RE: Improving stability
[:D][:D][:D]
Posted on: 5/21/2013 5:22 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11518027

RE: Summer Carb Adjustment.
I don't know about that, Gene. [X(] At about 40 degrees, my needles are set the way they were before it dropped down that low and stay that way, along with the plane, in the hanger, until the weather changes to the point where it's over 50 degrees.... [;)]
Posted on: 5/21/2013 4:55 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11518007

RE: Tip Stall
Serious? Did you ever go to an RC show where everythign is there? Watch closely at the RC Tank folks. Now that's serious.. almost scary!! [X(][:D]
Posted on: 5/21/2013 4:51 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11518006

RE: Flutter
[quote]ORIGINAL: koastrc We have got to say that Charlie P. is loaded with some good stuff. I see a lot of paying attention to the flight line on his part. Love your stuff Charlie. [/quote] Yes he does. He often presents his information with humor which is always welcome. Good stuff, Charlie. John, you're not to shabby either!!! [;)] CGr
Posted on: 5/18/2013 6:02 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11515054

RE: Tip Stall
Excellent insight, Steve. Thanks. CGr
Posted on: 5/18/2013 5:49 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11515048

RE: Flutter
Well then, I guess it was. CGr.
Posted on: 5/17/2013 4:26 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11514646

RE: a lesson to all
This is beginning to get a bit out of hand here. Let's stick to the subject of the thread. We all put our two cents in and told a few stories that relate. And we all make mistakes. Let it go at that. CGr Moderator.
Posted on: 5/17/2013 9:24 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11514284

RE: Deployed flaps plane stalled and crashed
I had a Goldberg Wild Stick 40 a few years back. I flew it so much I think I wore it out. Anyway, it had flaps. I would have fun with it by climbing high (as we say, three mistakes high - [;)] ) and deploying the flaps and pulling full up elevator at the same time. The plane would do a loop in just about it's own length. Fun to watch. I never used them while landing.. that plane never needed them. It would float in and land with almost no airspeed.. ok..ok.. it had some airspeed.. [:D] CGr.
Posted on: 5/17/2013 9:12 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11514272

RE: Flutter
Are you sure it was flutter? I had a Tiger 120, still have it as a matter of fact, anyway, it made a flutter noise. It scared the he!! out of me. I landed it and checked everything and put it back in the air. The noise came back. Fortunately, my mentor/instructor from back a few years - [;)] - was there. We looked everything over and found nothing wrong, except, a piece of trim monocoat did not stick to the wing covering just behind the leading edge on the top of the wing. It was tight but not stuck to the monocoat underneath it and the length of the loose piece was about a foot long and parallel to the leading edge. We put a piece of "scotch" tape on the length of where it was loose and put the plane back in the air. The noise was gone. CGr.
Posted on: 5/17/2013 9:06 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11514267

RE: a lesson to all
Yeah, you're right, Gene. I have five stiches on my right index finger caused by a situation that I should have been a tad more careful. In that instance, it was a new electric powered plane and my first opeation of the motor/throttle was with a prop mounted on the motor. Unfortunately, the TX was reversed for that plane. So, when I powered up the receiver/esc, I heard a beep. I thought that was just normal operation, but it was the beep you would get when going to full throttle on initial power up. So, when I pushed the throttle to full to arm it, it was already armed so when I pulled it back to idle, it went to full. I reached for both the throttle and the plane at the same time. Unfortunately, my finger got in the way of the prop.... thus 5 stiches. Explain that to the Emergency Room doc. So, you're right.. Sh#t happens. Although, in a pure world, we would catch all this stuff during pre-flight. But, in this real world, the best of us will miss something occasionally, and usually it isn't something as simple as a length of loose trim covering.. it will be something like a missed aileron servo setup, or - in the case of this thread, a housed antenna. CGr.
Posted on: 5/16/2013 9:10 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11513227

