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Old 03-24-2004 | 07:52 AM
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Matt Kirsch
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From: Spencerport, NY
Default RE: newbie alert :)

Agreed. "It won't fly" doesn't help us help you figure out what's wrong. You need to describe what happens when you try to fly the planes.

No offense meant, but part of it is almost certainly related to you and your flying skills. Jumping from a Hobbico Park Pilot (you actually got one of those lead sleds to fly, and loop?) to a GWS Me109 is way too much. The next step would've been the E-Starter.

One thing you definitely don't want to do is keep trying to fly the plane until it's dashed to pieces. When you have a failure, take the plane home and go over it, stem to stern. Don't just look at it, go through the plane with the instructions and double check that everything is as it should be. Make sure control surfaces move in the proper directions, and don't move farther than the instructions specifiy (control throws). Make sure everything is solidly mounted, all pushrods move smoothly, and the servos aren't straining or moving around in their mounts. Look for cracks and breaks. Above all, CHECK THE CG.

Most first flight failures are caused by not having the plane balanced at the proper CG, or by overcontrolling the elevator. Balance the plane a little bit nose heavy for the first flights, or at least start at the front of the CG range, then start moving it back little by little until the plane flies like you want it to fly. On launch/takeoff, reist the urge to yank full back on the elevator to haul the plane off the ground or correct for a diving tendency. Launch/takeoff is the most critical time. You need to build up speed before going for altitude. Let the plane fly off the ground on its own, or cruise along level for a ways before going for altitude. When you get more familiar with the plane, you'll know exactly what it can do, and you can get a little more aggressive.