Hi, I have a Balsa USA stick 40 and It does not fly good. I had to put a lot of weight behind the engine to get it to balance. Does it balance on the front spar? How much throw do I set on the rudder and elavetor? Can I move the engine more forward to balance/ Is there anything else I can do to make it fly easier? thanks for any help, Larry

You might try balancing the airplane so the Center of Gravity is located at the thickest part of the wing. Balance it right side up and near the fuselage. If you have the recommended engine size on the airplane it should balance without adding weight. I know you are limited as to how far you can move the battery but, that is what you want to move first before adding weight.

Also, you might contact support at www.balsausa.com and ask them where the CG is supposed to be.

Regards,
doubledee

A good CG for any trainer is 25% of the wing chord back from the leading edge. You say, "It does not fly good." You don't give any details about how it flys or what it's doing that you don't like. A little more information would be helpful. What does your instructor say about the way it flys?

Dr.1

Not much info on the BUSA site. The model should not weigh more than 5-1/2 lbs. Make sure you check the C.G. with the tank empty. 25% to 27% back from the leading edge would be a ballpark balance point on the wing for most models. The throws should probably be about 1" for the rudder to each side and 3/4" for the elevator each direction. You really should contact BalsaUSA for the true numbers if you don't get an answer here from a kit owner.

When you say it "does not fly good" what do you mean? It will never fly as good as a model with ailerons.

I'll see if I can find my plans from mine - it's the early version with the Stick tail, but should balance the same - about 28% - 30% behind the leading edge if I remember correctly. For the throw - you should be able to go about 1" on the elevator, and as much as possible on the rudder. Do you have the version with ailerons?

I've built several of these in the older 3-ch version (although I did have one 4-ch), and never had one that didn't fly good - one of the best secrets in basic trainers out there, and almost indestructible if the fuselage is built with epoxy. The .40 size version flew great for a trainer on a K&B 3.5cc (.21), and an OS Max .30. An OS .32 is more than enough power, and it is capable of thermaling. If you have a .40 on it, even an LA .40, that is too much power.

Hogflyer

I own the stick 40 plus (with ailerons) and have flown the stick 40 without ailerons. I didn't like the way the latter one flew at all. I added a servo powered tail wheel to improve ground handling. The engine is a Saito .56 which moves it right along. The 40 plus flies as well as any other trainer I've flown with the exception of outside loops. It just won't do them. I'm using quite a bit more throw on all control surfaces that what is recommended in the instructions.

I just checked my drawing and it shows the balance a 2 3/4 inch from the leading edge. I sold the Stick to a coworker and he has the assembly manual. I don't remember the recomended control throws. Mine was a Stick 40 with a wing I built with strip ailerons and a center servo similar to a Sig LT 40 wing. mine had a 46 LA on it and was a taildragger. It tought me how to fly and was a nice plane.

Hey TimC ! beautiful background ! Looks like a post card ! WOW ! We don't have mountains like that in mid Tn............Guess I need to get out more.

Ray

Thanks for all the help, I will balance, give the engine a little down thrust and set the controls at 1/2 to3/4 and try again . The plane was climbibg a lot and the controls were very sensitive and very gerky. I can fly on my own but have not flown for a while so thought I would use this plane to get some time with. Thanks for all the good help, I will let you know how it preforms, Larry

if the elevator was really sensitive to small inputs it could be a sign that the plane is tail heavy