RE: a lesson to all
That's a pretty broad characterization of the issue. It happens. Period. I did it. What happened to me was somewhat different but it still happened. You see, I was flying all day with my 2.4GHz system and on what turned out to be my last flight of the day, I flew an electric converted Little Something Extra. It was on 72 MHz. I put the plane up and shortly after it was airborne, it headed directly away from me, at altutude, and went into the woods. I managed to cut the throttle when I noticed something was wrong but did not notice that my antenna was not extended until later when someone pointed it out to me. Crap, was all I could say. I managed to find it, and what surprised me was that I only had a broken prop. The plane somehow managed to find it's way to the ground, with the exception of the prop, without as much as a scratch. I trained under one of the strictest and most thorough instructors around. If any of you do Pattern, you might know the name Dave Lockhart. Dave's dad, Ron, was my instructor. And he was thorough, including a very thorough pre-flight, which, incidentally, is done on the plane. The radio was a simple four channel radio with no model memory so there was no selecting done on the radio. The plane range checked fine, which, you might recall, is done with the antenna DOWN, and all else looked just fine so I flew it. So, no one is more consciencious about preflight than I am.. with one possible exception. As I said, it happens. Of course, I was somewhat embarassed when,as I said, someone had to point out to me that my antenna was not extended. Live and learn. Unfortunately, for the person that is the subject of this thread, he didn't learn fast enough. So, don't condemn people for making mistakes, guys.
Posted on: 5/16/2013 3:14 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11512935

RE: Can I use Epoxy on A Foamie?
Yeah... they also make some pretty interesting light weight planes. I have two of the original "Bugs" that are pretty cool, but are very light and can be a handful in anything more than a slight wind... better indoors and are very well suited for indoor flying. CGr.
Posted on: 9/17/2012 9:34 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11231154

RE: Can I use Epoxy on A Foamie?
Epoxy is fine, but, depending on what you want to use it for, there are other alternatives. Uhu POR is great for Foam and "QUICK GRIP" EPP Foam Adhesive is great for EPP. Both are available at your favorite Arts and Crafts store or you can order it from here: http://www.lightflite.com/ CGr
Posted on: 9/16/2012 7:13 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11230525

RE: Are Pattern Planes Good 2nd Planes?
Ha.. yep, it certainly will. I seem to have a "favorite of the day", ya know? But, my two overall favorites are my Venus II pattern plane and my good old standby sport plane, my Skylark 70. Both fly like they are on rails. The Skylark, morso after my "instructor" and I spent some time with the trim, both mechanical and electrical. It is one fine flying plane. CGr.
Posted on: 9/15/2012 6:56 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11229195

RE: Tipo Flying Again
I usually get an Email when there is a post awaiting approval. I must have missed that one. Sorry. I approved it just now. Please, before you ask, don't get on my case about "approving Rusty's posts" because I have absolutely no control over who is and who is not on the approval list. CGr.
Posted on: 9/12/2012 6:06 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225983

RE: BEC 5amp enoguh for 6 servos
Hm.. adjustable BEC voltage. What is this world coming to? [:D]
Posted on: 9/12/2012 6:02 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225979

RE: Are Pattern Planes Good 2nd Planes?
That's hardly a beginners second plane, and not nearly a pattern plane. Let's keep this on topic. CGr.
Posted on: 9/11/2012 4:52 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225513

RE: Are Pattern Planes Good 2nd Planes?
acdii: This is really true. You really learn to do trim and linkage adjustments when flying pattern. It takes a lot more than just flying the thing and adjusting electrical trim with the trim sticks as most do during their maiden flights. With both my Venus II pattern plane and my Skylark 70 sport plane, after I did the initial trims, my instructor, Ron, sat down with me and we worked through all the other mechanical adjustments to really make them both fly as true as possible. This really made a difference in the way the plane flys, for both disciplined pattern and relaxing sport flying. Gray Beard will probably agree with this. Once you get into the habit of making these adjustments - tweaks, the little stuff that takes some attention to detail, once done, it's done. And we tend to do it as a matter of routine now. Gene - yeah, I fly mostly sport now. Even though I sort of got into the pattern, I could never get into the type of discipline that it really needed. Flying the same thing over and over again just was not my cup of tea. It did improve my skill level, and improved it a lot, and this makes my sport flying that much more fun. The landings are precise, straight, and smooth - picture perfect.... that is until I forget wind direction and land it with the wind.. then it ain't so pretty until someone whispers in my ear that I am downwind rather than upwind - yeah, it happens - and I turned it around and, well, you get the idea.. [:D] CGr
Posted on: 9/11/2012 8:58 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11225046

