ORIGINAL: aeajr
First line above: You are talking about a real plane, not a simulator plane, right?
Yes, the plane I'm having trouble with is a real Hobico Superstar EP with Ailerons. Electric, 4 channel.
Are we takling the EP Superstar Electric - 3 Channel?
1/8 inch forward of the maximum what? Max forward CG? Max rear CG? What Maximum?
Using only the stock parts and a JR RX (I think its a NER 226. About the size of a box of matches) the plane balances just at or ahead of the recommended forward CG limit. I'll have to go back and measure again to be sure, but the whole CG range is only 1/2 inch.
Ground loop - Aee you flipping over backwards? Nosing over and tunbling forward? Left side? Right Side? Always the same? You say spinning around, but I am not 100% sure what you are describing.
Do you have a steerable wheel?
Are you trying to take off from a hard runway? Gravel? Grass? Long or short Grass?
??Sorry, I thought a ground loop was a very particular mishap. The plane ABRUPTLY spins in a circle as viewed from above. like a dog chasing its tail. Pretty much always the same but in either direction. As I said, on the simulator, I've had no problems with take offs that required some rudder. With the real plane, even with a slow careful throttle runnup, and my lightest touch as possible on the rudder, as soon as the plane gets near takeoff speed, it SUDDENLY spins around. You can direct the plane with the rudder, but at a certain speed you just lose control and it spins. Fortunately I've been able to chop power and oddly, because it spins perfectly flat, there has been no damage. Even in the wind it didn't lift one wing or the other. It was late PM. Wind was dying down. 0-10 MPH without much gusting. The wind would rise steadily over a few minutes and then steadily drop to nothing. Then repeat.
The plane is a RTF taildragger. All I did was put in the servos and pushrods. I have tons of building experience. Not that I can't screw up with the best of 'em. But I did a preflight. Over adn over. I tried to fly, failed, stopped, went back to the bench, reexamined the craft and radios. 5 times I think.
The County forest preserve runway is a 200x200ft asphault pad, surrounded by prox 200 ft of grass, then trees. Its a square pad so you can always takeoff adn land into the wind. The tail has a nonsteerable skid.
Have you EVER successfully gotten off the runway? Has anyone?
Are you working alone? With an instructor? A coach? What are they suggesting?
Need lots more info!
Nope, nope and alone. There were a couple of old timers at the field that day but they had no suggestions. A commercial pilot who I've seen fly and i've talked with was arriving just as I got to my car. He's got a SomethingStar but its glow, larger and tricycle gear. He was unable to offer any insight.
One of the old timers said I needed to just go for it. Throttle up and fly through it, but its my understanding that an airplane should be controllable at all times. Also, that old timer nosed in both his foamies as I watched. As I said, my plane, just before takeoff speed becomes uncontrollably unstable laterally. It suddenly whips around and tries to bite its tail.