“Famous Models” The F4 Phantom

A few months after I got the Hornet, CML brought out the 70mm fan F4 Phantom. Like the F-18, the Phantom is an iconic aircraft that seems to stir the imagination of many flyers. I was interested to see how it compared to the Hornet. It went together in a similarly straightforward way and was soon ready for flight testing. By now I had an idea of what to expect.

At my normal flying site I have to Hand launch, this one is a bit more tricky as it is harder to get a decent grip on this low winged delta shaped planform. There is a little triangular shaped cooling duct near the front of the wing that you can get a thumb into with your fingers around the leading edge of the wing near the fuselage. It is a more awkward grip than say the F-18, but again, the power is so much that the model gets away easily as long as you keep the wings level as you release it.

Talking of performance, the Phantom is very similar in performance to the other “Famous” 70mm EDF range, although I think it has slightly more drag and might be just a shade off the raw pace of the F-18, so it’s pretty hot!

Top Tip:

In the air the roll rate is something to approach with caution until you are used to the model. Set low and high rates with a decent amount of expo to keep it smooth. I’d go for at least 30% on low rates and maybe 45 to 50% on high rates. Elevator isn’t so critical on either model. They are both so lightly loaded that they don’t do anything dramatic, even when you slow them down below a scale like jet flight envelope.

Top Tip:

Landing either model is just as simple. Because they are light, they are very forgiving at slow speed. My method is to line up to the runway with about 1/3 power on, a fair way out, then gradually reduce the throttle to nothing and allow the model to glide in towards the runway. In calm conditions the glide is very long and flat so you need to judge it so as not to overshoot the runway. As the model slows up, gradually and lightly apply increasing up elevator.

If you time this correctly, the model will continue to slow and sink slowly until it literally stops moving forward at a high angle of attack and gently flares into a flat belly landing with little or no forward speed. This is easy on the model and is better than trying to fly it onto the runway and skid along for 20 metres or so! If you do this you risk scraping the bottom of the model or ingesting grass and dirt in the intakes.

The Phantom is supplied with a 20C 2200mAh LiPo and gets about 5 minutes flying. Use of a timer is recommended; I have been caught out a few times when it has BECed out on me, but it is always easy to glide it back down safely, or shut and open the throttle to allow enough to go round and safely put her down.

Try the “Famous Phantom”; it’s become one of my favourites, why not make it one of yours…….

Ally Young