I don't know whether it's the plane that is causing the problems, my lack of flying experience, or what.

I had flown a Cosmic Flyer a long time ago, almost a year. Figured I'd get back into planes since I've already got quite a few cars around. So I bought the Decathlon (electric version I might add)

I have no problems taking off, but like a few seconds after I take off it will just dive to the right and crash. When I flew before never had that problem. When it starts to lean towards the right, I will try and correct it but it never responds, so it's an unrecoverable dive. I just have to hope it crashes into something soft. Any suggestions on what to look for?

Reading a lot of the other posts about the Decathlon and some of the problems it might be that either I'm stalling it really early (which might be part of it, it tends to climb rapidly before it dives to the right) or it might even be not a fully charged battery. I'm using a cheap charger but I might go pick up a decent one where I can measure everything. The one I'm using right now I have no way of really knowing if it's charged yet or not. Kinda dangerous actually

Guess on Monday I will pick up a decent charger and a new fuselage since mine seems rather crumpled in the front.

Most of the time incidents like that are caused by getting the airplane off the ground too slowly and then using to much up elevator. This is indeed a stalled condition and is the entry to a spin. Not sure what your model is but I,ve flown the little electric Citabria sold by Hobby People for a few others and it does have a fairly heavy wing load which require you not rush the take off if used in a "Rise Off Ground" takeoff. You must hold it on the ground to get reasonable speed first and then after takeoff not pull up steeply.

If no one has flown this airplane may I suggest first you carefully double check the center of gravity and adjust as neccessary and have someone experianced fly it first to get your trims properly set first. It also sound as though your elevator neutral trim is not well set.

John

Find someone that fly's regular and let them see if they can figure it out for you, it's really hard to imagine what is really happening and if someone (that knows) sees it they might be able to help. One thing I can think of to check is for is a warped wing. Probably not that but it won't cost anything to check. I will also go along with your statement that you are possibly stalling the plane, try just letting the plane climb very gradual. Most new people worry about getting a plane up too fast and that can cause all kinds of problems, especially stalls. Not being Smart, but are you sure your controls are RIGHT ??? Probably not much help, hope you find it before it's too late. ENJOY !!!!! RED

Give a bit more information on exactly which Decathlon electric you have.

2 years or so back I bought the Wattage "mini" Decathlon EP with a 28.75" and area of 151 sq. in. 15.4-16oz a sq ft.
I know wattage stopped making that plane and came out with the larger EP in a red scheme. Super Decathlon I think they call it.

Here I am speaking of my Wattege mini in yellow and white trim.
Gave that mini Decathlon plane a few tries and got on here asking questions. Many seasoned flyers had also tried to fly this plane. One fellow told me that they passed it around the club and no one could fly it.
To much wing load. My experience was the same as yours. Even the smallest possible inputs would send it into a spin and a crash.
I gave it try after try, attempted with lighter (lithium) batteries, stronger motor. It would fly but no fun at all.
I finally just gave up trying to fly the dog and bought a different electric plane....not by Wattage. That plane turned me off electrics for over a year and absolutly will not but another from wattage no matter what the glowing reviews. Do not trust magazine reviews much anymore and stopped that magazine.

Possibly some have had a great time with that model lately but not back then. I looked long and hard for answers. Only one being add inches to the wing. Not worth the trouble to me.

My Decathlon EP is just a display now sitting in my shop.

If you have the Park Zone Decathlon I think you're analysis is correct and that you are stalling it. I have the plane and I love it, but you have to be a little careful. I stalled it the first time I flew it, but luckily I was able to save it. Here are a couple of tips.

1) Make sure you're at full throttle before you throw it (no kidding right?) and throw it *straight/level*. I'd say you want to throw it about as hard as you would throw a football to a middle school kid. Put a little effort into it, but don't rifle it.
2) Let the plane fly straight for 50 feet or so and build up speed. My plane will climb at full throttle with the nose just *slightly* pitched up. A good amount of airspeed will produce enough lift to climb.
3) Launch into the wind (if there is any).
4) Be very carefull of over controlling.
5) I haven't heard anyone with this problem, but my plane is very unresponsive in low rates. I keep it in high rates all the time.
6) Check your trim. Make sure everything is centered before takeoff (unless you've trimmed it out in flight before). Let's just say I may or may not have tried to fly with full right trim.
7) Consider doing some of the upgrades mentioned in other forums. I changed out the prop, 9x7 I think, but if you can't find any info, PM and I'll let you know for sure.

Hope something here helps.

The Super Decathlon by Park-zone is a far different plane than the one I mention and blast above.
I cannot find mine anymore, I would not have mentioned it except the symptoms were so familiar.

Need more info to try and help.

I can say that scale planes are prone to stall much like the real planes. More so with WWI or II war birds.

Ya, I have the Parkzone one.

I'll try your suggestions anthof next time I fly it.

Haven't had a chance to fly it yet. Got a new prop (GWS0947) and put in the venom motor mod. Picking up a pinion gear today (ah, the benefits of working at a hobby shop). And no, it's not that I'm new to RC, just I've been a diehard rc car fanatic and geting into planes now.

I have the Parkzone Decathalon as well, and my Plane also headed to the right and into a uncontrollable stall when I flew it stock right out of the box. Here is the fix, and the Plane flys wonderfull now. Changing the Prop is a MUST! A GWS 1047 Slow Flyer prop used with stock motor and battery works best for me after much experimenting. Use the High rates! The Plane is a slug on low rates, and the servos are much to slow to respond to inputs. So High Rates Only even if if you are new to flying! Lastly just put in a couple clicks of left rudder on the trim before you hand toss or take off from ground. That will help compensate for the torque push right. The Plane went from "unflyable out of the box" to a "very good flyer" just by doing a few changes. Good Luck!

Heh, already changed the prop out after I saw that somehow where the nut goes into the prop (behind it), it completely stripped and rounded that part of the prop. I've also done the venom motor mod, just waiting to get the pinion gear for it. And yes, I found it a lot easier to fly in high rate rather than low rate.

Well, I think I actually found the cause of it stalling and dipping to the right. I took a look at the gearbox and the shaft, it's not centered. It's tilting downward and to the right. I'll have to inspect it further to see if it's just the way it's sitting on the firewall/fuselage, or if it's bent that way.

One other thing, I got the pinion for the motor but the darn thing is a pain to get on. Anything that might make it easier, or is brute force all that I can do?

My Decathalon starts to go right, and when I correct it left, it crashes like a rock. I think it's just a stall. Broke the prop pretty quickly. Do the replacement props that are being mentioned require any mount adapters to be utilized on the park Zone plane?

Thanks for any assistance.

Dave Ferguson

no...none at all.