Review of the Fatty F-14 Tomcat

I saw a small, chunky model online that’s most likely made in China. So I got in touch with Julia from HEBU and asked if HEBU could source models like that. It didn’t take long before I received a positive response. So I ordered some of those “Fattys” right away.

Assembly is straightforward and poses no problems. We decided not to install weapons due to air resistance. Programming also went smoothly.

We planned to make our maiden flight in Ulrichen at an electric jet gathering with friends. Rodito, my son, took on the role of pilot. The takeoff with the landing gear extended didn’t work out, because the nose landing gear control failed on the very first attempt. So we retracted the landing gear and tried to launch it by hand. There’s a handy handle at the bottom of the fuselage for the manual launch.

I still remember it well: As we marched to the edge of the runway to hand the chubby F-14 over to the elements, I heard voices from our colleagues: “If that flies!” or “It’s not going to fly!”—and you could even hear some preventive, schadenfreude-filled laughter.

Well, the launch went off without a hitch. My job was simply to throw the model; after that, the chunky thing flew like it was on rails. Loops, inverted flight, rolls—no problem at all. The pilot and the 6-axis gyro performed their duties 100%. The pusher propeller propels this model along quite quickly, and the sound really adds to the appeal of this beefy little model. The landing also went off without a hitch. Here, too, we kept the landing gear retracted and landed in the adjacent meadow. Our colleagues applauded and admitted that they’d had their doubts about whether the little F-14 would fly at all.

On another flight, Rodito wanted to make a quick flyover and gained some momentum by climbing slightly in altitude before attempting to dive. Then there was a small bang, and the engine fell silent... What had happened? The canopy had come loose and gotten caught in the propeller between the vertical stabilizers; this broke the propeller, and the resulting imbalance immediately ripped the engine—along with its mount—out of the frame and disconnected it from the ESC. Surprisingly, the landing went off without a hitch again; Rodito managed to land the chunky “foam waffle” as softly as could be on the grass. Amazingly, the loss of weight from the missing tail motor had no effect on the plane’s handling. Unfortunately, despite a lengthy search, we were unable to find the motor.

The cockpit had sustained a few scratches from the propeller but was still usable, so our Fatty took part in numerous events and brought smiles to the faces of pilots and spectators alike.

After the nose landing gear steering failed on the second model as well, and a main landing gear leg broke during a takeoff attempt, we removed it. The connecting pins between the landing gear mechanism and the landing gear legs are a bit too brittle. Hand launches go off without a hitch, and when the model lands on the grass, it remains free of scratches. The cockpit of the second model also came loose and detached from the model with the same result, which prompted us to secure the cockpit with tape. Later, I learned from a colleague that he’d had exactly the same experiences with the landing gear and cockpit on his Fatty. That’s why we’d recommend optimizing the cockpit latch on your own. We’d also suggest deactivating or removing the EZFW. Perhaps the manufacturer will address these weaknesses in the Fatty F-14—if so, it’ll be a model that’s fun all around.

The price for this little powerhouse can certainly be described as steep, but we’d buy the Fatty again.

• Includes a 6-axis gyro for smooth flights
• CNC-milled electric retractable landing gear
• Servos are already installed
• The motor and ESC are easy to install
• Includes complete armament
• Very durable thanks to EPO foam
• Large cockpit with room for two pilots
• Everything included except the battery and transmitter/receiver