Engine thrust angles
 

I would like to know about an easy and acurate way of measuring right thrust angles for R/C airplane engines.

Engine thrust angles
 

I mount a prop, and set it horizontally. Then measure from each prop tip to some point in the middle, down the back end, like the base of the fin.



A bit of trig. will then give you the thrust angle.



Something like atan ((d1 - d2)/D
)


d1, d2 are the two distances you measured.

D is the prop diameter.



This may not be exactly accurate, but sin, tan and the actual angle

(in radians) will all be close to the same value for small angles.

Engine thrust angles
 

If the problem truly is to measure thrust angle, Phil's approach is a good one. If the problem is more precisely to set up a recommended thrust offset--let's say instructions call for 3 degrees of right thrust--then I use my drafting machine and just draw the lines of interest: thrust line, firewall squared to thrust line, firewall offset 3 degrees to right, distance from firewall surface to mounted engine center of prop hub, offset of engine mount holes on slanted firewall to keep center of prop hub on zero thrust line. All this can be quickly drawn at full scale. Then I drill holes for engine mount (I normally use a dubro type mount), mount the engine, and assume my holes are close enough to give me three degrees. I see no point to actually measuring the result, since the acid test is to fly the plane and see what it does in a slow climb. If I'm off one way or the other, then it's time for shims and washers.

Thrust Angle
 

Phil, Thanks for the information. I've read of this technique before and feel it's a solid one to use. I also purchased a lazer incidence meter. Would it be accurate, using the kit plans, to measure the distance from the spinner back plate to the foward fuselage in order to come up with a measured distance as opposed to degrees of offset?