Have a new Aresti 40 with a Saito 72 up front & TME smoke system installed.
The plane flys nicely for the most part and smokes great. Seems to be having some trouble taking off though, takes up about 150 feet to lift off using recommended high rates on the elevator. The plane is balanced correctly in the middle of what the plans recommend. When the plane is landing deadstick, it wants to sink fairly quickly. The 10 oz smoke tank is right on the cg and the fuel tank is an 8 oz sullivan which only lasts about 8 mins at full throttle, seem right?
Was thinking about adding a bit more tail weight and increasing the elevator high rate throw slightly. In knife edge, the plane wants to come down, even with high rudder deflection. Another reason why I think it's nose heavy.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Glowfuel

I think with the addition of the smoke system you have a increased the wing loading beyond what it should be. It's a small light plane and it should be kept that way, there is not alot of wing area. I have one with an OS 52 and I had to add tail weight to balance so I can only imagine how much you had to add. Then you have added a second battery, smoke pump and a tank, yeesh that's a lot of weight. Take it all out, rebalance it and you'll see how well this plane flies. Save the smoke for a 90/120 size bird.

Had to add about 3 ounces of tail weight. Can slow the plane down without tipstalling in the air pretty well, so the weight is not really that excessive all in all.
Think it will be fine with a tad more elevator throw.

Thanks,

Glowfuel

I am setting up the same plane with a YS FZ63. I agree with RC_Sport, remove the smoke set up and you will have a totally different handling plane!

Good luck!

Slowing the plane down is one thing but with an 8 oz fuel tank and a Saito 72 you should not be getting a mere 8 mins, I am sure you are not flying on 100% throttle for 100% of the time for sure. Like RC Sport says, kill the smoke machine and you will definately see the plane handling a lot better. How much heavier does the plane weigh with the smoker/batt and juice?

Now to get mine outta the box ... RC Sport ... how does your plane handle with the OS52? Is it not a little under powered or just sufficient ...

Think you guys maybe right. Just checked the weight of the model and it is 8 pounds even. How much time should I be getting with an 8 oz fuel tank?
Would increasing the elevator throws a bit more help or just tipstall?

8lbs!!!!! Yikes.....and thats a small plane. Increasing the elevator isn't going to help, it may just cause it to snap.

how the heck did you get it up to 8 lbs. I know smoke systems weigh a bit but the plane is suppose to come in at about 5.5 lbs with a 50 sized 2C engine. The wing loading there is about 22 oz ... yours is heck of a lot more. Also, a Saito 72 can just about haul a 8 lbs plane only, now I understand why you only get about 8 mins flight and you are on full throttle. You plane needs to go to the fat farm!!! Loose the smokes and I am sure you will get about 6-6.5 lbs dry weight.

Thanks for the input guys.

fyi

took out the smoke system and she weighs in at 6 lbs. Let's go fly!

Flying weight should be 4.5 to 6.0 pounds.

good luck

Now your talking !

There is no way the plane will come in at 4.5 or even 5 lbs ... best seen is 5.5 lbs. Maybe if you used a 40 LA huh? Hehehee ...

This is what the manual says!

I know I got the manual too but trust me let's see it do 4.5 lbs The weight difference between a 40LA and 46 FX is not a whole pound for sure.

Don't mean to threadjack but, I turned up this thread while searching for threads about smoke systems. I have a Saito .72 also that i want to build an aerobatic plane for, and would like to have smoke. Is a smoke system going to be too heavy for ANY plane that will fly well with the .72? Are there other smoke systems that weigh less?

ps - how's it fly now without the smoke system?

Your Saito will haul something of about 7.5 lbs as long as it has a decent foil, I mean I am sure it will easily haul a 8 lb Piper Cub etc. If its an acrobatic plane then what you have is the smoke system will be about 16-20 oz. Most 40 sized acrobatic planes have about only 4-4.5 square feet of wing area, hence you would have increased your wing loading by about 4-5 oz/square foot, that will not be nice on a small plane. So its not worth it, all the high wing loading just to look good with smoke? Will not look good when you have to pack your plane home in a garbage bag.

IS the answer the same for a biplane? Probably worse huh? I'm planning on something along the lines of a Super Skybolt, Ultimate, or Super Sportster Bipe. I guess i'll have to hold off on the smoke until i go with something .91 or 1.20 sized []

Bipe + smokes = good sh*t!!! Hehehee ...