Hi all,

It's been a while since I did any 'serious' model flying but I have dabbled a few times recently with a friend's Wot 4.

Anyway, I've just got my new Seagull Decathlon ARTF ready to go with an OS FS .70 but before I commit her to the air I have a question:

The instructions suggest two control surface throw settings; one for test flying (Elevator up/down 3/16", Aileron up/down 3/8" and rudder L/R 3/4") and one for advanced (Elevator up/down 3/8", Aileron up/down 7/8" and rudder L/R 1 1/4).

Am I reading this correctly? Using the low rate settings I have set 3/16" up/down for the elevator measured at it's trailing edge but frankly that's barely any movement at all... Am I understanding the instructions correctly? Do they really mean that the trailing edge of the elevator should only move three sixteenths of an inch either way?

I remember from my dark and distant past that all of my surfaces were set up to move far more than that... even my old Acro Wot elevator had a good inch or so!

I'd be very grateful if anyone could shed some light on this for me... you may just save me a bad experience!

Best wishes to all.

Luke

Use the recommended set up. Rudder is especially strong, apply 50% expo. Use the modest elevator throws untill you are comfortable with altering them. It has some unique flight manners. Foe example, even with modest aileron roll rates, the snap roll is surprisingly fast. It is a plane to develope piloting skills. Enjoy!

I think if you check, that 1/4" is a standard throw rate for ailerons for a lot of planes. 3/16" is only 1/16" difference. The Decathlon is a very responsive plane and doesn't require a lot of throw.

This isn't really a "Trainer plane" even though it is high wing. Do you have the experience to fly it? Otherwise it will make a great second plane.

Just wondering?

Del

> "This isn't really a "Trainer plane" even though it is high wing." < Yur right there!! Its like a Corvette compared to an old Datsun!!

I bought one of these as my second plane. I powered it with an OS .50sx. I was not ready for this plane at that time so it had a short life. If slowwed it will snap and over controlling it will agravate the stall. I barely saved mine a few times. The ground handling on this plane is to date the most challenging I have ever come accross and breaking ground to soon to end the painfull roll out is what finally killed my Decathlon with a death snap 10 ft off the deck.

I wouldn't consider it a second plane at all, more of a 3d, or 4th type plane. The plane needs to be treated different to remain controllable on the ground and a fast light touch on the thumbs while it is in the air. It has a quirk that I have never seen on another plane. If allowed to bleed off speed on landing there is a point where the ailerons will suddenly become ineffective at which point you will have to either speed up or switch to the rudder!! The plane doesn't stall at this point either but appears to fly very stable. It might be different if I hadn't corrected the lateral balance of the plane before flying. [8D]

Something else to be aware of is don't lift off before you have a good amount of speed.

As others have said, even though it LOOKS like a trainer, it is not.

I had one (Note: HAD). I let my dad fly it. Now my dad is an excellent flier, but he can't get passed the notion that if it looks like a Cub, it should FLY like a Cub.

He crashed it on his first takeoff. He just didn't have enough airspeed and the engine torque rolled it around the the left. He repaired the damage (At this point I had given him the plane) And flew it successfully several times, but he crashed it several more times by trying to land it LIKE A CUB.

I have told him countless times that "This is NOT a Cub. DON'T try to fly it like one!"

But he insisted.

On it's last flight, he did a beautiful, slow, graceful landing and as it was touching down he said, "Look, just like a Cub". Before I could get out a protest, he zipped the throttle up to go around, and it lifted off and torqued itself right into the runway - Totaled.

BTW, now he's wondering why the F-22 Raptor won't fly like a Cub. And they say KIDS are bad!

Your Dad is cool. He has no problem with this one. Course he knows the real one inside out.

Thanks for all of your help people.

In the end I set up the control throws about 25% more than the book said as I'd rather get into the air with too much control than not enough... especially in pitch! A kind (and brave) bloke down at the field did the first flight and it behaved like a kitten. A few circuits to get things settled at it flew and handled like a dream.

The only gotcha as far as I can see is you must keep the speed up on final approach or as some have said it can show you a fairly spirited stall! Not suprising as there is a low aspect ratio wing, short tail/pitch arm and no dihedral.

The FS 70 is more than enough power for it... in fact take off at half throttle seems nice. At least there'll be pleanty left for when I get braver! I'll let you know how I get on.

Best wishes,

Luke

I flew mine with an OS 70 and it was a GREAT combo!