The Inevitable Crash...Rest In Peace Freewing F-4 Phantom

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  • Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
  • We all crash, but was it inevitable? And with one of my favorite models, the Freewing F-4 Phantom too! But, as they say, there are two types of RC airplanes, those that have crashed and those that will crash and well, the inevitable happened. Unfortunately in this case, it was one of my favorite jets to fly, my refinished Freewing F-4 Phantom. It was pretty upsetting, but at least we were filming I guess, haha! But, what truly happened is the question?? #rcjet #farewell #greatpumpkin
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    A Halloween Horror Story 00:00
    Where do they all go? 0:30
    About the Model 1:00
    The Great Preparation 2:30
    Time to fly! 3:23
    And Expired... 4:47
    Post Mortem 5:32
    Farewell Great Pumpkin 7:50
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 320

  • @roddraym
    @roddraym Рік тому +9

    Sorry that happened Chris! The Freewing F-4 was notorious for having a weak elevator servo installation from the manufacture: The fragility of the factory installed servo, the substandard glue used to secure the servo in place and a weak linkage, all combined, have been problematic for several Freewing F-4 pilots. It's possible your previous vids covered this insight. Best wishes towards your next F-4 project.

  • @billsmith3850
    @billsmith3850 Рік тому +2

    The old combination of factors that came together. The flying field layout with trees seemed to have contributed to the pilot's decision to steepen the pitch angle before turning base to final approach to set up for a steeper than normal approach. (New airport for the pilot.) A strong tail gust with turbulence (Forecast weather conditions). Reduced airspeed and angle of attack caused a localized airflow separation to occur resulting in a stall. Pilot was unable to perceive and respond to the changing flight condition that developed very quickly in this phase of flight. (Pilot stated he had not flown the type in some time) The Phantom definitely has some unforgiving flight characteristics in a stalled condition. Video analysis shows the pilot feeding in elevator as he was slowing to turn base therefore the elevator was operational during this phase of the flight. The servo failed later as a result of the impact and did not contribute to the crash. I liked that plane too. Another great video. Thanks.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Haha, ntsb report right there 🤣

  • @stevec7596
    @stevec7596 Рік тому +4

    This is how I got my F-4. It had a crash from a dead elevator servo and I was given the airplane. I installed an HS5245 and repaired the damage enough to fly it. It's been great!

  • @JustwingitRC
    @JustwingitRC Рік тому

    Oh man, that blows dude 😯! Glad I got to see this beauty in person on a few occasions. Blue skies and better days to you my friend 😎👍

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      As they say, there are two type of rc airplanes…those that have and those that will crash. 🤣. I expect she’ll rise again in some form, just not right now sadly.

  • @ry400xp
    @ry400xp Рік тому +24

    When you turned from downwind to base and having a tailwind in the base leg, you’ll instantly lose performance and airspeed and could cause a stall. The fact that you tried to recover with a secondary stall looks like the elevator was working but who knows. The only way to know is to pull the tapes from the black box and CVR.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +6

      Quite possibly what happened. Unfortunately, the black box was unable to be recovered from the crash site. 🤣

    • @nickhayley
      @nickhayley Рік тому

      Id day the dead elevator servo didn't help 🤣

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      I think what @Life with Nick and Haley said 🤣

    • @seanmolloy9422
      @seanmolloy9422 Рік тому +2

      Sorry for your loss. I once had a bound up servo and when I loaded it, the other functions would brown put. Fortunately it failed on the bench

    • @memcrew1
      @memcrew1 Рік тому +1

      You won’t lose airspeed going from a downwind to a base leg. You’re confusing ground speed with airspeed.

  • @davegianakos6512
    @davegianakos6512 Рік тому +1

    My heart sank a bit this morning when I discovered the demise online of your Great Pumpkin! I followed the build with interest and watching the videos of you fly through the skies with authority. I still have my F-4,painted up as an F-4N in colors of VF-84 Jolly Rogers. On one of its first flights, I got a bit slow coming near the approach end of the runway, it rolled over onto its back in the dirt. The cockpit was broken off in the cockpit area, I glued it back together as best I could, but it definitely is slightly "bent" to the left. I still fly it although I have to have some aileron trim in it just to keep it level. But it does fly. I'll fly it until it goes in someday, and probably get another. Always enjoy your videos and your products. The dual afterburner I bought from you still works great!

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Well, all part of the game unfortunately. She will rise again I’m sure. Glad yours is still flying! 😊

  • @Wefi01
    @Wefi01 Рік тому +2

    Classic downwind and bank stall. Happens to the best if us..hope you get her a new fuse soon...enjoyed your videos.

