Turning radius lesson....
07-21-2008 | 07:39 PM
#1
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From: bellingham,
MA
Turning radius lesson....
I have about 16 flights in on my Aerostar .25
My instructor suggested I check my front wheel by rolling the plane down the driveway.
I was surprised how far off it was. I adjusted the linkage until it rolled straight. This should help my takeoffs.
A simple thing I never thought of. I was not aware how sensitive the front wheel is. rolling it in the driveway I could see how tight it turns.
I also moved to connection to the inner most hole on the servo. this should make it less sensitive....
Funny when I was setting this plane up I was concerned because I though there was not enough turn on the front wheel....
Steve
My instructor suggested I check my front wheel by rolling the plane down the driveway.
I was surprised how far off it was. I adjusted the linkage until it rolled straight. This should help my takeoffs.
A simple thing I never thought of. I was not aware how sensitive the front wheel is. rolling it in the driveway I could see how tight it turns.
I also moved to connection to the inner most hole on the servo. this should make it less sensitive....
Funny when I was setting this plane up I was concerned because I though there was not enough turn on the front wheel....
Steve
07-21-2008 | 08:18 PM
#2
RE: Turning radius lesson....
Very common. Most beginners set up their aircraft with way too much movement on the nose gear. Until people learn takeoffs they don't have an appreciation for how an almost imperceptable movement has such a pronounced effect on controllability.
07-21-2008 | 11:07 PM
#3
RE: Turning radius lesson....
Yep. You should ALWAYS test roll to make sure rudder neutral rolls straight. Not a good thing to find out that when the nosewheel loses contact with the ground that the rudder wants to yaw the model off course. Set the nose wheel on the furthest out (least responsive) hole of the gear control arm and closest in of the servo. You can usually "override" it with a blip on the throttle to swing the rudder once you get moving, anyway.
07-21-2008 | 11:54 PM
#4
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RE: Turning radius lesson....
True. I came to hate trike LG setups. If you lay into the rudder at the end of a roll our, your three points of contact with the runway usually end up being a wing tip, the nose wheel and a prop that is reducing in diameter.
I finally sat up my last nose gear for a maximum of 5 degrees either side of straight. I could do a U turn in about 25 ft with it.
After my crash, I went to a tail drager and have never looked back.
Don
I finally sat up my last nose gear for a maximum of 5 degrees either side of straight. I could do a U turn in about 25 ft with it.
After my crash, I went to a tail drager and have never looked back.
Don
07-22-2008 | 05:52 AM
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From: Jacksonville, FL
RE: Turning radius lesson....
I eyeball the nose gear first...do a few taxi runs before a maiden flight....get airborne, trim, then come home and set the nose gear by rolling it down the driveway...that way if I have to trim the rudder I'm not messing with the steering.
07-22-2008 | 06:11 AM
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From: Rochester,
NY
RE: Turning radius lesson....
ORIGINAL: Popriv
I have about 16 flights in on my Aerostar .25
My instructor suggested I check my front wheel by rolling the plane down the driveway.
I was surprised how far off it was. I adjusted the linkage until it rolled straight. This should help my takeoffs.
A simple thing I never thought of. I was not aware how sensitive the front wheel is. rolling it in the driveway I could see how tight it turns.
I also moved to connection to the inner most hole on the servo. this should make it less sensitive....
Funny when I was setting this plane up I was concerned because I though there was not enough turn on the front wheel....
Steve
I have about 16 flights in on my Aerostar .25
My instructor suggested I check my front wheel by rolling the plane down the driveway.
I was surprised how far off it was. I adjusted the linkage until it rolled straight. This should help my takeoffs.
A simple thing I never thought of. I was not aware how sensitive the front wheel is. rolling it in the driveway I could see how tight it turns.
I also moved to connection to the inner most hole on the servo. this should make it less sensitive....
Funny when I was setting this plane up I was concerned because I though there was not enough turn on the front wheel....
Steve
07-22-2008 | 11:55 AM
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From: Lexington,
KY
RE: Turning radius lesson....
ORIGINAL: cappaj1
Thanks for the tip! I'm building my first airplane right now and will 'roll it down' too to adjust the nose wheel.
ORIGINAL: Popriv
I have about 16 flights in on my Aerostar .25
My instructor suggested I check my front wheel by rolling the plane down the driveway.
I was surprised how far off it was. I adjusted the linkage until it rolled straight. This should help my takeoffs.
A simple thing I never thought of. I was not aware how sensitive the front wheel is. rolling it in the driveway I could see how tight it turns.
I also moved to connection to the inner most hole on the servo. this should make it less sensitive....
Funny when I was setting this plane up I was concerned because I though there was not enough turn on the front wheel....
Steve
I have about 16 flights in on my Aerostar .25
My instructor suggested I check my front wheel by rolling the plane down the driveway.
I was surprised how far off it was. I adjusted the linkage until it rolled straight. This should help my takeoffs.
A simple thing I never thought of. I was not aware how sensitive the front wheel is. rolling it in the driveway I could see how tight it turns.
I also moved to connection to the inner most hole on the servo. this should make it less sensitive....
Funny when I was setting this plane up I was concerned because I though there was not enough turn on the front wheel....
Steve
