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Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

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Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

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Old 07-31-2002 | 07:14 PM
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

OK, I'm an idiot.

Saw it soon as mounted - :stupid:

It is off center a bit to the right.

What might ill affects be?
Old 08-01-2002 | 10:03 AM
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

Flying,

Doesn't sound too disastrous. How does it look? You shouldn't have an effect on flight characteristics. I would think the only problem would be appearance, particularly after you dial in the usual right thrust.

Remember, the builder sees detail that most at the field will miss.

Good luck!

Bedford
Old 08-01-2002 | 11:51 AM
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rwh
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

What kind of plane and how much off center?

Remember that every profile ever flown has the engine pushed off to one side (usually the right)! When the left engine quits on my TwinStar the remaining engine is pushed off to the right about 5 inches and she still flys!
Old 08-01-2002 | 01:02 PM
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

If the engine is off to the right you will only need slightly less right thrust than normal. Straight might be a good idea.
Old 08-02-2002 | 10:14 AM
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

gubbs,

I think you have that backwards, but I am open to an explanation of why I am wrong. If the engine is offset to the right it has a left thrust effect because the aerodynamic center is to the left of the engine. Similar to an engine out situation on a twin, you fly on right engine only and you are fighting a pull to the left. All this said, I expect the effect is VERY small for what I am guessing is the extent of offset to the right that FLS is dealing with.

Bedford
Old 08-02-2002 | 11:18 AM
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rwh
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

I agree, if the engine is offset to the right, you'll need even more right thrust than normal. For example, in the TwinStar the two engines are pointed outward, away from the fuselage center, at a gross angle. Even that angle is not nearly enough to allow normal control in an engine out situation, but it helps.

In the case we're talking about in this thread the effect is small.
Old 08-02-2002 | 07:57 PM
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Default Engine mounted off thrust line a bit

It is a Modeltech Magic. It is only off JUST ENOUGH to tell that it is off (if you really look closely)

Haven't flown it yet, but when I fired it up for taxi test, it would only turn right. Give it the gas, it goes straight ahead. Right rudder, right turn. Left rudder, - plane goes straight ahead(!??!)

Saw where some guys replaced tailskid w/ tailWHEEL.

Another guy said this plane doesn't need to taxi much - 5 ft. takeoff & landing roll.

Thanks for input. Will try to fly this weekend and see what happens.
Old 08-03-2002 | 02:53 PM
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Default Engine off

Just plug and glue short pieces of dowels into the engine mount holes in the firewall (the same length as the thickness of the firewall) and redrill them in the correct location.

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