FMS F-16 64mm Fighting Falcon Instruction Manual

FMS F-16 64mm Fighting Falcon

WARNING: Read the ENTIRE instruction manual to become familiar with the features of the product before operating. Failure to operate the product correctly can result in damage to the product. personal property and cause serious injury. This is a sophisticated hobby product and NOT a toy. It must be operated with caution and common sense and failure to do so could result in injury or damage to the product or other property. This product is not intended for use by children without direct adult supervision. This manual contains instructions for safety operation and maintenance. It is essential to read and follow all the instructions and warnings in the manual before assembly, setup, or use, to operate and avoid damage or serious injury.

Safety precautions and warnings
As the user of this product, you are solely responsible for operating in a manner that does not endanger yourself and others or result in damage to the product or the property of others. This model is controlled by a radio signal subject to interference from many sources outside your control. This interference can cause momentary loss of control so it is advisable to always keep a safe distance in all directions around your model, as this margin will help avoid collisions or injury. Age Recommendation: Not for children under 14 years. This is not a toy.

• Never operate your model with low transmitter batteries.
• Always operate your model in an open area away from cars, traffic, or people.
• Avoid operating your model in the street where injury or damage can occur.
• Never operate the model in populated areas for any reason.
• Carefully follow the directions and warnings for this and any optional support equipment you use (chargers. rechargeable battery packs, etc.)
• Keep all chemicals, small parts, and anything electrical out of the reach of children.
• Moisture causes damage to electronics. Avoid water exposure to all equipment not specifically designed and protected for this purpose.
• Never lick or place any of your models in your mouth as it could cause serious injury or even death.

Safety
Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) Battery Warning

CAUTION: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe use and disposal of batteries. Fire, property damage, or serious injury can result from the mishandling of Li-Po batteries.

• By handling, charging, or using a Li-Po Battery you assume all risks associated with lithium batteries. If at any time the batteries begin to swell or balloon, discontinue use immediately!
• Always store the batteries at room temperature in a dry area to extend the life of the battery. Always transport or temporarily store the battery in a temperature range of 40-120F. Do not store the battery or model in a car or in direct sunlight. If stored in a hot car, the battery can be damaged or even catch fire.
• Never use a Ni-Mh Charger to charge Li-Po Batteries. Failure to charge the battery with a Li-Po compatible charger may cause fire resulting in personal injury and property damage.
• Never discharge Li-Po Cells below 3V.
• Never leave charging batteries unattended.
• Never charge damaged batteries. Charging the Flight Battery Warning
• Use a battery charger that is designed to safely charge the Li-Po Battery. Read the charger instructions carefully before use. When charging the battery, make certain the battery is on a heat-resistant surface. It is also highly recommended to place the Li-Po Battery inside a fire-resistant charging bag readily available at hobby shops or online.

INTRODUCTION

The F-16 “Fighting Falcon” is an American single-engine super­sonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) as part of the U.S. military’s “Lightweight Fighter” program. Initially designed as an air superior­ity fighter, it was intended to complement the U.S. Air Force’s primary fighter, the F-15, and establish a high-low mix of capabili­ties. After entering service, with several upgrades, it evolved into a multi-role fighter, categorized as a fourth-generation fighter aircraft.

The experience of FMS in making 64mm ducted fan aircraft dates back to ten years ago or even earlier. At that time, R&D engineers and professional pilots dedicated a significant amount of testing time to create 64mm F15, 64mm F16, 64mm F18, and 64mm F35 models, all of which dazzled in the skies at flying fields around the world. Fast forward to 2018, FMS responded to the desires of players and carried out a comprehensive upgrade for all 64mm ducted fan aircraft, from materials to structure. The 64mm ducted fan aircraft V2 became a phenomenal product in the field of small-sized ducted fan aircraft for beginners for a long time. Fast forward to 2023, FMS has embarked on a new journey, starting with 3D drawings and introducing an all-new 64mm F-16 with larger dimensions, sleeker contours, and more precise detailing, paying homage to this iconic and renowned multi-role fighter aircraft.

