can anyone tell me where is the proper location for flying 3D (or even getting the plane to torque roll)? i have a wildhare 540 edge with a DA 50, and no matter what i do, its just not happning. i get 1 maybe a 1 and half roll out of it and it gets carzy on me, i know practice is the key, but set up is very important also. any input is appriciated.

Lets expert modelers show up and tell

Thats more than just CG my friend. You are also going to need the right prop ect. What prop are you running? If its a broken in DA 50 then I would say you are going to need 23x8. Is your CG set slightly tail heavy? If its the factory CG than its designed more for stability and not so much 3D. Tom has great support and the rest of the Wild Hare guys can help you out more so. I have had the WH Extra 300xl, Ultimate and my favorite the 260!

Setup and entering your torque roll is also important. You dont want to end up too high and not have a good visual on whats going on. Since its a gas single you have to feather the throttle or give it pulses of power. On gas twins you dont have to as much. Remember to COUNTER the torque roll you give it right aileron. Obviously you dont want to counter it so try also giving it left aileron.

Your tail servos and thumbs/fingers had better be kinda quick. Rudder is really under estimated in hovers and torque rolls. You probably know what to do when the canopy is facing you. However when the plane begins to roll the gear towards you, simply give rudder to the lower wing and it will keep the plane vertical.

You kinda have to balance this while its doing its thing. Some planes do it better than others but this should get you started. How well does the plane elevator and flat spin? If it doesnt do either too well its probably too nose heavy. A simple trick to keep a plane under control if you go for a more tail heavy cg is to mix in 1-2% down elevator at say idle and just above idle. You wont notice it and it will keep it under control.

How much throw and expo do you have?
What servos?
All of this matters when you want to 3D; including doing torque rolls.

The best thing to do on something like this is find the local hot shot in your area, have him fly your plane and tell you what adjustments need to be made. Or come down here...I will be glad to fly it.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_355/tt.htm


This is the wildhare support forum right here on RCU, there are many people in there inc. Tom himself, who have vast experience with this plane and probably equipment

The 260 TR very nicely. Besides Tom helping you out def. a good pilot should also be able to tell you whats up.

Thank you guys for the info. as far as the setup goes, i have hitech, 5645 mg on all the control surfaces, i am using a beula 22X8 carbon fiber prop. elevators have 40 degrees up and 45 degrees down at 70% expo. engine has no more than one and half gallons through it. flat spin is not too bad under some power, it will knifedge spin very well. as far as the harrier goes, its like a rocking chair, all over the sky. some say i need to use flaperons cus. it works like trainning gears. i traded some massages with Joe Hunt, from DOD, he also has the same plane, and he told me that he moved his CG about an inch forward from where it was recomended, which is 5 to 5 1/2 inches from the leading edge, and that really blew my mind, (moving the CG forward?) maby be he meant back, but either way. i would love nothing more than coming up and flying with some of you professionals, but around here ( Ardmore Oklahoma) not to many people have the desire for any D's, let alone 3D.

I can strongly recommend taking the time & effort to visit some clubs that have good 3D pilots. The best thing that ever happened to my flying was travelling here to Texas and spending time watching, listening and talking with the excellent pilots at my local club here. Not only is it inspirational but they have excellent knowledge that they are all too happy to impart. Ironically, when I go back to visit my home country & club (which is very much a quiet Sunday club - left turns only please) they prefer me to fly sedately - it's all the reason I need to practice 3D in my book - all in good fun of course.

The old field that I first flew at had some top class giant scale and 3D pilots. I really owe it to a lot of them in helping me learn 3D. I find that when you fly among pilots who are above your skill or at least after the same goal - your flying only improves.

The Edge does have significant rocking..spoilerons do help..Ive found on my Edge you need to anticipate the rocking and give a little opposite aileron..that will usually settle it down for a few seconds but be ready to keep inputing the ailerons..my CG is between 5 1/4 and 5 1/2..I may even try adding some weight in the tail to see if it helps any..I have 45deg on my elevators and if I were to do it again Id try and get at least 55 deg..Also keep the nose up about 50-55 degrees..The Edge does everything else easily.

For torque rolling, a larger prop will get her spinning much faster. I have a 28% Precision Aerobatics Edge with a DA50 and it's hard to get it to wind up with a 22x8 NX (awesome prop, otherwise). With a 23x8 NX it would start torquen around much easier. With a 23x8 PT carbon prop, it couldn't stop it from rolling without full opposite aileron. You can also help induce a torque roll by bumping the throttle down and letting it tail slide a bit.

As for wing rock in harriers - if it won't lock in on its own, you 'fly' a lot of it out with lots of little corrections once you get comfortable with the airplane and how it reacts. I've found a little constant cross control on the ailerons and rudder will help.