Tail Dragger Question
 

Hi,

I am just getting started and have a question about tail draggers. When I am taking off sometimes the nose tilts down and I chew up a prop. Any suggestions ? Am I "rushing" the take off ? I have been leaving the elevator alone until I gather some speed, is that a mistake ? Should I put some up elevator on right from the start to "keep the tail down" until it starts flying ?
Any help would be appreciated.

jon

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

I'm really new to this, but from what I've read, once the tail comes up, you have to begin flying it. Unlike the trike gear, where you hold pressure on the nosewheeluntil you'reready toliftoff, you have to keep the tail level until the airplane's lift carries it off the runway, Ithink.

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

Hold full down on the elevator stick. That will force the rear down and hold the nose up. Hold that for a few seconds as the plane accellerates then slowly let up on it. Don't hold it to long because it may force the plane up in the air before it's ready to fly.. then you have a whole different set of problems.

This is normal for tail draggers.. just hold that stick to full up (meaning pull it all the way back before you add throttle, then hold it there as it starts to roll for a few seconds then let it go then take off normally.

You just need to get some air passing over the wing and horizontal stab and get some effectiveness in the control surfaces to let them do their jobs.

CGr.

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

When I start my take off with a tail dragger I hold full up elevator. Once I get up a little speed then it is back to neutral. Then as the plane is starting to lift I give a little up elevator.

You need to check on your prop clearance. If you need more then get some bigger diameter wheels. You also could be using too long of a prop. Or maybe you just need more practice. Also is your plane balanced correctly? Don't get discouraged.

todd

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

I usually have full up elevator as I taxi out and line up. As I give it throttle and the model picks up speed, I let up on the elevator and concentrate on the rudder to keep it tracking down the runway. Just a little up elevator is required for takeoff once it is up to speed.

It sounds more complicated than it really is. You are correct in that you can hold down the back end with the elevator when you start to give it throttle, there is no lift from the wing untill you get some speed and you can use the elevator to keep from nosing over.

The challenge is to not let the mains leave the ground until you have enough speed to fly.

Stan

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

Good article:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=866

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

I hold full elevator when taxiing and when I take off I might have a lil bit of up elevator or I'll live it neutral till the tail picks up. If this is your first plane, dont give up. My first plane was a tail dragger, it is a bit harder but you'll get it. Its like starting out with a 5 speed than an automatic.

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

One thing to check........
Today, one of the guys that hangs around the airfield showed up today with a foamie Corsair he had just finished putting together. He asked me if I would check it over and maiden and trim it for him, so I agreed. I looked it over, and after realigning the horizontal stab, we decided to take it up.
I went out to the runway and prepared for takeoff, everything checked out ok. As I throttled up, the plane immediately nosed over on the prop. I went out and rechecked CG, it was correct. I attempted to fly again, same thing, right on it's nose immediately.
It turns out, when he assembled the plane, he put the main landing gear on backwards, so they were angled towards the rear of the plane instead of the front. I didn't catch it right away, but after turning them around, it took off and flew great.

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

you taxi with full up elevator.

when taking off hold full up elevator and release as it builds speed. when nutural and the tail comes up gently pull it off the ground. Depending on the plane this could be seconds and less than 10 feet or half the runway of it's a heavy warbird.

landing you should be at full up elevator at the same time it touches down. So you begin slowing down with a little up elevator and as it get closer to the ground, slowing and flaring you again should be at full up right about the time it touches down. The big difference is you need to be on top of the elevator

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

Reading these posts I wonder how any of the writers ever get a successful flight. There are so many variables to operating an aircraft with conventional gear that nobody have touched upon.

For instance, yes you hold full up elevator when you are going into the wind or downwind with power. But if turned downwind with the engine at very low power and you hold full up, you are removing the down force from the tailwheel. It is proper to hold down elevator in that circumstance.

Yes to holding a bit of elevator on the initial takeoff roll. But it needs to be released as soon as possible to avoid taking off with the wing stalled. What you do want is to get the tail in the air as soon as possible and build speed. With just a touch of down trim, the model will stay glued to the runway for as long as you like. Meanwhile, with the tail in the air, the airplane will ground steer as well as any model with a nosegear. Once flying speed is achieved you simply lower the tail and the airplane will lift off.

The bigest mistakes usually made are not using the rudder to overcome the tendency for the model to turn left, and not smoothly advancing the throttle to full power.

Cross winds also seem to create undo problems. Use the ailerons into the wind. If the wind is from the front left quarter, then you need to hold left aileron. You use alot initially, and decrease the amount as the airplane picks up speed. BTW, using ailerons while airplane is in taxi also helps prevent the airplane from flipping over. Just remember that if the cross wind is from the front, you bank into it. When it is from the rear, keep the upwind aileron down (bank away from the rear quartering tailwind).

Does all of this sound difficult? It is. But after you learn how to master a tailwheel model, you will be a much better pilot. You will also be much safer for those around you, since the model will travel down the center of your runway under your control instead of taking what the wind does to it.

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

I never hold full up elevator on take off roll. Yes I taxi with elevator up. Then I set up and let the plane roll. Usually the elevator is at neutral, I do however tend to think what the ground/runway is like. For some or other reason if I know we are using the grassfield runway, I know it's not smooth as the gravel and the grass makes it a bit more "sticky" for the wheels. In this instance I tend to give a little bit of up elevator - it seems as if the plane then gives a much smoother take off roll and gets in the air faster. On the gravel runway it isn't neccesarry.

So it depends on surface for me. Stupid probably, but it hasn't had a bad effect as if yet.

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

You've got it right, the heavier the grass the more up elevator you need. It's a feel thing. Total full up taxi, full up takeoff roll ease off and go to rudder - which is why us Mode 1 guys have it so easy! lol. All that happens on the left stick, very convenient. Too bad Mode 2 guys lol. ;)

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

High pains is correct when he says that while taxiing, up elevator is held into the wind, but while taxiing downwind we should taxi with down elevator.....
every one does this a little differently, My daughter and I both taxi full up elevator, then line up on the runway, nuteral the elvator, add power...the tail comes up quickly....the reason I don't hold up elevator at the beginning of the takeoff.....is I don't want the airplane lifting off before flying speed is reached

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

becuase we could never fully explain everything, it would take pages to even touch it, these are thing better shown live then explained, but we try

RE: Tail Dragger Question
 

It's difficult to explain anything that you do by instinct after you have done it a long time.

Tail draggers are a lot of fun, adapting to changing conditions and compensating for them.