52 ModelAirplaneNews.com
E-FLITE/HORIZON HOBBY F-16 THUNDERBIRDS 70MM EDF
GEAR USED
RADIO
Spektrum DX18G2 Stealth
(spektrumrc.com) w/ AS3X
(included)
MOTOR
1850Kv brushless electric,
12-blade 70mm ducted fan, and
70-amp speed control (installed)
BATTERY
Spektrum Smart 6S 3200mAh
30CSpektrum Smart 3200mAh battery is a great mix of providing enough fl ight time and keeping the weight down.
I’m looking forward to exploring this new technology.
Th ere is a lot of extra air-inlet area to feed the 12-blade 70mm fan. Th e top-mounted hatch provides excellent battery access and includes a painted
pilot fi gure and instrument panel.
fl aps. Servo-operated nosewheel steering
and a functional rudder round out the fl ight
controls.
All the control surfaces use ball links for a
slop-free linkage and have molded-in foam
hinge lines. Th e included landing gear is a
thing of beauty. It is electrically operated
and includes some nice shock-absorbing
aluminum-gear struts and hard-rubber tires.
Th is landing gear looks stout enough to hold
up to regular fl ight ops off a well-kept grass
runway.
Battery access on the F-16 is excellent.
Th e cockpit includes a painted pilot bust
as well as an instrument panel. Th e cockpit
comprises the access hatch and is held in
place with a pin and a spring-loaded latch.
Battery changes can be easily accomplished
while the jet is sitting on its landing gear.
Th e power system consists of a 70-amp
brushless speed control spinning a 12-blade
70mm electric ducted fan. An 1850Kv
brushless inrunner electric motor combines
with a 12-blade fan to create a pleasing
turbinelike sound. A 6S battery is required in
a capacity between 3200 and 4000mAh. I
was provided one of the new 30C 3200mAh
Spektrum Smart batteries for the review,
and I look forward to getting a charger to take
advantage of the Smart technology available
in the new line of batteries and chargers.
I connected a watt meter and measured
the power output of the F-16. At full throttle
with a freshly charged battery, the power
output was 1,340 watts while pulling 62
amps, so there’s a few amps of overhead in
the speed control.
Th e wings are mounted using a carbon-
fi ber tube and four screws. Th e screws are
2.5mm hex-head screws, so there’s no
stabbing the foam (or my fi ngers!) by slipping
with a Phillips screwdriver. E-fl ite evenprovides a spare screw.
One last small detail is the removable
nose cone. It’s a great touch that allows you
to protect the Pitot tube on the front during
transportation, and if you end up with a little
bit of crinkle nose, you can easily replace it
as it’s held on by magnets.IN THE AIR
Th e F-16 will transport fully assembled in an
SUV or will travel in a vehicle with a much
smaller footprint with the nose cone and
wings removed. Field assembly requires only
two servo connections for the ailerons and
four hex-head screws for the wings. Snap
the nose cone in place and you’re ready to
be off.
Th e narrow gear stance of the F-16 is a
bit more of a challenge on the ground than
some other jets with a wider gear track,
but it presented no problems taxiing on our