ORIGINAL: wpennington
I NEED HELP. JUST PURCHASED MY FIRST PLANE, A SUPERCUB. HAVE LOTS OF FUN FLYING, BUT IT CONSTANTLY WANTS TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. MOVE THE TRIM A LITTLE...DRIFT LEFT. MOVE THE TRIM A LOT...DRIFT LEFT. ALSO, I CAN FLY EASILY CLOCKWISE, BUT TRY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE LEFT WING DIPS SHARPLY AND THE SUPERCUB SPIRALS. EVERYTHING APPEARS TO LOOK O.K, TO MY UNTRAINED EYES, BUT WHAT SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED...I CAN'T KEEP MAKING RIGHT TURNS!
There are probably 30 models on teh market called Super Cubs. Some are small electric RTFs an some are giant scale gas planes. Which do you have?
From your post I presume you have the HobbyZone RTF Super Cub. This is an RTF electric package.
Start up procedure - This is best done with little or now wind.
Frequency check to be sure no one is on your channel
Power up radio
Throttle to zero
All trims to center
Power up plane
Make sure rudder and elevator are straight and align with the fixed parts.
If they are not, DO NOT ADJUST FROM THE RADIO! Adjust them on the plane. Follow instructions if you don't know how.
Range check according to manual
Make sure there are no creases or breaks in vertical or horizontal surfaces. If there are, these can flex in flight and throw off your flight.
Make sure verticle and Horizontal tail surfaces are 90 degrees to each other and there are no warps in the surfaces.
If all is good, you can launch.
If hand launching, flat straight trow, NOT UP, LEVEL.
Climb to height, at least 100 feet and get it flying straight and level and into the wind.
Now, reduce power over 5 seconds till you are gliding. This plane has an excellent glide.
Hands off the sticks for as long as possible.
NOW, WHAT DOES THE PLANE DO?
If it flies straight and level, you have a motor alignmet problem. If it wants to turn, other than from the influence of the wind, you have a control surface or wing problem.
If it wants to dive, you have a h-stab or elevator problem.
If it glides straight and true, then go to 1/2 power.
If it nw wants to turn, you have a motor alignment problem or a slight warp in a tail surface that only shows up at speed.