Freewing F9F-8 Cougar Super Scale 80mm EDF with Gyro PNP - Model AV8R Review

[@SlowFlyer85]

great looking jet and flight Adam good review 👍👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you Frank!

[@Retset]

Gorgeous looking and sounding model and it looked so real when you flew it.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

It is! Thanks man!

[@Bellairvideo]

Another excellent presentation Adam & Heidi. Freewing is hard to get here. This model looks great. Well done indeed

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you so much Noel!

[@davidsnyder238]

I own this model and found its hands down one of the most detailed and best flying models Freewing has released. I have flown this in comparison to my 90 Viper and find that I enjoy my Cougar as much or more and the ease of use snap on wings make taking it to the field a go to. The gyro when in use is effective and I didn't find it to interfere with my flying or the feel of the aircraft. For windy day correction its great, for normal flying this plane doesn't need it. Its stable and rock solid. You did an amazing job as always with the flying and overview my friend. It was great seeing you enjoy this model. My only drawback to this model is it should have been bigger! 😅

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks David! Man I agree totally. It is dead even with my 80mm TB F-16 super scale. Two of the best out of the box, easy to assemble, detailed, and easy to fly scale jets available. I wouldn't mind bigger if I could get the same flight times, but in my experience when you go 90mm and up...3 minutes is what I seem to get.

[@M4rkmcc21]

Oh yes a 90 would be great!

[@silvolkers]

Very very nice review ! Great explanation and flying . Nice !

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@JustwingitRC]

Sweet!! What a great way to spend an early morning, coffee time with Adam and Heidi! Very nice review of this great little jet! I think Motion and Freewing did a superb job on this one, being just as nice to fly as it is to look at. Thanks for showing us this one!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks brother John! Yes sir...best EDF FW has made in a long time to me.

[@JustwingitRC]

@@ModelAV8RChannel 😎👍

[@purcellrcaviationchannel]

Super review, Adam. As an airframe, it just looks so 'right', like it would have very few vices. It's also very cool that your friend Scott can lend you so many models... but then again, he'll get them back perfectly trimmed and ready for action. I loved the scale flying sequence and that orangey/peachy early morning sky, combined with the jet and those turbine-like sounds just screams Top Gun!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you miss Gina! It is one of the best scale jets I've flown.

[@WarbirdFan66]

nice job mate, a very good review video, thank forsharing, cheers from germany

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks very much!

[@jollyroger2226]

Very nice, smooth flying and camera work. I enjoyed the airshow!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man!

[@SuperMagnum2011]

Thank you. 🇬🇧

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@SteffenRC]

What a great plane.. Wonderful review as always Adam and Heidi.. Really like your maiden flight process... Very well done...

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you brother Will!

[@Bill14886]

Love the way you flew it. As it should be. What a awesome looking bird. Nice Demo , definitely wish we could get 5 minutes out of these EDF Jets.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you Bill! Yeah man with a 7000 5 min is possible for sure...and that's very rare for an EDF.

[@IansRCExploits]

Fantastic scale Jet Adam!! And a great review, loved the scale flying!! I could watch that all day. I've got to say freewing make some fab models!! Heidi's filming was sterling as usual, nice video 😀👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Ian! Yep, Freewing has the jets down pat.

[@FlankerTanker]

beautiful looking aircraft - very nice indeed .. Loved the video Adam - thanks for posting -

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

It is Martyn! Thank you my friend!

[@tughillrc6327]

Well presented Adam, Heidi did awesome work on the video. The flight looked very scale to me and I enjoyed the entire video. Great work.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you Tug!

[@JeffinLowerAlabama]

Adam excellent review and flying, would be a great for our rough runway. Would look great in the Blue Angels scheme. zoom zoom zoom Jeff in LA USA

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you Jeff! Yes sir...the BA paint would be epic!

[@M4rkmcc21]

Always a thorough, well presented, accurate review. Honestly love watching your reviews even on stuff I have no intentions on owing. Best in class mate 👌🏽

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoy.

[@mikessi]

Very well done video AV8R. As always.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks Mike!

[@Cadillacstsv06]

Hey Adam, great content and production as always Adam! Thumbs up! Best regards!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thank you very much Fred!