  • @psiturbo
    @psiturbo 11 місяців тому

    Great editing and well time snippets.

  • @buddy1065
    @buddy1065 Рік тому

    Great video and well put together.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Thank you! Figured I’d have a little fun with it, you know?

  • @traveler7137
    @traveler7137 Рік тому

    Well done video Chris really really enjoying the new videos. Hope you're enjoying your new locale and as always look forward to more. Thanks, John from Canada

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Thanks man! We’re loving it here. Been a huge adjustment though in trying to sort out the right focus and routine for this business, you know?

    • @traveler7137
      @traveler7137 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek Chris you need to tell us more about your business. Perhaps here even here in Canada I could be a customer. But although I follow your channel closely I'm not sure what you do as far as earning money. Certainly my respect for you and my friendship towards you would lead me to giving you business if I could good please don't afraid to make money as far as your viewers go. You are a staple in my diet of UA-cam viewing and i would support you if I can.

  • @kmurphy739
    @kmurphy739 Рік тому

    Great vid.... 👍

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Thanks! Figured I’d have a little fun with it, haha

  • @warbuzzard7167
    @warbuzzard7167 Рік тому

    I had a Durafly Spitfire MkVB that I loved. I had built, crashed, rebuilt, refreshed and fine-tuned a dozen times. It was my first >1m warbird. After not flying it for a while, I put it up in the air with the gyro off. It became hard to control and drifted too far away from me. I lost perspective on it and it went into a nosedive from which I could not recover.
    Hobby King stopped selling the model years before... so I recovered the parts, stripped off all the electronic gear, then put the crushed airframe in the trash.
    You are right. They all have an expiration date on them. 😔

  • @cmayrc
    @cmayrc Рік тому

    Props for thoroughly explaining why the servo might have failed and not just blaming it on happening right before the crash. Sorry bout your Phantom man, but great video!

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      All part of the game as you know. When something happens, I’m probably one of the few who will tend to blame myself first before anything else. This one was curious though, but still likely my fault, haha!

  • @Airsally
    @Airsally Рік тому +1

    Aww man sorry to see this Chris...but it does happen from time to time . Not used to seeing all those trees around you while flying. Look forwards to your future builds.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Yep, all part of the game unfortunately. She will rise again I think. 😊

  • @hammertime964
    @hammertime964 Рік тому

    Sorry for your loss Chris😕🍻

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Cheers! All part of the hobby unfortunately. She’ll rise again I’m sure. 😊

  • @skytalon74
    @skytalon74 Рік тому

    4:55 -I can see the plane pitching up with your inputs so the elevator servo seems to be working fine and if this happened at the turn without increasing throttle... hmmm. I've been there and looked exactly like my stall/crash. Thanks for posting.

  • @ironmover5800
    @ironmover5800 Рік тому

    That sux ! That was a beautiful plane , thanks for showing even great pilots have issues out of there control

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      All part of the game unfortunately.

  • @whoknows8678
    @whoknows8678 Рік тому

    Beautiful model. So sorry that happened, Chris.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      All part of the game. She’ll rise again I’m sure.

    • @whoknows8678
      @whoknows8678 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek Yup, git-R-done!

  • @alanshearing7515
    @alanshearing7515 Рік тому

    And from the ashes. A sad day goodbye Pumpkin. I really like the unmistakable shape of this model in the air . Hope for a reboot Chris .

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      I think it’ll happen, just not right now. On to other projects for the moment. 😊

  • @larryegilman1
    @larryegilman1 Рік тому

    An absolutely gorgeous sky master F-4 was lost at Best in the West Jet Rally this year. Big difference in $$, but equally heart breaking. I am sorry for your loss of a unique, labor intensive, well executed model

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      All part of the game unfortunately. She will rise again I think after I get some other projects done.

  • @iansummers6945
    @iansummers6945 Рік тому

    You took it well Chris and great follow up on an air crash investigation. Another reason I like foamies. 😮

  • @mrt1035
    @mrt1035 Рік тому

    Farewell great Pumpkin! If you don’t turn it into a E model fix it back up and make it a hangar Queen. Pumpkins are always worth having around. Great video Chris

  • @capnhardway
    @capnhardway Рік тому +1

    It was a bit weird, I hope you are able to repair. When I first joined the Air Force they were the main fighter, their straight line speed coming towards the runway was breathtaking! I think right next to the F 16, my favorite fighter. Thanks, sorry for your loss, watching the video, I believe for what it's worth, you didn't have full control.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Thanks man, it’s all part of the hobby. I definitely didn’t feel like I had full control, but could’ve been because it was slow too. She’ll rise again at some point.

