Plane Turning
 

I'm new to this hobby. On my first flight I turned the airplane on to take off from the ground and it was turning for some odd reason, I checked the rudder and it was straight. I then tried hand launching my plane and it turned and dived into the ground, can someone please tell me what can make it do that? The plane seems to be balanced.

RE: Plane Turning
 

What plane and what type of gear? (tricycle or taildragger)

RE: Plane Turning
 

It's a Hobbico Aero Cruiser RTF

RE: Plane Turning
 

I believe that electric plane is designed to be hand launched so that would explain why it turns if you try to taxi it. As far as why it turns when you hand launch, there could be a few reasons. Hand launching is best done by a second person until you get used to it. It needs to be launched straight, level, and slightly upward. You have to be ready to apply slight up elevator and roll correction if needed, (that would be rudder if it's a 3-channel)
Wind could also be a factor with this type of plane, try it when the wind is calm.

RE: Plane Turning
 

You are a victim of torque especially if you fly a taildragger on take off. To begin toe in the main gear like this / \ (top is forward) just slightly. Secondly, you said it all when you said the rudder was straight. You have to allow for torque both on take off and hand lauching. The prop wants to turn one way and the airplane in the opposite direction
"torque". The part is true on ALL aircraft except jets and aircraft with contra-rotating propellers. Right rudder, just the amount to counteract the torque, will be necessary no matter how you launch. If you do not have a steerable tailwheel for takeoffs you have added to the problem. Hand launch still requires right rudder.

RE: Plane Turning
 

Ballgunner has it right. You're most likely experiences the effects of "torque" which is natural to almost ALL these planes.

Your second problem is trying to do this on your own. You'll eventually learn, but may destroy a few planes in the process.

Good luck,
Dennis-

RE: Plane Turning
 

My guess is that you are just out of trim a little. Most all airplanes pull one way or another, and either a bit up or down, no matter how accurately we try to build them. That's what the trim levers on the transmitter are for. Trim the plane so that it flys correctly, and if that means a control surface is a bit "off", that's ok.

The descriptions above about needing some rudder on take off are also right on, and this is a normal and mostly unavoidable part of taking off.

RE: Plane Turning
 

Sound advice guys, but this particular plane is not very likely to takeoff on it's own no matter what he does. It's an electric designed for hand launching. I don't think torque is too much of a factor here, it just needs to be launched straight and level with little or no wind. He can't trim the plane if he can't get it to fly.

RE: Plane Turning
 

uhhh... Id join a club and get an instructor.

Learning will be faster and cheaper.

Good luck!

RE: Plane Turning
 

Depends on the plane, but some do torque to the side on hand launch, as the airspeed is low and the power high. It's most noticeable on heavier, higher powered planes, so the effect here should be minimal. (Some of my combat planes, on the other hand, pull to the side like crazy on hand launch).

Chance are, the plane is just out of trim, which would be normal. Get it trimmed out, and you should be fine.