Well, I'm just starting to try 3D stuff and I think I have a CG problem with my plane setup. I have full 3D rates programmed into my 1/4 scale Cap. But when I try to do an "elevator" I run out of elevator throw and the nose falls trough. This leads me to believe my CG is still to far forward.

Here are my two basic questions:
(1) How sensitive are these planes to CG movement, i.e., does a little go a long way?
(2) What is the flight characteristic that tells you, you are getting the CG to far back?

The characteristic will change quite a lot with the CG moving. Get the CG so that the plane flies inverted with very little or no push. Do this at mid speed. Be cautious though, the plane will be harder to land than when the nose was heavy. You will have to hold the nose down on landing. At slower speeds the nose will want to rise up.

Bean

There are many things that go into a Planes setup....One of which is CG....another is control surface size....And perhaps you need a little more throttle to help hold the nose high attitude. Most 1/4 Scale Arfs I have seen or flown are not really setup to 3D Some are like the H9 Edge and the H9 Cap does pretty well. But like the Sig Extra and Cap are really setup to fly IMAC or sport fly they are tough to learn 3D stuff on. The main reason is they have smaller surfaces that need extremely large throws....Not to say it can't be done...its just harder to do it without the right tool.

More Tail Heavy may not be the answer if your looking for a better Elevator or Harrier. It may be more throttle to help hold the nose up....In most cases you don't just come to idle and give full up elevator you need a few clicks of power.

Try many things but in all actuallity many people stick the CG way to far aft and then have tremendously huge rates to fly on all the time. Stick them on dual Rates and use lots of Expo on the 3d Rates.

A more balanced plane will fly better and will even 3D better. Once you learn how to do it it will make a difference. The super Tail heavy setups don't lend themselves to flying well and they become unpredictable which means its tougher on a beginner to 3D...Reason being you might be fighting a CG issue rather than solving one.

Troy Newman
Team JR

There are many things that go into a Planes setup....One of which is CG....another is control surface size....And perhaps you need a little more throttle to help hold the nose high attitude. Most 1/4 Scale Arfs I have seen or flown are not really setup to 3D Some are like the H9 Edge and the H9 Cap does pretty well. But like the Sig Extra and Cap are really setup to fly IMAC or sport fly they are tough to learn 3D stuff on. The main reason is they have smaller surfaces that need extremely large throws....Not to say it can't be done...its just harder to do it without the right tool.

More Tail Heavy may not be the answer if your looking for a better Elevator or Harrier. It may be more throttle to help hold the nose up....In most cases you don't just come to idle and give full up elevator you need a few clicks of power.

Try many things but in all actuallity many people stick the CG way to far aft and then have tremendously huge rates to fly on all the time. Stick them on dual Rates and use lots of Expo on the 3d Rates.

A more balanced plane will fly better and will even 3D better. Once you learn how to do it it will make a difference. The super Tail heavy setups don't lend themselves to flying well and they become unpredictable which means its tougher on a beginner to 3D...Reason being you might be fighting a CG issue rather than solving one.

Troy Newman
Team JR

You guys think flyin 3D is hard with 1/4 scale planes try it with a 3 channel 40 inch wing lazy bee like Dave Sullivan and his buddies are doin.

wow! tocflyr540 I'm sooooo impressed! That is just incredibly amazing!

yeh my jaw hit the ground when they did harriers down to the center of the runway