Easy Mod for Better Landings: E-flite F-16 Thunderbirds Review

[@Thercgeek]

▼Links to Everything used on the model below▼ PLEASE NOTE ► When setting this up, it is necessary to adjust the end points of the left elevator in the radio so that the left elevator deflections match the right elevator. In the case here, the end points were set to 85% for the up deflection and 66% for the down deflection. E-flite F-16 Falcon 80mm EDF BNF ► bit.ly/EfltF1680 6s 5000mah Battery ► bit.ly/Sptm6s5000 6s 6250mah Battery ► bit.ly/RT6s6250 6s 7000 mah Battery ► bit.ly/Sptm6s7000 Spektrum NX Radio ► bit.ly/SpktmTx 32mm Inrunner Centerburner ► thercgeek.com/centerburner ERNST Airplane Stand ► amzn.to/3ftOv0w

[@dont6441]

This might be your best video yet. Love the high quality onboard flight video on a clear sunny day. Will watch this again.

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks so much for your kind feedback! 😊

[@TwoBrosRC]

Differential stabilators should always be set up on fighter jets with full flying stabs with perhaps the exception of the F-5. All modern fighter jets use differential stabs to aid roll control, especially during landing. On a jet like the F-16, the flaperons aren't enough to roll the jet with precision while deployed - you need that differential movement from the stabilators to produce a controlled roll. It's great to see Horizon finally pushing 8 channel BnF models. We set up our F-16 like this long before they released the 80 Thunderbird and it makes a huge difference in how the jet flies, especially for advanced post stall maneuvering like cobra spins.

[@Thercgeek]

I hear you and agree that it’s a must if using flaperons for landings. The roll rate suffers considerably when the ailerons are cambered like that and this brings back what is lost in control. For up and away maneuvering though, that’s a matter of personal preference. For scale flying, it’s probably not overly necessary, but getting into more extreme, non scale post stall maneuvers like you mentioned, then yeah having that extra control would be necessary.

[@cmayrc]

So much RC knowledge flowing! 👍

[@Mikeylikesit1968]

And you dont need 80% expo to fly like John with the H flies with

[@aerospacematt]

@@Mikeylikesit1968 I would need 95% to keep from over correcting!!

[@Mikeylikesit1968]

@@aerospacematt if you need that much expo then you need to find a new hobby.

[@greghoff7303]

For what it’s worth, I discovered that if you go into forward programming on this receiver and a do a factory reset, you can get AS3X to work on both tailerons if you set the model wing type as flaperon/dual elevator ahead of time. The receiver is smart enough to recognize which servos need stabilization when you now go into initial setup for AS3X in forward programming. Just thought I would share.

[@Thercgeek]

Great tip!

[@thedakotahurley]

I did this on mine. Factory reset the rx so I could put AS3X gains on my R Knob. After some testing I now fly that jet with AS3X off. Only rarely in high wind will I turn it on. FMS/EFlite designed a really stable flying version of a plane that’s full-scale big brother is inherently (intentionally) unstable. Love my F-16! I’m also getting 6min flights on a 6000mah pack. Wooohoooo

[@jamesbrown7758]

Man, if that’s not getting photo bombed, I don’t know what is😂! Super cool video and informative video as always. I especially enjoy the footage with the cameras mounted on the plane! Really good quality stuff!

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks man!

[@JustwingitRC]

The RISK!!! HAH 😆!! That's awesome my brother! Hey, yet another great installment here on The RC Geek, nice to see you really settling into your new environs. Blue skies and happy landings...OH, get ready for a REAL winter my friend!

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks brother! I’m actually looking forward to the winter. The fall has been pretty amazing! Although, a bit windier than I expected generally.