[@airhammer6203]

Brilliant, great review Adam. Heidi!! So much more than others. Thought thu analysis of this bird. A great watch. I really like the F9F Panther, but this one will do..... for now :)

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks buddy. I was kinda hoping for a Panther as well, but yep...like you I'll take what I can get from that era if its done this well.

[@hechtspeed]

Whats funny is..the gear is aft of the scale location lolol. Loved the video. Excellent review!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks brother! You know I'm not surprised. Seems like the 80mm F-16 is the same way...makes it hard to hold the nose off like the full scale.

[@BrotherAviator]

Thanks Adam. Great review….very thorough. I liked the way it flew in your first video and this just reinforced that. I’m more of a bush pilot then a jet guy (funny since I spent my career as a jet engine engineer 😂) but if I was going to go in that direction this would be the one.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks very much! I'm a bush plane fan as well, but I like em' all!

[@jcb6713]

great review and flight...nice 4pt roll 🙂....👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man!

[@Lithonion1]

I also thought the same thing about the quick connects. Never understood why they put them on the top.

[@M4rkmcc21]

I'm gona guess so it's easier to be reminded to make sure they are fully engaged and locked in

[@ArthurRC]

I love your videos and the way you talk Adam ! Well done and I have to admit that you almost made me want to buy one 😅 despite I don’t like that Cougar look 🙈🤣

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Ha! Thanks man!

[@ArthurRC]

@@ModelAV8RChannelwhat about the CG ? 108mm is yours (book 106mm) so now after 8 months what’s your neutral CG ? Because I saw you flew nose heavy (according to attitude in rolls)

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

@@ArthurRCI'm not sure what you are seeing, but It wasn't nose heavy. Checked out in flight like any scale jet should. They aren't supposed to be totally neutral like a 3D plane. A tiny bit of down elevator is required to maintain inverted flight. Same with most full scale jets (my brother was a fighter pilot). Scott is flying the CG where it was.

[@ArthurRC]

@@ModelAV8RChanneli like to do wheelies 😊 so you didn’t feel nose heavy at 108?

[@trevorfurlotte]

Great job Adam! I have always been a fan of Cougars....wait. Panthers more so actually. Both are my two favorite jets.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Lol...me too! Well A-4 is my fav, but Panther and Cougar are a close second and third.

[@WarbirdPiLOT]

Another awesome review, thank you for your work, this one Almost had me buy another EDF 😁

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks man! I know right!

[@pappy883]

Very professional review on a sweet jet! I just picked up a Freewing 90mm F/A18 lot of reviews on that one, but I would like YOUR input on that one.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks very much Pappy! Well you're in luck...my buddy Dustin has the 90mm FW F-18 (Blue Angels version). I have a bit of stick time on it. I pride myself on being able to purely set up an air frame and get the most from it. Dustin took a crack at that one, then I did as well. We got it to fly "OK" just with set up alone, but it really shined when he put AS3X in it. I know companies change things to make them fly better as a model, but this one really benefits from stabilization...and this coming from a guy that doesn't believe everything needs one. Over half my hangar doesn't. Maybe it is because the F-18 is an inherently unstable platform in full scale form (they use fly by wire), but the FW absolutely needs one to fly its best in my opinion. It became more stable, and more predictable. Without it, it always felt like there was something wrong with the set up no matter what we did. Properly set up with AS3X, I like it, and it is the jet Dustin flies the most.

[@pappy883]

Thanks so much Adam just so happens I got a AR631 you just made up my mind which plane to put it in. 👍👍@@ModelAV8RChannel

[@RCPlanesCoptersTrucks]

Sure is a beauty!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

She sure is Mark!

[@AL-RCjunkie]

Scale, schmale. 5 minutes on an 80mm EDF?!? That's impressive. Were you peeking at the telemetry or just pegging LVC? I'm curious if those 6s 6k's were drained down to single digits or more like 25/30% after each flight. Great review, and camera work, as always. Thanks 👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Lol. Yeah man 5 min is possible with a 7000. We were bringing the 6000's down after 4 1/2 minutes at 3.75 volts per cell. I only hit LVC once, and that was either a mistake on my part or a older HRB. I have like 10 of those 6000's, and a couple are older.