The newly molded 64mm F16 not only boasts larger dimensions, sleeker contours, and more precise detailing but also brings a substantial improvement in realism. The front landing gear components are CNC machined with plastic brackets, delivering a high level of realism and excellent shock absorption. The rear landing gear is made with plastic-wrapped steel wire, enhancing realism without compromising strength. Navigation lights have been added to the wings, tail, and air intake to enhance the ambiance during flight. They are meticulously designed to follow the real aircraft lighting effect, providing a more authentic appear­ance in low-light conditions. In addition to the existing aileron, nose wheel steering, and elevator controls, rudder control has also been added, significantly improving the aircraft’s maneuver­ability and enabling the faithful replication of most fighter jet maneuvers. The fuselage, wings, horizontal tail, and vertical tail all feature embedded reinforcement tubes to prevent bending or deformation during aggressive flight maneuvers. The battlefield gray paint scheme and the Thunderbirds airshow paint scheme are available options. The battlefield gray paint scheme comes equipped with realistic fuel tanks and missiles and includes five sets of different stickers for players to choose from based on their individual preferences. The F-16 comes equipped from the factory with a 64mm 12-blade ducted fan, a 2840-KV3150 motor, and a 40A ESC. It features 6x9g digital servos that accurately execute commands from the receiver, delivering excellent high-speed and low-speed stable flight performance to assist beginner ducted fan model aircraft players.

Features

1. Electronic configuration: high-quality 40A ESC, high-power 2840-KV3150 motor, high-efficiency 64mm 12-blade ducted fan unit, high-precision digital servo.
2. Highly reproduced realistic details: cockpit details, panel lines, realistic antennas and airspeed head, front, and rear landing gear set, navigation lights (wings, tail, air intakes), scaled fuel tanks and missiles (gray paint only), etc.
3. CNC-machined shock-absorbing front landing gear with plastic bracket, and scaled plastic-wrapped steel wire rear landing gear.
4. Buckle design latch prevents unexpected canopy release in flight.
5. Pre-installed, ball link control horns for precise control and more throw.
6. Durable EPO foam material and environmentally friendly water-based paint.
7. Two sets of paint schemes are available, Battlefield gray (with five sets of stickers) and Thunderbird.

Kit Contents

Before assembly, please inspect the contents of the kit. The photo below details the contents of the kit with labels. If any parts are missing or defective, please identify the name or part number (refer to the spare parts list near the end of the manual) then contact your local shop or email us: at support@fmsmodel.com.

OVERVIEW

• A. Fuselage
• B. Main wing set
• C. Vertical stabilizer
• D. Horizontal stabilizer
• E. Cowl
• F. Screw set(spacer2,34×1 ,HKM3*1 0x10)
• G. Armaments(Battlefield gray)
• H. Ventral fins
• I. Wing spar
• J. Landing gear

Model assembly

Main wing installation

1. Align and slide the wing spar into the fuselage.

2. install both wing halves over the wing tube and into the wing slot of the fuselage.
   NOTE: The connectors on both sides should be attached precisely and firmly.

3. Secure the wings on the fuselage using the included screws (HKM3.0*10mm x 4) as shown.

Horizontal stabilizer installation

1. Carefully apply CA to the base and the side of the rear fuselage slot. Install the stabilizer into the place. Ensure the control horn faces down as shown.
   Note: Ensure the stabilizer’s horizontal axis is parallel to the wing. Adjust any misalignment before the glue dries thoroughly.

Vertical stabilizer installation

1. Carefully apply CA to the top rear fuselage slots. Install the vertical stabilizer into place.

Nose landing gear installation

1. Attach the nose landing gear to the wire on the bottom of the fuselage as shown.
2. Secure the nose landing gear in place using the included screw.

Main landing gear installation

1. install the main landing gear (left and right sets) onto the bottom of the fuselage as shown using the included screws and spacers.

Ventral fin installation

1. install the ventral fins to the fuselage slots as shown in the figure, and slide them towards the rear of the fuselage to fix in place.

Nosecone installation

1. Install the nosecone to the front of the fuselage as shown, making sure that the nosecone is installed in the correct direction.