  • @BenBartlow
    @BenBartlow Рік тому

    Thanks so much for the horse Apple clip I moved to PA a few years ago and I've been wondering what those are

  • @Zek1701
    @Zek1701 Рік тому

    Looks like some of my recent flights where the expiration became due. Looked awesome in flight!

  • @dougkoprowski7493
    @dougkoprowski7493 Рік тому

    Sorry to hear. Chin up and onward. Best regards!!

  • @JeffsCustomRC
    @JeffsCustomRC Рік тому

    Hate to see this Chris!! However, I too had something similar happen on my maiden, but was lucky enough to retrieve with no damage, and find that elevator servo had indeed crapped out, so I did the hitech servo upgrade with 256 rod, and so far…no more issues. So, I bid farewell Great Pumpkin, and hopefully another will take your place in that great pumpkin patch someday👊🏼🎃🎃

  • @shelbyseelbach9568
    @shelbyseelbach9568 Рік тому +1

    Turning into a downwind base leg with flaps and gear down is always going to be a gamble. I've learned the hard way to make sure my base leg is always into a prevailing crosswind with my EDFs. Turning downwind while slow with the extra drag from flaps and extended gear will cause you to drop like a freaking brick in my experience.

  • @Whitpusmc
    @Whitpusmc Рік тому

    Bummed for the loss, we have all been there!

  • @davidbohner692
    @davidbohner692 Рік тому

    Tragic !If you couldn’t save it, no one could. RIP Great Pumpkin😭

  • @pointnozzleaway
    @pointnozzleaway Рік тому

    I Did Enjoy the Great Pumpkin story. Have been there

  • @Whitpusmc
    @Whitpusmc Рік тому

    Nice field!!

  • @airhammer6203
    @airhammer6203 Рік тому

    Nice video Chris, she was a GREAT pumpkin.....
    Plant one of her seeds and watch'er grow.....
    AirHammer out!!

  • @pontiacf
    @pontiacf Рік тому

    Sorry for your loss 😢…she be back even better soon 🎃

  • @vincent-wu7bw
    @vincent-wu7bw Рік тому

    It's cool that you fly there now. I learned to fly there and still visit some. I have helped pick a few planes out of that field.😄

  • @robertchapman7773
    @robertchapman7773 Рік тому

    Chris I feel for you. I loved watching it in the vids. It was one of a kind. For me
    Its kind of like watching my favorite team getting eliminated in the playoffs. HEART JUST SINKS.
    Onwards and upwards sir
    B

  • @traveler7137
    @traveler7137 Рік тому

    That ending had me feeling goosebumps like the end of an MGM Grand movie. Very dramatic at the end there Chris. LOL

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Haha, thanks! I figured might as well have some fun with it and craft a full story around it. Was fun to out together, but wished it wasn’t a crash video, haha

  • @coldude2559
    @coldude2559 Рік тому

    Sorry to see this mate, it's always heart breaking to lose a good flying model....

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      All part of the game unfortunately. She’ll rise again I’m sure.

  • @patrickskahill6530
    @patrickskahill6530 Рік тому

    Dang sorry to see this..Ive refinished my F4 and F14 from Freewing and they have been hanging on my wall since lol. Funny but was considering flying the F14 next weekend. I think its just fine right where it is lol

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Haha, after all as they say, takeoffs are optional. 🤣

    • @patrickskahill6530
      @patrickskahill6530 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek Ha ha yep. To my own credit I did fly them a bunch before I spent all that time detailing them, so I can live with myself lol. Sorry again. Beautiful plane and hope you repair it.

  • @payitfwdrcl6171
    @payitfwdrcl6171 Рік тому

    Oh my. Feel for you Chris. Get her fixy and back in the air. Take care, Brad.

  • @SlowFlyer85
    @SlowFlyer85 Рік тому

    I feel for you been there more then once . and you know you shouldn't take it up but you do anyway and electronic failure hinge failure and you watch her come down hard great video can't wait to see you new replacement one keep up the good videos

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      As they say, discretion is the better part of valor, haha! Definitely lacking discretion, but it happens. Thanks for the support!

