Hi everyone it's been a few years since I've flown and I've forgotten some things.

-What is the difference between the high rates and the low rates? When should I use one or the other?

-My planes have not flown in a few years, should I be concerned about the health of their batteries? I have charged them up and decharged them, should that be enough?

-My trainer has an O.S. 46LA in it, My Extra 300 has a Magnum .75 two stroke in it and my Cessna 182 Skylane will have a Saito 125 in it, can I use the same fuel for all of them?

-After I've gotten my skills up to par again with my trainer I'm planning on giving my Extra her maiden flight. Would I be wise to mix some rudder in with the ailerons? I'm using a Futaba T6XA.

Thank you in advance for the help.

-Eric

You'll want to use low rates (smaller surface movements) when you want your plane to be less agile/sensitive, such as on take off and landing. High rates make your plane more sensitive to stick input, more agile.

Cycle your batteries with a "smart" charger a couple of times (if you have one), and see how much charge they will accept. If their health has deteriorated considerably, get rid of them. If you have no way of determining their health, spend a few bucks on new batteries --- no sense in risking your planes just to "save" a little money.

Yes, you can use the same fuel for all of them.

As for rudder/aileron mixing, I personally see no reason for it, but someone else might have an opinion on that.

-I set my planes up so normal flying is done with low rates on, When I want extra throw in the control surfaces (movement) I use high rates.

-You are saying you have charged and discharged your batteries, right? What were your findings? Did they discharge to their rated capacity? If you have no means to determine if they have discharged to their rated capacity with a battery cycler, you should get at least 1.5 hours of discharge time, when turned on and you fiddle with the sticks for that amount of time. Most transmitters now show their current voltage in use. When the TX battery gets to 9.6 volts it's time to stop and recharge, when the RX gets to 4.8 volts it's time to stop and recharge. If you don't have a cycler, I would strongly recommend you get one and also an Expanded Scale Voltmeter or ESV. If you can't make any of these determinations, buy new batteries and then get a cycler

-You can use the same fuel. Because most 4 cycles like Nitro in their fuel, 15% is a good blend usable for both.

-Rudder/Aileron mix is generally used to overcome adverse yaw (the down deflected aileron causes more drag then the up deflected aileron when rolling an airplane). Your Extra should not be an airplane which exhibits much adverse yaw. Generally, slow flying high wing airplanes will need this mix, more then faster flying airplanes.

So I should reserve the rudder/aileron mix for the Cessna?

Avoid the mix all together

you can use the bank n' yank strategy until you can feed in both rudder and AIL manually one of those things thats very hard to do but once you get it it will be a huge help for cross wind landing or if you ever want to get into 3d..

JMO

Steven

Just pretend you never heard of aileron to rudder mixing and you will be better off.

lol sounds logical to me, thanks

HORSE-PUCKY! There is nothing wrong with using some Rudder mixed into Aileron with an airplane that can benefit from doing so. If you have no problem coordinating turns without a mix, fine. However, with some airplanes and for some flyers it makes sense. It does not need to be very much.

How would one go about knowing if A plane needs A mix or not before it has flown??
Just wondering.

Yeah, and then all you need to do is fight it on every crosswind takeoff and landing. It can even mess up a newbie on no wind days. No sense making him learn to fly properly is there? Not to mention how bad it will make every aileron roll look.

If the plane has SPECIAL wings like a Delta, tailerons or elevons. For 98% of the average planes out there, you won't need them. Mixes like flaperons are common but should also be used carefully as they can be over-done. Sometimes a little elevator can be mixed in when flaps are used but this can be done anytime. Multiple aileron servos or dual elevator servos can require a mix, depending again on the set-up.

I agree with Bruce, mixes are a bit of a debilitating crutch when learning. Maybe later on after a new flier has learned to control both rudder and aileron as needed but not before.

somegeek

I could even live with this crutch as long as the pilot could switch it on/off in flight when desired. What next? A gyro?

