nnA-10

by nerdnic | February 20, 2015 | (57) Posted in Projects

-Jaxx from the FT forums

This video just made my day! I'm speachless. It flew so well, and looks even better.

-Brent Hill from YouTube

Awesome A-10 Warthog Nic! it looks great and appears to fly like it's on rails, really tracks in the air! Super fast, and sounds cool too! Great scale look, (I've seen a couple of them) lol  Excellent Maiden Fight it all went smoothly!

DETAILS

Hi friends. 

The nnA-10 is kind of a special build for me. Out of all the builds I've done so far it was the most challenging to design and the most challenging to build. I spent hours just staring at scale images, hours, meticulously planning each detail, revising each part over and over. I wanted this to be my best design yet, I wanted to capture the essence of the A-10 in DTFB. This was no easy feat. After 5 months of planning, designing, building, testing and revising I couldn’t be happier to bring to you, to the community, the nnA-10. I hope you will enjoy this beautiful aircraft as much as I do.

This will be the first nnBuild that is dedicated to someone, and I'm just gonna come right out and say it, Jaxx, Thank you. Jaxx is the reason the nnA-10 will be awesome. He has funded the electronics needed to make this bird fly and I am truly grateful for his generosity. This bird is dedicated to you my friend!

If you like this design then perhaps you’ll like some of my others as well.

 

SPECS

WINGSPAN
40in
FUSE
36.2
CHANNELS
3-4
WEIGHT
Airframe - 550g
With BASIC electronics 1050g
With SPEED electronics 1400g

ELECTRONICS

BASIC - 3S

MOTORS - Dual Dynam 64mm alloy 4400kv 5 blade EDF
ESCS - Dual 40a Dynam (comes in combo linked above)
BATTERY - Zippy 3000mah 40c 3S
SERVOS - 3-4 9g

SPEED - 4S
MOTORS - Dual HobbyKing 64mm alloy 4000kv 5 blade EDF | 850w on 4S
ESCS - Dual 70a Dynam
BATTERY - Zippy 4000mah 40c 4S
SERVOS - 3-4 12g metal gear

BUILD DIFFICULTY

Beginner – You’ve never flown a plane before, let alone done a scratch build
Novice – You’ve flown a plane but have no experience with scratch building
Intermediate – You’ve flown and built a few FT style planes before
Advanced – You’ve mastered the standard FT build style and are looking for a new challenge
Expert – You’ve mastered all build techniques and aren't afraid to improvise or tackle tedious builds

The nnA-10 is an advanced to expert build.

PILOT SKILL

Intermediate

MATERIALS

8 BBQ skewer
4 sheets DTFB
2 craft sticks
1 2 liter bottle
1 sheet poster board
1 flat aluminum 1/16" x 1/2" x 27.5''
1 3/8" x 3' poplar square dowel (speed h/vstab)
Optional - Motion RC canopy

PLANS

nnA-10

 

BUILD VIDEO

Coming soon!

 

FAQ

Where can I get the aluminum you use in your build?
I buy mine at Lowes but you can find it online.

Do I need to put an aluminum spar in my wing?
I did not test the wing without an aluminum spar so I recommend you use one.

I have build questions, what’s the best way to contact you?
You can contact me directly at me@nerdnic.com but the FT forums would be best. This thread is a good place to start. If you have quetsions, others can benifit from them as well.

I noticed the nnA-10 has fixed landing gear, do I have to install this?
No. The wheels and even the landing pod itself can be left out of the build if you wish.

What if I wanted retracts, would this be possible?
Yes, the build could easily be modified to use retracts.

Is it hard to get proper GC?
It can be if your battery is not big enough. You’ll need at least a 3000mah battery to get proper balance.

Will there be a video showing the SPEED version flying?
Yes. I am working to complete the SPEED build now.

I am a beginner and love the A-10, is this a good plane for me?
No. The nnA-10 will require an expert builder and an intermediate pilot to ensure success.

I don’t want to use EDFs, they are loud, power hungry and expensive, can I use an outrunner instead?
While the nnA-10 doesn’t have plans to accommodate a pusher set up, it’s certainly capable. So go wild!

FliteTest should have you own their show and fly your planes!
Yes. I agree :-)

If I can’t decide between the BASIC and SPEED build, how do I know which is right for me?
If you’re not sure, build the BASIC version and then the SPEED after you have mastered the build and flight.

 

PICTURES


Glide Test

REVIEW

STALLS
The nnA-10 is pretty stable but as you drop speed she will start to stall out. The stall is gradual but with any EDF you can’t recover very fast so it’s best to keep your speed brisk.

