbies.com/spin-1-5m-slope-sailplane.html

and got the V-tail separately :

https://alofthobbies.com/replacement...k-gliders.html

Here is the website for the manufacturer in Poland,

http://www.blejzyk.pl/en/model-spin-2.html

It is a very nice lightweight model at a very reasonable price

Below are some self-explanatory pictures of mine ...

Here's a short video (taken by my wife with her phone) of how mine flies on a hill in Turtlerock (Irvine) a short walking distance from my house,

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Spin 1.5m Glider at Turtlerock Viewpoint in Irvine (0 min 47 sec)

I bought this one from Aloft Hobbies,

https://alofthobbies.com/umi-1-5m-th...sailplane.html

Here's the website for the manufacturer,

http://www.blejzyk.pl/en/model-umi-2.html

It is a very nice lightweight model at a very reasonable price

Below are some fairly self-explanatory pictures of mine ...

Here's a short video (taken by my wife with her phone) of how mine flies on a hill in Turtlerock (Irvine) a short walking distance from my house,

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Umi 1.5m Glider Flying at Turtle Rock Viewpoint in Irvine (0 min 40 sec)

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More Umi 1.5m Glider Flying at Turtlerock Viewpoint in Irvine (1 min 10 sec)

...Continue Reading

I got this nice twin 70mm EDF kit from BH for $149, including free shipping,

https://www.bananahobby.com/7-ch-bli...f-jet-kit.html

The kit itself is lightweight epo and is made by Lanxiang, it has been around for a few years

http://www.lxhm.us/En/Product/detail/id/22.html

The model is 80.9 cm wingspan, whereas the original has 13.3 m wingspan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YF-23

which gives an approximate scale of 1:16.4 .

As a result, the model is actually quite small for a twin 70mm edf (as opposed for ex. to the Su-57 by the same manuf.)

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Freewing just came out with a new 80mm edf, and it's one of my favorites,

https://www.motionrc.com/collections...mm-edf-jet-arp

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/...mm-edf-jet-pnp

Spare parts :

https://www.motionrc.com/collections...pare-parts-tab

I did get the arf+ as preorder, and will install my own fan & esc in it ...

It is offered in two very cool schemes, a nice silver USAF one and a camo Luftwaffe one ... The choice presumably reflects the geographic distribution of two major MRC warehouses, one in the US and one in the EU ...

The model's wingspan of 135cm (and the length of 120cm) gives it an approximate scale of 1185/135 = 8.8th scale (or 1151/120 = 9.6th scale) or roughly 9-th scale approximately,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_T-33

Empty weight is listed as 2300g, which compares well with the FW A-4 (2280g) and FW L-39 (2250g).

Short video of mine :

T-33 Shooting Star Unleashed - 4K UHD (9 min 27 sec)

Maiden Video :

Lockheed T- 33 by Freewing 80mm EDF - Maiden and Five Easy Landings (3 min 47 sec)

...Continue Reading

I got this nice kit from BH ... the kit version was $159 plus tax (free shipping), and got at my front door two days later

https://www.bananahobby.com/12-ch-bl...f-jet-kit.html

The kit is lightweight epo and made in China by Lanxiang,

https://www.skyflighthobby.com/sky-f...os-rc-airplane

http://www.lxhm.us/En/Product/detail/id/81.html

The model is 108cm wingspan, whereas the original is 14.1m wingspan,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-57

which gives an approximate scale of 13.06 :1 .

I ordered the Su-47 Berkut previously (as a kit as well) so I'm well aware of all the modifications that will be needed to turn it into a flyable (and enjoyable) model.

Here's how I set up the twin 70 Su-47 Berkut (kit version) :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...DF-(LX)&pp=100

and here's how I set up the twin Su-35 Super Flanker by Freewing (arf plus version) :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...df-70mm&pp=100

The current Su-57 one will get a pair of excellent lightweight FMS inrunner fans, I have those already, balanced and ready to go :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...EDF-fan&pp=100

This is an older (~2015) kit that is nevertheless very lightweight (expected rtf weight ~3.2kg) , as opposed for ex to that new FMS/EFl Su-30 epo brick (4.2kg).