[@chrischiozza5762]

Adam, great video as always. Are you able to fly from an open airport is that closed? Just curious, I am trying to find a good place to fly in Memphis and it is becoming harder and harder. Been in the hobby for 25 years. Thanks!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Thanks very much! Actually that is Ga. Jets RC club. The 1000ft paved runway is et up for turbines.

[@paulrkytek6587]

I believe if you want to take advantage of the gyro on, gyro off,autobalance with a 3 way switch you need to buy the E52 programme card to set this up. As I understand it it is not set to work like this out of the box but it is worth spending the money as it is then possible to set up your own gyro rates etc.?

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Hey Paul, thanks for that, but our account of how it went in our review is accurate. I pulled this one out of the box, assembled it, and set it up. The three modes we mention were in fact pre-programmed right out of the box. There is also a manual on the E52 included. I was able to reference that and see what each light configuration on the gyro meant when I flipped the three position switch, then of course we tested it. The control surfaces do exactly what they are supposed to do in each of the three modes when the air frame is moved. You have off, normal stabilization, and self leveling out of the box if you use a three position switch.

[@paulrkytek6587]

Thanks for the reply Adam, glad to hear all was ok for you. The reason I mentioned it was because one of the guys on hobby squawk set up a 3 position switch but one position was showing heading hold mode, not self levelling so I guess the moral of the story is always read the manual. If the indicated coloured lights do not match the manual then you would think that either the switch or the gyro is not set up right. If it is the gyro then you need the programme card to alter it@@ModelAV8RChannel

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

@paulrkytek6587 Absolutely, being able to program your gyro even if it's just to change gains is a great thing to have. To be honest, my first thought was to bypass their gyro and just use AS3X as I can program and tune that myself, but we thought it would be better to see what theirs was all about.

[@dalezesiger9873]

Hi Adam. Your videos have become my favorite reviews on RC aircraft. Very well done! I can't decide between this model, or waiting for the Avanti V2. I have the V1 and it is overall my favorite EDF. I can not find any info on the hinges used on this model, are they cheap foam or good hinges? Also, you mentioned a problem with the elevator "rate" not matching; was that due to the servos not working in sync, or that the links were not equal? That actually makes a big difference. Do you trust the stock gyro, or would you recommend a Spektrum AS3X (which is what I always use). If I buy the plane through your link, does that help you out? Thank for all your help and great reviews! Dale.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Hey Dale, thanks very much for the kind words! We're glad you are enjoying the channel. The Cougar has a combination of foam and plastic hinges. Very good for a foamy. You just need to check the pushrods on the elevators. Make sure they come up even all the way through the range of movement. Make adjustments if necessary. We used the stock gyro to test it, and it was set up very in our opinion. Of course using AS3X means you have total control of the set up if you want to change anything. We aren't affiliates for Motion RC...we just put the link in there to make it easy for our viewers. As far as which to get they are pretty different. Sport jet vs scale jet. Both are excellent examples of their respective genre. It depends on which you want in your hangar. I like them all! Lol.

[@dalezesiger9873]

Thank you so much! @@ModelAV8RChannel

[@roymoon1]

Needs too much runway for my area.

[@davidgerlach1132]

I'm about to pull the trigger on this, and/or the Freewing F-4 Phantom 90mm, which would you recommend for the ultimate experience? I believe the Cougar might be a little faster? Also, I'm curious what the fuselage length is without the "inflight refueling probe." 1436mm or 56.5" - (?) The wing area of this F9F-8 Cougar Super Scale 80mm and the Freewing F-4 Phantom II High Performance 90mm are virtually the same.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Hey David. Man those are some really different airplanes. It depends on what you mean by ultimate experience. From a scale perspective they are both great, just depends on what era jet you want. Being an 80mm, the Cougar has a better flight time though, and to be fair it is a bit more scale. If speed and maneuverability are your thing, maybe consider a good sport jet like a Viper 90 or 80mm Avanti. They make the same...or more power due to more efficient intake/thrust tube design than the scale planes, are more aerodynamic, and weigh less.