[@IJustGotHere]

Thanks! I've been resisting this purchase but you may have just talked me into it. Ughh.... 😀👍

[@alanshearing7515]

Hi Chris , very nice 👍. Loved the camera on board shots , especially forward looking . Thanks for sharing

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@michaelromingerjr6513]

How were you able to continue to run all the aircraft lights along with the afterburner? I'm looking to setup the original 80mm version like your flaperon and taileron setup here by adding a new AR8360t. All receiver ports will be used by THR, AIL, ELE, RUD, GEAR, Afterburner, AIL, ELE leaving me nowhere to plug the aircraft lights into? Can I Y harness them into one of the used ports?

[@lw216316]

from 20 sec to 25 sec a Blue Angel goes by on the runway - perfect !

[@Thercgeek]

When the blue angels bomb your thunderbirds shoot. 🤣

[@davidsnyder238]

Super nice and easy mod. Crushed it as always Chris!

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks man, happy flying! 😊

[@jetman899]

Super nice paint job, nicely done CW.

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@comradekerman4189]

Love your videos! I have the 80mm T-bird F-16, and want to do your elavon setup... there is an AUX BEC in port 7, do i just y-harness that BEC into port 7 along with the other elavator servo?

[@Thercgeek]

Yep, that’ll help maintain the aux power and give you the channel for other operations. 😊

[@michaelromingerjr6513]

​@Thercgeek is this how you were able to continue to run all the aircraft lights along with the afterburner? I'm looking to setup the original 80mm version like you display here by adding a new AR8360t. All receiver ports will be used by THR, AIL, ELE, RUD, GEAR, Afterburner, AIL, ELE leaving me nowhere to plug the aircraft lights into? Can I Y harness them into one of the used ports?

[@WadoF22]

Excellent video as always👍 you mind sharing your as3x setting for this specific eflite f16. New to As3x on edf and gains are rarely discussed on setup videos. Thanks again Chris 🙏

[@Thercgeek]

I’m just using the stock gains for the bnf. I didn’t reprogram any of that, just reconfigured the tails and ailerons in the radio.

[@yamabushisama]

Awesome video. Is your jet bnf? Does it have the bnf file and then you add the mixes? I crashed mine no file but did book set up and added the mixes with all channel in the right ports. Does it need the file bnf??

[@Thercgeek]

If you’re looking to program your own receiver, I show how to do that in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqqthKhmmaufZqM

[@hifinsword]

To do the dual elevator setup, do you have to splice new servo connectors to an existing very long Y from both elevator servos, or is it already setup with a Y connected to separate elevator connectors?

[@Thercgeek]

It’s mentioned in the video, the two elevators are connected via a y-harness. 😊. So that makes it easy.

[@hifinsword]

@@Thercgeek Thanks. I wasn't sure if the Y mentioned was like the Ys in the Freewing jets, extra long (36") that are almost impossible to thread from front to rear, or a short Y not needing any threaded thru the fuse.

[@Thercgeek]

No, nothing like that. They were y’d near the receiver if I remember right. If it was more extensive, I would’ve mentioned it.

[@payitfwdrcl6171]

Chris. Just watching another great video of you flying… Then, what the heck was that 4 engine bomber airshow flyover?😆. Glad you and the camera man ok.

[@Thercgeek]

Haha, thanks! I had to out that in there, too funny not to. 🤣

[@SlowFlyer85]

Great video I looking at the beginner jet from E-flite Habu STS 70mm EDF to start off with 👍

[@Thercgeek]

The sts is a good choice. The 70mm viper is a good choice too as a starter jet.

[@RedZone54]

Thanks for easy to follow video! Installed the 8360T receiver in the gray 80 mm F-16 and setup with flaperons and differential stabilators. Couldn’t figure out why LEL had greater range of movement - then I found your first comment on an additional servo adjustment. Only thing missing is reverse thrust - using an NX8 any thoughts on how to add that?

[@Thercgeek]

Reverse thrust requires an available channel on your tx, so if you have one available, it can be setup.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Nicely done Chris!