RE: Are Pattern Planes Good 2nd Planes?
That's not exactly true, regarding pattern planes. Although they are "slippery", they are not necessarily fast, although, like anything else, they can be fast. Pattern is flown with "maximum" control. Each flight that I do gets trimmed up for straight and level flight at about half throttle. Then the maneuvers go from there. Going vertical, for instance, requires pushing the throttle to full followed by a pull to vertical, followed by whatever throttle management setting is required for the maneuver. A stall turn, or hammerhead, the pilot will pull to vertical, then at the right moment, reduces throttle to min and pushes over for the proper maneuver. On the way down, straight down, the throttle is usually kept at minimum until the return to straight and level where the throttle is moved back to about half. The throttle is not an on-off switch. If it is used as such, even pattern planes will fly fast as will a trainer. CGr.
Posted on: 9/11/2012 5:59 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11224859

RE: Making a Good Landing
The Rays beat Texas last night in 11 innings. [:D] The Yanks beat the O's, I'm sorry to say. [:o]
Posted on: 9/8/2012 7:26 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11221693

RE: Are Pattern Planes Good 2nd Planes?
My second plane was a Goldberg Tiger 60. My instructor and his son were, still are, very much involved in Pattern. His son Dave, in fact, is right up there with the top 10 pattern pilots in thi country. Both told me the same thing. The Tiger or any aircraft like it, properly set up, will do any - ANY of the pattern maneuvers for the Sportsman and Intermediate category. I currently fly a Skylark 70 with an OS .75 AX. This plane is very graceful, and flys like it's on rails, yet is very forgiving. Again, once this was set up properly, this plane can and will do any of the maneuvers, and, like the Tiger 60, is an excellent second plane. It's pretty large so it's visible. I like the lines of this plane, and it looks great in the air. I started pattern about, oh,m six months after I solo'ed, nothing serious, but just learning the discipline necessary to fly pattern properly. The beginning routines are not complex, but challenging for a beginner to learn and to learn to do properly. I believe it makes a better pilot. I would consider both the Skylark and Tiger as really great choices for second planes, especially if the pilot wants to learn to fly pattern. CGr.
Posted on: 9/8/2012 4:53 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11221581

RE: Tail wheel steering fixture
This is also true. We do fly off of grass, and I never considered any other type of runway because that's all we have here, and I have no idea how close a paved runway (that we can use) is from here. Sooo... I stand corrected, as far as that goes. CGr.
Posted on: 9/5/2012 5:30 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11218102

RE: Tail wheel steering fixture
[quote]ORIGINAL: Bozarth Please - as a beginner, hook up your tail wheel. You will enjoy having the positive control while learning to steer. Kurt [/quote] I was a beginner when I disconnected the positive control with the tail wheel, and had better results than leaving it connected. And, I enjoyed it. CGr.
Posted on: 9/4/2012 4:54 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11217589

RE: Tail wheel steering fixture
I usually leave the tail wheel free float, meaning, I do all the steering with the rudder with no control on the tail wheel. It simplifies things and works just fine without any strain on the rudder servo whatsoever. Think about it. Once the tail wheel is off the ground, which normally happens pretty quickly, your steering is done with the rudder. If you think about it, with the attached method, the steering is done with the rudder control that moves the wheel. The way I do it, I can steer all over the field with the tail wheel just used to support the rear of the fuselage with the prop thrust working with the rudder to steer the plane. Simple, but it works. CGr.
Posted on: 9/3/2012 6:12 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11216261

