I have a small electric Lanier Indicator and was wondering, what is the proper way to hand-launch?

1) Do you point the model straight ahead or slightly nose up?
2) Do you give it a toss or let the motor take it?
3) Do you want the up elevator before you launch or immediately after launching give up elevator? Don't know if I can be quick enough to do up elevator after the launch.
4) Any other pointers on doing hand launches?

Thank you.

Couple more pics

I'm right handed so I hold the transmiter in my left hand advance throtle to full. Grasp fusalage
under wing near center of gravity. Toss the plane briskly straight ahead like launching a toy glider or like trowing a spear.

If the elevator and rudder are at netrual you should have plenty of time to get to the sticks.
For insurance I sometimes add a tiny bit of up elevator with the trims to insure a shallow climb.
By tiny I mean when you look at the elevator edge on you can just barley see that is up from netrual. Maybe 1/32-1/16 of an inch up.

It's scary if you've never done it before. If you can launch over tall grass. If things go wrong the grass can save you're plane from serious damage.

Good luck,
Oscar

The trick is to find a person who can get you some "ground speed" by either taking a step or two or, breaking into a slight run AND
have the ability to leg go of the aircraft without any twisting of the fuselage!

Your plane has a good airfoil, so lift should develop rather quickly.

If the motor has plenty of pull, aim it straight ahead, get up some speed, and release without twisting.

Avoid a toss aimed high, this could lead to a stall.

As for the elevator, keep it neutral or slight up if you wish. Let the plane fly out on it's own after the launch, then input control as needed. Avoid full up. You will see that there is time to make adjustments after the launch. Not much...but it's there.

Man to easy just toss it like you were tossing a paper plane. Hold it under the wings at a balance point and toss it. It does not take alot or a super hard throw just toss it forward at a very slight angle up. You will have time to get to controls it is built for it. Give it about 3/4 throttle it will fly about on it's own. If it gives you a Center of Gravity point be sure it is correct. Looks like from the pics it is already balanced.
Man looked at pics again don't get caught up in the wheels lol. And might want full throttle or close.

The simply answer is throw it level or slightly nose down.

Before you even try powered flight, do some glide tests to get your trims correct. Just give it an easy toss level or slightly nose down. The plane should easily glide for 50-100 feet or more with no control input.

Brad

I wouldn't recommend doing any test glides with this plane. The size appears to be similar to the hobbico superstar ep. The aspect ratio is too small to allow the plane to glide. I've never glided my ep, but when the motor didn't have enough battery power behind it for a hand launch, the plane just nosed into the ground. Result .... rebuild the fire wall get a new motor. [:@]

You have a brushless on the plane, and you should be able to takeoff from a smooth surface maybe even grass.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned here yet. Regardless of how it's launched I would recommend that you get an assistant to help you for the first launch. Remember, the first time is going to be a trim flight as with any other RC plane. And even a plane that takes off from the ground can be a handful to fly until it's trimmed out. For a hand launched plane this can spell disaster as you may not be able to get your hands back on the stick quick enough to react to the out of trim plane. For every hand launched plane I've ever had I've always has somebody else hand launch it the first time that you fly it for just this reason.

In fact, as you are still pretty new to this it might help to have somebody hand launch it for you the first few flights. This will help you get used to the way the plane handles at launch and you will learn how to fly in those first few seconds. Then when you start hand launching it yourself you will be better able handle the hand launch yourself.

For me here's how I hand launch. Place the plane in your right hand (reverse all of this if you are left handed) on the CG of the plane and the radio in my left hand. Advance the throttle to full prior to tossing it. Then give it a toss like you were flying a paper airplane. Just very slightly up with the wings level. Then move your right hand to the radio and start flying the plane. I know that sounds overly simple but it's really not all that difficult. Some mistakes that are very common are launching with too high of an angle of attack, trying to "throw" the plane hard on launch, and trying to grab the radio too quickly. If the plane is properly trimmed in a simple toss like a paper airplane will be plenty. Trust me, you really do have plenty of time to get your hand on the radio. Sometimes a click or two of up elevator trim will give you a bit more time to get your hand on the radio.

Hope this helps

Ken

Thats how its done properly...you might want to take a step or two just to give it more power, but with the right set up of motor and battery it should go with a good throw.....Rog

Learn to launch with your left hand and have your right thumb on the TX stick, ready to fly the plane as soon as it is off.
Throw a small handful of grass to check the wind direction.
The plane should have already been checked out for straightness, wing warps, etc., so just give it a level push into the wind.
It drives me nuts to see guys switch hands after the launch. If you ever get to the point where you're flying something hot...the first critical second after launch makes the difference between having fun or getting out the Hefty bags. Force yourself to learn to launch with your left hand now and you will be preparing yourself for more challenging planes in the future.
It helps to choose the thrustiest prop you can to get the plane flying as soon as it leaves your hand. A lot of planes are capable of vertical releases, but feel the mode out carefully. If the plane has unlimited vertical, then vertical releases are usually no problem.
Outside of some C/L flying, I haven't used landing gear on anything RC related in about 8 years.