XF VIPER - Foamboard F-16 EDF

[Crazed Scout Pilot]

Amazing job Ben!! I have always loved the F-16 and you have made amazing one. I do have a couple of questions. The first one is I really would like to build one, but I'm still new to jets so how does it fly? The reason I ask this is because I designed my own f-16 and it flew but if your turned it a certain way it spiraled to the ground. Now I don't know if thats just my design or thats how all jets fly. My next question is I can't afford an EDF but I do have a C power pack laying around what do you think? Should I give it a try? My last question is can you tell me whats wrong with my f-16, are the wings to wide, I just know something doesn't look right on this F-16 that I designed. Thank you.

Do you see any reason It would spiral out of the sky? I ask because I'm trying to figure out if there is something wrong with the design aerodynamically, or it is my pilot skills.

 

[Crazed Scout Pilot]

I also wanted to tell you that your Steerman blew me away.

 

[AdityaPratap]

 

[AdityaPratap]

View attachment 238862

is this the cg point

 

[Yankee2003]

is this the cg point

Come join us here https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/spitfire76s-build-log-of-bens-xf-16.74386/
We are just putting together a couple F16s as well. Would love your input.
Including what you find out about the cg. 😏

 

[Spitfire76]

I would like to try the original method of making the nose rather than removing the paper on the front 2 sections as in the V8 plans. Although the later method makes the front more rounded, I found it difficult to match with the rear section and believe the older method to look better. @Mid7night do you still have a copy of the older plans with that part available? Thanks.

 

[Cparedes]

Great work!
the EDF I have available is an 80mm. Can I just blow up the plans?
or can I fit it into the normal size aircraft?
many thanks

 

[chobson303]

Does anyone have the STL for the Viper canopy they can share?

 

[eness76]

Ben, thanks for a fun design. I’m years late to the party, but I finally got around to building one. Great flying jet. I put a 2000kv 6s 70mm fan setup in, and reduced the thrust tube from 70mm at the fan to 60mm at the exit. I’m running a 5000mah pack in it, and had to move it back to over the front of the wing. I cut out the top wing skin to make a pocket for the pack. Today out of a split-s I got it to 109.3mph on the gps. Not bad for $6 of dtfb.

 

[Jo's squadron]

wow thats fast!
nice jet

 

[Foamforce]

#2 is on the way! I’m building this one with my younger son. He was successfully flying an XFly F22 dual 40mm, so compared to that, this plane is an easy flier! I have a third one cut out for my older son. We hope to get them all up in the air together for a little air show. 🙂

This design doesn’t disappoint. Thanks @Mid7night !

 

[Spitfire76]

Built one last year and to the surprise of my fellow club members it flew just great.
Play with audio.

 

[dberg97]

This is a great plane. It’s well designed and fun to fly. Thanks for the well-done plans. I spent the long Thanksgiving weekend building a new one with modifications. I upscaled it to 120% to allow room for a 6s battery, added ailerons, and changed out the simple elevator for functioning stabilators. Maiden should be in the next couple days if I can get off work with enough daylight left.

 

[Foamforce]

Since I’m getting close on my second one, I have a couple questions. I remember on the first one that I had to modify the back of the canopy to make it fit into the fuselage. Did anybody else encounter that? Could somebody post a photo of the bottom rear of their canopy?

Secondly, my first one was a little nose heavy. The only way to make it balance was to slide both of my 2200ah 3s batteries about as far back as I could on either side of the splitter behind the canopy. Is that what others saw too? I wish I could move something further back to make it less nose heavy, so that I could fit larger batteries. Not a big deal though, and I could always add a little lead to the tail.

 

[dberg97]

Since I’m getting close on my second one, I have a couple questions. I remember on the first one that I had to modify the back of the canopy to make it fit into the fuselage. Did anybody else encounter that? Could somebody post a photo of the bottom rear of their canopy?

Secondly, my first one was a little nose heavy. The only way to make it balance was to slide both of my 2200ah 3s batteries about as far back as I could on either side of the splitter behind the canopy. Is that what others saw too? I wish I could move something further back to make it less nose heavy, so that I could fit larger batteries. Not a big deal though, and I could always add a little lead to the tail.

On the most recent build, I cut a LiPo-sized section out of the top portion of the wing before putting on the last fuselage piece so I can slide the battery back further. On both the 4s and 6s version, the battery needs to be slid back until only half of it is visible in the canopy section.

 

[Mid7night]

Wow!
It warms my heart to see y’all still enjoying the F-16, and to see it’s still well-behaved for ya!!

I’ve got another one cut out for myself, guess I need to get on the building!! 🤣

 

[Mr Man]

Wow!
It warms my heart to see y’all still enjoying the F-16, and to see it’s still well-behaved for ya!!

I’ve got another one cut out for myself, guess I need to get on the building!! 🤣

Try painting it with another country’s paint job, i.e. Sweden Germany Japan etc.

 

[Mr Man]

Can this plane be built without all of the score cuts? You know, like a master series?

 

[Mr Man]

I;m either going to do this or @DamoRC ’s aviation design diamond.

 

[CrshNBrn]

Can this plane be built without all of the score cuts? You know, like a master series?

I've done the top of the wing like that, removing the paper and curving it.