VTOL F-35 Parkjet - Free plans, .STLs, and Code

[NickRehm]

Specs:
Length: 32"
Wingspan: 23"
AUW: 600g
Top Speed: ~80mph
Flight Time: ~10 minutes (vertical takeoff, forward flight cruising, and vertical landing)

Parts I use and recommend:
Motors: https://amzn.to/3qXXIU7
Propellers: https://amzn.to/3dMu52E
ESC: https://amzn.to/3wmjiD0
Battery: https://amzn.to/2TEVEEp
Servos: https://amzn.to/3hEwgGH

This model utilizes the dRehmFlight VTOL flight controller, which uses the Teensy 4.0 microcontroller and Arduino environment for highly customizable flight stabilization with multiple flight modes: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...-Stabilization

Teensy 4.0: https://amzn.to/3i5Zwqn
IMU: https://amzn.to/3htnU6a

dRehmFlight VTOL code specific to this F-35 is available here: https://github.com/nickrehm/dRehmFlight-F-35

Plans, part files, and decals are attached below, but are also available for free here: https://hackaday.io/project/180603-rc-vtol-f-35-parkjet

 

[CappyAmeric]

Very nice job, Nick. The dRehm Machine flies 4D!

 

[Test Fly RC]

Great job!

Vtol's are nice!

 

[JetCrafts]

wow

 

[chris398mx]

Great work, I can't wait to try one of these.

 

[NickRehm]

Anyone gonna be at Flite Fest? I'll bring this guy along and let anyone try some time on the sticks

 

[JasonK]

Anyone gonna be a Flite Fest? I'll bring this guy along and let anyone try some time on the sticks

I am going to be there, with my "bi-copter" VTOL, which I will be maidening there.

 

[NickRehm]

I am going to be there, with my "bi-copter" VTOL, which I will be maidening there.

I'll keep an eye out for you, would love to see the maiden

 

[FoamyDM]

I have a Plane I need this for, you have answered my prayers

Anyone gonna be a Flite Fest? I'll bring this guy along and let anyone try some time on the sticks

I Host the Aviation RC Noob Podcast and will be there with my Co-host. we are aiming for Thursday night arrival.
-Matt

 

[NickRehm]

I have a Plane I need this for, you have answered my prayers

I Host the Aviation RC Noob Podcast and will be there with my Co-host. we are aiming for Thursday night arrival.
-Matt

Will be there Thursday evening as well--might just scope the place out and not bring anything, but all day Friday and Sat for sure. Can't wait to meet ya'll!

 

[kilroy07]

I tried to keep an eye out for ya, but missed you.

How did it go?

 

[NickRehm]

I tried to keep an eye out for ya, but missed you.

How did it go?

Amazing first time at FF experience! Took the F-35 up for combat on the last day to try to kill it, but had a soft-ish landing due to pilot error

 

[tamuct01]

Nick,
Just finished the first couple of flights with the F-35. What a great machine! It flew like it was on rails and was super agile. The only change I'm going to make is to re-cut the ailerons and fasten the paper hinge to the bottom of the wing instead of the top and make the bevel on the top. Also, I'll move the control horn back a little from the hinge line to get more downward deflection. I'm only able to get about 45 deg. down at the moment, so it doesn't hover flat.

Also, in the code near line 360 where you arm the servo channels, I'd recommend the default to be 90 instead of 0 so the servo initializes in the center position. If the servo's travel is limited by the airframe it stalls the servo until the control loop fully initializes. Maybe a comment or two around this to point users to customize this would help also.

I was only out by myself, so I wasn't able to capture any video. I'll clip a GoPro to my hat for the next one!
Thanks!

 

[NickRehm]

Nick,
Just finished the first couple of flights with the F-35. What a great machine! It flew like it was on rails and was super agile. The only change I'm going to make is to re-cut the ailerons and fasten the paper hinge to the bottom of the wing instead of the top and make the bevel on the top. Also, I'll move the control horn back a little from the hinge line to get more downward deflection. I'm only able to get about 45 deg. down at the moment, so it doesn't hover flat.

Also, in the code near line 360 where you arm the servo channels, I'd recommend the default to be 90 instead of 0 so the servo initializes in the center position. If the servo's travel is limited by the airframe it stalls the servo until the control loop fully initializes. Maybe a comment or two around this to point users to customize this would help also.

I was only out by myself, so I wasn't able to capture any video. I'll clip a GoPro to my hat for the next one!
Thanks!

AWESOME!! Glad you got it in the air so quick. Yea, the ailerons are definitely the weakest point in the design. Wish I put more thought into getting them to deflect down more cleanly, but everything I came up with was too complicated for the 'average' foamie build, so I settled on the tape hinge. Would be really cool to get the ailerons all the way down to 90, flip it into angle mode, and map the pitch stick input to the forward/backward angle of the ailerons for hover 'slidey' mode at level pitch angle.

I'll make that change in the code...totally just ignored my servos spazzing out on bootup haha

 

[tamuct01]

I completed my build of the F-35 and modified the ailerons to hinge from the bottom. I was able to get about 70 degrees of down travel. The bevel gauge for the vertical stabs came in handy to set the down deflection!

Thanks for a great plane and flight controller, Nick!

 

[JustPlaneChris]

This is such a cool project! Love it!

Have you tried using these 8 blade props? https://www.getfpv.com/hqprop-duct-89mmx8-cinewhoop-8-blade-propeller-set-of-4.html

I bought a set to experiment with as "ducted fans" in foamy builds (like a BDF) but haven't tried that yet. What I did do, however, was replace the typical 3 blade prop on a pusher delta I have with one of those props. It may have lost a tiny bit of speed, but the change in sound was worth it. It went from a super annoying scream that makes my teeth hurt to a much more pleasant "whoosh" sound. I don't see myself going back to the tooth-hurting sound anytime soon.

 

[tamuct01]

I am using 5x5x3 HQProps and Emax ECO2306 2400KV motors. On a 4S battery, the sound is pretty screechy!

 

[JustPlaneChris]

I am using 5x5x3 HQProps and Emax ECO2306 2400KV motors. On a 4S battery, the sound is pretty screechy!

Yep, that's what I was running on my delta too. I just could not stand the sound! I was ready to scrap it then decided to try the 8 blade props. Now I can fly it without the screech.

It was this video that prompted me to try those props: