Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

I programmed my trainer with flaperons so i wouldn't have to buy a y harness. There is WAY more down travel then up when or when not engaged. Why is this and should i be worried? Also, if it is bad can i fix it?

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

Hey Chad,

I forget which radio you bought. First thought is the rates; up and down not being equal in the transmitter.
Are the servo arms parallel to the trailing edge...ailerons when the TX sticks are neutral. Does anything bind, do you hear buzzing at neutral.
I probably need to read, I thought the superstar was a single servo wing, maybe this helps a bit.
Mike

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

with differential, you should have more up deflection than down. I'm not sure why yours is the other way around, but I think you should resolve it before flying. There may be some serious adverse yaw effects there. Make sure you have the correct ailerons hooked into the correct channels--which depends upon your brand of TX. You must hook the aileron servos up correctly each time, or you will have problems--out of control problems. This is the downfall to not using a Y harness. For a few bucks, you could get a Y harness and just plug one plug each time, and not have to worry about whether they are backwards or not....

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

Well... I put the servos in arm towards the aileron, so that the old controls would work. So i guess thats why. Is there anyway i can get it to go the same way without differential?

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

I had my differential set wrong. The servos can stay the way they are and the differential was at 100%

Flaps on a trainer... FUN!

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

So, you got it all figured out now? Good!
Good luck now...Remember--deploy those flaps way up high the first time, you don't know what's going to happen. Also, one word of advice--if you deadstick, keep those flaps UP! If you deploy them without power, you'll loose all airspeed and stall!!!

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

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RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

Practice with them at altitude to see what trim changes they are going to cause and how much drag they will generate. Safety in altitude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got the idea? Practice the basics. Takeoffs and landings. Boring? Who cares? I don't want to hear that. Quit playing with rocks and paratroopers for a while. You need to master them NOW!!!!! Before you move on to more difficult planes. Don't want the 4* to be a one flight plane do you? [:@] It could happen. Sorry if I sound harsh. Trying to help.

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

It's fine to want to practice with flaps, but first, you do need work on the basics and have them down to where you can do them without thinking about it and flaps just add complexity. If you "need" flaps on a trainer then more landing practice is needed as you are most likely coming in too hot. Trainer do land nice and slow

As Bruce said, basics, basics, basics and what both Bruce and 2slow said, Altitude is your friend.

And I'll add that safety should ALWAYS be your first concern...

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

The flaps just kinda came. I messed up that tourque rod so dual servos were easier to do and it was a good time for it. I will practice very high with flaps if i even use them. The only reason i might use them if my approach is to high and i want to drop and it is an emergency. I will test them high too. Thanks for all the comments.

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

I can't disagree that the basics should be your #1 priority, but . . . flaps on trainers are fun!

Other guys want their planes to behave like helicopters - I'm coming in slow but steep and trying to polish my STOL techniques.

Heck, you've got a computer radio, might as well enjoy it.

Now for the lecture. :( Do as they say and practice high. Flaps can cause a plane to flair and stall. This can be corrected with an elevator mix on the radio once you know the situation exists. Also consider that you probably don't want the flaps moving more than 1/3 the full travel of the aileron. A little dab will do you - especially at first. Otherwise, you'll come in like a yo-yo trying to compensate for the ballooning.

With a flat bottomed wing it is quite often better to set them up as spoilerons. My RCM 40 tended to float on forever (especially as I had a TT.46 in her nose and had some idle issues in her early days). A club member showed me how to set the ailerons to both raise SLIGHTLY, robbing the wing of some lift. With the .46 I could climb out on takeoff 'like a homesick angel" anyway. I don't think flaps on a non-scale model are really necessary, and might be bad. If your model won't take off properly without flaps it might be trying to tell you something ("I'm too rich!" "My nose is too heavy!" "That ServoSaver you put where you weren't supposed to has slipped!"). A bad taxi & aborted takeoff attempt is less embarrasing than a failed takeoff and subterranian noseplant.

RE: Radio programming/ Flaperon
 

If your approach is too high and you have power - go around and do it again. Not the time to be fumbling with switches. If you are going to use flaps, they should be deployed at altitude and the plane retrimmed as needed before starting the approach. Plan your flight and fly your plan. That is how full scale pilots stay alive.