I plan on picking up the Hobbico NexSTAR 46 Select 4-Channel RTF 68.75" to use as a trainer, and i have been browsing through its manuals, ect. I came across this tidbit.


Now, correct me if im wrong, but i believe the ailerions are on the wings that control the banking of the plane though its center axis, (the axis from nose to tail) And i am just curious as to what exactly would be on this plane now, and also what difference a "dual aileron" servo setup would do.

You are correct the ailerons control roll about the 'longtitudinal axis' and what that statement would indicate to me is that in addition to the mounting provision at the wing joint for a single servo to control the ailerons through pushrods and torque rods on the ailerons, that they have also provide mounting plates out on the wing bottom somewhere to instead of using a single servo but use one on each wing operating the ailerons through short pushrods directly to control horns on the surface.

On a trainer in the training evironment they provide virtually nothing. For aerobatics they tend to remove some of the associated spongeness of aileron torque rods and will provide a little better roll control.

John

Just to add, I have attached a picture of the servo installation from my world models Frontier 40 manual. Although this is not the same model, the installation is similar for most types of trainers. As you can see the installation uses one servo that is connected to both ailerons through the use of torque arms. This is more than sufficient for most trainers such as the NEXTStar 46 as you do not need the extra power/torque and rigidity provided by two servos, in fact there are even some sports models such as the Word Models Mach II that use this set up. The only reason a beginner would need two servos in a trainer such as the NEXTStar is if one wants to experiment with flaperons (this is when the ailerons work as flaps and ailerons at the same time). You will never need flaps in a trainer, but some people like to experiment. When it comes to the extra rigidty and power of two servoes, as a beginner you will never be able to tell the difference between a one servo or two servo set up. I doubt that any body besides the most advanced pilots would be able to tell the difference in set up between a one and two servo set up in a trainer.

I am not to sure what type of radio the RTF version of the NEXTStar comes with, but if you want to experiment with flaperons you will need at least a 5 channel radio with flaperon mixing built in (their used to be some after market devices that could be fitted to the plane that could do the mixing but I am not to sure if they are still available).

Hope this helps,

Cheers
Pups

Noodles:

To simplify, you are correct about how ailerons work.

Dual Aileron servo setup provides one servo for each side, and can be controlled by either one RX slot as it is now, or two slots with a computer radio and following the selection in your radio manual for dual aileron servo's, usually "flaperon" setup, but it is different on various types of radio systems.

Basically, each servo will control it's own aileron. The mechanical setup for this requires that the servo arm is on either the outside of both servo's or the inside of both servo's. You cannot have, for instance, the left servo arm on the outside or pointing out to the tip of the wing, and the other point in towards the fuselage. This will make both ailerons go in the same direction, both up or both down.

Anyway, for training purposes, the single centered servo as is on the NexSTAR, and most other trainers that I know, is more than adequate. You will not see any differences, other than more cost for the extra servo and a tad more complexity in the construction, with dual aileron servo's versus the single centered servo.

There are several benefits with dual aileron servos, but most of them are well beyond the training level. They provide for individual aileron setups for trim and centering, as well as for operation of 'flaperons'. Flaperons are just that.. flaps (for adding additional lift) and aileron operation both at the same time. One disadvantage of flaperons is that when the flaps are deployed, you will loose that much more aileron control for the side that must go down because the flap selection switch has caused the system to pull both the ailerons down (both sides are deflected down), so when you apply the aileron control for the side that must go down, well, it can only move so far and that's that, so you loose some aileron control when you probably need it most, during landing.

This is usually overcome by experience and you learn how to cope with it, but not desirable for someone in training, especially in your situation where you are trying to learn by yourself. You will have enough brain load as it is without trying to learn how to control a system with dual aileron servo's and flaps.

Now, this is not true when you use a Y connector to one RX channel. In that case, the ailerons simply operate as ailerons without flaps. In that case, the only benefit to having dual aileron servo's is that you have more torque... each servo's torque is dedicated to that side's aileron. There is no additional adjustment provided because whatever you do to one side, using the computer features, you will do to the other side.

Hope all this stuff (everyone's postings) helps you out.

DS.

Single standard size servo, Since "servo" is singular, it suggests that they expect you to install just one and provide that configuration. I've got a student whose NexStar has that installation.


wings are built with dual aileron servo trays for future upgrades as skills increase, This suggests the wing has a couple of servo trays hidden under the covering out on the wings. The idea is that in the future when your skills increase, you may wish to retrofit the wing. You may wish to pull the single servo and stick in a couple out in those hidden trays. My advice is that when you've worked up your skills, you'll want a more agile airplane. And you'd rather put two servos into your next airplane. Like in a Calmato Sport for example.

can also be equipped with flaps From flying the NexStar, I'd suggest you not worry about this. The airplane doesn't need 'em, and more experienced flyers wouldn't want them or need them for this airplane. Advertising noise, this.

You got the idea of ailerons spot of, but missed the spelling. And you can call that axis the roll axis. Most do. Roll, pitch, yaw are the 3 axis, btw.

and also what difference a "dual aileron" servo setup would do On that airplane, nothing much different.

Thank you. Explained a few things..

For reasons that would take to long to explain, I have both set-ups. I set-up the second plane wing with dual servos, just for the experience in putting that type of set-up together. As the other guys said (and they have a lot more experience than I do) you can't tell the difference. Don't try and do a roll with the training aids on the plane. Once you are comfortable, take that stuff off and you will notice a big difference in how the plane flies. My suggestion, the radio that comes with the RTF is pretty simple. If you are planning on buying more planes in the future, buy the ARF. Then you can buy a better engine (mine RTF came with an OS 46 FXi) and radio than what comes with the plane. You will probably spend about the same amount of money, it will just take you longer to put the plane together. But, you will also get the benefit of learning a little bit of how to assemble a plane. Good luck either way. Hope you aren't to confused!

One more thing. If you have the RTF, it comes with the Automatic Flight Stabilization system. You wont need it. It works off of light direction and will use up you Rx battery. Just don't plug it in and you should be fine. I tought myself how to fly without it. If you are really not sure, just check the AFS out on the ground, just like the directions say and I think you will see what I am talking about. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Yeah, Mesaflyer is right. I had the Nexstar (sold it to another 'student' who sold it when he was done, and as far as I know, it's still around helping people learn to fly) and we tried the AFS out. It was somewhat unpredictable because the day we tried it out, the sun was in and out all day. The thing would work fine for one sunlight setting then different when the sun went in requiring adjustments for changes in daylight due to clouds. So, I just disconnected the thing and, shortly after that, I swapped out the radio system from the basic Futaba to my Airtronics RD6000 computer radio. I flelt it was somewhat smoother to operate, and did not support the AFS, but is not the object of this post. I just thought I would add that just in case you were thinking of doing that. The Nexstar flys just great the way it comes from Hobbico.

Again, not the object of this thread, but I will offer this: You can use the wing tip spoilers and the brake gizmo's. I used them and found them to be somewhat useful by slowing down approaches (at the cost of the approaches being somewhat more steep but not that much more). Then, once I solo'ed, I removed them, first the wing tip spoilers, flew a few flights, then the brake gizmo's and flew it again. The big difference was in the elevator trim required for straight and level flight without the brake gizmo's. It needed considerable more trim which I had to remove mechanically after that first flight without them.

Anyway, enjoy your Nexstar. You will find all sorts of threads here on RCU about that plane.. even to the point where someone took the dihedral out of the wing and made it somewhat more aerobatic... interesting stuff.

DS.