Originally Posted by
AMA 74894
Hey Carl
typically a tail heavy airplane is NOT going to fly long at all. symptoms include very sensitive ailerons, VERY sensitive elevators and generally poor / twitchy flying characteristics.
(symptoms are very similar if the CG is good, but the airplane has too much elevator and aileron throw.)
is it THIS ripmax ? (ARTF WOT)
http://www2.ripmax.net/Item.aspx?Ite...ry=010-010-020
the manual for that airplane specifies a CG 89 MM aft of the wing leading edge (with an EMPTY fuel tank)
Do yourself a favor, get a permanent marker and a ruler, mark a line 89 MM back on the lower side of the wing (one on each panel)
rule that part out first...
that is, ASSUMING
that's the right ripmax trainer.. if not, post a link or description (or look in the manual if you have one
)
great job getting 'er up and back again!
The penny has dropped as soon as I read your post. My control throws were never set as I forgot in the rush to go and pick my friend up. The trainer is a ripmax 40 trainer and is an old model, not the wot4 as you suggested.
my elevator should be around 12mm and its probably 25 at present. Same with ailerons but should be 6mm and are probably around 12. Ill address this right away and thanks for helping me see the error of my ways.
again to all the self teachers out there it's things like this that you miss by not being at a club and having help on preflight checks so make sure you check everything. If I'd of done that on my very first flight I'd of been sure to crash.
what I thought was easing back on elevator was probably full elevator normally. No wonder it looked like it was on the verge of stall as it was climbing out.
so again if you're self teaching make sure you learn from my mistakes. Sometimes I'd be lost without e help of the guys on here.
ps AMA - I don't want you under the impression I rebuild my trainer. Lol, I'm not a magician and with all the glue in the world I'd of never got my last plane back in the air. I bought a new one and just put all the bits on it.
Thanks again for the pointer. Schoolboy error on my part.