Re: [RCSE] Re: Launches are terrible

2002-04-29 Thread Tom Broeski

Every plane launches different.
EG  The Shadow has the tow hook 1/4" behind the CG
My Extreme has it right on the CG
My Stork has it 1/8" in front with 1/16" of down trim and 3/4" flap and 1/4"
camber.

Most of my pop offs were at the point where I started pulsing the winch.
The second I took my foot off the pedal the plane would fly off.  I had to
learn to stay on the pedal a bit longer and tap very quickly even if it
looked like I was in trouble.

It also sounds like it comes off during rotation sometimes.  Try keeping the
nose up and toss it up instead of forward after you build some tension.

I think most of your problem would be solved with a bit of down elevator.

If you don't have elevator trim in launch mode, then use your slider to put
it in.  You can always slide it back to neutral after zoom.


Tom
>
>  class TD ship (no names as it has nothing to do with that). It really is
an
> excellent flyer, when I can get it in the air.  However, in the many
months
> that I have had it, I've had about 75% of my launches end in pop-offs. I
am
> fast reaching a point of total disgust.  I must be doing something wrong
but
> have not a clue as to what.  The guys in the club are helping all they can
> but we're not making any progress.
>
> The spec calls for a 5-1/6" CG (from LE) with a conservative position
being
> 5-1/16".  I started out there and over time I ended up with the CG at
4-7/8"
> with the tow hook about 1/4" in front of that.  Getting tired of the
> pop-offs, I decided to start over again.  I moved the CG back to 5-1/6"
and
> the tow hook has been moved back as well.  The tow hook, being 1/4" to
3/8"
> in front of the CG is probably further ahead than it should be but I would
> expect that to flatten the launch.  If anything, the launching has gotten
> worse.
>
> I use a 'launch mode' but do not any elevator adjustment in that mode.  I
> have tried my launch mode with...
>
> -flaps only, more flaps, more flaps
> -flaps with a touch of aileron camber
> -flaps and ailerons cambered together, more, more
> -flaps with a little less aileron than flap.
>
> No matter what I do, the plane seems to launch with the nose too high and
> almost always pops off at some point (usually at a lower height but
sometime
> when it starts to arc over).  The only elevator I add during the launch,
if
> any, is a little down in some sort of vain effort to prevent the nearly
> inevitable pop off.
>
> I even get a popoff some of the time with a full pedal launch.
>
> HELP!
> Dave>
>
> RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News.  Send "subscribe"
and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>


RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News.  Send "subscribe" and 
"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]



[RCSE] Re: Launches are terrible

2002-04-29 Thread Lincoln Ross

One trick that helped me was to stomp on the switch and then throw as
hard as I could, horizontally, before too much tension built up. This
gets you some airspeed before you get lots of line tension trying to
pull the nose up. You might try throwing the model without a winch until
you can throw level and far. It's important here to start with your arm
extended back, although this can feel strange at first. Otherwise you
have much less distance available for your arm to accelerate the plane.
I don't know how many people I've seen just lightly toss the model in a
manner guaranteeing a stall and crash if the winch line wasn't pulling.
This technique does require careful timing and probably reduces height
just a bit, but it helped on an 85oz plane with 134" span and a deep
fuselage. Another suggestion is that if you have a deep fuselage (i.e.
Mantis) you may need to have the hook forward more than for a shallow
fuselage. 

If you don't have elevator compensation for the flaps, you won't be able
to use much, if any flap on launch. You might also want to carefully
check your towhook to be sure it is not mounted with a slant, and to be
sure it doesn't bend when you pull on it.

Dave Seay wrote:
> 
snip I've had about 75% of my launches end in pop-offs. snip
> HELP!
> Dave

-- 
Lincoln Ross
RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News.  Send "subscribe" and 
"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]



[RCSE] Re: Launches are terrible

2002-04-29 Thread AMA3655

Put the CG where you like it first. Move the towhook forward until the launch suits 
you. Some folks like the hook farther back to get quick rotation, but they have to 
apply down elevator to keep from popping off. With an aft CG (behind the neutral 
point) the towhook may wind up being well ahead of the CG if you like the launch hands 
off stable. No mystery, just keep moving the hook forward until you are happy.

have fun - Rob



RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News.  Send "subscribe" and 
"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]