aghost

My Feedback: (13)

Skillett92: I maidened mine with the CG at 124mm (4.88") (as compared to 130mm (5.12")in my manual). I've got seven flights on it now and have no reason to change the CG.

I actually did some research on CG calculations. Did a set for this corsair and came within a few mm of the numbers in my manual.

Brian

lynn1130

My Feedback: (10)

See post 842 and those that follow. This caused some discussion about balance point.

I can tell you that at right around 4 the plane gives a nice scale takeoff roll, (does not jump into the air) handles well in the air and gives a nice smooth landing with full flaps. Everyone seems to have an opinion about where this should be balanced but the pilot who did the maiden on mine, and who has 40+ years in warbird flying refused to fly it when it was at 130. Three others who have about the same flying experience in warbirds also strongly suggested not flying it at that balance point. I still believe that they made a (Chinese) typo in the first printing of the book when they put the CG at 130 since the most recent printing has 103.

Tisoy909

My Feedback: (21)

Hey just curious, silly question maybe, but were there any changes to the airframe/wing design, between the two manuals? I have one from the first batch of these ESM Corsairs when they were imported by kmp few years back. I maidened mine at the 130mm called for in the manual but have only put on one flight so far as I had to wait for some decent retracts. I didnt like the esm gear for this model. I have a set of Sierra gear now so ready to re-maiden. What is the difference between the 130 and 103, that is What can I expect if ill move the c.g. forward to 103? What I recall from my 1st flight was that she seemed to be rather tail waggy in slow flight, but don't recall any instability issues. I dunno if that attests to being tail heavy or not but the landing was decent. I'm concerned not to be too nose heavy either since im at just about 18.5 lbs on the model. sorta heavy I believe with the brison 2.4 . I think if i were to move c.g. forward more the landings might have to be more hot. How are you guys measuring c.g. by the way? im using a vanessa rig. are you guys just fingering it inverted?

aghost

My Feedback: (13)

I was concerned about the CG before I maidened mine. I read the posts and finally did my own set of calculations. The calculated CG came out as 5.28". The drawing shows dimensions of the wing on my plane and some of the numbers that go in the spreadsheet. Got the corsair in March, 2010, so its a fairly new one. I use the WERK77 SG0500 Balancer. It does a good job.

Brian

PS I was using a Vanessa, but I like this Balancer much better.

skillet92

Well guys after checking, putting it at 3 3/4 or 4 would require 35ozs of weight in the cowl somewhere. I have decided to try it at 4 7/8ths. That is below what the manual calls for and it still requires about 14ozs to get it there! I am shocked to say the least. I bought the G-38 to help with that. I will be above 18 punds maybe close to 19. I sure hope she flys good!

Johnny_Zero

My Feedback: (44)

I hope that that CG is ok. I've always leaned towards the idea of getting the CG right and if you have to add more weight that what you have too do. I would rather have more weight than I really wanted to add, but would rather have a good flying plane. Nothing is worse than that really tail heavy bird on the maiden flight. I have seen too many planes lost on the first flight (even with a very experienced warbird pilot) to want to experiment with CG on the first flight. This has happened too me also. Better safe than sorry. It is much easier to fly a heavy plane than one that is too tail heavy. Just my 2 pennies.

lynn1130

My Feedback: (10)

I will make this suggestion and take it for what it is worth (since mine is still flying and flying well). Start somewhere between 3.5 and 4. Really just under 4 is going to be fine. Then adjust as you like. It will fly again if it is nose heavy. You may never get a chance to re-adjust if it is tail heavy.

If it "jumps" into the air on takeoff roll-it is tail heavy.
If it becomes elevator sensitive at slower speeds it is tail heavy.
If it gets to be a handful when the flaps come down and the elevator seems to get sensitive it is probably tail heavy.

The problem here is that if you have these symptoms you may not get the plane back in one piece to change things.

I have the OS 200 and it took three lbs of weight to get it to balance and that is with the battery mounted up front.

skillet92

That is how I have balanced my other warbirds. Nose heavy. I can land nose heavy, tail heavy is a maybe! Well at the moment I have 19ozs mounted right to the firewall and am just a hair over 4 1/2inchs. Being that I am still waiting on the right side middle flap replacement I think I will try and find a way to add more nose weight! I received 2 left side flaps back in March when I got this plane and have been waiting for a replacement ever since. I did run my G-38 and on a Berkley fish scale I am getting 15 lbs of thrust. I have a 18x8 prop! With this plane pushing 19 lbs already I hope that is enough!

Also I am using a Great Planes balancer that is stretching out when I put the plane on it and sliding down the gull wing. Could that effect the CG measurement that I am getting??

lynn1130

My Feedback: (10)

Yes it could if it is not staying in one place. I should run mine on my fish scale and see what I get. Maybe next time out.

