Most of my planes are already set up for me when I get them , but once in a while I need to set the ailerons up myself. I don't have to engineer geometry or angles or rods or distances. I just have to set the centers pretty much.

The question is where to start out first? Without seeing some of them after being trimmed in flight , one would think to center both sides as perfectly as possible.
Some of mine from the factory , however are set a touch below center or above center. And almost all of them are trimmed in flight I think with the right one being slightly above the left. Is this normal?

Should I start out with both sides perfectly level with wings (in center) OR perhaps center the left on and make the right one a few clicks UP?

When might one leave them both below center of wing (that is both down) OR would they both ever be UP?

I've not seen a link that explains this in detail yet and have wondered every time I loosen something or repair one how to proceed.

Set them both the same.  Even with the wing in the center of the aileron.  That's what the trim tabs in flight are for.

Thanks, that's the most obvious answer to me anyways.

Put them both as neutral as possible.
Also check to see if travel is equal up/down, both sides. Some planes prefer more up than down (differential)
Depending on the actual kit you are flying, you may/may not have any adjustment options.

I would guess that your planes from the factory are actually trimmed wrong.
Not bad for a ARF or RTF but how accurate could they be out of the box.
Reminds me of the pre flown Blade 400 where they bragged it was trimmed out of the box.... They weren't.

You'll want to set them in line with the bottom of the wing instead of the top. That makes for a slight tipped up look when viewed from behind.

They've been close enough to fly. Over the winter I'd like to get things as perfect as I can. Some of them are visibly off a bit though. I will fix them.

Only if they are "thicker than the wing" , right?


If they are exactly the same shape and thickness then top and bottom will all line up well. I'm shootin' for as close to perfect as I can , but realise that they won't be perfect. Many of them are not even straight on used RTFs.

Disconnect your linkage from the ailerons. Use your transmitter to center the servo with the aileron trim at the center point.

Use a small clamp and a straight, flat piece of wood that is about 12 inches long x a few inches wide, and about a quarter inch thick. Carefully clamp the wood to the bottom of the wing across from LE to TE so that the aileron rests on this piece of wood and lays flat. Hold it there with a clothes pin or a soft clamp. I use small clamps that I bought from Ace Hardware. They call them "Quick Clamp".

With the aileron aligned with the bottom of the wing and clamped in place, hook up the linkage so that there is no bind. Obviously, do this on both sides. It's quick and easy, and will get you in the ball park to maiden the aircraft. Once you fly and get the trim right, adjust your ailerons so that they are in the post flight position with the transmitter stick and trim centered.

CGr.

Thanks, CG!!!
I think you just made my life a little simpler.
Got any easy suggestions for setting throws?

KW_Counter

In regards to that first question above: Yes in initial setups always set up both ailerons in trail (trailing edges lined up with the trailing edges of the wing. I prefer to do this by standing to the rear and lining them up visually. I beleve this method works better than even the straight edge method on the bottom of the aileron since some airfoils that is not as effective. It also works well in cases where there may be some twist in the ailerons.


In regards to your second question above: rigging in neutral some flap (both down) or some up also called reflex or spoiler (both up) is not normally done in initial set ups. Both are sometimes used to effect some changes. For example both can be used for sometimes used in small doses to affect the airplanes approach characteristics. Flaps can be used to slightly aid in slowing the approach therefore increasing the angle of the descent. Spoiler can be used also be used to slightly increase the angle of descent without slowing the approach speed.

In regards to twisted ailerons out of the box. This is very common on many arfs do in part due to their increditable journey and climatic changes from the factory to our local flying fields.

Now always the best answer is to fix them by counter twisting and reheating with an iron and so on but since this occurs on about half the airplanes I inspect the simple solution especially when at the field with a new trainer is this technique:

Lets say the just one aileron is twisted and not the other (either side) then simply rig the straight one in trail and the othe stand back and look to eyeball. Split the difference, make it about equal at the root and at the tip no matter which way the twist.

Now this of course is not rocket science but then agine nothing we really much do is. Its an effective expediant that works just fine.

John

Thanks, John and CGR. I've used both methods and both have worked well. It'll give me a little winter work to do so they are all close to perfect.

About the aileron alignment, some planes don't continue the taper of the airfoil all the way to the TE of the aileron, so when you have to choose between being straight with the bottom or straight with the top you should choose the bottom.

Yep, thanks. I caught that. All mine so far are identical shape and size as the rest of the wing. It is very easy to simply line them up evenly.