[4stripes]

Ordered the R2F Venom earlier this summer as a winter project. It came well packaged with little or no damage to its pre-painted finish. Nice details were already applied and the panel lines are molded in but not too large like some. Somehow we managed to speed things up and maidened it today in some pretty strong crosswinds.
We ordered the kit version as the Freewing supplied fan was not to our liking and planned to use the Changesun 90mm fan with the 1600kv factory outrunner (ordered from X-flight). The CS shroud needs cutting short to fit the stock EDF opening but what is easy enough to do. The dynamic balancing of the fan is the real trick to a great sounding fan. The adapter needed gluing to prevent wobble, and all set screws needed locktite to be added. Dynamic balancing took me a couple days but hearing it fly today made it all worthwhile. Super sound at all throttle settings! We run a 125A Red Brick ESC with built in 5A bec. The battery compartment is full with our 5500mah 6S 25C battery so a separate RX battery may not be in the cards.
Used 7 HXT900 servos for the flight controls and one Turnigy 9018 servo for the elevator. The retracts and suspension landing gear came with the "kit" and are very satisfactory with no modifications. The nose gear doors come pre-fitted with it's own 9g servo and sequencer which also works well. The Freewing Venom was surprisingly well though out, and no improvements are needed from what I can see. Plenty of strength in all areas. Will report more once it gets a few more flights on it.
Regarding todays flight, it was a complete success. Lots of power, easily cruising at less than half throttle. Full throttle provides almost 1:1 thrust and is very fast (too fast for scale appearance IMHO). The plane flies well in strong crosswinds thanks to its wide gear stance with no tipping tendencies at all. The flaps did cause a pitch up tendency at full travel, but not noticable with half selected which I used for both takeoff and landing. The CG worked out to 110mm back from the intake even though we are using an oversize battery. Seemed fine in the air but I need a calm day to test the stall characteristics further. Today it was tossed around pretty good so I could tell if it would stall straight ahead consistently. Loops, rolls, inverted flight are pretty routine with no surprises but the tail seemed to waggle a bit with its small vertical fins. The air was pretty rough.
After a 4 minute timer I landed about 30 seconds later drawing only 3100mah. That included some taxi trials. Pretty efficient setup. The cockpit is still being completed and may move the CG forward slightly.
Will post better pictures when they become available.
Cheers

[cf100]

Congratulations, I appreciate your posts, lots of good info as always. cheers!

[4stripes]

Thanks the beautiful weather today we were able to do another 9 flights today with ideal conditions. Tested stalls with both flaps up and down and unfortunately this plane like to drop a wing. Raised both ailerons considerably, checked the wing to wing balance, tried trimming rudder but can't eliminate the tip stall. Reduced the elevator throw which helps so I may reduce it further on the next outing.
In spite of the wing dropping tendencies I still like the plane as it looks and sounds great in the air.
Will post some photo's and even a video link later tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSNE3...ature=youtu.be

[4stripes]

Another perfect day and nine more flights. Settled on using full flaps for takeoffs and landings. I accidentally had some elevator mixing in before, so without any mixing the pitch up tendencies are not bad. The plane will takeoff without any elevator input in about 20 feet and no wind! I put the ailerons back into the normal faired position as the tip stall couldn't be tamed with upward ailerons. I did reduce the elevator travel to minimize the chance of deep stall causing tip stall. It comes in quite slow with full flaps and around 1/4 throttle.
Lovely plane, very glad to have bought it.
I weighed it today with battery and it is 2.91kg! Flies as if it lighter because the ducting is pretty efficient.
Will post a higher def video later today.
Cheers

[Max]

That is one sweet looking ship!

Originally Posted by 4stripes

Will post a higher def video later today.
Cheers

I am looking forward to the video

[4stripes]

Here is the link to the better quality video
enjoy!


http://youtu.be/OXjFJIUPZSs

[Leadfoot]

Eric,

That looked and sounded awesome! Yet another great jet from you!

Steve

[4stripes]

Cockpit is finished and today was pretty good flying conditions. 7 more flights as we flew until dark.
The built in lighting showed up nicely in the evening sky. I was pushing the throttle pretty hard on one flight of over 5 minutes. This needed 4500mah to re-charge. Usually it takes less than 4000.

[ken park]

Amazing Build as Always! wow!

Your the MAN! a tough guy to beat for Pilots Choice Award in 2013

[4stripes]

Thanks for the kind words Ken!
Remember we are a team, I get plenty of help from my father and son with these projects. Hopefully all three of us will make the 2013 meet as it is a blast (pardon the pun)!
With 25 flights on the Venom, it is likely the most realistic looking (and sounding) model yet.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to get a "foamy" with a minimum of upgrading required. Ready2fly only needs to use a different fan to make their PNP perfect.
Cheers