  • @iotaprime2892
    @iotaprime2892 Рік тому

    Observing Robert Petrincic's crash of the ME-262, it stalled when at a similar downwind to base zone of flight. Also, there's a P-38 stall-spin vid where the guy miraculously pulls it out. Again, the aircraft was quite distant. I'm considering the possibility there's a tendency to slow down when the aircraft is distant. I don't understand the reasons. We do know there's better mental connection/feedback with the plane when it is in closer proximity.
    I jockey the throttle continuously through flight, adjusting to ascent, descent and turns. So I may be more vulnerable to an under-throttle mistake. More of a beginner pilot stays safe keeping the throttle above 1/2 or normal cruise and adjusting less. But what happens when we're thinking about slowing down for landing? Could I dumb-thumb the throttle? Is it more likely when the plane is distant?
    I'm practicing better throttle awareness by taking a lesson from flights shared on UA-cam.
    So Thanks!
    p.s. It was the SERVO!

  • @arrowflyte2
    @arrowflyte2 Рік тому

    "Evaluate what has happened so you can apply what you learn" Viper (Tom Skerritt) in Top Gun (1986) 😂😂

  • @dont6441
    @dont6441 Рік тому +1

    RC can be a cruel hobby. Enjoyed your video and story.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Sometimes it can, but it’s all part of it. 😊

  • @richardwylie07
    @richardwylie07 Рік тому

    Sorry Chris. We all loved the great pumpkin!! Whenever I buy any foamy with an all flying stab… I replace the elevator servo with something much higher torque, I fortify the mounting system… and upgrade the control arm. Given this is now 8cell there is much higher demand on that one little factory servo.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      All part of the game. This actually was an aftermarket servo in there which made it all the more curious. The likelyhood is that I dumb thumbed it and the servo failure was secondary to that.

  • @ficosk8
    @ficosk8 6 місяців тому +1

    Shit, the video for analysis is the only consolation. You did a great video for us. Thanks!

    • @ficosk8
      @ficosk8 6 місяців тому

      Being a rookie and having lost my first balsa plane because of elevator servo failure or servo horn failure I´m afraid of that happening again. A young guy told me, "but you can knife edge back down"... yes you can if you have all the Time in the world, and a good simulator xD

  • @robw8703
    @robw8703 Рік тому

    Thanks for an honest debrief on this one. I see you installed a Castle ESC as well. Any comment on preference between the Talon and Phoenix Edge Lite series and why you chose one over the other?

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      I went for the cc edge esc because that’s what I had. They’re good and so are the Talon esc’s too.

  • @jjs3287
    @jjs3287 Рік тому

    Sorry for your loss...

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Thanks. All part of the game unfortunately.

  • @pappy883
    @pappy883 Рік тому +1

    Geek (think i'm gonna be sick) So sorry for loss, exact same thing happened to my F-18. high wind, turning down wind, slowing for final. In slow motion the wings were rocking a little just before it turned. This is a clue. just as it was going down it looked like you tried pitching up to save it so maybe the elevator was not so much a factor. Your Still the best in my book.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Entirely likely. My speed and throttle setting were about right for a calm day, but I didn’t do well accounting for the increasing wind. Could’ve been what got it into the situation.

    • @pappy883
      @pappy883 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek My F-18 was in 5 pieces, glued it back, still fly's, (pretty good) lesson learned.

  • @alphamrc309
    @alphamrc309 Рік тому

    This will be a day long remembered, in a sad way! May whatever replaces its spot in your hangar live just as storied a life!

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      It’s a true Halloween horror story, isn’t it? 🤣 she’ll rise again in some form I’m sure. Enjoyed flying it too much. 😊

  • @TheFrenchPug
    @TheFrenchPug Рік тому

    Thank you for your sacrifice.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Haha, it was bound to happen! 🤣

  • @hughwiedman9711
    @hughwiedman9711 Рік тому

    Always loved your Pumpkin, sad to see if go! I've got 2 of these F4'S still flying, both with your burners and 12 blade 6S inrunners, one repainted to a Blue Angel and the other to a "Key West" Sundower of my own design but know they won't last forever. Had a problem with one elevator's set screw coming loose recently, rolled violently and somehow eneded up full throttle hovering 3 feet off the ground, and set it down on its tail, no damage. Shoulda been it's expiration date but lives to fight another day, now with SMC'S new HiV 6200 packs which may hasten it's ultimate demise. 🤣 Hope you resurrect it for next Halloween!

