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Old 08-29-2006 | 10:09 PM
  #18  
RCFlyingKnight
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: St. Andrews West, ON, CANADA
Default RE: Slowing pattern plane

Finally got out tonight to experiment with landings. By the time I got into the air I only had enough time to make a couple attempts before it got to dark .

Things I did, Rebalanced to the rear most recommended mark on the plans, I believe this made it tail heavy elevator was very touchy, will move forward about 1/16". Balanced it wing tip to wing tip then made the right side heavier, also checked for a warp, the plane still tip stalls to the left side. Changed the engine for another 46FX (other one is old and worn) and lowered the tank so the top is in line with the center of the carburetor, better low speed running now. The landings I did make were long and shallow, moving the cg back allowed me to use less elevator to keep the nose up, they were still a bit fast but not so much that a little control input would cause drastic heading changes. I trim the plane to fly level at half throttle. I tried the suggested 10x6 propeller, didn't like the preformance it gave, switch it to a 11x5 but I think I'll stick with a 11x4. Don't have ground clearance for a 12". And finally I switched the rudder servo to a higher torque because the plane would straighten out of a flat turn at half throttle.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate Saturday (and no one bothers me for assistance, it killed most the evening) so I can try out the other suggested landing procedures.