RE: Setting up control thows
Yup. John, I keep using my radios as an example and forget that it is possible to have negative expo. Excellent point. Some radios have a little sketch - plot - screen, whatever you wish to call, it shows the exponential applied. CGr
Posted on: 9/2/2012 9:17 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11215204

RE: can 800mah lipo be used with twisted hobbys crack yak
Ok, Boz, you checked it. Good. If you are confident, then fly the thing. It obviously is not an issue for you and your aircraft. My only point is that with very light aircraft, one that weighs in at 15 ounces for instance, an ounce either way can make a difference in the way it flys..or does not fly. If you checked it and it's ok, then go for it. Electric powered planes are very sensitive to changes in weight. The lighter the plane, the more serious the issue becomes and must be compensated for. CGr.
Posted on: 9/2/2012 5:45 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11214222

RE: Setting up control thows
kofi1013 That's pretty much the way I treat control surface throw settings. I eye-ball them, using the transmitter for max - down (stick movement) or max left - right movement, then see what I have. If it "looks" like to much, I adjust the linkage for a little less.. if it "looks" like to little, well, you get the picture. The approach I take is to make sure that there is enough movement in the control surface at the max throw of the servo without adjusting end-points and without binds, or trying to push the control surface further than it can go by to much servo movement. This will quickly drain a battery, and may cause other problems. Anyway, that way, you get the best resolution. I then set my expo according to "feel". Not quite as much as Stang gives it, I set mine at 25 - 30% and see how the aircraft performs. Remember one thing. When trimmed up correctly, with a constant throttle setting, you should be able to set the aircraft for a straight and level flight with trim, while flying left to right or right to left, and take your fingers off of the sticks. Watch it to see if it dives, climbs, tends to roll left or right, and trim it out. Speed affects the climb rate. If it does, make the slight adjustments to the trim and go around and check it again. Keep the throttle constant. No, that does not mean keep it there througout your flight, just keep it constant for the trim adjustment. This is mainly to remove the left or right roll tendency and, again, is done with trim. Once done, you should be able to fly a straight and level with "hands off". Note that at times, the plane will "jump" up or down. This is normal, as it will most likely return to the trim setting and continue on straigh and level. Again.. "hands off" the sticks. I point this out because many pilots will tend to make corrections to every movement that the aircraft is making on it's own (usually caused by wind, however slight). You don't need to make the real small adjustments during flight because you will most likely over correct and then roll left or right unnecessarily. My instructor pointed this out to me early on, noting that I was trying to make corrections to everything the aircraft was doing, which, as I found out, was not necessary. Bigger, heavier aircraft will more likely not "feel" the same and not be as susceptible to these minor movements as smaller, lighter ones will. CGr.
Posted on: 9/2/2012 5:42 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11214267

RE: can 800mah lipo be used with twisted hobbys crack yak
Added capacity usually means added weight. Even a couple of ounces in that type of aircraft could be the difference between flying and not flying. Check the weight to see if it will handle the added weight. It may not matter, but it is worth taking the time to check. CGr.
Posted on: 9/1/2012 7:16 AM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11213456

RE: can 800mah lipo be used with twisted hobbys crack yak
That's twice the capacity of the battery that comes with the aircraft. Check the differences in weight then. Check the total weight of the airframe (ready to fly weight) against the recommended numbers provided in this post number 12 in this thread http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10386274/tm.htm to see if the weight differences will cause problems. If not, make sure the Center of Gravity is ok and, if so, fly it. CGr.
Posted on: 8/31/2012 5:25 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11213025

RE: can 800mah lipo be used with twisted hobbys crack yak
A what? Sounds like a skate-board maneuver... Sorry, I could not resist. CGr.
Posted on: 8/31/2012 5:18 PM by Author "CGRetired" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11213016