Edit : Short video added :

Sukhoi Su-57 (T-50 Pak Fa) Maiden & Test Flight - 4K UHD (6 min 21 sec)

A few pictures I took today, Friday 1st Nov. 2019 ... The shows seems to have shrunk a bit in size, not what it used to be ...

....Continue Reading

The new MiG-17 edf is made I think by AF-Model, and distributed by Hobbyking under the Avios brand,

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/avios-mi...m-edf-pnf.html

It is also available as a kit, which does not include retracts or sevos :

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/avios-mi...f-arf-kit.html

A whole bunch of spare parts are listed here :

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/catalogs...iG-17%20fresco

Some interesting features of this one are the custom retracts (with custom controller) and the use of (presumably more reliable) 11 x 9g analog servos.

The MiG-17 is made by AF-Model ("Air Fly Limited") : www.af-model.com

The full-scale MiG-17 has a wingspan of 9.63m and a length of 11.26m :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17

whereas the model has a wingspan of 120cm and a length of 142cm, which gives an approximate scale of ~ 1:8.0 .

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Edit : Videos added from & after the maiden Sat. Aug 17 2109

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MiG-17 Avios Evening Flight - 4K UHD (3 min 36 sec)

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MiG-17 Fresco by Avios - WeMoTec Evo 90mm fan (3 min 15 sec)

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Freewing just came out with a new 70mm F-35 Lightning II,

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-arp

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...ch&search=F-35

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/...mm-edf-jet-arp

I ordered the Arf-plus version so will install my own power system

The wingspan is about the same as the old v1 and v2 versions which had thrust vectoring and was considerably lighter :

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-pnp

A bunch of nice pictures have appeared here :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/thum...one&starter=no

Since the wingspan on the model is 82cm, whereas the original has a wingspan of 10.7m (F-35A/B) :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockhe...5_Lightning_II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_X-35

the scale is approximately 1: 13.0 or ~13-th scale.

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Edit : Video added June 9

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F-35 Lightning II 70mm edf by Freewing - 2nd Flight (2 min 55 sec)

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F-35 Freewing 70mm EDF Maiden (4 min 11 sec)

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I've had a few F/A-18's edf over the years, and it's nice that Freewing re-visits the Hornet with some new major improvements

A few details on the new release are given here :

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-arb

https://de.motionrc.eu/products/free...mm-edf-jet-arb

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...l-Thread&pp=15

and more sites list Freewing products :

http://sz-freewing.com/productlist.aspx?t1=2&t2=26

https://www.motionrc.com/collections...jets_only=90mm

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/...jets_only=90mm

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...DESC&limit=100

Here the length is supposed to be 155cm and the wingspan around 103cm, whereas the original has a length of 17.1m and a wingspan of 12.3m

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonn..._F/A-18_Hornet

giving the model a scale of 17.1/1.55 = 11.03 : 1 scale based on the length, or 12.3/1.03 = 11.94 based on the wingspan (or simply 11 to 12-th scale).

Here's a link to the old Freewing one (96cm wingspan) with thrust vectoring :

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-pnp

It seems similar in size to the Starmax one (104cm? wingspan) I just retired :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...rmax%29&pp=100

which flew nicely on a JetFan 90mm 6S setup, in spite of the fact that the F/A-18 is a notoriously draggy airframe.

