I'm just starting out with 3D, I've been told to start out with learning the harrier. I can get the plane to harrier with full elevator and about 1/3 throttle, but it tends to rock from left to right pivoting about the centre line of the plane, so then I'm putting in ailerons to try and counter act it with success sometimes but other times it will completely roll over. The other thing I find is at times instead of rocking it will try to turn to the right and I'll have to have full ailerons to the left and even some rudder to keep it straight. I flying a E flite 260 3D 480 and the CG is setup right. Is there some other adjustments that need to be done on the plane or just in my head, the pro's make it look so easy but I imagine they have spent hundreds of hours to perfect a maneuver. Any help is appreciated

CJQ:

You are right, got to put in the time to get things right. IMHO, you need to have a good airframe capable of doing that manuver and be sure it is set up correctly. A few years ago when startilng to learn, flying several buds birds was a great compairson to my own. Some times my birds went south cause they were junk, some times better than others. Find a good bird and stay with it. Be sure its a good bird for sure. Anything I have flown has a little rock in it, from Mojo to AJ Extra to the big gassers. You can learn with these, they will stay at harrier without imput and not snap out. Takes time to get the rock timing right to stop almost all visable movement, all with the ailerons. If you have problems with the direction in keeping things streight in moderate winds, get it trimmed into the wind so you do not have to fight the rudder along with the ailerons. You will always have to imput a little rudder in, but should be just a little to keep it streight. You may get something that is perfection and does not rock right out of the box, but thats very rare. Have a QQ Yak 54, 73" that is rock solid ot harrier, and nevr, never does anything stupid. It is unusual to get somethig that stable at all attitudes. Some time ago, flew a buds Banshee, and fell in love with it, and bought one. Put it togeather correctly with identical equipment. Mine flys like junk. In looking at things closely, there is a minor warp in both my ailerons. Mine snaps easialy, buds does not. I have kept it for several years indending to rebuild the ailerions, but have not done it yet. If you keep at it, you will get it right, practice, practice practice. Usually, everything come togeather almost all at once, so gotta just keep on working at things. There are some out there that will always be great simply by Gods guift of eyesight and reactions. I have seen Chip Hyde fly is Double Vision, come in fast and low, 4' or so, yank it around and fly it backwards for 20-30', whip it around streight and keep going at the same altitude. First off, a GD airplane can not fly backwards, but seeing is believeing. Will I ever, no, simply not enough time and ability. Even with those assets, Chip does not win every event he enters, nor does QQ or AJ. You may never get into that quality of a group, but with effort, you sure can come close. Hopethis helps a little. ENJOY

Practice crash rebuild practice some more crash rebuild practice crash rebuild practice etc. I did a harrier landing one time with my Eratix. Came in fairly low 20ft. and came down runway trying to do a harrier and it was pretty stable and kept getting lower and slower and finally touched down and stopped. Was great have not been able to do it again however. I have torn the plane up a couple three four time trying. But i know that i can do it it is just getting it right and everthing i try it with has wing wobbel effect on me. But the bigger the plane the less there seems to be.