I have completed building a WM's Rambler 45 and I noticed that the instructions only have 1 set of specifications for the control throws. I have set-up the plane with these but I would like to set-up dual rates. This is a low wing trainer for me so I would like to have one set-up for more docile flying. Would that be 80% of the specs? 60%? Or do you typically setup dual rates the opposite way, ie. use the specs for the low rates and then setup the postiion 1 rates for 125%?

Thanks,

Jeff

For your first flight start at the recommended high rate throws @ 100% (see how it handles) set low for 50% on the ailerons and 60% on the elevator. After you ring it out a bit you can add more deflection to the high rates and modify the low for comfortable flying..

Thats a safe approach....... good Luck.

Most kit control deflections are for moderate performance, or a flyable plane for an average pilot. (There are exceptions though). So I personally set my low rates to be what is in the manual, and high rates for whatever I can get, or what looks right, depending on the plane. But, then, I tend to like a fast response on my planes, and I tend to view the throws in the instructions as the bare minimum for the plane to get out of it's own way.

If the plane is intended by the manufacturer as a low wing trainer, and that's what you are using it for, then I'd set low rates as the recommended, and high rates for a about 125% as you said. If you really are worried it will be too much, try 90% and 110% and then change it after you've flown it.

If you have other guys around, I'd leave off the duel rates, set it as recommended, and get someone to test fly it, and maybe hand it to you on a buddy box, or up high. Then, if you don't handle it, they can take it back and you can tame it down on the ground. Relying on hitting a switch to get the plane under control often doesn't work unless you've been hitting switches for quite a while.

After you've flown the plane a bit, you can figure out how you like things set.

I'd set high rates at the manufacturer's specs and low rates at 70%.

I agree with Chuck. Montague -- this is not an experienced pilot like yourself. jdewolftx, I suggest factory specs @ 100% on high rate & anywhere between 50% & 70% of the factory spec on low rates. Expo is even better than hi-lo rates. If you have expo, set the factory specs @ 100 %, with -50% expo on the high rate, & 75% with -50% expo on low rates. This will give you an excellent chance of survival until you are familiar with the bird -- then you can crank up the rates & adjust the expo as you see fit.

Fwiw, I saw a plane lost because there wasn't enough control throw to get out of trouble. The pilot had set up about 50% of recommended throws, and the plane was so sluggish, it basically wouldn't respond. That's really rare, but it's not unheard of.

If the plane was something that might be above the pilots level, something like a UCD or other acrobatic plane, I'd agree, set up for lower than recommended rates. But on something like a 4* that has rather trainer-like rates spec'd, cutting them in half isn't a great idea, IMHO.

I totally agree that 100% rates and about 40% expo is probibly a better plan anyway. Switches can get you in trouble, espeically with a new model.

And if it's your second plane, you probibly aren't up to doing the test flight on it anyway, unless you are really throwing the trainer around right now. So the most important advice I can give you is to get a bit of help on the first flight. Get someone to give it to you up high, so you don't have to learn it's control responses on the climb-out. Since an experienced pilot will do the first hop anyway, the control throws really aren't that critical in the end.

Side note, if you've never test flown a plane before, you can do a few things to get ready for the experience. Try taking off your favorate plane with one control a bit out of trim, and pratice getting the plane up high while out of trim, and then trimming it quickly. Then do it with multiple control surfaces. Then hand your TX to a friend, tell them to mess with the trims a little (just a few clicks, nothing wild here), and take off again. While it's true that many well-made ARF's take off with almost no trim required if you are careful setting them up, it's really rare to not need at least a little trim somewhere.

Jeff - the Rambler is a lovely plane to fly, one of my favourite Sunday flyer. Just set it up according to the recommended rate and it will not be insufficient not too much. If you are not an inexperienced flyer the recommended rate it just right. Fly her ... trim her ... get used to her then worry about rates. You do not need it for the maiden. Its a very gentle plane that flies ever so nice.

For me I use 2-3 rates as I like my planes with a lot of throw (bad habit from my RC car days). I love to hard rolls when I fly slow. I usually set the low rate to be higher than the recommended and the high rate to be heck of a lot more than the recommended. Sometimes I set the low rate at about the recommended rate or less so I can just relax and putter about slowly.

Hence, I say set your Rambler to neutral (recommended rate) and then see what YOU like.

Oh yes ... almost forgot ... have fun in taking off! This plane is interesting. For me I keep the elevator up to hold the tail down when taxying and start to roll out, when it picks up speed I release it a bit if not it will jump up ... then add in more up elevator to lift her off. This UP-NEUTRAL-UP input is very pronounced on the Rambler, my other tail draggers are not like that. If you want her to come in for a fun landing use the APC 12.25 x 3.75 prop ... the prop wash will really keep her up and you can do a harrier like landing.