Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

I put a total of four fantastic flights on my new Avonds F-16...It is powered with a JetCat P-120 and this engine is a PERFECT marraige for this airframe...This plane goes exactly where you point it and has absolutely NO bad habits...I'm EXTREMELY pleased!!! This plane is a definate keeper!!!...I don't have any flight pics or vids but I do have a some pics of the model with my eight year old son..The first flight was from asphalt and the next three were on grass...The plane effortlessly handled the grass strip and the P-120 has more than enough grunt...I'm looking forward to many flights with this bird!!!!...

Kevin

SinCityJets

Congrats!

Why one flight off the pavement and the next three off the grass??

Chad

FalconWings

My Feedback: (57)

I've been wanting to build one of these for a while. The scale upgrades available from PA are incredible.

Congrats!

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

I had permission to fly from a local airport and I got the first flight off from there...I basically just flew it in a race track pattern to get the feel of her...I had an air problem with the retracts. (The nose gear wouldn't come down)...The plane handled the nose gear up problem with ease due to the fact that the pitot tube took the damage as it sticks out just far enough to prevent the nose from coming in contact with the asphalt...Anyway, I took the plane home to sort out the retract issue and then flew it again at a later date from the Propbusters grass strip in Arlington TN...This plane really makes the pilot look GOOD!!! In the near future I plan to add a few items such as an LED afterburner, fuel tanks, etc...I already have the large (300 gallon if I'm not mistaken) ferry tanks with pylons completed...I flew with the inner pylons in place...

Kevin

AndyAndrews

Congrats! She looks great. Fine lookin boy you got there to. Congrats.

tp777fo

My Feedback: (28)

This is without doubt the best flying F-16 in the world. The weight is where is should be (20#ish) which allows a wide selection of motors. It has no bad habits and is a blast to fly. I am on my 2nd one and have a 3rd in the box (scale mains and a scale nose in the works). This is my "go to" airplane as I fly and fly without a bunch of work on it. For guys that still enjoy building it is an easy build as everything comes with it and it all fits perfectly. Congratulations!

lear31A

My Feedback: (123)

Very nice, are you using ailerons? if so, what servos?

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments!!!...

No ailerons/flaperons, just the stock "tailerons" as Avonds recommends...The plane feels just like having separate ailerons and elevators-Not so with the Avonds F-15 that I flew-The F-15 had a different feel to it...So, no real need for ailerons/flaperons on this bird unless you are a scale purist...In fact, this plane slows down so well on landing that flaps are definately not needed...

Kevin

lear31A

My Feedback: (123)

lear31A

My Feedback: (123)

Thats nice to hear, I am on the fence with the ailerons for my project (SM 1/8 F16). I was surprised to see that even the rudder is "optional". I installed the rudder servo however, but that would be THREE less servos(weight) and wiring, less battery use and most importantly about $280 saved!

tp777fo

My Feedback: (28)

Would be interesting to compare weights of the Avonds 1/7th F-16 and the SM 1/8th F-16.

hooker53

My Feedback: (106)

Kevin, Looking good dude. You been wanting one of these for awhile and it's a beauty. Glad you got one and all went well. What caused the retract Prob. Good to see ya around. Roy [sm=thumbup.gif]

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

The retract problem was caused by a BVM air cylinder breaking on me...The mains got down and locked apparently before the cylinder broke, thereby letting all of the air out of the retract system...The nose gear didn't get down...I've never seen a BVM air cylinder break before...One of the plastic ends blew off of the metal cylinder...The plastic end looked as though it wasn't properly glued in place...I cleaned all of the parts thoroughly and re-glued the end back on the cylinder using JB Weld...So far, so good!!! [sm=thumbs_up.gif]

Again, I can't stress enough how well this bird flys...With a P-120 it's almost like flying a Barf when up to speed...Loops as large as your eyes will let you get away with, excellent vertical, and as stable as anyone could ask for...One thing that this bird will do that no Barf will do is high alpha without dropping a wing..(Will a Barf even execute high alpha???)...And landings that are so slow it looks like you could pluck it out of the air...As you can tell I'm sold 100% on this plane!!!

Here's another shot of the plane before the missiles and rails were installed as well as another pic of my son and another project...And some full scale F-16 pics to keep me motivated...(As though I really need motivation!!!)

Kevin

Mark Basel

My Feedback: (24)

Hey Kevin, looking good! Are you using Avonds pipe and bypass?

mb

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

Yep, everything as it comes from Avonds...I was a little suspicious of the diameter of the pipe with the P-120 but my worries were never really justified as it works well...In fact, the plane has a very cool "growl" sound to it when you drop the hammer...Low pitched and very scale sounding...

Kevin

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

Here's what's next on the building table...With the scale cockpit of course!!!

Kevin

Bryce Watson

My Feedback: (6)

Very Nice thread, Congratulations! [sm=shades_smile.gif]

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

Thanks, Bryce!!!...Do you have a layover at the moment???...And I don't mean with one of those babes you're frequently seen with... ...

Kevin

Bryce Watson

My Feedback: (6)

Not today Kevin,

Just a late night in the lab right now, but I am being somewhat distracted on the phone, which is causing a bit of a delay.

B

Pipecleaner

It seems like Avond's machines are all flying very well and are good to handle. I have his F15 and its so easy to handle so....
I used his F15 at an airstrip (asphalt) 130 meter long x 8 meter without any fear... Entering the "earth" so nice, stady and cooool...halted at half of the runway...
But, the next one will be with added alerions to handle low speed and cross winds.
Pipe

tp777fo

My Feedback: (28)

Kevin,
Take a look at PA's web site before you start hanging stuff off the wings. He as an AD for external stores use.

Bob_B

My Feedback: (11)

What Landing gear setup do you go with?

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

All stock Avonds which means Robart 630 gear and Avonds struts as well as Avonds tires on the mains...The brakes, from what I understand, are made by BVM for Avonds..They work excellent!!!...Nose gear is also a Robart 630 with a Robart nose strut and Robart tire and wheel..

Kevin

Kevin Greene

My Feedback: (85)

THANKS for the heads up, Tom!!!!

Kevin

lear31A

My Feedback: (123)

Hey Kevin, thanks for posting your info. on the jet. Does it have good controllability at really slow speeds with no ailerons? I think I am going to try mine with no ailerons.............