Is it feasible to hand launch an Alpha trainer at full throttle up at about a twenty degree angle, or is this a recipe for a balsa shower? Hope this question isn't too dumb.

Is there a reason you want to hand-launch it upwards rather than straight forward? I'm no expert, but I suspect it would be more likely to stall if you pitched it up instead of straight forward. If you're not getting enough airspeed to be airborne with a straight-forward toss, I doubt that it will fare any better with a 20degree up toss.

-Rick

Having an Alpha in my "collection", and having hand launched it several times, for no other reason than tempting fate, I would not suggest launching it at a 20 degree angle.
Maybe 5 max, and as suggested, more like level. Having said that, I'll ask, do you really NEED to?
It will help if you have hand launched a LOT of planes, and use an 11X5 prop for maximum thrust!
Don't forget, it weighs a bit, and will be covered in oil.
Good luck, and don't expect miracles!

Jetts

I'd have to ask WHY!? Trying to hand launch a 40 size glow plane is pretty dangerous; if it slips you could do a lot of damage to youself.

If you don't have a mowed field, what about a dirt road?
Dennis-

I was always impressed by the guys who just tossed their planes into the air. I was always too chicken.

When you feel ready to try it, fly the plane once to make sure the trims are set right, then have a friend toss it out level for you.

Make sure you trust the friend! Here's what my buddy did the last time I asked him to toss it!

rwh,
Although I'll never understand the "need" to hand launch (or catch) a 3D capable plane, it's quite different than trying to do it with a trainer.

A high power to weight ratio (like on the plane in your photo) usually means it doesn't take much more than letting it fly out of your hand. Where, with a low powered trainer, you really have to throw it, often from a running start. That ain't smart, and may qualify for a Darwin nomination.
Dennis-

It's doable, and the Alpha has a really low stall speed and some of the softest stall tendancies I've seen, which can help you a lot here.

I'm assuming you will have someone throw for you. I wouldn't try to solo launch a .40 size plane that wasn't designed for it.

Definatly get rid of the stock 3-bladed prop and replace it with an APC, an 11x4 or 11x5 would be ideal, a 10x6 or 10x7 would work. All of those produce much much more thrust than the stock prop, and you're going to need it. Bring extra props. You're going to need them too. The Alpha with the Evo engine has plenty of power for this kind of thing, btw. A typcial trainer with an OS .40 LA, on the other hand, would be a real trick to handlaunch, but still doable.

For an experienced pilot, the launch angle isn't that critical, but close to level is best. I actually prefer steaper launches, sometims up to 45degrees, but I also am already leaning on the down elevator at launch, and usually have more power available.

When throwing, take a couple of steps and give a smooth, solid shove and follow though. Don't "snap" it forward in a sudden hard throw, the fuel will rush to the back of the tank and the engine will sag and loose power.

Depending on your landing area, consider ditching the landing gear from the plane. If you're hand lanching anyway, it's just deadweight, and on a hairy launch over obstructions (tall grass, etc), it's 5-6" more of altitude in your favor.

Use all your altitude if the launch is slow. Don't be afriad to push the nose down and trade altitude for airspeed. If the launch is too steep, push down hard and dive for airspeed. From a typical overhand launch, you should have 5-6 feet to work with. Sometimes, you gotta use most of it.

Don't panic. Airspeed is your primary concern followed by altitude. It's better to flop in flat a few feet away from launch after a shallow dive that wasn't quite enough than to claw for altitude and fall off on a wing and cartwheel.

Plowboy

If you need to hand launch that plane because the takeoff area isn't suitable for ROG then I would suggest either making the runway suitable or finding a different place to fly.

Becarefull of the Rx switch if you attempt this I one time hand launched only to realize that I turned off the RX. the launch was immediatly followed by a rather nice crash!!!

Thanks for all the good and reasonable input. After reading through it all, it sounds doable, but I have decided to do it afterall.

I'm sorry, I meant to say that I do NOT plan to hand launch after reading the responses.

Sounds like you made a good choice.
If you need to hand launch an Alpha, sounds like you don't really have a place to put it down either, and removing the landing gear is not really an option. (It's where I used to hook my fingers)
No take off or landing area=different type/kind of plane.
If you were just going to do it for kicks, discresion is the better part of valor... or something like that.
Don't do it, you won't be happy.

Jetts

I made a perfect 3 pointer with my Funtana yesterday and removed the landing gear just as smooth as could be in the thick grass. Since this was the first flight of the day and I had taken off the afternoon to go flying (can we say playing hookie?) I spent the rest of the day hand launching the plane. The good news was Funtanas can be Harrier landed so it doesn't hurt them a bit. Whats even better is the way they fly with the landing gear off. Now that is a 3'Ding plane

Wheels? you mean those little round weights/drag inducers I see other guys have on their planes?

(I have about 12 flyable planes right now. 1 has wheels )

Still, an Alpha TRAINER is not a good plane to land without them.
When you become a cowboy, go ahead and take the wheels off, and tear it up.

Jetts

I have to admit that I haven't examined the belly of an alpha carefully to see what's under there. But most trainers have at least 3/32 balsa sheeting on the belly and a ply crutch fuse, possibly some open bays as well. All covered with heatshrink, and that's more than strong enogh for belly landing. To be honest though, I wouldn't take the gear off unless I was landing in tall grass or cut grass with no rocks, etc. and if I had nicly cut and cleared grass, you wouldn't need to handlaunch. But I've been places where the field was totally unimproved, lots of waist high grass. We could (and did) fly from it if you threw everything and belly landed in the grass. Landing gear got in the way in that case, and would snag and create problems. So it has a more to do with the local conditions than anything.

Generally, I wouldn't hand launch or belly land a trainer unless I had a good reason for it, and only if the local conditions made sense. But if the conditions warrented it, I wouldn't hesitate to do it either. YMMV.

Plowboy,

One final question-if you don't mind.
What was the reason you asked the question in the first place?

Anything can be hand launched, and belly landed, but as I said earlier, if you NEED to, this is the wrong type of plane.

Jetts

I would bet most of the guys hand launching their plane have planes under two pounds and most likely electrics. Lots of electrics are hand launched by design, but they usually light and configured for it.

My plane has landing gear but I have never used it. I took it off. I fly on a grass field that tends to be 6" or higher so a light plane really can't taxi on it.

D'ja ever fly one of the Ace Simple planes? Some of those kits are supplied with wheels, most are not. They are designed to be flown with small .049-.30 glow engines. I agree though if conditions permit, leave the landing gear on.

Reply to Jetstarblue,

To answer your question, I live on a ranch that is a little rough. There are some high outcroppings where I could fly and watch my plane flying along a creek bed below me. I though this vantage point would be be kind of cool.

plowboy

Yes it would! At my old field, we would take off, then "fly down into the bowl" a section of field that was actually about 30' below in sort of a valley, then when time came to land, we'd come back up and land. Spectacular to fly below yourself while inverted.
Good luck!

Jetts