[@GregFitzsimmonsMD]

I think I'm going to follow your lead and set up my plane exactly like this like this. The one problem I have is that I don't have a spare channel to separate the elevator into R and L channels. Here is how it is currently set up, please tell me if there is a way to make this better: Bind/Prog/SRXL2: a mystery wire, ultimately just a red/black that runs toward rear of plane (my intuition says a light) (I have never seen where this was used by anything other than a bind plug) CH 1: Throttle from ESC CH2: Left Aileron CH3: Elevator (y-harness of R-Ele and L-Ele) CH4: Rudder (it's a triple harness with the lead coming from rudder, what looks like the front gear, and then more lights?) CH5: Gear: (wired through a harness with a 6 or a 9 or a poorly written G on it) this harness connects the CH5B and CH5C leads with a 3rd double red/black wire Im assuming is more lights or gear doors) CH6: Right Aileron CH7: AUX BEC (no idea what this does, it only plugs into channel 7 with 2 wires) CH8: Afterburner ring (I installed) Any other tips on setup are much appreciated, I can tell you're a far better pilot than me.

[@Thercgeek]

The aux bec can be removed and added to any channel on a y-harness. All it does is supply redundant receiver power. Which afterburner is installed? If you have one of my v2 centerburners, it’s Spektrum smart compatible so could be run on a yharness with throttle to open up that channel as well.

[@GregFitzsimmonsMD]

@Thercgeek It's the standard one from Horizon, just plugged into channel 8. I got everything working with the tailerons, thank you so much. The new afterburner is cool. I may need to upgrade!

[@EDF_FANatic]

Chris what's the reason you chose one ail one flap instead of the flaperon for the wing type ?

[@Thercgeek]

It has to do with the presets that are in the receiver.

[@terryperrott8567]

That's a nice Thunderbirds Falcon

[@ChrisMedvetz-cn9kl]

I believe it's great I love the other thunderbird net

[@Bill14886]

Awesome plane & Very 😎 cool video. Would this jet be ok as a 1st Jet for a experienced seasoned pilot? I've flown top wing ,bottom wing , Tail draggers and trikes. I fly off grass most of the time.

[@Thercgeek]

An experienced pilot should be able to handle this one well enough. The one difference will be landing it though as it requires a nice nose up attitude and controlling the descent with throttle and not pitch. If the nose is down, you’ll end up hot. Regarding grass, how groomed is the surface? The tires are quite small, so keep that in mind.

[@BrianPhillipsRC]

Nice work Chris! Love the center burner ;)

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks man! Let me know if you want one for yours. 😊

[@BDTennessee]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@ryantaylor3278]

If you could only pick one plane, would you go with this, or the 90mm Viper? Thanks!

[@Thercgeek]

That’s a difficult question to answer as they both fly uniquely different. For me, I always lean towards scale, so the F-16 probably ranks a little higher for that reason since the viper is in a sport scheme.

[@ryantaylor3278]

@The RC Geek I ended up buying the F-16 Thunderbird yesterday haha. Thank you sir.

[@terrencejackson4587]

I’m glad I don’t have you at my field because I’d have to have every aircraft you have for full formation and demonstration purposes. No Thu Der bird looks good solo….. unless you’re solo!

[@Thercgeek]

Haha, sounds like fun! 😁

[@RCPlaneNut]

So I have the 80mm f-16 thunderbird and has the 8 channel receiver and flaperons working have the center burner so what channel is left to plug in the elevator to set it up like yours ?

[@Thercgeek]

The flaperons/tailerons combo only requires 7 channels. So, burner is in channel 8 on a yharness with the aux BEC line.

[@RCPlaneNut]

@@Thercgeek awesome thanks for help

[@sendit_rc]

Your videos are always the best!

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@Davidjones-sk4vf]

Another great review! Thanks for the tips!

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you!

[@scottsettleproductions]

NICE VIDEO CHRIS! Sweet.

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks man!