Scale armaments installation battlefield gray Uim scheme only

1. install the scale armaments to the fuselage and the main wing slots, and slide them towards the rear of the airplane to fix.

Battery installation

1. Pull back on the latch and remove the battery hatch.
2. Apply the hook tape to the cable end of the battery.
3. Slide the full charged battery into the battery compartment with the power supply cable toward the rear end of the plane.

Note: The center of gravity can be adjusted by moving the battery forward or aft. Having the correct center of gravity is critical to achieving proper flight characteristics.

Battery compartment size: 160x55x42mm

Receiver diagram

The cables from the servo connector board should be con­nected to your receiver in the order shown. Note that the LEDs can be powered by any spare channel on the receiv­er. Tuck the wire leads into the recessed cavity towards the rear of the battery hatch.

Get your model ready to fly

Transmitter and model setup

Before getting started, bind your receiver with your transmitter. Please refer to your transmitter manual for proper operation. CAUTION: To prevent personal injury, DO NOT install the propel­ler assembly onto the motor shaft while testing the control surfac­es. DO NOT arm the ESC and do not turn on the transmitter until the Transmitter Manual instructs you to do so.

Tips: Make sure all control sticks on your radio are in the neutral position (rudder, elevator, ailerons) and the throttle is in the OFF position. Make sure both ailerons move up and down (travel) the same amount. This model tracks well when the left and right ailerons travel the same amount in response to the control stick. Move the controls on the transmitter to make sure the aircraft control surface moves correctly. See diagrams right.

Important ESC and model information

1. The ESC included with the model has a safe start. If the motor battery is connected to the ESC and the throttle stick is not in the low throttle or off position, the motor will not start until the throttle stick is moved to the low throttle or off position. Once the throttle stick is moved to the low throttle or off position, the motor will emit a series of beeps. Several beeps with the same tune mean the ESC has detected the cells of the battery. The count of the beeps equals the cells of the battery. The motor is now armed and will start when the throttle is moved.
2. The motor and ESC come pre-connected and the motor rotation should be correct. if for any reason the motor is rotating in the wrong direction, simply reverse two of the three motor wires to change the direction of rotation.
3. Battery Selection and Installation. We recommend the 14.8V 2200-2600mAh 25c Li-Po battery. If using another battery, the battery must be at least a 14.8V 2200-2600mAh 25c battery. Your battery should be approximately the same capacity, dimension, and weight as the 14.8V 2200-2600mAh 25c Li-Po battery to fit the fuselage without changing the center of gravity significantly.

Control throws

The suggested control throw settings for this airplane are as follows (dual rate setting):

Tips: On the first flight, fly the model in a low rate. The first time you use high rates.be sure to fly at low to medium speeds. The high rate, as listed, is only for EXTREME maneuvering.

Control horn and servo arm settings

The table shows the factory settings for the control horns and servo arms. Fly the aircraft to the factory settings before making changes. After flying, you may choose to adjust the linkage positions for the desired control response.

linkage rods installation

Before installing the main wing, horizontal tail, and vertical tail, the linkage rods for ailerons, flaps, elevators, and rudder should be installed in advance. Make sure the servos are in a neutral position. Attach the “Z” bend end of the aileron, flap, elevator, and rudder linkage rods to the corresponding holes in the aileron, flap, elevator, and rudder control arms from the outside as shown (Please refer to the control horn and servo ann settings and clevis Installation sections in the manual ). Then install the ball buckle at the other end of the linkage rods to the ball head at each control horn on control surfaces.

Check the C.G. ICenter of gravity
When balancing your model, adjust the battery as neces­sary so the model is level or slightly nose down. This is the correct balance point for your model. After the first flight, the CG position can be adjusted for your personal prefer­ence.

1. The recommended Center of Gravity (CG) location for your model is(75-85mm) from the leading edge of the main wing (as shown) with the battery pack installed. Mark the location of the CG on top of the wing.
2. When balancing your model, support the plane at the marks made on the bottom of the main wing with your fingers or a commercially available balancing stand. This is the correct balance point for your model. Make sure the model is assembled and ready for flight before balancing.

