Hi Everyone,

I'm starting to doubt myself on this one, and I'd like to know your experiences. I used a simulator to learn low, knife edge passes. On the sim I can fly them the same in both directions, but when I get to field I fly them rock solid one way, and very unstable the other. I've used three different planes, but the results are always the same.

I'd like to know if it has something to do with torque, engine thrust angle, or something else. I'm not going to say which direction works for me in hopes that someone can convince me that it's just the pilot!

Thanks in advance guys, you have been a wealth of knowledge to me!

Cap10Jaf

Its just the pilot practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice practice Is your problem belly in right to left.

my guess is left to right is giving diffculty and you feel comfortable right to left.. just because i see more people at the field fly KE right to left as their most comfortable. left to right when i learned was the most uncomfortable..

Do you have more rudder travel one way than another? Plus keep in mind that things like alot of aieleron trim or elevator trim will affect a plane in knife edge.

KE is harder for me right to left than left to right on all my planes except the Yak. It seems to do them about even both directions. Takes different stick movements (slightly) but is still easy both ways. I think the engine torque and engine offset does make a difference. Andi i think lateral balance and fuse shape have an effect to. But usally I can get them going pretty good both ways but some planes (UCD) (Twist) (Heli) are more difficult to get them going at all. But like prophanger says, practice will eliminate most of the problems
Thanks
Barry

Wind has a lot to due with the difference. You are out in the real world and the wind is constanly changing. You may think you have pitch coupling on a windy day and then on a calm day you have almost none. It's the wind causing all the inputs needed to keep it straight. Even if the wind is right down the runway it's completely different going in each direction. If there's a cross wind same thing, it will need different stick inputs one way than the other.

So as others have said practice will make the difference. Wind won't matter and neither will all the other little imperfections in your planes. Your hands will take care of it all. As far as those fun fly's with all the coupling, forget it, they don't knife edge worth a crap. I wouldn't even bother with those.

no problems, left to right or right to left. Also no problem top of the plane towards you or the belly. It depends on how you practice

Practice.....good way to get rock solid on the sticks and see how low you can get without risking a nice extra, yak, cap, something of that nature is to pickup a cheap profile.....sure they knife edge easier because of the fuse shape, however all of the control inputs will be the same when you move up to a nicer "flashier" plane.

Hey!

Thanks for all the great input. I think I can surmise that it's just me. Most importantly that I shouldn't expect the plane to require the exact same inputs in both directions. I used rud>ele mixing to dial it in from left to right, but I need to adjust the values for right to left. Not to mention the practice! I'll burn some fuel and let you know how it goes. By the way, I love my new guinea pig. I can't help but re post some of her pictures.

Thank you again,

Cap10Jaf

Maybe a better plane is in order. The funtana .40 was VERY WEAK on its side, I havent flown the larger one and dont plan too.

looks good except for those JR stickers, replace with some hitecs