[@lacib7928]

Hi Chris! Thanks for sharing all the great info regarding flying and setting up the planes and radios,they helped me a lot! I'm just getting into this hobby and every info is very useful! What camera did you use on this plane? Thanks again! Les

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you, I’m so glad it’s helpful! The onboard shots were taken with runcam2’s.

[@charlesrestivo870]

Why is two brothers encroaching on this thread Why not keep to your channel .This gentleman is one of the best KZbin posters out their!!

[@Thercgeek]

It’s all good man, just having some healthy discussion. 😊

[@jcb6713]

good looking plane...nice flight ! ...

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks!

[@NabiL_Lam]

what would you recommend as a first plane? i want to get into this hobby but i dont like the props planes i want a scale fighter jet 70 or 80mm edf

[@Thercgeek]

I hear you. jets are really what you work up to as it’s best to have decent proficiency for best success. My go to recommendation for a trainer is the aeroscout. However, eflite makes a habu 70mm edf that’s marketed as a trainer which might be a bit more interesting. That said, I’d highly recommend reaching out to a club and getting connected with a flight instructor. It will help you immensely vs trying to tackle this on your own.

[@NabiL_Lam]

@@Thercgeek oh thanks I didnt think i will need someone to teach me

[@peterescapement6414]

Beautiful footage! What onboard cameras are you using? Thanks for your work.

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you! They are RunCams.

[@peterescapement6414]

Thanks

[@EDF_FANatic]

@@Thercgeek how did you mount them on the plane ,

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Super nice video Chris!! And great explanation of how to. Thanks for all the great work👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks man!

[@akenedy]

What about using the wing control surfaces as flaps exclusively (no wing aileron function at all) and using the tailerons exclusively for roll and pitch control, at all times, rather than all of the complicated mixing. Is there ever a point in the flight envelope where the throws required of the tailerons to achieve good roll authority is just too extreme that it risks either aerodynamic stalling or a structural failure of those control surfaces, or some other bad tendency?

[@Thercgeek]

Sure, that’s a possibility too. I didn’t want to mess with changing how the airplane flew up and away because it flies extremely well with the aileron and elevator control. That being said, the receiver comes preprogrammed setup for flaperons, so to do it right, you’d need to reconfigure it if going to taileron only.

[@victorrcjets7660]

Any elevator mix needed for the flaps?

[@Thercgeek]

Yes a little bit (it’s shown in the vid at about the 3:14 mark).

[@warbuzzard7167]

Suggestion: glue black cardstock tube to inside of airframe forward of nozzle in back of AB lamps. LED is unintentionally transmitting light through translucent airframe, making the ship look like it has an engine fire (lol).

[@Thercgeek]

Haha! The better option is to line the exhaust with foil tape. Blocks the bleed through and adds reflectivity in the exhaust. 😊

[@warbuzzard7167]

@@Thercgeek I wish I'd thought of that! I hope you'll do a KZbin Short on that showing what happens when you make that change.

[@EDF_FANatic]

Very nice Chris. I struggle to do those nice presentation passes. Any tips ? Also how does this compare to the 80mm ?

[@Thercgeek]

You know, it’s all about the setup. I’ll turn a little wider in the setup so that I can get a nice centered arc across the length of the field. When you mean the 80mm (which this is), do you mean the gray version? I outline what’s different in this on in the vid. It’s the same design and same power system otherwise. New paint scheme and receiver mostly.

[@EDF_FANatic]

@@Thercgeek sorry I meant the 70mm 😅

[@greghoff7303]

Thanks Chris! Just got this model for Christmas yesterday, and I’m following your setup guide. 1) How did you get the AS3X to work on both tailerons for pitch stabilization after splitting the elevator Y harness? I currently have the left elevator in Ch7 and setup as dual elevators, but the AS3X on works on the REL. 2) I also want to setup differential in the flaperons like in your 10ch receiver review, and out of the box, you can’t do that with the way the manual tells you to set up flaperons. Setting up flaperons in the model type makes the RAIL stop working entirely. Does the receiver need to be factory reset or something??

