Me, the plane or both??
 

After having my first successful solos yesterday I was feelin' kinda brave today. I took my Nexstar Select to the field for some practice. I tried a few take-offs but the plane just wouldn't get off the ground. The tachometer read about 8700 rpm on the OS .46. I was taking off with a light breeze(3-5 mph) behind my back. I didn't think at that speed the wind would make much difference. So my question is: Was it me being tentative, the wind, or plane that kept me grounded? Of course I blame the plane oly so I can go out and buy another!!

Great forum you have here for us beginners!!!

Joe

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

8700 is LOW for a 46.could just be you.. But 8700 is really low.. That could be it too

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

8700 RPM from an O.S. .46? That's really, really LOW. Something ain't right with the engine. Also, NEVER take off with a tailwind, even only 2-3 MPH. It DOES make a difference.

Another thought. "There are old pilots. There are bold pilots. There are no old, bold pilots." You've just soloed; you don't yet have the experience to "feel brave". Take it slow; crawl, then walk, then run. :D

Dr.1

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

What size a prop are you using. You should get around 14,000 on a MAS 12-6 prop. From experimenting with prop readings vs. prop size I found out that on a 12 inch prop if you can get e around 12,000 you will have a decent takeoff speed. 14,000 will give you lots of power which is what you should be getting with your OS engine! Anything less than 10,000 and you won't likely be able to get off the ground. [8D]

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

I'm using an 11x5 prop. From what I'm finding out it sounds like the engine may be a clunker. I'll call Hobbico tomorrow and see what they say.

Joe

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

you may have it extremely rich. Could try tuning before you call

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

pica200,
What size prop are you using on the .46?

Ken

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

I have a nexstar with the OS .46. I run a 10X6 APC prop and it runs right around 11,000 RPMs just to give you some comparison.

Also, the factory setting for the engine comes set fairly rich. Once the engine was broken in, I had one of the club pros help me tune mine...and we had to lean it out quite a bit to get the engine tuned up.

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

ken, he said he was using an 11 x 5

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

I must have missed that some where. If you are using an 11x5 and can only turn 8700 you either don't have the motor tuned properly or there is something wrong with the motor. As you said above, call Hobbico and talk to them about it.

From reading your first post the other thing wrong was that you were taking off downwind. Even a wind of 2-3 mph can make it very hard to take off when are trying to take off with the wind.

I would look at the motor first, because I think that is where the majority of you problems are at.

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

even that is quite low for a .46 on a 10x6.. my little .40 la turned well above that on a 10x6 apc.

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

That prop and engine are a perfect combo for your trainer. I consistantly get 14,200 on my 46FX with a MAS 11-5 prop. [8D]

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

play with the high end needle you either can be too rich or too lean.

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

pica, peak tune it by starting it and seting the idle and then start turning the high end screw in untill you get max rpm's (will start sputtering if you go in to far)then back her down about 300 rpm by comming back out on the high speed needle, you really need a tach but if not just back it out till ya get a fair amout of smoke and ya hear a small decrease in rpm, not to much though;)

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

Also, are you flying off grass? If your wheels are too small, your already having to fight to get any speed up. Your engine does not sound like it is coming up to a good RPM. Hopefully, you had another person out there with you. Accidents do happen, and as a new solo pilot, you might be a lot (not just a little) nervous. I never fly alone, even after 17 years, just in case. After my 4 stoke threw a prop this weekend - the prop nut went about a hundred feet out on the runway, the prop only followed a few feet short, I'm just glad that I was standing behind the plane. Before I flew again, I 'd have an experianced club member help you tune teh engine.

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

That engine should easily launch that model -- I suspect that the mixture is VERY rich (can't be lean or it wouldn't run). Try turning the NV in a bit & see what happens. If the plastic limiter interferes with your attempts to tune the motor, get rid of the limiter.

An FXi with an 11-5 should hit somewhere near 14,000 & push that model to ~ 70 mph (without the aero-aids).

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

Noob pilot here. I have had my wings for 3 weeks (so I don't have much experience). I too have the Nexstar. The first thing my instructor did before my plane ever took off was to remove the plastic limiter on the needle valve. We actually had to move the needle valve almost 1/2 turn to lean it out as it was way too rich. The plastic limiter thingy wouldn't allow for proper adjustment. I've never had a problem with takeoffs. We are on a grass field.
After the engine was broken in we tuned the low end and the engine is now running great.

RE: Me, the plane or both??
 

Thanks for all the suggestions. We tried every possible adjustment this morning but still couldn't get beyond 9,000 rpm. I called Hobbico and they recommended I return for either repair or replacement all under warranty. I'll keep you all posted as to the diagnosis.

Joe