I think I am at 18lbs and a 16X8 prop.

skillet92

And JZ as of right now I do not know what to think! There are guys on here flying wit a CG of 4 inchs and guys flying over 5. And both saying that they fly nice. I am at 4 1/2 at the moment and might try to add more to the nose if i can find a way to do it. I love this plane just wish there was a better manual than what they give us!!

lynn1130

My Feedback: (10)

I would be interested in knowing what the plane does with the CG at 5. Are there any of the symptoms that I mentioned above? I saw a video of one plane on here and about 10 feet after it began its takeoff roll it jumped into the air. A good sign that it is tail heavy. I suspect that it will fly at 5 inches but is it a scale flight and I would always be afraid that it would end badly.

I also would be interested in why the same plane has CGs listed in one manual at 130 and another at 103. The exact same plane with the exact same stats. Could it be that they messed up with the first run of manuals? That is my guess. I am going with the experts who looked at this plane and tested it with the CG at 5 and said there was no way that they would fly it that way.

OK, I am beating a dead horse so go with your gut.

skillet92

Lynn I am just as lost! I have 10 other flying models at the moment and not a single one has as much play in the CG as this one seems to have. I hope to have the flap replacement soon to be able to report back and tell you guys how mine performed!! I do know that my H-9 corsair balanced at 5inchs but different plane different model!! When I get the the flap I will report back and tell you guys where and how mine flew at what CG!!!!!

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

regardless of feel , thoughts , opinions ect ect , you cant go wrong if you use 25% of mac to test the CG

skillet92

And LDM if I remember correctly you can up with 4 inchs for 25%?

skillet92

aghost I may have seen it and just can't find it again. What was your all up weight. Mine came in at 18lbs 11ozs. The engine runs like a top and I have mine balanced at 4 1/2 nose down. I went a looked at you videos and the plane looks fine on take off and the fly by. When you pulled the nose up how would she go as far as loops and climbing some. I believe that I am worrying to much about the weight and just need to fly her!

aghost

My Feedback: (13)

Mine weighs 18#, dry. I checked the static thrust this morning at the field. Its only about 10#, lower than I thought it would be. However, the plane will do a nice loop and climbs out just fine.

I have an 18 x 6-10 Zinger prop on it. I think I'll try a 17 x10 for more speed.

Got in three more uneventful flights today.

I think your plane will do just fine Weight, CG, HP all look good to me. Double check your retracts and air system. Land it like a warbird flaps, nose down approach with a flare low over the runway.

Hope you get flap part in soon. Sitting there waiting cannot be fun.

Brian

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

skill I am not at home , will check for you when I get home (cg at mac )

skillet92

Hey guys some advice again. I made a Flap for the corsair so that I could fly her. I still want the replacement one because it will match but this looks good. When you guys take off and land how much flap do you normally use?

Johnny_Zero

My Feedback: (44)

Please post photos of your flap!!! And how the install went.

lynn1130

My Feedback: (10)

40 mm. That is what the book called for. I left it at that.

aghost

My Feedback: (13)

None of take-off, full (40 mm) on landing. I also tested half flaps (20mm) on landing in 15 mph headwind. That worked just fine.

Brian

lynn1130

My Feedback: (10)

Sorry, I missed the "take-off". None on take-off

spaul813

My Feedback: (44)

I'm just finishing mine up. Flaps need some work, but other than that basically done. Will need balanced. Have $1600 in it, looking to get some money back out of it. Anyone interested, shoot me a note. Beautiful plane.

ESM/KMP ARF - $330
New Saito 1.80 - $460
Sierra Giant Scale Retracts - $295
Upgraded Scale wheels and tires - $100
Air kit - $80
Servos - $200
Fuel dot, switch, extensions - $60
Cockpit Kit - $56
90 Exhaust adapter (to keep muffler inside cowl) - $20


Shane
[email protected]

Tisoy909

My Feedback: (21)

Well I finally got her back up on the Vanessa after a long landing gear issue hiatus, and also got the chance to put a fish scale in the mix. To my Surpise, found it to be a tad under 17lbs. with the Brison 2.4 swinging 19x8 in there. C.G. wasnt thrown off either after switching out the stock ESM gear and wheels to the Sierra Giants with Robart wheels. I'm still running it at the original 130 mm or 5" & 1/8th. and she flew fine so i think i will be leaving it there or i'll be stuck doing surgery removing lead impregnated epoxy in the tailcone lol. Also worked up a new set of retract doors to accomodate and work with the Sierra Gears. Its time for the Corsair to fly again.
Louie

LDM

My Feedback: (15)

Ti , did you give up on the ESM retracts and that is why you went to the sierra ?