  • @mjpburke1
    @mjpburke1 Рік тому +3

    "That spin was hell. It would've shook me up." "A good pilot is compelled to always evaluate what's happened. So he can apply what he's learned. - Up there, we got to push it. That's our job." Part of the hobby some cannot cope with... you handled it well. I could see she was getting buffeted by the wind on that last pass. My F5 does not like slows dirty turns in the wind. I had one looked pretty similar to what happened to you here. First turn coming out of down leg setting up for approach dirty.... I ended up pulling out of a stalled turn about 3' off the ground. First time I ever took her up on a windy day. 10th/12th flight overall with her. SEVERE pucker factor!!! I never go below half throttle dirty anymore unless I am lined on and on the "glide slope". I have wondered though, on windy days, are these servos being overtaxed with these stabilization systems making constant corrections...

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Yeah, my speed and throttle was about right for a calm day, didn’t do well accounting for the increasing wind. That could’ve been what caused that uncommanded tuck.

    • @g-man2228
      @g-man2228 Рік тому

      😂

  • @TheRCAirMarshall
    @TheRCAirMarshall Рік тому

    RIP Great Pumpkin! 🎃
    I thought we'd get to see forever
    But forever's gone away
    It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday😢

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Hopefully she’ll live again…😕 Btw, nice job pulling out the Boyz II Men reference! 🤣

  • @victorrcjets7660
    @victorrcjets7660 Рік тому

    I miss mine. stock servo? mod done on the elevator area? I love how yours flew at Palomar.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      It was one of my favs man, but this is the way. This was actually an updated servo I had in it. Thinking it possibly may have not been up to the task long term.

  • @rcflyingsanfrancisco2968
    @rcflyingsanfrancisco2968 Рік тому

    Almost identical crash of my Freewing F-4 earlier this year. Put gears down in downwind leg and before turn to base leg, it lost power and went down. I attributed it to old 6S battery.

  • @EJ-74
    @EJ-74 Рік тому

    R. I. P. F-4 PHANTOM 🙏

  • @I_am_archie
    @I_am_archie Рік тому

    Trick or treat bruh. ✈️

  • @airman9820
    @airman9820 Рік тому +1

    Yeah first thing I did when I got my F4 was replace the tail servo, had heard of failures. Where is your field located, I have thought of moving to Tennessee but didn't look like there were many flying fields in that state. Yours looks pretty nice from what I can tell.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +2

      This actually was an upgraded servo that I had in there. This field is at cane ridge park in the outskirts of Nashville. Great spot with a great group of guys!

    • @airman9820
      @airman9820 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek Looks like a nice field. Will try and make the jet event next year, little over 3 hrs away. Do you need the park permit to fly at a event?

    • @lw216316
      @lw216316 Рік тому +1

      @@airman9820 Come fly with us and you will be considered our guest and covered by our permits - you will need AMA of course - in case your great pumpkin lands on someone's toe !

  • @ltfadl1
    @ltfadl1 Рік тому

    Oh no Chris, my heart hurts for ya. Such a beauty, but I'm excited to see the rebound. I slapped right into the side of my car today and tore up my F16 so I feel ya pain bud. 😭 👍

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Oh man, that hurts! Hopefully not too bad on the car?

  • @heeder777
    @heeder777 Рік тому

    Always sucks reaching the expiration date. Watching your post flight analysis, it came to me what we do in a full-scale incident or a crash. Before moving anything, document the plane with photos from several angles. In a model, check the movement of the control surfaces if possible or at a minimum listen for servo operation. I know we want to just grab the trash bag and start filling it with the pieces but think about it this, you could have confirmed it the stabilator was jammed up against an object, verified the servo operation after if the battery or receiver was damages/disconnected. Of course, I've never really done this, but without the emotional burden you experienced, it was easy to come up with this approach to how a crash may have occurred.
    Waiting with bated breath for the Hustler first flight! 😀

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      All good points. We actually had a tough time finding it as the brush was quite high. We had to jockey the throttle to make some noise to help us locate it. My friend was the one who picked it up after falling into a hole on the way to it, haha

  • @trondyne3513
    @trondyne3513 Рік тому

    Can you please share what do you use to finish the foam?

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Yeah, I have a link to the playlist in the description. This is it: bit.ly/YTRefinishing

    • @trondyne3513
      @trondyne3513 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek Ah okay thanks... Yes, I discovered the use of polycrylic too many years ago (added a lot of weight can't sand) but was wondering if there was a better way to paint, since some foam is very hard to get paint to stick to... I am always perplexed because these manufacturers seem to have some kind of paint that sticks... Do you have any idea what they use? Thanks again and sorry about your Great Pumpkin!