Before flying the model

Find a suitable flying site
Find a flying site full of buildings, trees, power lines, and other obstructions. Until you know how much area will be required and have mastered flying your plane in confined spaces, choose a site that is at least the size of two to three football fields – a flying field specifically for R/C planes is best. Never fly near people – especially children, who can wander unpredictably

Perform the annual check for your plane
As a precaution, an operational ground range test should be performed before the first flight each time you go out. Performing a range test is a good way to detect problems that could cause loss of control such as low batteries, defective or damaged radio components, or radio interference. This usually requires an assistant and should be done at the actual flying site you will be using. First turn on the transmitter, then install a fully-charged battery into the fuselage. Connect the battery and install the hatch. Remember, use care not to bump the throttle stick. Otherwise, the propeller/fan will tum and possibly cause damage or injury

Note: Please refer to your Transmitter Manual that came with your radio control system to perform a ground range check. If the controls are not working correctly or if anything seems wrong, do not fly the model until you correct the problem. Make certain all the servo wires are securely connected to the receiver and the transmitter batteries have a good connection.

Monitor your flight time
Monitor and limit your flight time using a timer (such as on a wristwatch or in your transmitter if available). When the batteries are getting low you will usually notice a performance drop before the ESC cuts off motor power, so when the plane starts flying slower you should land. Often (but not always) power can be briefly restored after the motor cuts off by holding the throttle stick all the way down for a few seconds. To avoid an unexpected dead-stick landing on your first flight, set your timer to a conservative 4 minutes. VVhen your alarm sounds you should land right away.
Flying course

Take off
While applying power, slowly steer to keep the model straight. The model should accelerate quickly. As the model gains flight speed you will want to dimb at a steady and even rate. It will dumb out at a nice angle of attack (AOA).

Flying
Always choose a wide-open space for flying your plane. It is ideal for you to fly at a sanctioned flying field. If you are not flying at an approved site always avoid flying near houses, trees, wires, and buildings. You should also be careful to avoid flying in areas where there are many people, such as busy parks, schoolyards, or soccer fields. Consult laws and ordinances before choosing a location to fly your aircraft. After takeoff, gain some altitude. Climb to a safe height before trying technical manoeuvres, including high- speed passes, inverted flight, loops, and point rolls.

Maintenance
Repairs to the foam should be made with foam-safe adhesives such as hot glue, foam-safe CA, and 5-minute epoxy. VVhen parts are not repairable, see the Spare Parts List for ordering by item number.
Always check to make sure all screws on the aircraft are tightened. Pay special attention to make sure the spinner is firmly in place before every flight.

Landing
Land the model when you hear the motor pulsing (LVC) or if you notice a power reduction. If using a transmitter with a timer, set the timer so you have enough flight time to make several landing approaches. The model’s three-point landing gear allows the model to land on hard surfaces. Align the model directly into the wind and fly down to the ground. Fly the airplane down to the ground using 1/4-1/3 throttle to keep enough energy for proper flare. Before the model touches down, always fully decrease the throttle to avoid damaging the propeller or other components. The key to a great landing is to manage the power and elevator all the way to the ground and set down lightly on the main landing gear. After a few flights, you will find the model can be set down light on the mains and you can hold the nose wheel off balancing the model on the mains until it slows and gently settles the nose.

Troubleshooting

Aircraft will not respond to the throttlebut responds to other controls.

| ****

-ESC is not armed.

-Throttle channel is reversed.

| ****

-Lower throttle stick and throttle trim to lowest settings.

-Reverse throttle channel on transmitter.

Extra propeller noise or extra vibration.

| ****

-Damaged spinner, propeller, motor or motor mount.

-Loose propeller and spinner parts.

-Propellor installed backwards.

| ****

-Replace damaged parts.

-Tighten parts for propeller adapter, propeller and spinner.

-Remove and install propeller correctly.

Reduced flight time or aircraft underpowered.

| ****

-Flight battery charge is low.

-propeller installed backward.

