Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

I believe I have read in previous posts that the engine sould be angled a couple of degrees to the right on the mount. ( I assume that the angle is angled to the right of the plane as if I were viewing from the inside of the cockpit looking forward ). I have read that the reason for this is because of tourque.

Everytime I take-off, my plane wants to pull to the right. I compensate with rudder to keep it straight on the ground. Once in the air the plane seems to fly straight without having to adjust the trims or anything. It seems that if the plane wants to pull to the right on take-off, the right angle of the engine isn't helping the cause any. Maybe the right angle of the engine is to prevent the torque while in the air, and whatever happens on the ground is a whole different chapter of physics?

Can any of the experts out there set me straight on this matter?

Thanks, Tim

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

might be trying to take off with too little airspead?

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

Are you sure your nose gear is straight ahead? If you are compensating with rudder, (nose gear) it's just steering it, once it's in the air if it's straight ahead flying, it's more likely your nose gear tracking than anything. With a tricycle gear plane, torque won't have much affect on tracking, specifically in a 40 or 60 size. You would have to have a LOT of right thrust built in to make a significant difference on take off with a trainer, like 8 or more degrees. Check your ground handling even just slowly, make sure it's going straight ahead, then adjust your nose gear :)

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

First question: Do you have a nose gear?

If so, Roll the plane on a level surface and see if it wants to roll to the right. If so, adjust you nose gear linkage a little to the left.

If you have a tail wheel, and it flys straight, then about your only option is to steer to the left on take off.

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

Oh no, am I missing something? I just put my trainer together this weekend. The instructions said nothing about angling the engine to the right. Did I mess up? I put my engine as straight forward as I could measure. Do I need to remount it so it is angled to the right before I fly it?

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

No

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

Some airplanes require right thrust built in to compensate for torque. others do not. If you built as per plans it will be alright. Also down thrust is also sometimes needed. After experience, seasoned flyer's tweak their airplanes by adding right or down thrust simply by adding spacers behind the motor mount until the desiered result is achieved. A good way to tell if down thrust is needed, supposing that your balance is correct, and the angle of attack of the wing and horizontal stab is correct. If your plane flys level with down trim noticeable on the elevator. add down thrust and the elevator will be straight.Its kinda trial and error.The same is true for right thrust, if your plane is trimmed to the right to fly straight then a little right thrust might be needed. most traines are very stable so it would not be as noticeable as on a pattern plane. hope this helps.

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

It's also worth mentioning that many kits and espeically ARFs have the firewall mounted at a slight angle to the right and slightly down. So you light the enigne up straight compared to the firewall, and the kit ensures you have the correct thrust line. I've seen this a lot, and frequently the kit instructions just don't bother to mention it, kind of a "don't worry your newbie head about this" kind of approach.

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

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AAAARRRRGGGGG!!!!!~!

Since you are a newbie let's get your education back on track.

Right thrust compensates for P-factor, NOT TORQUE

Torque is a rolling moment that acts about the centerline of the aircraft. Bending the engine off in an odd angle has no effect on the amount of torque produced by the engine. P-factor (which is a difference in thrust between the downward and up ward moving propeller blades caused by relative velocity and angle of attack) causes the plane to yaw left.

In the original post there is the minor possibility that you have too much down thrust, which can reverse the effects of P-factor at low angles of attack.

Tom

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

Nose gear was angled slightly to the right. I straightened it out and everything should be ok. Thanks, Tim

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

Personally, I think that is kind of stupid if they dont mention it. I just put together my LT -40, it told me the distance the engine should stick out. So, I assumed I would drill the holes to make it straight. Even if the firewall is angled, it could easily be accidently realigned straight by drilling the holes. I hope I didn't make that mistake.

I havn't flown mine yet, because I'm scared. However, sitting on the concrete floor of the garage, my plane rotates to the right, or yaws right on the ground with the engine running. Is that not normal?

Wings

RE: Trainer pulls to the right on take-off?
 

Wings: You are ok with the way you installed your engine.
It will be fine the way you done it.