Before that, I had a beer cooler foam one from banana which also flew quite well on a WeMoTec 90mm fan :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...Starmax&pp=100

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Edit : Videos added

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F-18C Hornet by Freewing 90mm JetFan - Maiden (3 min 26 sec)

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F-18C Hornet by Freewing JetFan 90 - 2nd Flight (3 min 32 sec)

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F-18C Hornet by Freewing 90mm JetFan - 3rd Flight (3 min 41 sec)

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F-18C Freewing 90mm - Five Easy Landings (2 min 6 sec)

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F-18C Hornet by Freewing - Lazy 4-th of July Flying - 4K UHD (4 min 26 sec)

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F-18C Hornet by Freewing - Lazy 4-th of July Flying 2 - 4K UHD (3 min 48 sec)

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I ordered this one from MRC as a pnp set (since they were out of Arf+'s),

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-pnp

http://sz-freewing.com/productlist.aspx?t1=2&t2=26

https://www.motionrc.eu/products/fre...mm-edf-jet-pnp

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...DESC&limit=100

http://www.hebu-shop.ch/product_info...4oc340pfau0ad4

I prefer the Swiss airforce "Patrouille Suisse" one because of better visibility.

Here is a useful link to the specs on the original one :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5

Edit : Video added :

F-5N Tigershark 80mm by Freewing - 117mph (3 min 26 sec)

F-5N Tigershark by Freewing 80mm - Kamre 1080p video sunglasses (3 min 54 sec)

...Continue Reading

I got one of these from MRC during the pre-order sale, should be here middle of December

https://www.motionrc.com/products/fr...mm-edf-jet-arf

http://sz-freewing.com/productlist.aspx?t1=2&t2=26

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...DESC&limit=100

This thread in German : https://translate.google.com/transla...6perpage%3D100

The model has a wingspan of 106 cm, while the full scale one has a wingspan of 13.56 m :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockhe...in_F-22_Raptor

so the scale here is 12.79 : 1 or roughly 13-th scale.

I am not sure I need another grey jet, but this one looks good on close inspection - and is my favorite size, 90mm.

I got the arf plus version, so will put in my own JetFan + HET inrunner power system. I never had the JePe one but saw it fly, and it was a great flier.

Nice pictures of the model have been posted here :

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/thum...one&starter=no

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Videos added :

F-22 Raptor by Freewing JetFan 90 8S - 4K UHD (2 min 13 sec)

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Extreme Slow Flight (3) - F-22 Raptor 90mm JetFan 8S - 4K UHD (3 min 18 sec)

...Continue Reading

I got this one from a friend that wasn't too eager to build it, at a good price

Some time ago (~ 2 years) it was sold by HobbyKing :

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/harrier-...___store=en_us

https://www.amazon.com/HobbyKing-Har...ct_top?ie=UTF8

Originally their idea was a 4S 70mm edf setup with a 40A esc and a 2200mAh 4S battery ...

It seems the original was made by Guan Li ... https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...rrier-70mm-EDF

The model has a wingspan of 780mm whereas the original has a wingspan of ~14.2m

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrier_Jump_Jet

which gives it a scale of ~1:18.2 .

....Continue Reading

This thread is about the new Freewing L-39 Aero Albatros.

This thread in German :

https://translate.google.com/transla...100&edit-text=

and Italian :

https://translate.google.com/transla...100&edit-text=

I always liked the L-39, a very nice flier if built light and goes pretty fast with little power.

https://www.motionrc.com/collections...9-albatros-arp

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/...9-albatros-pnp

http://www.hebu-shop.ch/index.php?ca...EPO-Jet-s.html

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...roduct_id=7875

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...roduct_id=7876

Freewing Model China web site (not the fake freewingmodel one) :

http://sz-freewing.com

http://sz-freewing.com/productlist.aspx?t1=2&t2=25

The wingspan on the original is 9.46m vs 1.053 for the model, and length 12.13m vs 1.351m for the model, that gives a scale on 8.98:1 or very close to 9-th scale,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-39_Albatros

A number of well known model makers (Savex, Schreiner, C&C etc) had/have some beautiful molded edf L-36s, and HTG had a nice one too (from which JePe took over the molds).

Here's again some details on the original(s) :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-39_Albatros

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-59_Super_Albatros


Edit : videos added :

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Herbs Freewing L-39 Albatros maiden flight (2 min 49 sec)

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L-39 Albatros by Freewing 80mm EDF - 4K (3 min 55 sec)

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There are frequent heated discussions here on RCG and elsewhere on what the C ratings of LiPo batteries are, how they are obtained and how accurate they might, or might not, be ...