[@Thercgeek]

Hey, you must have been real good all year! 😆. So, I didn’t do anything with the AS3X and it works perfectly. It’s technically only on the one tail, but I don’t notice any kind of difference in flight. Because the configuration is preset in the receiver for the ailerons, you’d have to do a reset on it or swap the receiver to setup the flaperons configuration. Again, I didn’t bother with that on this one and it works great as is.

[@greghoff7303]

@@Thercgeek apparently I was a good boy! Thanks Chris! Does it work on both tailerons on your 10Ch F-16? I might do a factory reset and see what happens…

[@nick_doutrnz_entertainment]

I love it, Chris! What I run is the 4 channels for flight, gear, thrust reverse, Centerburner, and SAFE. So, I'm already out of channels to do the flaperons or tailerons. :( What camera did you use for the underside and cockpit filming? Also, are they a permanent fixture? I wanted to know if you made the mount removable without damaging or lifting the paint.

[@Thercgeek]

I could be wrong, but I believe that you can actually assign the thrust reverse to channels outside of what your radio is capable of as a digital channel. For example, an nx8 can utilize ch 9 for thrust reverse. It just needs an assignment to operate, doesn’t necessarily have to be an operational channel.

[@Thercgeek]

Oh, and the onboard cameras are runcams. I just tape them in place with frog tape and it avoids lifting up the paint most of the time. On the canopy though, I used gaffers tape as it’s much more robust.

[@charlesrestivo870]

Nice landing !!!

[@Thercgeek]

Thanks!

[@Dcscockpit]

It’s amazing for what these radios cost that you get that display and OS to dick with. I fly a radiomaster tx16 with a full color touchscreen and love it. For 200$

[@Thercgeek]

Haha, I always say the best radio is the one that works best for the person using it. 😊

[@rodeopilot7495]

how do you compare the 70mm vs 80mm?

[@Thercgeek]

Both are great imo. The 70mm is lighter and so will really slow down a ton in the high alpha. The 80mm with the scale gear is heavier, but also faster, and while it does a good high alpha, doesn’t slow down quite as much.

[@cmayrc]

Great video, flying and camera work! Also, that thing sounds like a turbine!

[@Thercgeek]

Thank you! The sound really is quite something on it.

[@parkerterwell]

Does safe work with the stabilators?

[@Thercgeek]

I don’t know why it wouldn’t, but I didn’t check specifically. So long as everything is moving the right way with safe on, it should be good to go.

[@mapetas_0213]

Do you need an 8 channel transmitter to make this work? Mine only has 7😬

[@Thercgeek]

You can do the flaperons and tailerons on 7 channels, yes. Just won’t be able to add the burner is all. The smart telemetry means that the burner has to be setup on a separate channel.

[@theStirp]

Everytime you go out get a speed meter and reveal the max speeds that would be awesome.

[@Thercgeek]

I’ll look into doing that. Thanks for the tip!

[@theStirp]

@@Thercgeek love the vids

[@SuperMagnum2011]

Need’s a drop of treadmill oil on each wheel shaft to stop the rattling sound .👌😎( after landing)

[@Thercgeek]

Indeed!

[@puzzlebox420]

DOPE 😝

[@mikenowland2739]

You put flapperons in , you take elevator out , you put tailerons in and you shake it all about . Lost me at all you have to do is ….. Joking 😀. Good job and the camera work is excellent 👍

[@Thercgeek]

Haha, nice! 🤣

[@tomkoenig3047]

"You do the Hokie Pokie and you fly yourself around, that's what it's all about." 😆👍 I admired the onboard camera work too! That's neat. Mr. Chris, does The RC Geek sell that camera system?

