I have just finished a Lanier "Super Trainer". I built this for my son's 2nd plane. He soloed on a Vmar Comanchee back during the summer. I chose the Lanier kit because it was on special at Quanuam Models for I think about $30.00.
I had built the wing with (0) dihedral and was hoping for a more agressive plane when finished. The plane finished out with the balance point on the money. The first flight was sort of spongee at slower speeds and control response was sluggish.

I have since moved the battery aft of the servos and she tilts back a little when balanced.
Flight #2 was not much better.

The next thing I believe I can do is raise the engine thrust angle. It has a few degrees of down built in.

Do you folks think this will help? What else can I change/adjust for help?

The ailerons at full are 3/8.
Any help most welcome!!


Regards,

Jimmy

Jim: You might increase the throws to 1/2" if possible.
:idea: Another thing to try is sealing the control surface gap. This will improve the overall control response and specifically the response at slow speeds.
To accomplish this, use clear tape on the underside of the surface(aileron & elevator). Disconnect the surface from the control rod and deflect it to the top of the wing( or horizontal stabalizer), then seal the gap. Leave a slight amount of slack in the tape. Reconnect and you are ready to go.

Happy landings Tony

If you started with one of their trainers then most likely the control surfaces were sized to give fairly sedate characteristics. Only way around it would be to fly faster (bigger motor) or increase the size of the surfaces.

You can continue moving the CG aft in small steps. As you move the CG back the pitch and yaw response will increase. The limit to how far you can move the CG is when you achieve neutral stability and the plane goes where you point it without any tendency to recover when the sticks are neutralized. If you move the CG back too far the plane will become unstable and very difficult to control.

Increasing the control throws will increase control response.

Flying faster will increase control response. Control response goes up as the square of the airspeed. More power, more RPM, less drag or a higher pitch prop of smaller diameter may increase top speed. Fuel with a higher percent nitro may increase RPM and power. Use a tachometer to assist in the best needle valve adjustment. Select prop for peak horsepower not peak RPM.

There is a caveat though that moving the CG will have no effect on roll rate.

You can always decrease the wingspan like I did with my Sig 4*60. Initially at 71", I cut the wings in to the first set of ribs, essentially knocking off about ~6". Now It's at a ~65" ws and has much more snap. Keep in mind this is a bottom wing airplane, but you might use this option. When you start messing around with CG and thrust angle, your getting into some possible headaches. Hope that helps.....

Update on "Super Trainer Mod" I have replaced the Fox 40 abc "great running engine" BTW, with a GMS 47 at (0) thrust. What a difference the EXTRA power and thrust adjustment made. It responds much quicker and is much more fun to fly.

Thanks to all that responded,

Jimmy