I just bought a Nexstar RTF a month ago. RC flying is my brand new hobby. I have put up a good 30-40 hours flying using the simulator which is quite a reliable trainning tool for a super beginner like me. The engine was broken-in by one of technican at RC outlet here two weeks back.

Last Saturday I tried to maiden it but didn't do that well. The plane banked right immediately after taking- off and continued with that flying pattern for the next 3/4 minutes. I managed to land it safely after a few bounces. The wind was good at about 5-8 m/p/h and it was flying at 3/4 trottle. After reading through a few related forums here I would gather that it was could be due to the incorrect aileron trim setting on my transmitter. The funny thing was both ailerons and trim button was sure looked well set in the centre.

Question - Let's assume aileron trim is the problem- Is that mean I could live with the trim off -centre to compensate for level flight OR I still need to get the connection on the servo arms fixed as a permanent solution?

I will try to fly it again this Saturday.

if it's not too bad you could give a few clicks of left aileron on the tx on the slider right below the right stick this is fairly common to have to do this

Many thanks Tsands. I will try that this weekend.

A little trim is normal...on mine, it rolls left a little...another guy I seen had a lt40 that always rolled right ... even though in both cases, the airlerons are dead center to the wing when in their resting position...its just imperfections in the wing...if one wing is 1/4 inch longer than the other, or has a smoother LE, it can produce more lift than the other...acting like its own aileron if you think about it...

Thanks for the tips RJM. Can't wait for this weekend. My confidence is running high.

Also, check that the wings are level. I had the same problem after a minor crash (is there such a thing???) and had to shim the right wing so it was level with the left. Even if the plane looks ok after a crash, make sure you check everything! Even if you have not crashed, check everything.

There was no crash. Taking your advice i will check again to make sure the wing are level. Cheers rwright.

shaharom, what you describe is fairly typical in trimming out a new plane. On the trim flight, use the transmitter trims to get the plane flying straight and level. When you get the plane back down, adjust the mechanical linkage the same way the trims did, and reset the trims to the center position. You may have to do more than one trim flight to get everything dialed in. Good luck with your flying.

That's definitely makes s lot of sense Jim. Permanent fixing is always the best. Thanks

if you run out of left trim. you can always screw the right clevis in a few turns. also be sure to check and make sure your rudder is trimmed straight. you could have a litte right rudder diealed in

Also, NEVER take your eyes off of the plane to trim it. Hold your transmitter up so you can see both the plane and the transmitter when you adjust the trim.
If you look down to adjust the trims you could look up and the plane be going down (or worse, going to hit you/friend/bystander).

My friend and I are new pilots. We both have Nexstars. On my friends Nexstar maiden flight, his plane kept banking to the right. The instructor had the trim all the way to the left and could barely keep the plane on track with FULL left aileron. The plane landed without incident. After carefull inspection my friend was told to return the wing and get a new one. He did get a new wing and the plane can now fly straight (with some left aileron trim though).

My Nexstar also requires left aileron trim to fly straight.

With left aileron trim both planes fly straight 'hands off' but on takeoff, as soon as they lift off the ground they both bank to the right.

If your plane is real bad you should exchange your wing for a new wing.

Exactly Correct Jim Dynes!! Lateral balance is something to check if Aileron correction is too much! TY Gday,,,Ray.[8D]

shaharom - I'm assuming that you don't have an experienced flyer handy to ask these questions or help you at the field. Sit down at home and just play with your plane and the transmitter trims and see what effect they have on the plane. Become familiar with all of this without making any permanent changes for now. Take someone, anyone handy, to the field with you. Discuss briefly with them how the trim controls work and explain which controls do what until they understand it in the same manner as you. Once in the air, YOU fly the plane and ask them to move the trim levers for you so that you will not be distracted by needing to look away from the plane. Have them move the appropriate trim in response to your request in small amounts (a couple of clicks) per correction so as not to over correct. The MOST important thing to do is FLY THE PLANE, worry about the trim second and altitude is your friend (up to a limit) as it gives you time to correct for mistakes.
Welcome to RC flying and I hope all goes well for you. We have a number of RCU members from your country and although it is a very large country you should be able to find someone to fly with and help. Ask at your local hobby shop (LHS).

Also - Are you using the AFS? My son flys this plane. We tried the AFS a few times when we first got it, and it worked as advertised. BUT- it tends to trim the plane to fly funny in bright light.....In our case it would constantly take the plane out of level flight and induce a slight turn toward the sun. We have been flying this plane for a LONG time now and have many many flights on it and it has been a real winner...

Jess

I will try to fly it this weekend at the RC flying field where I hope other experienced flyers will assist me with the trimming
( if the problem persists). Thanks Bruce

No the AFS was disconnected on purpose. I would like to fly it unassisted. If the result is not that good then looks like AFS will be required back.

If the airframe is not warped in any way, the reason a lot of trainers tend to bank right as soon as they lift off is because the pilot is holding right rudder that was used to counter-act the left-pulling tendency of the engine during the takeoff roll. As soon as the model lifts off, you need to get off any rudder you were holding.

If the model has strong banking tendencies in the air, then something's off. A control surface isn't centered properly, the wing or tail is out of alignment, and so on. We've seen a case or two where the wing flaps or wingtip droops were not quite aligned. Any of those things can make a difference.

If a surface is warped, and it can't be straightened by re-shrinking the covering, then please contact us about it.

Take a look at the bolts holding the engine mount to the firewall and the bolts holding the engine to the mount. If the firewall bolts especially, have loosened, the plane will bank to the right on take off. Saw it happen.

DaveB

MY NEXSTAR DOES THE SAME THING IT BANKS TO THE RIGHT I JUST GIVE AN LITTLE LIFT RUDDER AFTER IT LEAVES THE GROUND I ALSO HAVE AN THUNDER TIGRE STICK, TAIL DRAGER I PERFER THE TAIL DRAGER FOR TAXING IT WILL TRACK BETTER YOU JUST HAVE TO LEARN YOUR PLANE SPECIAL TRAITS IT WORK WITH IT DONT EVER GIVE UP

One way to find out if it's an airframe issue, or a thrust aligment issue is to loop the plane under power and see if it wants to roll out of the loop, then repeat the process with the engine at idle. If the plane rolls out under power, but tracks straight when at idle, then you have a thrust alignment issue. If the plane rolls out in both conditions, then you have a warp or control surface alignment issue.

I had this problem with my son's NextStar - I had to add a couple of washers under the right side of the engine mount (I need one more washer, but the attach screw is not long enough so I've left it as it is).

Hogflyer

HI you really dont want to add washers, it pulls right because of what they call a P Factor. the Prop is turning right and engine is set a little to the rightthat is why your plane pulls to the right. hold a little ridder and once you have wheels up switch toa little left aileron,once you leave the ground, andtake off at full throttle. Onceoffice the ground and safe from atip stall level off back the throttle to half and climb to the height you want.the thrust is in there to keep the plane flying better in the air,. i have 3 Nexstars all set up in different ways. one with a 2 stroke one with a 4 stroke OS56a and i am working on my third going to make it a tail dragger and stright wings. the nexstar is a great plane for newbees and easy to repair.
POHeller

I hate to be critical, but a little puctuation, including a couple of "commas" ala , , , would certainly help reading your reply.

Once "office" the ground? Give the readers at least a bit of a chance to make sense of this.


CGr.

This thread is FOUR years old.

The person who asked the queston probably figured it out by now.