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Old 05-15-2006 | 06:09 AM
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uhu
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From: Barcelona, SPAIN
Default Tail feathers scale size

Hello to you all.

I have had a doubt about correct sizing of fin/rudder-stabilizer/elevator sizing in scale RC model airplanes. In the old times of free flight we indeed increased those surfaces (fixed) but I don't know if there is a need of doing this in our RC planes. Is there some aerodynamic reason or is it just a try of increasing manoeuvrability of model airplanes? I've been in aeromodelling since I was a child (55 years old by now!) and I have built some WWII fighter stand-off scale models respecting the original sizes of their tail surfaces without problems. The only one I encountered was in an electric Me109G 48" WS that had very bad longitudinal stability, I tried to solve it by resizing the stab/elev area but had a violent stall in take-off and (sigh!) I recovered just a nice bunch of toothpicks and solartex amalgamated with batteries-ESC and motor.., so I never knew if that solved the problem. In our club this theme has become a classic and although I've found some articles that clearly state that there is no need of increase tail surfaces, there are also many commercial aircrafts and plans that actually increase them by 10% to 33%....
Apologies for my english, I'm spanish

Radios don't have interferences, pilot's fingers do have!