  • @austinlangley4539
    @austinlangley4539 Рік тому

    What’s the best way to repaint a plane and keep it light because I’ve seen you use just 2 layers of minwax (spartan) just a primer coat (t-6 texan) and minwax and primer on the f-14 what’s the best way to go?

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      It really depends on what you’re desired result is. The lightest is to simply paint over the stock airframe with no other prep. I do the other work to get a cleaner and smoother finish from the airframe.

    • @austinlangley4539
      @austinlangley4539 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek ok thanks so much

  • @simonetaormina7080
    @simonetaormina7080 Рік тому

    I have the F 14 and the F 15 from motion. I can’t get more than 2.5 minutes and have maybe 10 percent left , and I do manage my throttle. My Stinger 90 4.5 minutes and still have enough for a go around if needed , looks like you lost power. If I flew my scale jets like that I would no longer have them. What was your battery percentage after that?

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      The model had plenty of power left. You can hear it come in, I think I just dumb thumbed it and got it too slow for the conditions. I was flying an 8s jetfan 90 setup in it that would get me around 5 minutes of mixed flying pretty easily. Super efficient and great performance.

  • @mrhilma
    @mrhilma Рік тому

    Every servo has its expiration date I suppose. The TX could record a servo actuation count with a model profile and in some brighter future, it could tell you when to replace the unit. So sorry about the GP Phantom.

  • @davidsnyder238
    @davidsnyder238 Рік тому

    I won't armchair what happened. Servo or airspeed, either could have been the culprit. I pancaked one of mine a while back in a similar fashion but mine was airspeed. Loved your LU hat. I live not far from there! Rip great pumpkin.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      Oh cool! My daughter is going to college there. 😊

    • @davidsnyder238
      @davidsnyder238 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek my wife is an alum. Im only 40 ish minutes away. We need to catch up next time your up this way! Id love to see you!

  • @HobRaceteam
    @HobRaceteam Рік тому

    The Stab Servo I used was a Hitec HS-5245 MG digital mini

  • @kendonnelly3248
    @kendonnelly3248 Рік тому

    Sorry for the loss. Yep some tricky wind. Speed kills! (Slow speed that is). Plane looked rocky through out that turn. Nose wasn't down keeping up airspeed. Seems elevator was working. I saw the plane try to pitch up again after regaining some speed. Vertical speed that is lol. (Death thumb on elevator I suppose.). Holding right ail made worse. I always get close calls on elevator stalls on the F-4.. Even at high speed. Give it too much and it Will bite ya.

  • @looneytunes47
    @looneytunes47 Рік тому

    After many questionable crashes of my own thru the years i always make sure to keep the Gear Tucked up just incase i do have to ditch one..This saves on a huge amount of damage that the nose gear will inflick on the plane

  • @michaellipousky9143
    @michaellipousky9143 Рік тому

    That sucks man!! Sorry about that. I think you should redo it as the great pumpkin again. Everybody says those freewing servos suck and need to be replaced before you ever fly the plane. Any of their planes. I didn’t watch any of your build videos on it so I don’t know if you had done that already or not. 🍻🍻🍻

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      We’ll see if she comes back as the pumpkin again. As much as I loved it, I’d kind of like to switch it up. I did actually upgrade the servo in this one, so who knows. Could’ve been entirely my fault

    • @michaellipousky9143
      @michaellipousky9143 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek For an absolute millisecond it appeared that the plane kind of flattened out (for lack of better words) and was flying like it had no elevator authority. That’s what it appeared like to me.

  • @chadkuenzinger4256
    @chadkuenzinger4256 Рік тому

    Oh nooooooo…….I’m so sorry for your loss. She went to the great pumpkin in the sky.😢

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      All part of the game. I’m sure she will rise again at some point. Enjoyed flying it too much not to. 😊

  • @capt998
    @capt998 Рік тому

    I know you know but the F4 is infamous for getting way too draggy when the gear and flaps are down. I maidened a friend's FW 6S F4 and used only 3/8" down flaps on landing, this thing is like a surf board if the nose pitches up a bit. On the down leg, I did see your F4 slow down and pitch up a bit going slow but then nose went down a bit and it picked up some speed. Assuming Full Flaps were used on the down leg (I think I saw them deployed at the beginning of the video and they looked like almost 75 degrees down?) and watching the slow mo video, it looks like a typical F4 stall but then it recovered from the first stall into a level flight for a split second, Elev servo still working well, but now it's going way too slow so it stalled again and I didn't hear the EDF coming up to speed till almost impact. It's very possible the Elev servo got damaged from the impact and being stuck in the bushes. Hopefully you get it fixed! Thx for sharing.

