Great review on this improved model. Where I fly and the other 4 clubs, only 1 has a hard surface runway. The rest if us will not find thrust reversing as a benefit. Grass is a brake for landing and even takeoffs when the grass is at its peak in the summer. An improved set of retracts will be a huge difference though on rough and not even grass fields.
Nice video! Thanks! As I colleague was flying the V2 I began to look after and I ended buying one second hand. So I read about the differences. The original V2 camo from 2017 had that very thin landing gear without springs and from the outside plastic. There was this aluminium landing gear as an extra for almost $100 what was crazy. The performance version V2 had the outrunner 2300KV 12 blades (I think). The performance V3 has a inrunner with 2210KV 2957 motor which delivers around 300g more thrust per datasheet. I haven’t installed my new EDF to measure it but the older has less thrust than my performance FMS 70mm (pro v2 3060 inrunner 1900kv)
I do wish FW had a Thunderbird livery on their model. But maybe the DOD USAF can only contract with 1 vendor and E-flite already took it! I would prefer Freewing came out with an 80mm version with similar retracts as the E-flite model.
Which would you say is better for visibility, arctic or grey? I'm replacing my Eflite V2 Thunderbird for the very reason that the nose gear mount broke and punched through the foam (attempts at repair haven't held up), so glad they have improved that area. (I also fly at Apollo, thanks for the great info)
I've only had the gray. Nick has always had the arctic. I believe his is easier to see with the contrast. But these aren't big planes so they do get a bit harder to see than the 80s or 90s
Yes it seems to be. I haven't seen the v3 arctic camo version in real life but i have the v2 grey and Nick has the v2 arctic. Besides the color scheme, they were identical.
I haven't looked at the esc to see the brand but i assume you can look on motion rc's website spare parts to find out. Reverse thrust is easy. There is another "servo" lead coming out of the esc. That goes to another channel that you assign to a switch. That switch controls thrust normal or reverse. Can work with any transmitter so you don't need forward programming.
That'll work... but it depends on your personal preference on how you set it up. I like to have all my control surfaces separated. So 2 elev, 2 ail, 1 rudder, one nose steer, 1 gear channel, 1 throttle plus one reverse channel. That would be nine channels. If you Y the elevator channel, you are back to 8 channels. If you keep the blue stock mixing board, then all you need is 6.
Heads up. Hopefully you know about this. If that receiver came with the plane, be sure to disable as3x and safe mode in forward programming. Make sure to mark the position and orientation of the receiver before pulling it in case you want to reinstall it into the receiver back into the 80mm F-16. The AS3X is dependant on the exact orientation, position and level of the receiver for it to function properly. If you want AS3X and safe functional in the 70mm F-16, there are two ways you can try it. The first way is the easiest but it may not be optimum. Place the receiver in the same orientation as it was in the original plane. Be aware of level differences between the old mounting location and the new one and try to keep the receiver level in the new location on the new plane. Confirm that safe mode moves the surfaces the proper direction. Make sure to program an off for safe and AS3X. Maiden the plane with AS3X and Safe Off. Turn on AS3X at altitude and confirm that everything is OK. If all good, try safe... there may be a bit of trouble holding level if the receiver wasn't the same level. It may have a tendency to slightly rise or drop. The second method would be the proper way of doing it... you'll need a receiver programming device that Spektrum sells. You'll need to unlock the receiver since it's specifically programmed for the 80mm F-16. Then calibrate it to the new plane. It's a process I'm not really familiar with since i don't have a Spektrum transmitter. Method 1 should be ok. Just make sure the receiver is in the same orientation as it was in the old plane and the level is correct. If you don't care about safe and AS3X, just turn them off as i mentioned in the beginning.
Seems to high alpha a bit more stable. I've been flying it and gradually figuring out my optimum setup. Not there yet. The flying stab definitely gives you more elevator authority. Pulling up into a cobra type maneuver is faster and crisper. Loops are tighter. I gotta figure out the right amount of throw since at 100٪ throw, i can easily get into an accelerated stall on slow speed pull ups. But yeah, if you already have the v2, i wouldn't go out and rush to get the v3.
Nice review guys. Glad you’re liking the V3 🎉
I maidened my camo v3 today… what a beast!!!
The full stab looks cool since it’s more scale… sadly I don’t have it 😆
Great review on this improved model. Where I fly and the other 4 clubs, only 1 has a hard surface runway. The rest if us will not find thrust reversing as a benefit. Grass is a brake for landing and even takeoffs when the grass is at its peak in the summer. An improved set of retracts will be a huge difference though on rough and not even grass fields.
