ORIGINAL: Jack Diaz
Hi Roger:
A couple of general thoughts:
- Good and consistent landings are the result of a properly balanced model and a correct landing technique. The use of exponential doesn't fix a any of this. If any, it will make things worse.
- Tail heavy models do not want to land. They want to stay in the air until they drop.
It is hard to advise on your situation without seen the approach, so I may be just wasting your time. But in general, I will say that you may be approaching low, without a good and constant rate of descent, and not maintaining the nose above level all the time. If you are trying, but the model doesn't want to get on a good rate of descent (nose high), then you are tail heavy.
I would suggest: use as little expo as possible (say 10%), and move the CG fwd.
Again: general comments. Don't know your particular set up.
Jack
Thanks for this Jack. Your advice is always worth heeding.. My full size instructor (Cesna 152) told me that a good landing is always the result of a good approach.
I attempt to set up my final approach to landing with the model configured correctly. i.e. full flap, a slightly nose down attitude, a little power on, a constant rate of decent and speed. Ideally, crossing the thresh hold at 3-4 ‘ altitude. Then reduce power to idle and begin to flair by applying elevator, holding the model off a foot or so above the runway until it settles onto the main wheels..
Of course this is not what always happens in my approaches, but is what I am attempting.
It is in the flair that I am becoming unstuck. I think I am over controlling elevator in the flair and the model balloons up to 6’ of so.. Nasty.. The photo below actually captures the moment exactly, right before the balloon.
I am definitely going to reduce the elevator expo,
Roger.