Here is an example of a so-called "LiPo C-Rating Calculator" that surprisingly does not even state what formula it uses to achieve the answer:

http://www.soko-heli-tools.com/en/li...alculator.html

One can even find a $90 device that when plugged into your battery will give you your magic C-Rating:

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/wayne-gi...cell-lipo.html

It looks all like rather mysterious physics until you realize it is all based on 1850's physics (Ohm's law) and middle school arithmetic (see below).

Here is some better discussion that leaves out all the foggy rubbish & nonsense (actually more of a sensible definition of terminology) :

http://web.mit.edu/evt/summary_batte...ifications.pdf


So what is the formula and what exactly does it tell you ??


So take the "calculator" from the first website:

A 5000mAh battery with a cell count of 6 and a cell IR of 2 milliOhm will give a C-rating of 24.5.

A little Mathematica algebra (see pdf below) allows to almost immediately extract the trivial (and ad hoc) formula they are using :

C Rating = 2451 / SquareRoot[ capacity * resistance ]

Nothing else enters the formula (try it out for yourself), all you need is the capacity in mAh printed on the pack (which most can read), and the internal resistance (IR) in milliOhms.

...Continue Reading

I managed to get the ARF-Plus version from Motion RC, just in time before the Friday morning stampede

http://sz-freewing.com/

https://www.motionrc.com/collections...phantom-ii-arf

https://www.motionrc.eu/collections/jets-and-ducted-fan

https://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?...th=470_507_508

http://www.rc-castle.com/index.php?r...+PNP&limit=100

http://www.f-hobby.com/rc-edf-jet-90mm-c-45_10

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...Phantom&pp=100

Delivery if all goes well should be mid-April.

This thread in German : https://translate.google.com/transla...ing%26pp%3D100

The original F-4 D Phantom had a wingspan of 11.71m and an overall length of 17.76m, whereas the model has a ws of 103cm and a length of 155cm, so the overall scale is ~ 11.37 : 1 (based on wingspan) and ~ 11.46 to 1 based on the length.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonn...F-4_Phantom_II

The F-4 D comes with a new 90mm 9-blade plastic / metal fan w. outrunner, in some ways similar to the one in the A-10 (which is 80mm though). It seems like a light setup (but I have no idea how much that fan weighs - edit: 378g).

I will put either a WeMoTec Evo 90mm fan with HET inrunner motor in mine, or the equally acceptable lightweight JetFan 90mm.

Black or Brown, that is the Question


EDIT : Maiden video added March 24

Freewing F-4 Phantom JetFan 90mm maiden flights - combined video (3 min 21 sec)

F-4D Phantom II 90mm EDF by Freewing - Fourth Flight (3 min 8 sec)

...Continue Reading

I just got this new FrSky Q x7 16-channel telemetry & s-bus radio from Amazon (prime) for $105 (vendor: HeliDirect)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and occasionally you can get it even for less. There is a (very) slightly new model Q X7S so that explains the price drop.

Mine arrived in two days because of Amazon Prime, if it comes from china it takes a bit longer

I also got a FrSky X8R telemetry & s-bus 16-ch receiver for $34 from Bangood :

https://www.banggood.com/FrSky-X8R-2...r_warehouse=CN

https://www.amazon.com/FrSky-Taranis...HFM/ref=sr_1_8

and a set of Sanyo eneloop 2000mAh batteries from Amazon (I already have the charger):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

which seem to last forever (many hours) in this radio.

Bangood and many other places carry a full line of FrSky telemetry sensors:

https://www.banggood.com/search/frsky-sensor.html

Aloft Hobbies is another good local source that I used in the past :

https://alofthobbies.com/radio.html

https://www.gearbest.com/multi-rotor...00.html?wid=44

https://www.banggood.com/FrSky-ACCST...l?rmmds=search

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