ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
What are some of the most common mixes for pattern pilots? I think it would be pretty sweet to generate a list for the newer guys to see what the more experienced guys are doing.
Obviously the most important thing to do is properly trim out the plane, THEN make necessary adjustments. But, I imagine some things are inevitable even with a properly trimmed plane. I've flown all summer without using mixes, have been working on trimming my plane, and think I am ready to start using the tools of my radio, at least in competition. Also I think this is very appropriate and specific to pattern planes as they are designed to fly well and have less couplings than other aricraft.
Thanks for the input!
Hi Garcfield,
I think the basic goal is to have a plane that does not roll, or does not pitch, with application of rudder. How aggressively you get this solution figured out depends on your skill level and sequence requirements. Flying wings-level is fundamental #1. If you are getting to this point, and now attempting wind correction and thus using the rudder; rudder-bad-effects can start to change your lines and wings-level work.
1. When you use rudder - you are inducing pitch and roll on most planes until you figure out how to get rid of it either with airframe adjustments or mixing.
Why do you need to get rid of it? Because bad tendancies will fustrate your efforts to fly better and make better use of your practice time. Most of all pattern flying does not need high inputs of rudder so for normal flight or knife-edge, you may be in low mix numbers. If you are flying rolling circles or F09 with the centered 2-roll loop, you will be frustrated greatly if rudder input is changing the pitch and roll or the airplane. In this instance, mix and airframe adjustments has everything to do with helping us "human" pilots make a clean precision maneuver. If bad things happen at higher rudder inputs, use the "curve" or "point" mixes rather than linear.
Thanks,
Jim