What I learned about dihedral and ailerons this weekend
12-14-2003, 02:41 PM
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What I learned about dihedral and ailerons this weekend
So, I went out and bought (on impulse) the Watt-Age "Live Wire" plane. Heck, I can fly this, I said to myself...thinking of all the good results I've had with my Mountain Models Dandy and my Graupner Mini Piper and a couple other planes....
But nooooo......
The plane was uncontrollable. It would try to climb and then just slip back to the ground. So, I fixed it, and crashed it, fixed it and crashed it.
Finally gave up. While in the local hobby shop one of the really sharp flyers there asked me..."how much dihedral does the plane have?" "Well, none", I said. "Ailerons?" he asked. "No I decided not to install ailerons because I didn't want to do the work and buy two more servos", I replied.
"That's the problem. No plane will ever fly if it has zero dihederal no ailerons. All it will do is skid and crash".
Ok, well I learned something then. Abandoned the Live Wire and got a lesson from a guru...hehe.
Here's a pic of the plane while it was still flyable after the 4th post-crash fix...(sigh)
But nooooo......
The plane was uncontrollable. It would try to climb and then just slip back to the ground. So, I fixed it, and crashed it, fixed it and crashed it.
Finally gave up. While in the local hobby shop one of the really sharp flyers there asked me..."how much dihedral does the plane have?" "Well, none", I said. "Ailerons?" he asked. "No I decided not to install ailerons because I didn't want to do the work and buy two more servos", I replied.
"That's the problem. No plane will ever fly if it has zero dihederal no ailerons. All it will do is skid and crash".
Ok, well I learned something then. Abandoned the Live Wire and got a lesson from a guru...hehe.
Here's a pic of the plane while it was still flyable after the 4th post-crash fix...(sigh)
12-15-2003, 10:12 AM
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RE: What I learned about dihedral and ailerons this weekend
Sorry for your frustration. It is true, a plane with no dehidral will only slide sideways without ailerons.
Get that Dandy back in the air and have some fun. That's the best way to overcome problems.
Get that Dandy back in the air and have some fun. That's the best way to overcome problems.
