Radio Control: Scale Aerobatics

RADIO CONTROL SCALE AEROBATICS iru 1 I-1J TIME met discussed Stall Turns some hints may helpful pilots having difficulties Several people wrote really enjoyed column hoped like Thats good since primary focus flying Stall Turn maneuvers wont usually impress locals done well Its obvious casual observer fair amount skill required really nice Stall Turn time Ill look some maneuvers have slightly bigger wow factor fact Ill look knife-edge flight flight regime usually separates men boys politically incorrect watch closely field might realize knife-edge maneuvers really show has touch does Plenty hotdog barnstormer pilots can jam sticks corners impress crowds various snapping maneuvers various degrees precision predictability Some same pilots hardpressed perform perfect four- eightpoint roll Because maneuvers have knife-edge elements require pilot has fair amount skill rudder stick Knife-edge flight four-point rolls could realistically considered starting points advanced maneuvers such eight-point 16point other hesitation rolls slow rolls knife-edge circles rolling circles Any pilot wants maximum enjoyment mastering aerobatic flight best spend some time maneuvers Unlike Stall Turn airplanes knife-edge poorly some wont primary factors will make break knife-edge performance center gravity CC rudder area Plenty rudder area almost necessity good knife-edge flight does necessarily mean great deal deflection better off large rudder using moderate throw small rudder swings 400 extreme throws will cause complications including excess drag extreme coupling problems shouldnt need 1520O rudder travel knife-edge flight CG situation simple have plenty rudder area airplane wont hold knife-edge need power farther-aft CC Later Ill look other design aspects could problematic Ill assume have adequate power since subject Scale Aerobatic models Scale aerobats will also have adequate rudder So having trouble holding knife-edge try moving CC rearward very carefully Dont go very far past rear limit plans unless have information pilot flying same airplane indicates such adjustments neededand safe good check have moreexperienced pilot available check out airplane he/she can fly knife-edge problems have learn fly dont have mess setup problems Once aircraft ready able thats left pilot master challenge point hobby right Lets get going Im assuming have average flying skills have spent some time working trim airplane flies true can make comfortable height fly airplane full throttle stabilize straight level path couple hundred feet out flightline As airplane passes center point directly front roll smoothly through 900 preferred direction Starting center correct way now will make life easier because wont have make mental transition head-on view tailing view Most pilots comfortable rolling airplane top fuselage facing knife-edge position prefer rolling left fly right side box roll left Later will work doing opposite direction dont get weak rolling nonpreferred direction roll rate should reasonably fast keeps airplane departing much line flying during quarter-roll Slow rolls difficult point rolls Too fast roll rate will make difficult stop exactly 900 rotation use moderately fast rate over-roll under-roll model few degrees keep rolling until model upright go back start again quarter-roll knife-edge second element maneuver following straight-and-level entry need master Never attempt break off maneuver pulling elevator may have enough altitude recover half-loop Ill assume comfortable stopping roll 900 need have rudder input keep fuselage required angle attack fly level first thing keep mind tattoo rudder hand rudder input first quarter quarter-roll upright will opposite aileron input used So example airplane coming right rolling left must use right rudder Put rudder wrong direction will head toward earth alarming rate Think maneuver through roll out first sign problem amount rudder needed will depend several factors including basic design model rudder area CC location airspeed Start out trying half rudder stick throw airplane climbs knife-edge lessen rudder input loses altitude increase rudder As said some touch involved best entry knife-edge start applying needed rudder nearly same time start quarter-roll will keep nose airplane falling during move wait input rudder until already knife-edge nose will probably have dropped bit youll need rudder initially bring back up slightly past level hold altitude Thats okay first attempts soon can start working adding opposite rudder right after initiate roll Having reached knife-edge held line rudder few moments quarter-roll back level flight right aileron smoothly release rudder relax breathe again Fun isnt attempt try perfect timing rudder input release make start finish smooth Also work toward starting maneuver before 112 Model Aviation er goal fly good four- six-second knife-edge centered yourself wont easy will worth Possible Design Snags have rolled knife-edge stabilized altitude rudder two things might show up complicate process pitch coupling roll coupling meaning airplane pitches and/or rolls rudder input Pitch coupling airplane pulls pushes top bottom aircraft knife-edge caused CG stab location verticallyor incorrect decalage have trimmed airplane vertical lines CG correct two solutions fly out manually inputting necessary elevator corrections use mix Roll coupling generally result improper dihedral Too much dihedral airplane will roll same direction rudder input too little rolls opposite direction three solutions reset dihedral hand-correct aileron input use mixer Some pilots feel cheating use mixers fix coupling problems airplane extremely bad mix wont really fix problem problem moderate can fix t redesigning and/or reconstructing can dial up mix radio fix Since manual adjustment could take tries great deal cutting-andgluing youll get flying practice using mixer dial out unwanted coupling Manually correcting flaws last choice takes unnecessary work part Once again scope has outweighed space Ill continue next time progressing point rolls Have fun fly safely A~ HOBBY STORES ASSOCIATION INC www hobbystoresorg LOOK FOR YOUR LOCAL NRHSA HOBBY SHOP ON SITE EXPERT ADVICE AND INFORMATION QUALITY MODELING PRODUCTS WERE THERE WHEN YOU NEED US WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GET THAT GLOW PLUG ON SATURDAY MORNING AMA FAX APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE LOCAL CLUB NEWS AND HAPPENINGS PART OF NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE HOBBY INDUSTRY HAVE YOU EVER RACED ON MAIL ORDER TRACK REMEMBER WHO GOT YOU STARTED IN RIC March1999 113 F AUTO-VAC SYSTEM Introducing new fully automatic vacuum bagging system completely self-monitoring has fully adjustable vacuum switch large capacity reservoir prevents frequent cycling vacuum pump Auto-Vat kit comes completely assembled mounted wood base ready use Included kit E-Z Vac II electric pump rated 24 Hg vacuum switch stable 5 22 Hg vacuum gauge large capacity reservoir check valve neaprene tubing E-Z Vac connector Iwo Quick-Lack seals 9 18 wide bogging tube 9 15 wide breather clot h set vacuum bagging instructions WA F1 1JaITaJu WaIl 0 Doolittle Dr San Leondro 94577 510352-2022 FAX 510352-2021 S U Robart Manufacturing Inc POBox 1247 DeptA StCharles IL 60174 Phone630-584-7616 E-mail mbart@robartcom Industry Leader Retractable Landing Gear Fixed Scale Control Horns HingePoint Hinges Modeling Tools web @ http//wwwrobartcom Equip your model Robart retractable landing gear take off whole new world flying excitement Retracts look cool but give plane new feel freedom perform its easy too Robart gear come complete detailed installation instructions Robart retracts youll experience greater performance overall better equipped enjoy fun RIC hobby has offer Whatever size model fly large small Robarts got right gear accessories plane So get flying fun model Ask dealer show Right Stuff Robart today 1996 Robat Mtg