  • @Diogo-dt1uf
    @Diogo-dt1uf Рік тому +1

    It was preety noticeable that your left wing stalled and dropped inwards the curve, right after it dropped you pulled the elevator, wich got things worse.. after that its all history... Been there with my p40.. wing tip stall plus elevator equals tragedy!

  • @russshanks5913
    @russshanks5913 Рік тому

    RIP

  • @shownuff891
    @shownuff891 Рік тому

    Pumpkins are part of the a winter Squash Family and it was ever more apparent when it hit the ground …RIP great pumpkin may you squash in peace 😂

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Haha, now to plant a seed to grow another one! 🤣

    • @shownuff891
      @shownuff891 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek lol I know you will come up with something . We all will be waiting

  • @LOSCABOSLIFE
    @LOSCABOSLIFE Рік тому

    Probably the failure of the servo. Unlike a fixed elevator surface, a flying elevator takes a lot more pressure. This is why on any flying elevator, I always upgrade the servo(s). It happened to me once and ever since all my jets with flying elevators have high Torque servos. Eg: Mig-29, F4, SU30, F16, F18, T45, etc. I don't take any chances anymore and have yet to have this problem.
    So long Great Pumpkin, RIP.

  • @richardwylie07
    @richardwylie07 Рік тому

    Much greener field than your former Sol Cal haunts!!

  • @canamwing6999
    @canamwing6999 Рік тому

    I find all the foam F-4 models have the same week spot. The Elevator servo mount! I bet you it gave out on you!

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Its definitely a weak spot in the FW. I had done some work back there and also upgraded the servo also actually. So, this was an upgraded servo that had failed.

  • @docitup
    @docitup Рік тому

    Sorry man about the loss of The Great Pumpkin! Bad elevator servos could be the play of the crash. Are you gonna get other one again? It stranded out very well and best model I ever seen.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Could’ve been, but hard to know for sure. In that abrupt pitch up, you can actually hear a crack. I think it busted the glue joint for the rear fuselage. I’m sure she’ll rise again, mostly just needs a new fuselage. I’d like to switch it up though and do a different scheme if I do.

    • @docitup
      @docitup Рік тому

      Let’s rise up to newer Pumpkin 2.0 version. Fuselage is needed and get the update work on the fuselage to withstand the failures. Maybe revamp around the fuselage to make them to fly better than original wasn’t designed for?

  • @tonydeaton1967
    @tonydeaton1967 4 місяці тому

    I just destroyed a, very nice, large scale P-51 in EXACTLY, the same scenario. Stall/ spin in a down wind turn. It taught me that you cannot make, high bank angle, turns like that. With the warbirds, I keep a high throttle setting until I complete the turn to final. Keeping the wings mostly level, minimum bank, and rudder thru the turn. On a calmer day, the crash wouldn't have happened.

  • @automagni
    @automagni Рік тому

    Chris doesn’t make mistakes! I blame the servo!

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Haha, I wish that were true! 🤣

  • @eddieksrc
    @eddieksrc Рік тому

    Sorry for your loss Chris…. 🎃🎃🎃😂😂😂

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Pharewell Great Pumpkin! 🤣

  • @jamesbrown7758
    @jamesbrown7758 Рік тому

    Oh man, that sucks! You’re just the guy to get her resurrected though! Expiration dates, man ain’t that the truth! Was hoping to run into you yesterday, (Friday), perfect flying weather. I’ve recently switched to cane ridge from Edwin Warner. I’m really enjoying the group of guys!

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Unfortunately haven’t been able to get to the field much of late. Hoping to get out there next Saturday if I can.

  • @androtekman6131
    @androtekman6131 11 місяців тому

    Should have opened the servo for inspection. That would have been interesting to watch.

  • @terryperrott8567
    @terryperrott8567 Рік тому

    I feel the pain, all the time you put into of refinishing surface & paint scheme. Yes they all have expiration date.
    Did you have to remove any foam to install the JetFan 90mm fan Or make any mods?
    Back in the 90s I built a Yellow Aircraft F-4 , I built as a Blues Angle's, took like a year to build to finish. Did maiden, after that got 4 more flights & another pilot plowed into the belly of it. I had a OS 90 with a Dynamax fan.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому +1

      All part of the game unfortunately. I think I had to remove a little foam around the shroud to get the hatch fit right, but that was it getting it in there.

