I need some advice on what control inputs from rudder and elevator are required to coax this trainer through a smooth level aileron roll?

With plenty of speed, point the nose up a bit, feed in aileron and hold it in, as it rolls inverted feed in down elevator to keep the nose up (push stick forward a bit), take out the down elevator input as it rolls level.

You can add some rudder in the direction of the turn to speed up the roll rate.

... or....

If you're a masochist and want to do a slow roll with your plane, you can feed it some rudder at 90 and 270 degrees in order to help keep the nose up. But plane will be fighting you if you do that because of the high degree of roll coupling inheritent the design of the plane. As you come through 90 you would need to feed in opposite rudder and additional aileron to counter that rudder input. Then as you come through 270 you would need rudder into the roll and less aileron since you're rudder is now increasing the roll rate. Elevator input is same as above. With a more capable plane you wouldn't have to worry about adjusting the aileron input as you feed rudder in and out.

I had to bump up the aileron throws quite a bit on mine. The above advice is excellent though! Mine requires ALOT of down elevator on the low rates once inverted. Another thing you could do if you are just getting used to rolling it is this. Gain some altitude and enter a shallow dive to gain some airspeed. Gently pull vertical while moving to full throttle as you transition to near vertical. Once pointed up practice rolling. Usually once you get the full roll in the plane will be level with the ground as the airspeed bleeds off and gravity comes into play. Make sure you have enough altitude in case she doen't react the way you expect and you have to abort at a half roll and do a split S to recover! By the way, 86 the three blade and put on an 11x5 if you haven't already. Then ditch the flywheel!. Really wakes up the motor. And the flywheel will only let you roll somewhat fast one way due to the gyroscopic forces. Hope this helps.!!

10-4 86 3x10x6 4 11x5



the diff will immediatley noticable

Almost no rudder needed if doing maximum aileron throw rolls with a trainer. They don't do the best axial rolls no matter what you try.

Differential aileron throw helps the roll be more axial. Mechanically adjust the linkages to give up to double the upwad deflection as downward. (its just a matter of using a 6 arm "wheel" and using 2 arms that are NOT directly across or next to each other... for the torque rod typical of trainers... you have the arms forward of center at neutral. This gives more push than pull.

Most trainers... its full ailern and shve the stick full forward (down elevator) just as its ALMOST inverted then back to neutral elevator before its 45Deg banked from nverted headed toward upright. There's still a "wiggle" in the roll... but thats about as good as it get with a trainer.

Has anyone tried a roll with a Tower Hobbies 40 Trainer?

I'm starting to get a little more ambitious with my flying now I am comfortable with flying the approach pattern, taking off and landing, flying simple figure 8s etc.

I've pretty much got loops sorted, so I tried a roll the other day and had a 'OMG I'm gonna crash' moment! [X(]

I started going into a climb (I read the trainers will always end a roll heading towards the ground if you are not compensating with any elevator input) and close to full throttle. I then put in full right aileron and it S-L-O-W-L-Y started to roll - actually it was quick to get to about 90degrees to the ground, thats when it started to dive towards the ground. I kept in the full aileron and eventually it made it fully round, but I wasn't expecting the sudden drop and diving tendency.

If I put in some down elevator to compensate for the diving as it starts to get close to upside down will I be able to get it to roll smoother?

Yes.

I would also increase your aileron throw. Either move the control rod in on the control horns (move it closer to the control surface), or move it out on the servo arm. More throw will increase the roll rate, but will also make all of your flying a bit more sensitive to ailerons. Just be aware at first, it won't be a dramatic change.

Have fun.
Dennis-