Trying to set up dual rates for a Parkzone T-28 Micro for my son. He's practiced on the sim, and I like to set up the T-28 for dual rates, very mild low rates so he can fly it. I know that it's recommended for an intermediate or expert flyer, but it looks more like a toy to him and grabs his attention unlike my Tower Trainer, which he refuses to fly. Don't ask, I don't understand it either. I figure if I dual/dull it down a bit, it would help.

What rates do you recommend? Thanks.<br type="_moz" />

I usually do about 50% on low rates.

i've heard when you're learning to fly, don't mess around with dual rates. Just go full rates and use expo. One day you'll be trying to pull out of tight loop and not realize that you don't have full elevator and doink it into the ground.

I just picked up one of these micro T-28's yesterday.It was such a tiny, cool looking thing that I had to have it. Since I own only Futaba radios, I had to pick up an inexpensive Spektrum DX-5 for the T-28 which has a dual rate switch but no end point adjustment capability. Anyhow, I did not like the stock throws, especially on elevator and aileron. I was able to get more elevator throw by moving the pushrod in a couple holes. Still working on how to get more aileron throw. No adjustment at the ailerons themselves but I am hoping I can open up the fuselage and do something there.

I don't have any specific measurements for the throws but I would say fly it as it is set up and adjust accordingly.

I tried taking mine out to an empty parking lot today with what I though were mild breezes and the light little airplane was a handful. On a calm day it should be a blast though. The plane is tough; a gust blew it into my truck and it bounced off &amp; hit the ground without a scratch.<br type="_moz" />

Low rates -50%. Set it, fly it. Best, let him see what he is comfortable with and standby him when he is flying to catch his mistakes.

DenverJayhawk, I myself did not try out dual rates till I went to my second airplane. But it is not a good idea to set full rates for a trainee. Some airplanes are too reactive: you dont want him to doink it into the ground even without trying a loop. I saw this problem when I moved to a Tiger and very soon set dual rates. Its OK on a trainer to set full rates though

Ameyam

I'm pretty close to this comment. The manufacturer probably specifies a high and a low rate. I'd set the plane up for the recommended throws and add about 20% expo then fly it yourself first. Then decide if he even needs high and low rates. You may wind up setting them both to the same rate somewhere in between the recommended high/low. It depends on the plane and the pilot.

Does anyone know the recommend rates for this plane?

I did not see them anywhere in the manual and they are not on the PZ web site. I imagine it is one of those things where they set it up from the factory and it is what it is. I would set it by eye, fly it and adjust as necessary from there.

On a balsa trainer of .40 to .60 size you can't go far wrong by using a protractor and putting 15° up/down in the ailerons and 20° on the elevator and rudder for low rates.  But I really don't know foamies and I hesitate to give you something that won't have the authority to recover from a loop.  It depends on the dimensions of the control surface vs. the rest of the wing or fixed surface.  Which is to say, the maiden flight should be careful.  As it should be with any model. 

Have you tried on the electrics forum for an owner of the same model?  Maybe ChuckW can set his up on a table and give to the at rest vs. fully deflected measurements with a ruler from the table-top?</p>

The problem that comes up with the younger generation is that they tend to use the sticks as on-off switches.. all the way to the right, al the way to the left.. and so on. So, using expo, although a good idea, may not be the ideal situation for those kids that tend to use the sticks that way.

We had an FAA Mini Aviation Symposium here at work one day last year, and families brought in their kids. I set up the simulator, not sure if it was AFS Pro or RF,v5 or whatever, doesn't matter. But my observation was that most of the kids that came to "play" with the simulator tended to do the switch instead of gracefully operating the controller sticks, in spite of what instruction they were given.

CGr.

That would make too much sense and actually require me to get off my butt.

Perhaps I will do it tonight though.

My high rates are:

Elevator: 3/16"
Rudder: 5/16"
Ailerons: 1/4"

The elevator is fine for loops and stuff but I wouldn't mind a little more when landing. I had to move the pushrod in one hole on the horn to achieve the 3/16 so I think I might go one more hole to get just a little more.

Rudder is plenty. I also moved the pushrod in one hole on the horn.

Aileron is not enough in my opinion. The airplane roles very slowly. There is no easy way to change this either. There are no control horns on the ailerons. I opened up the fuselage and there is no simple way to adjust it in there either. Not saying it can't be done but it just isn't as simple as moving the pushrod on the horn.

Also keep in mind that I am flying this with a DX-5 which is a very basic radio with no end point adjustments. With a better radio you could likely get a little more aileron throw.

I did not measure the low rates. I do not like the way they fly the plane so I never use them. I would just set low rates at maybe 60-70% of the high and see what you personally think.

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CGR,

I second you on the switch thing (though I am not much off from the "younger generation" myself)

I have seen many kids on my field do the same when they start and the instructor(s) mostly standby to prevent them from doing that. Then again, most of them (including myself) on the field fly no expos. I found that it takes a couple of weeks on the sim (provided you practice every day) to loose the switch habit..that's the way I lost it. Though, sometimes I still do use the rudder like a switch on the sim but never in take-off or landing, never when hovering and never in the real world

OK, sorry for deviation from the issue though. Have you tried to measure the factory set throws using a deflection meter? I would treat the factory set throws as 100%, then set 75% rates on a switch on the TX and see how they feel. Similarly, I would set 125% as "3D" rates and set that on a switch as well. Dont know whether your RX supports triple rates however. If you are training someone, double rates(100% & 75%) should be ok

Ameyam

I agree with the posters that say to use full throw with expo. This is the reason. When I teach someone to fly, even on a buddy box, the student invariably at some time gets the plane where "I" need full throw to pull it out. Besides the "softer" feel keeps the student from over controlling with small stick movements. Just my experiences, take it for what it's worth and do what YOU feel comfortable with.