Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!!  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Crash & Rebuild >> Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!!
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Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/19/2002 4:29:07 AM   
thejetman



Posts: 20
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Status: offline 		I have built a Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit. So far four take off's and four roll over crashes. On take off it rolls to the right or left hard and cartwheels. It is kind of a tip stall. I can't recover from it. It all happens about five feet off the ground. The stab is set to 0 degrees relative to the thrust line of the plane. Wing is set to 1 degree leading edge up all the way across the wing. I have set the eng thrust to -2 degrees and then again at +1/2. It has the 2 degree right thrust. I am using a MDS 48 with a 11-5 APC prop. The last crash took off the tail. If I can't find any answers I am going to trash the plane and move on. I have rebuilt it two times so far. Please let me know if you might have some help on the planes flying habits.
Thanks.
Keven
       Post #: 1

decathalon - 6/19/2002 6:09:31 AM   
caf2461


 

Posts: 214
Joined: 12/25/2001
From: Huntingdon, PA, USA
Status: offline 		I will take a stab at this:
make sure you have enough air speed
balance the plane per plans
balance the plane laterally
set the aelerons to travel twice as much up as down this helps with stall and control

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 2

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/19/2002 7:58:11 AM   
crosswind



Posts: 181
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: offline 		I agree with all caf2461 said. Since you said it has rolled to each side I tend to think you may be yanking it off the ground too soon and perhaps at too steep an angle. It really sounds like the plane is stalling and dropping a wing. Also if the plane is tail heavy it could be very sensitive to elevator. You could be giving it too much up causing the wing to enter too great an angle of attack. This can stall a wing even at a normal flying speed. Check the balance (if you haven't already) and let the plane pick up more speed before you lift off. Ease it off gently without trying to climb out too fast. If it goes up okay, get some altitude and play with it some doing a few stalls at a safe height so you'll have a better idea of what to expect. In a nutshell, my bet is your plane is simply stalling. Hope this can help a fellow Okie!

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 3

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/19/2002 8:03:34 AM   
KingAirJockey


 

Posts: 510
Joined: 12/14/2001
From: NY
Status: offline 		I had one of these and it beat me up the first few times I tried to fly it.You've got to let it built up speed.Even though it has a large wing,the airplane is heavy and has alot of frontal area to over come to get flying.I flew mine with an os 46 fx for 3 seasons before selling it.It is not a floater by any means.

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 4

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/19/2002 5:19:22 PM   
wagas



Posts: 747
Joined: 1/4/2002
From: perry, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I've had one too, I liked mine buy I had to fly it like a rocket to keep it from Tip Stalling. Some advice from other owners in the past have been to either build wash out into the wing or I think you can crank up your ailerons to create washout also. Not quite sure I'm not an expert. I did enjoy mine and never had a problem with it. I had a TT 46 pro with 11 x 5 prop. I do agree with the above post, don't yank this airplane off the ground or try to bring it in slow. Keep the speed up......

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 5

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/20/2002 7:56:31 PM   
c1flyer



Posts: 24
Joined: 5/17/2002
From: Palm Bay, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I have built and flown this one as well. I believe there is a recommendation by Great Planes to build it with washout to reduce the tip stalling tendency of the plane. I have always liked mine once I got used to it. It is a handfull to take off and land in windy/crosswind situations. I agree with all of the statements made from set up to flying speed, as I had to incorporate all of these to be successful with this plane, given my skill level. You have to admit, once in the air it really flies and looks good!

Just my two pennies.

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 6

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/20/2002 9:15:18 PM   
MinnFlyer



Posts: 19989
Joined: 4/22/2002
From: Willmar, MN, USA
Status: online 		My brother had on and demolished it on the first flight. The plane, as set up per the plans seems to be a little tail heavy. Try shifting the weight up front a little more.

_____________________________

Mike B.
AMA# 42400 www.gettingairborne.com

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others." - Groucho Marx

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 7

unstable??? - 6/22/2002 1:27:16 AM   
GeeBeeMan21


 

Posts: 87
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		I test flew one of these once. It was kinda unstable. The problem i noticed was once the plane started to stall the ailerons would become unaffective. Then once they have good air going over them again it would over correct it. If the plane starts to tip stall. Couple in alittle rudder with it and it will fly right out. DO NOT GET TOO MUCH RUDDER IN IT, or it will snap the opposite way it is stalling. I also have a midwest version. Its as gentle as can be. I would recomend that plane to anyone who likes decathlons or citabrias! They are wonderful airplanes! I wish you all luck and remember on takeoffs and landings better too fast, than too slow.

