Im building a tower trainer 40,they where on sale at tower hobbies for 69.00 I couldnt pass that deal up.My question is I have a three channel radio from a previous plane. with standard servos 43oz of torque, im going to fly this plane with three channels but I need to know if it would be better with ailerons instead of rudder.wich would give more control! any info would help thanks

Use 4 channels and have a real plane. Dennis

I would use elevator, aileron and throttle for the three channels.
While this may not be considered correct, this is what I would do.

with ailerons elevator and throttle would I need to y harness my nose wheel to aileron or could I just fix it straight ahead, Im talking about for ground handling and take off.I put this same question on another forum and two people said if they only had three channels they would go with elevator ,rudder and throttle. Then two more said aileron elevator and throttle.So I was confused on witch would be better.

Tracy:

Most people never use the rudder in the air and never use the ailerons on the ground. Since you probably hope to spend more time in the air than on the ground, you will want ailerons more than rudder.

If you have an extra servo, you can Y connect it to the nosewheel for ground steering. Or fix it in place and hand launch.

Why not hook up the rudder and nosewheel in the conventional manner and Y connect them both to the ailerons.

Try lots of things, you're just experimenting anyway. Nothing you do with 3 channels will make it fun to fly.


Jim

Cross wind take offs will be a problem without the rudder for ground handling. Steering only with nose wheel will be very dicey. Once in the air, you will be better off with the ailerons. If you go with the rudder, the wings should be very straight with no warps so that the plane does not have any roll tendency.

Better still upgrade to a 4 channel. Soomer or later it will have to be done[8D]

Personally, I'd save up for an inexpensive 4 channel radio, (or something like a Hitec Flash 5) computer radio and forget the aggrevation involved with what you're trying to do. Do it right the first time and you'll be much happier........[8D]

You're getting a variety of answers because people have different viewpoints. I gather you're in training and the "previous plane" didn't survive the experience.

If you had bought the Sig Kadet Senorita, which sells for about $56 some places, your kit would have been designed for 3 channel operation, no ailerons. That plane has plenty of dihedral and a large, flat bottomed wing. It is very light.

The Tower 40 is a fine four-channel airplane, with less wing area and higher wing loading than the Senorita. It's designed for 4 channels. Opinions vary. Mine is, you made a mistake selecting a 4 channel plane for a 3 channel radio. I suggest you eat it, and either buy a 4 channel radio, or a Senorita kit.

I doubt you'll have "more control" with either the rudder/elevator or aileron/elevator selection, because you'll be missing something either way. If you insist on doing it your way, flip a coin. Or try both ways and see which way you like it best.

Good luck,
Dave Olson