Taking off?
 

Im probably gonna sound stupid but do all planes take off.
Ive seen tons of models on the internet and ive read about how planes take off. Then see people throwing there planes into the air. Then looking at some planes the take off gear doesnt seem very suitable. And are the propeller and wheels both powered by the engine?
So do planes actually take off?
Dumb question sorry just need some clarity

Taking off?
 

all planes take off. If they did not they wouldn't be flying

There are basicly two types of take off for powered planes (helis and sailplanes not included)

1. ROG = Rise off ground this is exactly how a full scale aircraft takes off.. BTW the prop not the wheel are powered by the engine

2. Hand Launch/catapult launch = Throwing aircaft into wind with enough force for it to have sufficent airspeed to fly and not stall

Most large glow and electric powered models use method 1

small glow and electrics may be able to use either method 1 or 2

Some models are designed for hand launch only. These are easy to tell since they usually have no landing gear and are belly landed..


Again every question you have asked to date can be found by doing some research.

Do you know how to use this websites search feature? If you don't I suggest you learn you will be able to find literally tons of info with it also google is a pretty good search engine

Taking off?
 

theres a search on this website?
oops lol

Taking off?
 

Papa New Guinea, maybe?

Take Offs
 

O.K,
There are two main take offs. The first is for "gas and electric flight". This one is for little planes that are "hand launched". The force or momentum of your hand launching the craft accelerates the planes momentum. This causes lift as well as an decrease in the planes weight as the engine or motor propels the craft. The second is a taxy takeoff. This is a ground takeoff. The wheels are generally steerable by the rudder, or a dedicated servo. If the "TX or Radio" is moved left the plane will steer left. If right, it will steer right. This gives the pilot complete control. It is kind of like an RC car type affect. Second "acceleration or throttle" is applied, and the plane should start to lift causing the pilot to add a little elevator. When this is done the plane should go up correctly into the air.

Taking off?
 

thanx for the explaination chrashem and troytday
cleared something up just a little confused

Taking off?
 

The only stupid question is the one that never gets asked...

Taking off...
 

Just to add something to this discussion, hand launching is only for experienced pilots. Learning to fly and land a plane is going to be much easier with a plane that leaves the ground on its own power and has wheels to land on at the end of the flight. :D

And....
 

Don't forget that some of those gliders like to be towed up to the sky.

Hand Launching
 

I have to agree that hand launching requires some experience.

I started flying on a Merlin parkflyer and could do pretty well as long as I did a ROG. The first five (5) times I tried hand launching, due to a broken wheel, I nosed it directly into the ground.

Very frustrating.

Of course, you realize that you can only hand launch a parkflyer, another light weight electric, or something like a combat plane, most gas powered planes lack the thrust to hand launch.

GB

Taking off?
 

On most gas (glow) planes the wing loading is too high for hand launching. If you threw it, it would not be traveling fast enough to keep from stalling.

Taking off?
 

Papa,

I have an idea for you. Because you're so dead set on doing this stuff alone and only having the money for one plane, this is my thought:

At the club that I fly at, they're are these guys who fly combat. They tie ribbons to the rear of the planes, hand launch them, and compete to see who can keep the ribbons on the longest.

Some planes go down, some don't. When they go down, they're usually going pretty damn fast. They're just little .25-.32s, but they fly!!!

The fuselages are minimal, the main wing is a regular wing, and the rear horizontal stablizer and fin, are made of corrigated plastic. The main fuselage is made from what looks like a plastic cutting board. The main wing is attached via a bolt-on wing support, and the rear tail feathers are attached via, slip-in and glue.

The servos are exposed the the outside of the flat (vertical) fuselage, as is the fuel tank and the engine.

They don't look "scale", but when they go down, and go down hard... these things get refueled and go right back up.

Maybe you should consider one of these "nearly" indestructable little jewels.

They have rounded bellys and slide in to land. No style! But durable? ALL DAY LONG!

The damage can be severe to the main wing and the tailfeathers if you go down sideways or inverted, and the engine is something else...

It would last you alot longer than a balsa/ply plane and cost alot less to repair.

Think about it. http://www.screamingeaglerc.com/

Signing out. (Tell him "Sparkey" a.k.a. "Crash" sent you.)

Taking off?
 

ok ok ok ill get a few lessons if its really that hard,
but i dont need any help (not including books) builing my kit right?

Taking off?
 

PaPa,

Okay... as long as you seem to accept the advice given, I'll stay. It's not that the building/construction will be hard, that's probably the easy part, it's the flying that believe it or not, is hard.

Take offs are sqirley and landing... heh, without an instructor, you're sure to run out of landing room, and either circle around and try again, or you'll not make it and crash.

That's what we're all hoping you don't do.

I've not seen so many people assend onto one person, except for you. You're young enough to get into this the right way, and young enough to ignore the advice given - thinking that you can do it alone.

You can, but it'll cost you a plane. We don't want that to happen.

As far as getting help "building your kit", if you don't know... you don't know. Books are a wonderful source of information and can show you how-to, from an experienced builders' perspective.

Without the aid of (at least) a book, you may end up waisting money on a mistake that could've been avoided (had you only known).

Overall, the instructions that come with an ARF are clear to follow and easy to do, but a kit... you have to get everything else (except the wood).

Pushrods are wires, or fiberglass, or wires and wooden rods, and you can even use cables (which makes for a very nice system).

Control horns are either plastic or metal, and the clevises are either cheesy plastic, good plastic, or metal... some are attached with solder, while others are threaded, and some are threaded and locked on with a lock nut. You want to be able to adjust them for throws and trim, because if they're cut too long or too short, the throw of the control (ailerons, rudders, or elevators) will be too far off and the "trim" adjustments on the radio may not be able to handle that amount of correction... that is if your radio has "trim adjustments".

Good books are nothing more than safety measures and fun "home study". They'll save you money, and allow you to see the difference between good and bad, right and wrong, and will provide many tips beyond what an instruction manual will provide.

Yes, get a book or two (or three or four).