RCU Forums - View Single Post - Advice needed for better take offs!!
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Old 04-22-2002 | 02:24 PM
  #18  
f2racer
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From: Bedford, MA
Default Overcontrol on the rudder...

BTW, I've noticed this on my taildraggers... When you get the plane started, it requires a lot of rudder to track straight, after the plane picks up some speed, your input on the rudder will need to decrease dramatically. At around takeoff speeds, you'll only need to nudge the rudder to keep the plane going straight. The control needed on the rudder decreases as the planes speed increases... I was at the field the other day and saw a novice with a taildragging duraplane... He literally zig-zagged across our grass strip before noseplanting the plane... He kept too much rudder after the plane started rolling and overcontrolled back and forth to compensate.