Control Surfaces at Hover
 

I am getting the hang of hovering both canopy and belly in. My problems are with the torque roll. I've noticed that when I hover the plane does not lock in perfectly vertical. I have to keep adding elevator to keep it from nosing forward. I hold a lot of positive elevator. So when it turns around I have to add a lot of opposite elevator.

Someone noticed that the ailerons were in a slight spoileron position. I tried adjusting that more neutral and tried again. I could not notice much of a difference.

If you trim for basic flight and then hover, will the trims affect the plane differently? Rudder trim, elevator, or ailerons? What else could be the problem? The plane is an Extreme Flight Profile Yak with a Saito 82. It is set up slightly tail heavier than recommended.

Thank you.

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

The hover is a "balancing" act and if you have to hold in a lot of elevator then you're not at the balance point.

With my GeeBee, Katana and Mojo, hovering is almost "hands off" when it's properly balanced in a hover.

You'll find that most planes won't torque on their own (ie: without using aileron) until they're really balanced in the hover that's because if they're either forward or back of balance they'll be moving slowly through the air and that stabilizes them from torquing.

Are you letting the engine torque the plane or are you using the ailerons? If the latter then you're not on the balance point and need to lean it back or forwards a little more so you can ease-of that constant elevator input.

When I'm hovering, most people comment that I'm hardly touching the sticks.

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

yes it does sound like the model could be abit nose heavy.

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

Could the aileron position affect the hover? Airflow over the wing causes the nose to drop because of the spoilerons?

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

if the ailerons are in a slight spoileron position it may be possible that they may be effecting your hover. Try to get the ailerons flat to the wing and move your CG back.....some planes hover with some up elevator anyway depending on how it is designed......if i was you i would go out on a calm day and try to get it in the complete vitical postion and see what happens......is it possible that there is some wind blowing your plane around?

Good Luck!!

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

try keeping the model slightly leaning back rather than straight up.

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

It can also be too much down thrust especially when you have the CG to far aft some guys add more down thrust to fly straight uplines, thus affecting hovering

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

yes this is very true regarding down thrust on the engine, this engine down thrust is only there for initial air lift but when it comes to a 3D type models with monster wing areas ect this down thrust can be set neutral. also the right prop should be used for maximum vertical lift, something like the master airscrew 14 x 6 with the 80 size 4 stroke. don,t forget to make this model abit on the rear c.o.g.

RE: Control Surfaces at Hover
 

All my 3D planes are set up 0-0-0 and I've even gone away from using right-thrust on the motor now (that's what the rudder is for :-)

In a plane that you intend to 3D, anything other than 0-0-0 is just something you'll have to fight on the sticks anyway because when you're hucking hard you'll spend as much time inverted as upright and more time flying on the prop than on the wing.