Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

I just bought a used LASER 3D, flew it last night and while flying the elevator started to flutter violently. The tail feathers stayed on, so I landed it. Upon inspection of it, it cracked along the entire bottom side of the fuse and a little bit on top in front of the rudder. The plane is equipped with flying wires top and bottom, has swivel ball links on both ends of the control rods which are connected to Hitec HS605bb servos. Does anybody have some suggestions on what else I could look for or do to prevent future flutter.

Thanks

Terrell

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

DAKATOA:

Get a "robarts" type inclination meeter and check all your surfaces relationships, should be engine-0down 2-3% right, 0 wing, 0 elevator. Get used to sealing all of your control surfaces including rudder. Will help flutter conditions. In your case, seal both sides.

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

All surfaces are currently sealed, can propwash have anything to do with it. It has a MVVS 91 on it with a 16x6 prop.

Terrell

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

the same thing happened to me the other day on a tmp profile with a super tigre 51...... the ailerons fluttered severely , and it cracked, the tail surfaces cracked too, i was lucky to be able to land it i apparently was flying it too fast..... i hope you are able get to the botom of it

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

You say ball links on both ends. What is the ball link hooked to on the control surface end? If it is threaded into the side of a normal control horn this is part of your problem.

David

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

I hope this is not the Belgian Lazer 3D. If it is you are way over powered. This plane was designed for a 46 2C. I have one with an OS 70 on it and that is overkill. I get off the ground in less than 3 ft and have vertical at 25-30% throttle. Having said that the power is just right and the plane is a blast. 13 X4W APC prop.

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

Daveopam, it does have basic control horns on it, what would you suggest to use.

Bigcam, I believe it is a Laser model Laser 3D

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

Something like one of these pics. It should have a ball link and HD arm on the servo end. The control surface end is fine with a stock horn but not a ball link. The clevis will give you a straight push/pull. The ball link will twist the horn under any kind of load. Try turning your radio on and giving the surface full deflection. Now push on the surface. You will see the horn twist. Eventually the horn will break. You may want to start with new horns when you change to a clevis. This is a common mistake I have seen a lot. Ball links are great for getting the slop out of a system. This is just not the proper place to use one.
Trying to teach not preach, David:D

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

daveopam

When I got the plane it did have metal clevises on the control horn end, but they were so sloppy on the threads that I changed them out to ball links. It did flutter with the clevises too. they were not solder on either.

Terrell

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

If you don't want to solder use a jam nut. This may not cure the flutter but it will eliminate it as a source of the problem. Flutter can come from several problems and a sloppy surface can amplify the flutter.

David

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

I have one of these kits NIB. This plane would do much, much better with a APC 16x4W than the prop you currently run. Also, just like a profile, it has major control surfaces and lightly loaded therefore, must be flown much slower-I bet that speed and prop were two big factors for your flutter-perhaps servo linkage placement etc. as well. I would not say you are overpowered if throttle managment is used wisely.

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

I took it out this past weekend to a fun fly and no flutter through out the entire weekend. I did put back on the metal clevis and solder them to the rod and moved the servo linkage to the inner hole on the servo arm. Also replace the control horns. I did switch to a 16x5 prop, now its hard to hover with this prop. But no more flutter!

Terrell

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

You will get accustomed to the prop. Have you tried a 15x4W APC? It will give you a little more prop wash on the low end.

David

RE: Elevator flutter on a LASER 3D
 

people need to learn not to fly at full throttle!!!!!

prob has some slop in the 605 servos too, ball brg. but sloppy gear train.

i love it when people say its way over powered with a 91, the mvvs prop weighs the same as os70fs