<div>Okay, so I read through the instructions on how to install the flap servos and it seems pretty straight forward. When I went to my LHS to pick up some servos they told me something about inverting one of the servos if using a y-harness because they both can't be the same way or something like that?? The instructions only show the steps for installing one side and then says repeat steps for the other side...nothing about inverting or turning the other servo around. Has anybody done this mod? Any tips or advice?</div><! / message >

Your Hobby shop is incorrect. For flaps to operate the servos must be oriented in the same direction if using a Y harness. The shop would be correct if you were installing the servos on the ailerons. For ailerons you want the two control surfaces to move opposite each other so the servos must be oriented opposite from each other. For Flaps you want the surfaces to move the same direction so the servos must be oriented in the same direction.

This is all contigent upon the fact that you are using a Y harness, and not using your radio and assigning and reversing spare channels. If you are doing this with the radio programming you mount them however you want and reverse the channels as necessary to get the proper control surface movement.

Just install them so that the servo arm faces the same way on both servos.

As long as you are using the same type of servo on both sides all is fine. The mounts take into account everything needed. Tell the LHS to SHUT UP! or not if you like the guy but he is wrong.

Thanks guys! I will be using a y-harness as stated in the instructions. I think maybe he was thinking about the ailerons and not the flaps??I'll tell him to shut up....even though I like him...haha. He told me if I bought the plane from him and he trained me....if I crashed it, he would replace it for free....I'd say that's a pretty good deal. And, he trains everyone for free! Good guy, but I think he wasn't thinking straight in this situation.

So...I solo'd 3 times, I've landed about 14 times all in trainer mode (droops, flaps down, 3-blade prop, cheeks squeezing tightly)....how much of a difference would adding functional flaps be compared to flying in training mode?Should I try to straighten out the flaps first without installing the flap servos to see if I can land it?

This is my first plane and Ilove it! I already bought some different size props, flap servos, OS .55 w/aftermarket muffler (not sure which one, but LHSordered it from some guy that makes them in his garage)....just not sure if I should take my time or get rid of the training gear and start modding it??? I can't stop...help me

I had the same plane (the original version) and I never used the flaps on it. I left them up.
It will land a little hotter but not so much you will have a problem. You will notice it handles better in flight with the flaps up.

I just finished a review on this plane. It hasn't posted yet, but this plane lands really sweet with the flaps down. You will notice a slow climb out with them down so retract them for takeoff. I also flew most of my flights with a 2 blade MA 11x5 propeller. Much better performance than the 3 blade. Chris

I reviewed the original Mustang PTS and I agree with everything Chris said.

The original PTS had one servo for both flaps.

Has this changed with the newer version?

Yes - One servo per wing, 2 total. You will need 2 servos and a y harness.

i put a MA 10x6 on mine and it's like a whole new airplane.

just a suggestion, change the prop first, the biggest difference I noticed on mine was when i changed the prop, it will actually try to glide on landings, it will still drop, just not as bad as the trainer prop, I'm using a 10x7 3 blade

Thanks again! I'll go ahead and install them before the weekend since I already have to servos. I'll leave them down for take-offs and landings, or maybe the whole time if Ichange my prop. I'm not sure if it's me or if I'm decending from too high, about 100' or so to avoid power lines, but whenI come in for landings I have to give it a lot of down elevator to get it to about 15' off the ground and let it glide down and flare it at the last moment before ittouches the ground....should Itry decending from a lower altitude?

Ie-mailed evolution to ask for their input for the best prop size for this plane &amp;engine combo....they said an APC10X6 would work best....it's a good thing Igot an 11X5, 11X6, 11X7, and 12X5...haha. Guess I'll swing by my LHSfor another prop to try this weekend.

Sounds like your too fast in the approach. Try some stalls to get comfortable to see how slow you can fly it. With flaps down this bird comes down real nice.

I personaly wouldnt bother with the flaps until you're ready to clean the airframe up. (remove the training gear).

Would Ijust need to pull the throttle to idle and kind of glide it?Or would that be like flying it into the wind so that it's almost stays in one place?

When Iwatch my trainer land it, he comes down so slow that Iswear the plane is almost at a dead stop before he sets it softly on the ground.Ineed more practice!

That's the basic idea.

Have you ever flown on a commercial airliner? If you have, think about how they land: You're sitting in your seat and the airplane is fairly close to the ground and lined up with the runway. The next thing you know, you hear the engine rev up for a few seconds, then they idle back down and a short time later, you cross the threshold and touch down. It's RARE that an airliner ever over-shoots a landing.

This is because they shoot for landing too short and then they add power to make it that little bit further to the field.

You should strive for the same thing.

It's easy to add power for a little extra distance - it's a lot harder to lose speed once you're over the runway.

Hmmm....yeah, I did notice that. Ialways thought it was some kind of reverse thrust or from the flaps coming down. I'll give that a try. It's kind of hard to start my approach sooner due to the power lines, but I'll give it a shot.

They NEVER use reverse thrust in flight. It's actually forbidden in most (if not all) flight manuals and perhaps by regulation and certainly stupid. If a reverser should fail to come out of reverse in flight it could be VERY bad. Reversers DO occasionally deploy inadvertently in flight and that is subject for immediate repair or the system is disabled until repair can be made to the system. My boss made a point of telling me where I could pick up my FINAL check if he ever heard of me doing it with HIS plane.[:@]
Note: I did have one stick in reverse during taxi so I know it can happen. A cable broke.

<div>Okay, so I installed the flap servos last night. It was a lot easier than I thought. It's almost idiot proof...you can only install the servos one way. Everything seems to be working fine.

I set the flaps to come down 1" like the instructions say to do. Any suggestions with the settings or for flying I should know about?</div><! / message >

Practice with them at altitude first as they may cause the plane to need re-trimming. Altitude is your friend whenever trying anything new.

Sorry, but do you mean trim with the flaps down or up?Is there a way to trim the flaps?

Both. When you change the flap setting the trim will likely change. Do not change at low altitude the first time until you see how the plane reacts. Takeoff in whatever setting you desire, gain some altitude and set the trim as normal. Then change the flaps up or down (whichever they were not) and see how the plane reacts. Change may be small or large, this is why you have altitude which = time to react. Re-trim as desired. Get used to moving the flaps around at different flying speeds and seeing the planes reactions. Again it may be small or large. Small & large are also a relative terms depending on experience. Some planes are also "neutral" meaning that you won't notice ANY change but this is rare.
Oh - you are re-trimming the elevator, not the flaps.

If you are slowed for landing (less than 1/2 throttle), the trim change will be minimal with this airplane and you probably wont even need to retrim. If you are above about 1/2 throttle it will "baloon up" or pitch the nose up.