[@Thercgeek]

Haha! The onboard cameras were taken with runcams. I get them from Amazon here: amzn.to/3DGklTT

[@NICHOLASRGLORIOSO]

Wooooo hooooo!!! 😮😮😮😮😮

[@zacharynashalook8452]

E-flite F-14, unrelated mostly but can you tell me and the rest of your subscribers where this missing BIRDY the E-flite F-14 Twin 40mm edf jet is. I've seen HH promo videos, it appears to be for sale but has been so for close to a year it seems like but I cannot find any videos on this........ it looks available at many online stores the stores many of your viewers look and shop at. I know your not a store but you have some pull and are more likely to get answers than I am or most other viewers are. I did just see a comment from another channel I watch the I think two brothers rc. I apologize if I got that wrong buddy I just watched a 64mm fms video of his Rafale. Both of you are awesome! Thank you for the videos guys. Missing birdy eflite F14 edf twin 40mm anyone?

[@Thercgeek]

I’ve heard different things, so not entirely sure on that one unfortunately. Hopefully it’ll be soon that it starts shipping!

[@nickprince2774]

Is any one else having the right elevator not move as much when you set it up like this…

[@Thercgeek]

Got your email, We’ll see if we can figure it out

[@Hangar43rc]

Mine was doing that. The right moved as normal, but the left had way more throw. I adjusted the throws in my radio to match. Also noticed the as3x is not working on that left one now... @The RC Geek are you having this issue?

[@Thercgeek]

I went back and looked at the programming and I did adjust the left elevator end points to match the right. That’s a pretty big omission from the vid that I forgot about, so sorry about that! Ill add a note in the description. I’ll double check the AS3X but I’d expect it’s probably the same since the configuration is different from what’s in the receiver to what’s in the transmitter. It’s not been an issue in the slightest flying it.

[@Thercgeek]

I just added this to the description: NOTE ► When setting this up, it is necessary to adjust the end points of the left elevator in the radio so that the left elevator deflections match the right elevator. In the case here, the end points were set to 85% for the up deflection and 66% for the down deflection.

[@felixsrcworld5112]

i fly edf jets almost 3 good years, i dont know why guys who fly jest models with turbine says " this not a jets " are they mad cause edf more chep than turbine? i fly jet model with turbine two the cost make my wife mad all the time😅😅

[@Thercgeek]

I hear you. I’ve flown turbines, but mostly just stick with the edfs since they’re generally more budget friendly. The big difference with turbines though is the speed and the flight times you can get with the since you can only get so much from edf. Plus, if you’re building a large scale jet, while edf can be done, turbine really makes the most sense for the flight times and power.

[@txkflier]

1. Flaperons can cause tip stalls. 2. Flaperons cause adverse yaw. 3. Flaperons pitch the nose down. 4. Stabilators have enough work to do just controlling the pitch. 5. Flaperons and tailerons require 2 more channels. 6. You go ahead. I’ll pass. 😊

[@Thercgeek]

I hear you, it’s Certainly not for everyone and normally flaperons aren’t my go to either. But if one does do flaperons, you really need to add the tails in too to gain back the lost roll control. I’ve been flying this setup for quite some time (setup my gray one this way too) and it really does help this airplane land slower and is definitely my preference for it.

[@TwoBrosRC]

@@Thercgeek We're with you 100% on this. The full scale jet uses them, it just requires landing with power on the back end of the curve.

[@Thercgeek]

@Two Brothers Radio Control yep, get the nose up and use that power to control descent. Essential with or without flaperons on an F-16, just like a delta.

[@engineerahmed7248]

Gd idea. But it is cheating. Since the real F16 pilots don't have luxury of tailerons. . Upgrade to F22 if u want tailerons😉

[@Thercgeek]

I’m pretty certain they actually do use tailerons. They would used to augment the roll control for added maneuverability.

[@vrosi1963]

will a dx8 do the same set up for mixing

[@Thercgeek]

Yes. I did this with the stock 8channel receiver that comes with the airplane.