how will my plane fly differently if I setup Elevons (where the elevator halves move in sync with the same side aileron, is that what they are called?). Is there a disadvantage to setting these up and if so should I give them as much throw as possible? Thanks in advance.

Khlash

What plane are you flying?

Elevons are used with delta wing planes - no separate wing and horizontal stabilizer. If you have ailerons, you don't need to put elevon mix on your elevator halves.

Is there something else you're not telling us about, besides the type of plane?

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

I understand the question, but the answer will depend a lot on the plane.

What is it?

Klash I think what you may be talking about is: Aileron (to) elevator mix and sometimes referred to as Tailerons. In the full scale world it is most seen on military aircraft and very few civil aircraft.

As you suspected the idea is to increase the roll rate by mixing in an aileron function on the split elevator halves of a conventional configured aircraft.

I,am sure it has been used on RC aircraft but suspect that for most of us there is very little if any advantage.

John

Thats what I'm getting at..... something to increase roll rate. The plane in question is a Seagull Harrier.

OK My preferred activity is pylon and multi engine with a little old timer thrown in for effect And I am not a 3D flyer. But the basics of what you are going to need will be at least dual aileron servos on separate channels and two elevator servos on separate channels for each half of the elevator. Each elevator half must be separated if they already are.

Next you will need a very capable Tx with multiple free mixs (You won,t find Tailerons on any pre programed mixs). What you need to do is to post in the 3D forum and you might get some help there also if you refer to the function as tailerons instead of elevons it will save some confussion. This is way beyond the perview of a beginners forum.

John

Ive got that. I know how to set it up. Im just wondering what effect its going to have in flight.

Khlash

I can't imagine the Seagull Harrier not rolling fast enough for you. What you are trying to do is a gimmick with no usefull performance gain. The elevator is on the far end of the horizontal rolling axis and will not improve roll rate much if any. Ask anyone who has lost one elevator half of a split elevator setup.

Now a usefull elevator mix with flaperons is possible. It can make hovering easier if your elevator response is sluggish while hovering.

I've used tailerons some on my ucando 3d, and soon turned them off. yes, they increased the roll rate, and helped during hover if I didn't want to TR, but they also had a very nasty tendency to make the plane act like it was tail heavy. it would drop the tail anytime I was banking and basically just became a pig to fly.

Exactly the kind of information I was looking for. thanks smokingcrater.