WIND
Wind performance is great, the weight helps here.

LAUNCHING/LANDING
Don’t be afraid of full throttle on launch. Make sure your throws are 45%-50% on your elevator.

ACROBATICS
This is not an acrobatic plane. The nnA-10 will roll and do inverted fine but it’s not designed for 3D or heavy sport flying.

GLIDE SLOPE
If you watched the maiden video you’ll notice the glide slope on the A-10 is pretty bad. She will drop fast when you drop throttle, be ready.

SLOW SPEED PERFORMANCE
It’s best to stay above 1/4th throttle, for the weight of this bird the slow speed performance isn’t bad, but if she drops it will be hard to recover.

LOOK AND FEEL
The look of the nnA-10 is undeniably one of the best DTFB planes. There is something to be said for how smoothly it presents itself across the sky. With noble stability it sticks lines and tracks perfectly – you’ll be the talk of your flying field when you’re flying an nnA-10. Despite the AUW weight there is a sense of nimbleness that surprised me. She’s not floating but is responsive and precise.

 

FINAL COMMENTS

The nnA-10 is a very relaxing plane to fly. I like to think of it as an advanced lazy weekend flyer. With stylish looks and enough pep to satisfy you’ll enjoy every moment with your nnA-10.

Thanks for checking out my design! If you enjoyed it please consider donating a few bucks so I can buy more supplies to make more great planes.

Also, coming soon is the nnP-38, so be on the look out for that!

COMMENTS

KrisRoberts1121 on February 20, 2015
Plans downloaded for future build! Thanks Nic and congrats! You never stop amazing me with your builds.
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Awesome, definitely post once you start your build.
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RacerX on February 20, 2015
Awesome job, Nic! Beautiful plane.
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Thanks man!
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banditjacksRC on February 20, 2015
beautiful nic.. just beautiful... another 5 star design!
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Thanks :-)
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jayz 84 on February 20, 2015
Awsome job nic. Made it in the Articles with another top notch build. And thanks alot for the beta experience on this build i enjoyed every min of it trying to insure it success with you.. Hats off to you man for another awsome design. Your a great designer... And a special call out thanks to (JAXX) for his donation to make this build possible
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
John, thank you for all the build testing and ideas you contributed! It's been great to have your input and thoughts the last few designs I've worked on.

Here's to all the future projects that are still ahead of us!
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JulesHam on February 20, 2015
I'm making this right now at 70%, I have always wanted an A10. Oh well, work will have to wait until tomorrow. =)

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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
70%!? Yes! Please post you build in the thread.
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Jaxx on February 20, 2015
Nic,
What can I say that hasn't been said already? I am humbled to have had any part in what you have done here, but the credit goes to you my friend. You are a perfect example of what is great about the FT community. We (myself especially) really appreciate the time and effort you have put into this design. It is truly inspiring. I believe it's safe to say that this build far exceeded our expectations. I look forward (with excitement) to future designs, and I am more that happy to help out where I can.

By the way, where do I go to request a Speed Build Kit?
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Being a part of this community has been a great experience and I really enjoy the support and encouragement that seems to pour out of everyone. Your contribution to this design was what inspired me to take it on. It's safe to say the nnA-10 wouldn't be here without you, Jaxx, so thank you!