-Flight battery damaged.

| ****

-Completely recharge flight battery.

-Replace flight battery and follow flight battery instructions.

Control surface does not move, or is slow to respond to control inputs.

| ****

-Control surface, control horn, linkage or servo damage.

-Wire damaged or connections loose.

| ****

-Replace or repair damaged parts and adjust controls.

-Do a check of connections for loose wiring.

Controls reversed.

| ****

Channels are reversed in the transmitter.

| ****

Do the control direction test and adjust controls for aircraft and transmitter.

-Motor loses power

-Motor power pulses then motor loses power.

| ****

-Damage to motor, or battery.

-Loss of power to aircraft.

-ESC uses default soft Low Voltage Cutoff(LVC).

| ****

-Do a check of batteries, transmitter, receiver, ESC, motor and wiring for damage(replace as needed).

-Land aircraft immediately and recharge flight battery.

LED on receiver flashes slowly.

| ****

Power loss to receiver.

| ****

-Check connection from ESC to receiver.

-Check servos for damage.

-Check linkages for binding.

Spare parts list content

Visit our website: www.fmshobby.com to see a photo of this product. Enter the keyword “ESC” in the search bar for the stock ESC instruction manual.

Brushless ESC Introduction

Important warnings

• ZTW is not responsible for your use of this product, or any damage or injuries you may cause or sustain as a result of its usage.
• Always place safety as a priority when you use the product.
• An electric motor that is connected in combination with a battery and/or ESC may start unexpectedly and cause serious damage and so should always be used with care and respect.
• We recommend you always remove the propeller when working on a model with the power source connected.
• Follow and observe all local laws and by-laws relating to model flying when flying RC planes.
• Never fly over others or near crowds.

Key features

1. Utilizes powerful next-generation MOSFET with a low thermal signature, high peak current threshold and reliability.
2. Features high-performance 32-bit microprocessor as standard. Stronger computing ability and faster processing rates.
3. Super smooth start-up and throttle throughout the power range.
4. Higher driving efficiency and more energy-saving.
5. Adjustable SBEC output voltage, 5V/6V. (40A/50A/60A/80A/100A have SBEC adjustable)
6. Multiple protection protocols: start-up, over-heat, low-voltage cutoff, signal loss, phase loss etc.
7. Supports a wide range of high RPM type motors commonly found in today’s market.
8. Fully programmable via optional ZTW mobile app or ZTW LCD programming card.

Specification

Wires Connection
The speed controller can be connected to the motor by soldering directly or with high-quality connectors. Always use new connectors, which should be soldered carefully to the cables and insulated with heat shrink tube. The maximum length of the battery pack wires shall be within 6 inches.

• Solder controller to the motor wires.
• Solder appropriate connectors to the battery wires.
• Insulate all solder connectors with heat shrink tubes.
• Plug the “JR” connector into the receiver throttle channel.
• Controller Red and Black wires connect to the battery pack Red and Black wires respectively.

Throme calibration

• Important: Please make the throttle calibration for the first time using ESC!

Nonnal startup procedure

Programming items the option written in bold font is the default setting)

1. SMR Function: OFF/ON This function supports switching the motor rotation to decelerate when the airplane lands on the ground. The factory default is OFF, the 1Pin signal wire is completely invalid at this time. If you need to turn it on, use a Phone App or transmitter to program it “ON”, plug the 3Pin signal wire into the throttle channel, and plug the 1Pin signal wire into any 2-stage switch channel of the receiver, then turn on the transmitter 2-stage switch. The SMR function is turned on now, you can change the forward and reverse directions of the motor by flipping the 2-stage switch of the transmitter.
   Warning: This function can only be effective when the throttle is below 50%, and it is only allowed to be used when the airplane is landing on the ground, otherwise it may cause the ESC to burn!

2. Brake Type: OFF/Soft/Mid/Hard

3. Timing: Auto/Low/Mid/High (5°/15°/25°)

4. Motor Rotation: CW/CCW

5. SR function: ON/OFF The synchronous rectification function makes ESC with higher driving efficiency and more energy-saving.