GeeBeeMan21

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(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 8

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/22/2002 7:36:22 AM   
bipelover



Posts: 132
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Bulls Gap, TN, USA
Status: offline 		I don't think I can say anything positive for the Decathalon. I've got a friend that built the same kit and am sad to say that although the plane looked sharp on the ground that was all it was good for. It had a tendency to just quit flying on it's own. I've seen it fall from the sky at half throttle, quarter throttle, and only ever got to see it make a landing once. It had to be brought in HOT just to make it then. I've got and seen warbirds that didn't have to be brought in that hot on a landing. He finally decided to make a weathervane out of it. My advice is finish it and unload it A.S.A.P. Good Luck on whatever you decide.

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 9

Going to repair the plane!!! - 6/22/2002 8:00:35 PM   
thejetman



Posts: 20
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Status: offline 		Hi all and thanks for all the input to my problem. I have decided to go ahead and repair the plane and try it again. I put all the parameters into the realflight program for the Decathalon. Moved the CG around and amazingly it did exactly what the real plane did with the CG moved back too far. I agree with the CG being incorrect on the plans. I contacted Great Planes about the problem and below is their responce...
Hello

Thank you for your recent e-mail.

Unfortunately, we are not aware of any poor handling characteristics with
this plane. If you could relay any more information on the building of the plane, we could try to analyze any possible problems.

I hope you find this information helpful. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at this email address. (Please be sure to copy all previous emails into any future questions.) You can also reach our product support technical team at 217-398-8970, or via fax at 217-398-7721.

DID YOU KNOW that our web pages now all contain FAQs? (Frequently asked questions) Please drop by and take a look! We hope you'll find the information helpful and valuable to you.

Sincerely,
Tom
Product Support

Thanks again. I will post how the plane does on the next flight.
Keven

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 10

I flew the Decathalon again. - 6/24/2002 4:42:31 AM   
thejetman



Posts: 20
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Status: offline 		By making the CG about 1 inch further forward than the plans called for. The plane took of nice, I turned and started to gain alttitude, the engine died and I turned the nose into the wind and the plane winged over and started to spiral down I could not pull it out and it went in hard nose first. The plane is not worth fixing(for the fourth time). At least the Decathalon did not kick my butt. I did manage to fly it for a few seconds till the engine stopped.
I really do not think that I will ever build or fly another Decathalon. There are too many planes out there that fly great and are easier to build.
Thanks again for all your ideas on the plane.
Keven

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 11

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/24/2002 10:56:51 AM   
bgi



Posts: 907
Joined: 2/19/2002
From: Duluth, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I want to thank all of you who have contributed to this thread for preventing me from experiencing the heartache and behumblement (that's a new word) that Keven has experienced. I was considering building a decathalon model, perhaps a GP. Now I'll be shopping elsewhere!

Geez, what a crappy plane this thing must be with all the negative SPECIFIC comments!

Maybe the Dynaflight kit is better (so I've heard).

< Message edited by bgi -- Jun 24 2002 6:09AM >

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 12

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/24/2002 10:22:55 PM   
tmproff



Posts: 976
Joined: 4/8/2002
From: Humble, TX, USA
Status: offline 		You can't blame the plane for a deadstick........ I have the GP Decathalon, and it is a nice plane if you know how to fly it.

_____________________________

Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes....

(in reply to thejetman)
       Post #: 13

Great Planes Super Decathlon 40 Kit HELP!!! - 6/24/2002 11:14:33 PM   
Sundowners


 

Posts: 7
Joined: 2/11/2002
From: Penn Hills, PA,
Status: offline 		I got one of these ready for it's first test flight. It was actually ready last year but because of the horror stories I never tried to fly it. Should I move the CG 1" forward and try to fly it or let it sit pretty in one piece? Any other recommendations to do before the first flight? FYI, I have a Saito 65 in the nose.

Thanks,
Brian

(in reply to thejetman)