I would love to be able to offer build kits but I'm curious what kind of interest there would be. Who else wants an nnA-10 build kit?
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John Frenzel on December 14, 2016
I sure do it would be great if you offered one. How about a build video????
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jamboree1 on February 20, 2015
Truly a masterwork. FliteTest needs to take note on how this plane has brought dollar tree foam board to a new level
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Thanks! I really enjoy pushing DTFB as far as I can. That's usually the most surprising detail to other pilots when they see my builds, they just can't believe that DTFB can be used like this.
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jrvalentin62 on February 20, 2015
GREAT JOB NIC!!!!! Love to make a donation. How is that done? Look forward to future designs.
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jrvalentin62 on February 20, 2015
Found the info. Thanks SOOFLY. I didn't give the site time to download completly. Just downloaded it. This IS a great community. FT please give this designer (NIC) a shout out.
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
THANKS! You can use this link - https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=MTRYJY62T4R3N or there are links on my site for each model.
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wilmracer on February 20, 2015
Not surprised that it feel nimble, even at that weight. Fantastic design and great build!
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Thanks! Is that common in A-10s? I probably should fly some other manufactures to get a sense of what to expect.
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Phoenix1962 on February 20, 2015
Awesome job Nic! You always do great work!
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nerdnic on February 20, 2015
Thanks!
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maximaal on February 20, 2015
Cooooooollll!!!!,!!!!!!!!!!
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nerdnic on February 21, 2015
Thanks!
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BabyBrit_FPV on February 21, 2015
Previous comments echo what we have shared, nic. Your builds are truly special and the amount of time and effort spent in the design is abundantly clear in the results. I look forward to equal or greater success with the P38 and any future builds. Ill be following closely. Looking forward to increasing my pilot skill to add this plane to my growing collection.
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nerdnic on February 21, 2015
Thanks man. I don't know if my P-38 can top this one though.. We shall see :-)
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Hell2Go on February 21, 2015
Nice!!!! I've been following your builds since I first saw the nnChipmonk , and I built the nnMIG 3, but I need the weather to break here in Lockport NY... to hard to walk out to my field in waist deep snow! I can't wait to maiden my MIG, so in the mean time I'll have to build the nnA-10. Thinking of scaling it up to use 70mm edfs with a combined thrust of 2500g... That should make her move!
Can't wait to see your next project... I know it will be great! Thanks nic for all you do!
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nerdnic on February 21, 2015
You'll love the nnMiG 3, she flies very nice! If you increase the nnA-10 by about 8-10% you should be fine with 70mm EDFs. Make sure to post some details of your build in the thread!
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Yogenh on February 21, 2015
I like it a lot but I have 2 70mm fans already would they work on it??
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nerdnic on February 21, 2015
You can keep it as is and use 70s, it will just look a little funny. I suggest increasing the plane by 8-10% to keep the scale right. Let me know how it goes!
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Capt_Beavis on February 21, 2015
Nice build!
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nerdnic on February 21, 2015
Thanks!
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evp on February 22, 2015
You absolutely nailed this, fantastic job. Are you going to put some paint on it?
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nerdnic on February 23, 2015
Thanks! I won't be painting this one, but I will be adding color on my SPEED version.
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canuck on February 22, 2015
I've never had the desire to build an edf aircraft but this one has changed my mind. Wonderful job with one of my favorite aircraft. Be sure to follow up with updates I would love to see what you're up to with this model. Again great project.
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nerdnic on February 23, 2015
This was my second EDF. I started with the Viggen last year and it was a lot of fun. Thanks for checking out my A-10, I'll will be posting updates in the future.
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Flynn on February 22, 2015
Great job Nic! I can't wait to build this one. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. Plus, Jaxx, you the man!
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nerdnic on February 23, 2015
Thanks, make sure to share your build on the forum!
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MT Alex on February 22, 2015
Great job!

Whoever the joker was that gave this article a four star rating needs to be horsewhipped. ;)
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nerdnic on February 23, 2015
Heh, thanks!
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jrvalentin62 on February 22, 2015
Featured Author!! About time. Lol So well deserved. Five stars OOrah!!!!
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nerdnic on February 23, 2015
I never expected it to happen but I am honored!
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marc60 on February 23, 2015
Nic,
This is a really great Job. You did it again. Looks very good in the air.
Greets
Marc
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nerdnic on February 23, 2015
Thanks Marc!
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SP0NZ on February 24, 2015
This one is Epic Nic! I love the A-10 and used to work on them in the USAF. It's an amazing aircraft and you really captured it with your foam board design. Keep up the great work man.

I'll bet there will be a lot of nn planes flying around at Flite Fest this year. Hope to meet you there.
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Wolfgang1402 on March 17, 2015
Hi guys, you do a great job, thank you from Germany
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Flyingninja on March 18, 2015
This is insanely cool! It would be fun to make a 200% nnA-10! I might try it... it would be expensive though.
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asoulsdream on March 30, 2015
Wow people actually read these comments, i didnt really mean to sound so mean. Honesty I really like the a10, in fact I used to work on the in the air force. My deepest apologies. I didnt think it was even really going to be read. And if you look at the version 2 of the a10 it has an airfoil sir. Nothing against nerdnic. I was actually poking fun at a friend of mine, not realizing anyone else would read this. Again my deepest apologies
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wanabeRCexpert on November 30, 2016
nice i really like the original A-10. This is next on my list!
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John Frenzel on December 30, 2016
This is awesome when will there be a build video?
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PoorManRC on October 25, 2018

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Mr.Flyguy on February 3, 2021
-BRRRRT-
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nnA-10