Nice video! Thanks! As I colleague was flying the V2 I began to look after and I ended buying one second hand. So I read about the differences. The original V2 camo from 2017 had that very thin landing gear without springs and from the outside plastic. There was this aluminium landing gear as an extra for almost $100 what was crazy. The performance version V2 had the outrunner 2300KV 12 blades (I think). The performance V3 has a inrunner with 2210KV 2957 motor which delivers around 300g more thrust per datasheet. I haven’t installed my new EDF to measure it but the older has less thrust than my performance FMS 70mm (pro v2 3060 inrunner 1900kv)
Subscribed :)
I do wish FW had a Thunderbird livery on their model. But maybe the DOD USAF can only contract with 1 vendor and E-flite already took it! I would prefer Freewing came out with an 80mm version with similar retracts as the E-flite model.
And the V1 hat that full stab. Don’t ask me why they changed that
Great review, I just purchased the V3 ( I also have the V2) and was thinking about the FFS setup, thank you for that info.
Which would you say is better for visibility, arctic or grey? I'm replacing my Eflite V2 Thunderbird for the very reason that the nose gear mount broke and punched through the foam (attempts at repair haven't held up), so glad they have improved that area. (I also fly at Apollo, thanks for the great info)
I've only had the gray. Nick has always had the arctic. I believe his is easier to see with the contrast. But these aren't big planes so they do get a bit harder to see than the 80s or 90s
They use.
Rubber instead of foam tires.
Is this grey v3 the same as the attic camo v3?
Yes it seems to be. I haven't seen the v3 arctic camo version in real life but i have the v2 grey and Nick has the v2 arctic. Besides the color scheme, they were identical.
What motor esc combo is in the new v3? How do you program reverse thrust? Through the transmitter and forward programming like spektrum?
I haven't looked at the esc to see the brand but i assume you can look on motion rc's website spare parts to find out. Reverse thrust is easy. There is another "servo" lead coming out of the esc. That goes to another channel that you assign to a switch. That switch controls thrust normal or reverse. Can work with any transmitter so you don't need forward programming.
So an 8 channel rx/rx combo would be what I need? I’m thinking I just pull my rx out of my eflite 80mm f16 and use that. She my shelf queen anyway.
That'll work... but it depends on your personal preference on how you set it up. I like to have all my control surfaces separated. So 2 elev, 2 ail, 1 rudder, one nose steer, 1 gear channel, 1 throttle plus one reverse channel. That would be nine channels. If you Y the elevator channel, you are back to 8 channels. If you keep the blue stock mixing board, then all you need is 6.
Heads up. Hopefully you know about this. If that receiver came with the plane, be sure to disable as3x and safe mode in forward programming. Make sure to mark the position and orientation of the receiver before pulling it in case you want to reinstall it into the receiver back into the 80mm F-16. The AS3X is dependant on the exact orientation, position and level of the receiver for it to function properly. If you want AS3X and safe functional in the 70mm F-16, there are two ways you can try it. The first way is the easiest but it may not be optimum. Place the receiver in the same orientation as it was in the original plane. Be aware of level differences between the old mounting location and the new one and try to keep the receiver level in the new location on the new plane. Confirm that safe mode moves the surfaces the proper direction. Make sure to program an off for safe and AS3X. Maiden the plane with AS3X and Safe Off. Turn on AS3X at altitude and confirm that everything is OK. If all good, try safe... there may be a bit of trouble holding level if the receiver wasn't the same level. It may have a tendency to slightly rise or drop. The second method would be the proper way of doing it... you'll need a receiver programming device that Spektrum sells. You'll need to unlock the receiver since it's specifically programmed for the 80mm F-16. Then calibrate it to the new plane. It's a process I'm not really familiar with since i don't have a Spektrum transmitter. Method 1 should be ok. Just make sure the receiver is in the same orientation as it was in the old plane and the level is correct. If you don't care about safe and AS3X, just turn them off as i mentioned in the beginning.
Woop woop! Tytyty!
Aha - - the High Alpha Team. :)
89mm flys with 20mm up as neutral point
So basically...no real performance difference
Seems to high alpha a bit more stable. I've been flying it and gradually figuring out my optimum setup. Not there yet. The flying stab definitely gives you more elevator authority. Pulling up into a cobra type maneuver is faster and crisper. Loops are tighter. I gotta figure out the right amount of throw since at 100٪ throw, i can easily get into an accelerated stall on slow speed pull ups. But yeah, if you already have the v2, i wouldn't go out and rush to get the v3.