RCU Forums - View Single Post - basic aerodynamics
View Single Post
Old 03-02-2004 | 09:40 AM
  #43  
rmh's Avatar
rmh
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 12,630
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
From: , UT
Default RE: RE: basic aerodynamics

YES- my comment was intended to arouse some thought about what typically is wrong with models which don't fly as expected.
I test a lot of models -for others as well as my own junk.
The top of the list for problems is
1 - too heavy
2- poor control set ups
The models which are too heavy won't become good flyers -no matter what you do to the CG/controls-add flaps (no help anyway)- whatever.
The only fix is to increase speed - Then they really become an unguided missile .
The very light models can be soooo screwed up in controls/CG power etc., you could cry.
But the light wing loading saves em
If the cg is too far aft - -you just slow down and the control responses soften.
If it is way too far forward - -just hold a a fair bit of UP and if it is toooo far forward - it never takes off - so that problem is resolved----
CG is down on the list of critical factors for most aerobat models of decent wing loading.- typically a good working envelope is 25-35 percent of MAC.
The flyer can and does adjust control response to get the stability and/or agility desired.
In working with full scale stuff that is measured in square yards -or furlongs --the power to weight is a whole different ballgame
full scale stuff such as flown by the latest unlimited airshow guys -is more like a TOC model than like an Aeronca Champ.
The ol co ordinated turn simply is not part of the ballgame.