Eagle II Balancing after engine swap
11-05-2002 | 03:09 AM
#1
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From: Salmon ArmBritish Columbia, CANADA
Eagle II Balancing after engine swap
Hi all!
I've just bought an OS FX 46 to replace the OS LA 46 that is in my Eagle II. The primary reason(s) for doing this is that the LA seems sort of cheap and nasty, sounds like a 20 year old chainsaw with a broken muffler clamp, and it gets spanked by all the other trainers at thier field who are bye and large, running TT46 Pros.
TH FX is a bit more of a lump than the LA though. OS's web site says 9.6 oz vs 13.2 oz for the LA and FX respectivley, without mufflers. I can move the battery pack back (say that ten times fast) under the servo tray and pack some foam in there to hold it - currently it sits right behind the fuel tank with the RX.
Should that be enough to compensate for the heavier engine? Would a slightly more forward CG reduce the tendancy for the plane to float for about a mile and a half on every landing approach?
Along wiht the engine swap, I'm planning to change from a 10x6 prop to a 11x6. Good idea?
Thanks!
I've just bought an OS FX 46 to replace the OS LA 46 that is in my Eagle II. The primary reason(s) for doing this is that the LA seems sort of cheap and nasty, sounds like a 20 year old chainsaw with a broken muffler clamp, and it gets spanked by all the other trainers at thier field who are bye and large, running TT46 Pros.
TH FX is a bit more of a lump than the LA though. OS's web site says 9.6 oz vs 13.2 oz for the LA and FX respectivley, without mufflers. I can move the battery pack back (say that ten times fast) under the servo tray and pack some foam in there to hold it - currently it sits right behind the fuel tank with the RX.
Should that be enough to compensate for the heavier engine? Would a slightly more forward CG reduce the tendancy for the plane to float for about a mile and a half on every landing approach?
Along wiht the engine swap, I'm planning to change from a 10x6 prop to a 11x6. Good idea?
Thanks!
11-05-2002 | 03:50 AM
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Eagle II Balancing after engine swap
This is definitely a step in the right direction. The FX will kick butt on the LA. As far as weight distribution goes, move whatever you can back, and then add tail weight if needed.
The good thing here is that adding tail weight is better than adding nose weight because the tail is so much farther away from the CG than the nose is, a lot less weight is needed to make corrections.
As to floating on landing, once you have it flying, experiment with different CG locations. Changing the CG will definitely affect how it behaves. Remember that the MFG's recommended CG is just that, a recommendation. Experiment a little and see where YOU like it.
The good thing here is that adding tail weight is better than adding nose weight because the tail is so much farther away from the CG than the nose is, a lot less weight is needed to make corrections.
As to floating on landing, once you have it flying, experiment with different CG locations. Changing the CG will definitely affect how it behaves. Remember that the MFG's recommended CG is just that, a recommendation. Experiment a little and see where YOU like it.
11-05-2002 | 04:43 AM
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From: Terrell,
TX
Eagle II Balancing after engine swap
being a little nose heavy will remove some of the float on landing,will also make the plane less responsive in flight,to much nose heavy and there won,t be enough up elevator to fly,I would rebalance it to the prints then make small c/g changes,r/c proverbs,one floating plane,better than two wrecked planes.
11-05-2002 | 05:38 AM
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From: Salmon ArmBritish Columbia, CANADA
Eagle II Balancing after engine swap
Argh!
Turns out it was not the plug and play type of installation I hoped it would be. The crank case of the FX is a couple of milimeteres wider than the LA, so I have to build a new break-away plate to mount the engine on. I want to be able to put the LA back on once I have plane number 2 ready to go.
Oh well, with the limited flying that is left in our season, I guess I'll keep plugging with the LA, and bolt the FX to the front of my shiny new US40+.
Turns out it was not the plug and play type of installation I hoped it would be. The crank case of the FX is a couple of milimeteres wider than the LA, so I have to build a new break-away plate to mount the engine on. I want to be able to put the LA back on once I have plane number 2 ready to go.
Oh well, with the limited flying that is left in our season, I guess I'll keep plugging with the LA, and bolt the FX to the front of my shiny new US40+.
