Found a Great Foamy EDF!

[Squirrlybird]

Just got the EF-16 from hobbypeople.net. It's a cheap but fast little ducted fan jet. I am loving mine! Flies great in wind, has great stall characteristics, quick easy build, and it really hauls on the stock setup.

It uses the same batteries that we use in the Trex 450 too. I am running the KongPower 2200 3s packs from readyheli in mine with great success. However, some people are upgrading to better motor/fan combos for 4s and pushing thier F-16s over 110mph straight and level (at least they claim straight and level).

Comes with the esc, motor and fan for $140. It just needs a rx, 2 servos, and battery to get it going.

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/107312.asp

and below is the best paint job that I have seen on it (really nice Thunderbirds scheme)

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...06277&page=120


videos from eflypower.com (they sell the same jet, but without the esc/motor/fan for about $80 shipped)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbAqvdpp0wk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWsWQPVkh1M

I wonder how much of that first video is cursing?

[BarnOwl]

Cool! I really like that first video where all these guys are flying at the same time and the sound of those engines howling away. It'sa sort of inferno with planes crashing all around. Suppose it's safe though, no moving parts outside the foam.

Are these made of EPP? Or is it just styrofoam?

[Pinecone]

The other good one is the Multiplex Twister.

[Squirrlybird]

Made of epp. It breaks pretty straight too. It took 3 crashes to totally kill my jet. The 3rd crash would have destroyed anything though. Be sure to beef up the tail sections where the tailerons attach. I had a taileron seperate on a high speed downwind pass (it was extremely windy and bumpy). The crash was spectacular!

I will definately be getting another one!

[Dave M]

Just watched the vids...those look great.....maybe Santa will bring me one.

[Helivudrug]

We've got a speed contest going on at rcgroups for these jets. The current speed record is 129mph...I should be able to beat that with my current setup...1000 watts

[istandalone]

man, those little jets look sweet! the price is right too, $140 including motor and esc. and i've already got all of the rest of the shit to get it air worthy. i'm going to order one.

[Helivudrug]

Hobby People has them on sale for 99 bucks right now, walk in basis only. I went in yesterday to pick one up as a spare and they were sold out. I got rain check though...

they're pretty fast as is stock. Put a 4S pack in and they'll do 100 mph

[Squirrlybird]

Wish I could walk in.

That would be quite a walk for me!

[istandalone]

i wonder if those little foam jets can be tamed. i know they're not a beginner model, but you don't have to fly at 90mph, right? could a beginner (i can fly anything on the sim as well as land perfectly) fly one of these and expect to keep it in one piece? the price is what is making me look at it. i've got my eye on the parkzone trojan t28 but these jets look sick.

[Squirrlybird]

If you can fly a heli, you can fly anything!

Honestly though, I think a stryker F-27C would be the perfect aircraft to have prior to buying the F-16. Even still, the F-16 has really good slow speed characteristics making it easy to land.

Just dont cut the throttle when you roll inverted!

disclaimer:
I am assuming that you are well beyond nose in hover with the helis. If not, then you should try a trainer plank.

[istandalone]

idk about way beyond nose in. i can hover well in all orientations, ff, figure 8's (sloppy 8's, but still 8's) and a loop or two. on the sim i can fly the planes very well, but i'm not sure how realistic the sim is compaired to real rc planes.

[Helivudrug]

I think the HP F-16 is a great beginners edf plane. On 3s your top speed is really good but it is really easy to fly and land at slow speeds, easy to hand launch and lots of fun.

A friend of mine copied my setup and got it up to 145mph on 4S!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=824703

It's gonna be harder to beat this speed but, I think I can...

[Squirrlybird]

So which motor/fan/esc are you using. I think I want another one to beef up!

[istandalone]

just ordered that phase 3 ef-16!! should be here in a few days, then i can start the build. i've got everything else needed to complete it, but i had to order some foam safe ca glue. i also ordered some 5 minute epoxy, not knowing what it calls for....it sucks not having the manual available on the website. is there anything that a newb like me should know before starting the build?

[Squirrlybird]

You will need 5 min epoxy and hot glue (for holding down the fan and wires in the ducting).

You will also need 2 servos, 2 servo extension wires, receiver, and battery.

I also recommend some monocote trim sheets. The stock decals dont look very appealing to me.

Dont forget to reinforce the tail section with 1/64th or 1/32nd plywood.

[Squirrlybird]

Here are some pics of the necessary mod to the tail. Hope you can see what I am talking about.

The plywood is glued on with 5 min epoxy. I then covered the plywood with a white monocote trim sheet for appearance purposes. Be sure to take the bottom reinforcement all the way to the trailing edge of the wing (I lost my first F-16 because it was not reinforced enough!).

[istandalone]

it looks to me like you used about a 1-1/2" X 8" strip of wood? is that what your talking about? so i'll be sure to re-inforce the top and bottom like you said. i'll use 1/32" cf sheet, so i doubt i'll monocoat over it. thanks for the tip bro! i'll post up some pics when she's done.

[Squirrlybird]

it looks to me like you used about a 1-1/2" X 8" strip of wood? is that what your talking about?

Yep.

Not sure about the exact deminsions though. I just cut out a piece of paper to the correct shape to use as a pattern, then I traced my pattern over the 1/32 plywood and cut it out. Worked like a champ.

Good Luck and Happy Flying. You are going to love this jet!

[istandalone]

hey thanks for the tip! i was debating on how to make a perfect pattern and your idea is sweet. the great thing about using the cf sheet is i won't have to cover it with mono coat, it'll look good! also, did you mean the stock decals don't stick well, or just look like poo? i think they look ok, but if adhesion is an issue then monocoat it is.