    • @terryperrott8567
      @terryperrott8567 Рік тому

      @@Thercgeek Thank You for replying

  • @turbonitropetador
    @turbonitropetador Рік тому

    rip

  • @akenedy
    @akenedy Рік тому

    All the more reason to design models with redundancy built in. Dual elevator servos is a must if you want to have any real chance of landing the model without damage in the event of an elevator servo failure. Equally with ailerons, which today is typical practice. Rudder is not as crucial, but ganging dual servos on rudder is never a bad idea. Powerful servos in small sizes now make all of this easy to achieve without adding undue amounts of additional weight. An experienced modeler like you already knows all of this, so this is for the newbies.

  • @cheythompson740
    @cheythompson740 Рік тому

    To me it looked like the down wind caught the underside of the wing, more always add more airspeed on the down wind. And unfortunately servo failure is so hard to gauge when assessment is on a crashed model

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Entirely possible. I really didn’t account for the wind sufficiently as it had actually increased a bit while I was flying.

  • @ProjectMercuryMarauder
    @ProjectMercuryMarauder 10 місяців тому

    Looks like when you turned base the wind was at your tail so you were going slow mid turn, and you entered a typical accelerated stall spin. The elevator servomechanism was likely fine until after the crash where it briefly lost communication with the transmitter leaving it in a up elevator command burning up the the servo.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  10 місяців тому +1

      Yeah, I most likely was just too slow for the conditions.

  • @lw216316
    @lw216316 Рік тому

    Chris and all who fly at Cane Ridge - beware the hedge apples -
    I always scan the field before I take off - we have lots of critters here - deer, turkey, armadillo , geese, hawks, vultures, rabbits, squirrels etc. One day I arrived at the field and there were several jet pilots flying and I skipped my usual scan of the runway. Just before rotation there was a loud pop and my plane veered left and onto the grass minus its prop. Turns out there was a hedge apple on the runway! - Larry

    • @DimaGuitar
      @DimaGuitar Рік тому

      We don't have all the animals you named here in Germany, but we have bees. Once I was attacked by a bee until I crashed my plane🤦‍♂😆

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      @TokMok Oh man, that sucks!

  • @Flight6677
    @Flight6677 Рік тому

    I had a Freewing F4 crash very similar. I believe you stalled her.

  • @HobRaceteam
    @HobRaceteam Рік тому

    Not sure if you are running the stock UBEC. I had one fail in my F4 (over volt) and it took out my rudder servo before it failed completely and burned out all my servos. Lucky it happened on the ground. Might pay to check your UBEC just in case. The other thing Ifound was that the stock STAB servo was marginal for the load from the STABS especially on 8S and replaced it with a HITEC MG mighty mini servo. Hope this helps.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      I actually had an upgraded servo in it. Likelihood is I dumbthumed it, but the servo failure was a curious bit in the whole thing as I didn’t have any control of it once it departed.

  • @ingoackermann7718
    @ingoackermann7718 Рік тому

    The Phantom don't like it to make them too slow in a turn, I have had the same accident with my Phantom,now she's flying again

  • @paulhatcher9767
    @paulhatcher9767 Рік тому

    I hate to see that! It can and does happen to all of us.

  • @av8tore71
    @av8tore71 Рік тому

    Hedge apples they keep spiders out of your house! It really works too!!

  • @WadoF22
    @WadoF22 Рік тому

    Sorry dude...Christmas🎅 is just around the corner. Will put in a good word👍

  • @daviddavids2884
    @daviddavids2884 Рік тому

    throttle back,
    gear down,
    AND FLAPS deployed in a downwind turn.
    what could possibly go wrong.?

  • @brentheilman8910
    @brentheilman8910 Рік тому

    My dads lives on a river and has tons of those green hedge apples? Anyhow i guess the only thing they are good for is keeping spiders away, they dont like them.

    • @lw216316
      @lw216316 Рік тому +1

      the Squirrels at this rc field love hedge apples; humans do not, but they're not poisonous. As a boy living near a stream I loved throwing them into the water
      and hearing them go " ker-plunk" and then float to the top.

  • @6StringPassion.
    @6StringPassion. Рік тому

    Death, taxes, and the expiration date on every RC plane.

  • @jlester42
    @jlester42 Рік тому

    Ahhh. Turned the Great Pumpkin into Pie ! 🥧 Sorry about the loss.

    • @Thercgeek
      @Thercgeek  Рік тому

      Haha, I love pumpkin pie! 🤣