nexstar alignment
 

I just got new Nexstar and the engine alignment looks off. The firewall is canted at about 5 degrees from square and when I measured the distance from the prop tips to the leading edge the distance was differenct by almost an inch!. The engine is mounted noticeably to the right of centerline, by about 3/8 in. Anyone else notice this? Is this the way this plane should line up? I added washers to get the thrust line true to the centerline, but the entire motor is still offset from center. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Brian

RE: nexstar alignment
 

The offset is "right thrust" and is set up in many if not most, airplanes, especially trainers, to counteract the engines left torque.

It's fine. So go find your instructor and ask him to look things over and get you flying. ;)
Dennis-

RE: nexstar alignment
 

5 degrees does sound like a bit much. 2-3 degrees is more what I've seen. See how it flies and if it flies OK, go with what you have.

RE: nexstar alignment
 

I bought the nexstar about a month ago. I noticed the same thing about the engine mounting as you did. However, after reading about "counter-thrust" or "right-thrust", I left everything as it came out of the box. I've flown it a dozen or so times now and it flies like a dream!! Get rid of the added washers and try it stock, I think you'll be pleased. I did have to adjust the elevator throw and trim but other than that, it was perfect from the get go.

I would recommending NOT using the AMS or whatever the "auto-pilot" gadget is, and don't install the speed brakes either. The thing flies VERY slow and stable just like it is. That is, hopefully, when you want it to. The .46 FX engine pulls her through the sky quite well when you want that. I think the auto-pilot would teach bad habits that you don't want to have to "unlearn". Keep in mind though, I'm pretty much a newbie too, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Good luck, I think you'll like the plane!

Tim

RE: nexstar alignment
 

Leave the plane as it is, have an experience pilot, check it out, fly it and trim it; it's a very nice plane. I fly at sea level so I really never connected the AFS since it's very shiny and besides I fly over water (beach), I did used the speed brakes until today (please notice that whenever you eliminate them from your plane, you'll have to do some serious trimming of the elevator because it'll dive nasty) and after readjusting the elevator servos it flew great.

I live in an island, so the wind changes a lot from the morning to the afternoon (10 - 15 mph from the SE to 10 - 15 mph from the N) and while approaching the runway the wind shifts and gets you caught in a nasty crosswind, so far my plane is still intact.

Anyway, I'm fixing to make the jump to a T'34 Mentor in the next month or so. Wish me luck.

RE: nexstar alignment
 

Everything is fine :) ....dont' worry about it. I have the same plane and it flies great. It does have quite a bit of noticeable right thrust , but trust me, any less and it will fly strangley.


Adam

RE: nexstar alignment
 

I measured the offset and its 4 degrees. I took the washers off and am back to normal. Weather willing I will try to fly it (with instructor) next weekend.
Brian

RE: nexstar alignment
 

I'm no expert, but 4 degrees is really nothing. I was readinf the plans for the Sig kadet Senior....which is another trainer, and it had 8 degrees downthrust....plus I for get what the right thrust was...but it was a bunch. The reason I know it flies funny is I recently blost my muffler end in flight so I had to replace it. Wound up getting the whole muffler assembly for 10 bucks.....the Tower Hobbies brand. It fis the engine fine, but the canister is just a bit closer to the motor so it was coausing the ISO-Smooth mount to flex and push the motor just a bit straighter. I thought I had some major issues the way it was flying today......and then I started thinking (oh, oh !!! :) ) So I took my exacto knife and made a releif in the side of the fuse where the muffler was pressing so it would'nt be pushing sideways on the motor. Well problem solved.....flew good as new. So the engineered right thrust that is built into the plane.....or any plane is important. Leave it be and it should be fine :)


Adam

RE: nexstar alignment
 

5 degrees on a trainer is about right. 5 right and 5 down is kinda a defacto standard. 3-5 is realisticly all you need for a 4 channel trainer. Don't worry about it and fly the heck out of it.

Mark Shuman