FREEWING F9F-8 COUGAR 80MM A ROUGH AND TUMBLE MAIDEN by FGFRC

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

This plane shows promise just need better wind conditions to really discover what this jet can do.

[@RaGeRC]

I get more interested in this plane the more I see it! Also I love the Lemon Gen2 rx! I have a handful of them in my planes and they've been working great!!

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Thanks for sharing and yes they are awesome!!

[@braddarnell3372]

My E52 is rock solid, this plane is the best flier I own. Freewing knocked this one out of the park, its awesome

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

In retrospect I wish I had left the GYRO alone and trusted it. i am starting on the FW Tomcat 64 today and will trust it this time.

[@geofkane2365]

A great looking and flying plane. I appreciate your flight and plane appraisal.

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Many thanks!

[@chriss7725]

Wow, great maiden in a stiff cross wind!

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Thanks!

[@Danpstew1]

Exceptional Maiden, with the winds you were having !! Beautiful plane !

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nirlachman007]

Great maiden! You did good with removing the gyro :) enjoy!

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Thanks , great locked in plane.

[@EJ-74]

Not a bad maiden considering the amount of wind you was having to deal with, Awesome bird 🔥

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Yes, thanks

[@rafaeltorres2886]

How did I miss this maiden I plan to pick up one of these this July. That plane in my opinion is a wonderfully stable in such high winds, I heard it Flys much better with C/G a little further back 🤔

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Yes it is an awesome flyer!

[@MrWagner528]

Nice....I would move your battery aft a 1/2 inch..

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Thanks will do.

[@jbrundt]

You did pretty good given the conditions...this plane is not the best for crosswind conditions. Couple of things: 1/2 flap is sufficient for landing and take-off. With 1/2 flap on take-off this plane will lfit off with no elevator input needed. Full flap on landing just adds too much drag and it's not really needed. She lands perfect with half flap. Also.....on crosswind landings it's best not to use flaps. The last thing you want is to get too slow. Second, don't install the IFR probe. If you were only ever to land on the paved runway then it's OK but if you fly off grass or expect off-runway incursions into the grass (as you often do...) that long probe is NOT good and will cause damage. You're best to just leave it off. Third, I fly mine with either SMC 5900 HVLi's or regular 5200 Lipos (both packs weigh 725g). These are the perfect packs (both in weight and performance) for this plane. I consistently get 5 min flights with very aggressive throttle use. On landing I'll have about 25% left in the pack. The newer 80mm fans and motors that Freewing is supplying with these (and their other 80mm EDF's) are super efficient and have great performance and do not tax the batteries. I have this same motor/fan combo in my A-4 Skyhawk and JAS-39 Gripen and performance is about the same as the Cougar. Fourth...this plane is FAST. Once you get used to it and start expanding the envelope you can see top speeds in excess of 130mph. Yes, this is no lie. This plane will BLAST around the sky then slow down like a pussycat. 5th...when you get around to hanging the tanks and missiles, just skip the missiles. They make the plane do some weird things in the air. Even with the gyro the plane has some strange attitude conditions going on. I only fly with the external tanks and there's no performance hit with them on. Lastly, once you get the feel you're not gonna need thrust reverse. But if you do, put it on Switch G and as soon as you touch down just flip it full. I have mine on Switch G with pos 0 as normal, pos 1 as T/R proportional to throttle stick and pos 2 as full T/R irregardless of throttle stick position. Have fun dialing this plane in. She is very fun to fly. Touch and goes are a breeze, she handles slow flight, inverted, high speed and aerobatics all very well.

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

WOW thanks for the time to write this and the excellent tips!!

[@Bill14886]

I hate that crosswind no matter if I’m doing a Maiden or just out enjoying myself. Crosswinds can eat foam planes like a fluff and peanut brittle sandwich. Ain’t doing it. Only if it’s a really slight crosswind. Glad you had a successful maiden, awesome looking bird .

[@Hype_RC]

Bill I hear you! As a newer flier I asked many of the great flyers at my field how they got so good at a field that always has a cross wind and wind shear everywhere?They said they flew all the time & just got used to it. I now fly on 10mph gusty days regularly and in rain. It’s been the most fun I’ve ever had flying. I Crash way less. Plus the field is always empty on those days 👍🏽it’s a win win! I’ve been recording it to prove it’s not as bad as it seems

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Yeah crosswind is the bane of a rc pilot

[@SuperMagnum2011]

Thanks again Guy Excellent thanks. (Christian name please) 🇬🇧

[@FatGuyFliesRC]

Thanks so much, my name is Gregory Glasco. I go by Greg.