ORIGINAL: piper_chuck
ORIGINAL: TGDF
I don't know if I mentioned before that I had a GWS Corsair. That one, also a taildragger, took off with no lateral problems. Maybe just a hair of rudder to keep it straight. It did have a marked desire to nose over into the prop on takeoff. But that was easily overcome with up elevator.
I bet the wheels were further apart on the Corsair. This makes a big difference.
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WINNER!! WINNER!! WINNER!! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a WINNER!!
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The prize goes to Piper Chuck who correctly suggested the width of stance as being a cause of the problem. I've posted another excerpt from a design book which I just missed by one page at
http://www.terrencefoley.com/images/Ground%20Loop.jpg . I ran across it yesterday while on the Throne.
What it basically says it that on less than glider sized aspect ratio wings, the wheel stance should be at least 25% of the span! The SuperStar EP is well short of that. The two reference pages together suggest that first, all tail draggers are a bit laterally unstable at takeoff, and that, if the wheels are close together, the condition is aggravated.
Way to go Chuck!!!! (This was in All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Beginners >> Hobbico SuperStar EP Select RTF w/Ailerons Newby . I've been looking for the answer to this in 4 different threads.)
My first modification to my EP will be a wide track, streamlined, fiberglass landing gear mount. In fact that may be the first thing of my own production that I may offer on my website.
(Note to mikeflyzz . For being the first to verify that he also had the same problem, PM me with your email address. When I make up the fiberglass landing gear, if they work, I'll send you a set on the house. Put away your discouragement and my last post for what a good time I had once I got the plane off the ground!)