6. Battery cells: Auto/2S/3S/4S/5S/6S

7. Low Voltage Cutoff Threshold: OFF/NIMH50%/NIMH60%/3.0V/3.2V/3.4V/3.6V
   For example: using 3 lithium batteries and setting 3.OV as the low voltage cutoff value, then the low voltage protection threshold is: 3*3.0 = 9.0V

8. Low Voltage Cutoff Type: Reduce Power/Cut Off Power Reduced power: When the voltage drops to the set low-voltage protection threshold, the ESC will reduce power to 70%. Cut Off power: VI/hen the voltage drops to the set low-voltage protection threshold, the ESC will cut off the power immediately. 9.40A\50A\60A\80A\1 00A ESCs have adjustable SBEC 5V/6V, the default set is 5.0V. 1 a.Acceleration: Normal/Soft

Entering the programming mode

1. Turn on the transmitter, and move the throttle stick to the top position.
2. Connect the battery pack to ESC.
3. Wait for 2 seconds, the motor will emit a special tone like ” beep-beep-beep”
4. Wait for another 3 seconds, the motor will emit a special tone like “123”, which means program mode entered.

Programmable items
After entering program mode, you will hear 11 tones in a loop with the following sequence.

Set item value

Moving the throttle stick to the bottom position within 2 seconds after one kind of following tone, this item will be selected. After the programmable item is selected, you will hear several tones in a loop as follows on each programmable item, set the value matching to a tone by moving throttle stick to top position when you hear the tone, and then the motor will emit a special tone-like “123”, means this value is set and saved. For example: If you want to set the motor rotation, when you hear four short tones of “Beep”, moving the throttle stick to the bottom position within 2 seconds, means you enter the motor rotation menu. One short tone of “Beep” is the forward direc­tion(CW), and two short tones of “Beep” is the reverse direction(CCW). If you want to set to reverse direction(CCW), moving the throttle stick to the top position when you hear the two short tones of “Beep”, then you will hear a special confirmation tone like “123”, which means the “CCW’ is set and saved. Keeping the throttle stick at the top, you will go back to programming mode and you can select other items, or moving the stick to the bottom within 2 seconds will exit program mode directly).

Programming tone reference table

Note: ” * ” value means default settings.

Protection function

1. Start-up protection: If the motor fails to start normally within 2 seconds after pushing the throttle to start, the ESC will cut off the output power, and you need to make the throttle calibration again, then ESC can be restarted. Possible reasons: disconnection or poor connection between ESC and motor, the propeller or motor is blocked by other objects, the gearbox is damaged, etc.)
2. Over-heat protection: When the temperature of the ESC is over about 11 O C, the ESC will automatically reduce the output power for protection, but will not fully shut down the power, reduce it to 70% of the full power at most to ensure the motor has enough power to avoid crashes.
3. Throttle signal loss protection: The ESC will reduce the output power if the throttle signal is lost for 1 second, and will cut off output to the motor if the throttle signal is lost over 2 seconds. If the throttle signal recovers during power down, the ESC will immedi­ately resume throttle control. In this way, the ESC will not protect when the signal loss is less than 2 seconds, only when the signal loss is over 2 seconds or longer time. And the ESC will reduce the output power gradually instead of cutting off it imme­diately, so the player has certain amount of time to save the plane, taking into account safety and practicality.
4. Overload protection: The ESC will cut off power or restart automatically when the load increases a lot suddenly, a possible reason is the motor is blocked.

Troubleshooting

Decal instruction battlefield grav bim scheme only

Please choose one set of the decals according to your taste or history materials and paste it as shown (for reference only).

Water Decal Instructions:
The above are water decals. Do not force them off from the backing paper. Please operate according to the following steps:

1. Make sure your hands are dry, and cut the decal down with scissors carefully.
2. Put the decal in water for 2 mins to bring it to full absorption.
3. Carefully remove the decal from the backing paper and apply it on the corresponding position of the airframe (it would be helpful to wet the corresponding position of the airframe to adjust the decal)
4. Soak up the excess water with tissue, squeeze out air slowly, and wait for drying.

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