I've got to agree with Bruce, Grey Beard, and Somegeek as well. When I train a student I tell them to turn off ALL mixes in their radios (in fact, if possible I will have them us a radio that can't do mixes). Then when I teach them I show them how to use the sticks to coordinate their turns, or do other things by hand. This way they learn what is supposed do be happening before they try to set up a radio do it. Now I know that some may say that this is "bull" in this day and age of computer radios, that it's super simple to set up the computer to do mixes for you. Yes, this is a true statement. But I ask them this...... How is the student supposed to know what to setup? If they don't know how to manually perform what they are trying to program the radio to do, then how can they successfully program the radio to do it? Yes, they may be able to read on the internet how to do it. But IMHO it's better in the long run if the student has a working knowledge of what they are trying to do. I feel that it makes them a better all around pilot.

After a student has learned how to do it by hand I'm all for using the radio to take care of mixes such as Aileron-Rudder. In fact, I use it on m Slow Poke to help smooth out the flight.

That's my 2¢ worth

Ken

Mixing the ailerons to rudder really is a matter of opinion, mine is learn to fly with both sticks and then if you want do some mixing.
The specific question was about the Extra 300. I say fly it first and then see if you want some rudder mixed in.
Aside from V tails and flying wings ect... I can't think of alot of planes that can't be flown without mixing.
What I am saying is, your Extra 300 can be safely maidened witout Rudder Aileron mixing "IF" you have anough skill to maiden an airplane like that, if you don't then mixing won't make alot of difference.

Ken's got it.. No use in using something that you don't really know how it is supposed to be used. Kinda like drivers ed in a Lamborghini...

First of all I'm not suggesting beginners fool around with mixes! Trainers fly just fine without! I'm thinking of specific airplanes where coupled rudder and aileron helps with adverse yaw in turns. These are NOT aerobatic or 3D airplanes. I said in my original post "Your Extra should not be an airplane which exhibits much adverse yaw". By coupling rudder and aileron, enough to help with adverse yaw, you have only decreased the amount the airplane can be cross controlled; however, you have not eliminated your ability to do so, or land and take off cross wind!

Fly a Cub, giant scale bipe or golden era general aviation airplane, or a WW1 airplane where coordinated turns really are necessary. The option of having a rudder aileron mix might be a nice feature, should a flier feel that's the way to go!

If your flying well enough that you are comfortable with an Extra, playing around with mixes will only help you fly better!

So, to say to forget the word "mix" I still say "Horse Pucky"!

Yes, this is very true. But in the context of the Beginner's Forum these planes, and flying them, isn't what we discuss here. So, while your point may be extremely valid for these plane types it's not as much valid here in the this forum where we are discussing people getting started in their flying career. And in this context it is extremly valid to say forget about mixes. Or rather it would be more appropriate to say "Forget about the mixes until after you've learned to fly and are moving on to more advanced planes that would benefit from them."

Ken

I will go one step farther in the spirit of the original post and suggest that any plane, including those that may exhibit adverse yaw, should be maidened with no mixing.
Fly it first and then decide if mixing is needed. That was what the original question was if I am correct?

Fine, you guys have your opinions, I have mine. Obviously, I don't think coupling a little rudder into ailerons is as big a deal as you all do. However, the herd mentaility on the subject is certainly going to rule the outcome.

Good luck to all!

So you're saying because the majority don't agree with you (at least not completely) we are all wrong and you (as usual) are the only one 100% correct ? Well, Moooo!

This is such a little issue if you want to be the big winners in this disagreement, POOF, your the winners!

Mark, you just crack me up. )

OK I will speak because it needs saying.
First off this is a small issue as you state and ,as with many topics, it is a matter of opinion, there is no right or wrong on this subject and no winners or losers, just different opinions and honest debate.
No need to get hot headed we are all on the same side. I feel the other thread you started accusing this forum of being laced with bad information is a result of people dissagreeing with you in this thread. Chill out dude, there is more than just your way to do things.

In a British context, this would look really weird.