Buggygovroom

Im not really sure if this is called ballooning but i'll try my best to describe what is going on.

I just finished a CAP 232G by hangar 9 and maidened it today. Whenever I come in for a landing and get to a good speed the plane noses up and climbs slightly and then wants to stall. The pattern is like a U shape. It seems to fly ok in the air but I am not sure why the problems on landing. I never experienced this before.

I balanced it at the recommended 7" back on an empty tank and still had to add a little bit of nose weight. Id like to straighten out the problem since this condition has lead to 2 hard landings and im sure a wreck in the future if it continues.

Thanks
B

KenLambert

My Feedback: (107)

check for down thrust on the engine.

mtwister

That's also my suggestion. Too much down thrust will cause a ballooning, or nose up attitude when you let off the throttle. It'll really throw you off because you have the plane settled into a nice sink rate on final, then when you're just over the threshold and you cut the throttle to idle all of a sudden the plane noses up and now you end up fighting it to get it down.

mmattockx

The 232 is known for this, because of the high thrust line. They like to land with a bit of power on to prevent the ballooning when you chop the throttle. Too much down thrust will only make the problem worse.


Mark

3DDino

Ill move cg to 6" & slowly adjust from there
then check for down thrust
thx

ifshnee-RCU

My Feedback: (1)

Buggy:
Dial in a throttle to elevator mix so when you go to idle on final approach you won't balloon.
ifshnee

BaldEagel

What ifshnee said plus you could dial in a bit of aileron up at closed throttle which will kill the lift, not too much otherwise you will put the thing into the deck.

Mike

rmh

hold on-- If the model is balanced per the kit -leave the thrust line as is .
Caps have a very high thrust line to wing c/ relationship
When you CHOP power at low speed -the model will nose up -enough to cause ballooning.
The best technique is to learn the scale approach

establish the right line to the field - at low power and gradually reduce power till model settles
leave the elevator alone!
As the model approaches the field -do low speed fly bys -till you get a visual of the model flying at a slightly nose up attitude
this is the proper approach.
then once you get this hooked up in your head - practice simply lowering power as it nears the ground -
you can not chop power and dive at the field - or come in "hot"
you can fifddle with thrust line till the cows come home but that is not the problem- it is getting the correct sink approach.
Wheel landings ar fine on the CAPS.
as you get more familiar - you can increase attitude

best CG on that model is 25%- to 30% from MAC
pics are of my 33% and my 27% -done a few of these-----all land the same -

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks for the explanation Dick. Too many forget that throttle controls altitude and elevator controls airspeed. Your note explained the Cap and it's habits very well. A whole lot of Caps have been destroyed over the years by those that didn't understand that. Most during the landing phase.

KenLambert

My Feedback: (107)

I have had a few also if you really want one to land right ad tail weight increase the throws mix spoilerons and you can land on the rudder every time.

Buggygovroom

Thanks for all the info. Has anyone actually had this model? If so did anyone relocate the gas tank or leave it up past the wing spar?

I see that being a problem since when it is full it will make me pretty nose heavy and need to be almost completely empty to have my cg right on. Moving it back tward the center of gravity will make it difficult to install the main wing bolts.

captinjohn

oh no[sm=72_72.gif]

Buggygovroom

oh no what?

rmh

fiddlin with the cg -is a waste of time -balance it empty -fill er up n go fly Yes I have flown em - same as mine
the problem is technique .
it is not hard to learn
it is NOT the airplane.
I hear chatter about having a hard time learning to hover n torque roll - but none about learning to actually do landings
this has all gotten out of control--

KenLambert

My Feedback: (107)

actually when I do a regular landing I just ad a couple clicks of down trim when I do my aproche and it works for me.

KenLambert

My Feedback: (107)

the advantage to moving the tank is so the cg doesn't change and it does make a difference but there are a lot out there that don't seem to ever get the hang of the cap and move on to something that makes them look like better flyers.

Buggygovroom

I really like the cap and would rather get used to it rather than move on to a different plane. I dont really have the option to move the tank back much either. I'll just have to go with it.

Buggygovroom

and myself and a friend are usually the only ones flying in a big empty lot anyway. Im not looking to impress anyone but myself with my flying skills

KenLambert

My Feedback: (107)

try the couple of clicks of down trim on your final it may help with the nose high deal

3DDino

i used a 360ml tank and located at 2" behind cg(6")
when full tank i have a till heavy cap to do 3d stuff
10 minutes later(tank empty) while landing my cg is at 6"
been flying like that for 18months already== no problems
ts52 at the nose
thx

Tailwheel Pilot

My Feedback: (2)

Ken,
What do you mean by Land on the rudder?You mean to touch down tailwheel first?I think that's what you mean.Thanks

Buggygovroom

Still have this model and its still flying. This post was 2 years ago? wow.

ggroyal1

Mine is still going after almost three years

jaka

Hi!
If the plane is ballooning when landing it is probably tail heavy! That is the way all tail heavy airplane do it
My Cap 231 doesn't balloon when landing!