Tips for asphalt runways vs grass
 

Well guys next week I'm moving to IL Moline, Due to the Army. I have only been flying RC for 4 years now and have a nice jet collection, but only have been flying off grass, and my new local feild is asphalt, and I was told there is only 2 other jet flyers.

So as I'm looking at my little fleet of 6 jets I'm thinking of what modification I should make for this transverse.

I was think of some kind of wind skids for my f16 and F15.

What eles

Asphalt eats tyres!

Your tyres will soon let you know if they are not up to the task.

Wheel alignment is more critical too but trike gear models are usually fine although the amount
of steering travel may have to be reduced to make steering less squirelly.

Your brakes work properly?

John.

Ya I was thinking that, my breaks work fine on grass, I got a modulating break valve on my f15 because it came that way, do all my jets have to have this type of valve? Is that how it eats tires like skiding?

Skidding eats tires (flat spot), but bad alignment will chew them up really fast. That said, I'd still rather fly off of pavement any day. I have just the reverse situation, I flew off of pavement for a few years and now after my recent move I'm on a grass field. Miss the hard surface.

Not always, lots of different brakes & situations. Suck it & see!

M3 is right, alignment chews them as well, I has a UC leg twist on a crappy landing & by the
time the model had stopped the tyre was looking like the dog had been playing with it for a month!

John.

As a grassed convert to asphalt, what those guys said. Your brakes that work fine on grass may not be as great on asphalt as you may have one that engages slightly sooner than the other.

I wouldn't reduce the amount of steering travel. I would put some expo. in the steering to deaden the center. A lot of travel is nice to be able to make tight taxi turns.

+1. I have my steering on a mix curve. It only moves a few degrees until about 1/2 deflection, then it moves 20-30* for taxiing

I have my steering on my flight modes:

Flight mode 1 = Normal Flying - Full break your neck steering for making tight turns on the runway for getting into take off position.
Flight mode 2 = Take Off Flaps - Steering rate greatly reduced for making minor corrections during take off
Flight mode 3 = Landing flaps - same setting as T.O. flaps

+1 also like Rich. I love flight modes and have that my flap switch just as Rich discribed.
I use expo on the steering alot.

Drag Chute

Drag chute? I would go with catapult and arresting wire……………….Speaking of power assisted take offs. I was at the JR/ Horizon glider tow in Monticello Il. last weekend. Tows work great until they don't. The glider only needs to move 10 feet to be in the air. The problem is if in that ten feet the glider catches a wing, it turns into one of the most violent rc airplane wrecks. Maybe it seems so violent because it goes from this nice majestic sailplane sitting there to a thrashing fiberglass whirlwind.

How do you protect your wing tips?

You land without scraping them....

...... or you could use these!

http://www.intairco.net/categories.p...Wing-Tip-Skids

John.

Lol! My first thought as well though.

Fuel will ruin asphalt.
Always use an overflow tank.

Fuel will kill the grass and make a mess on Concrete, too..........So always use a taxi tank!!!

If you have o ring type brakes be sure to lube them. Makes a world of difference, I see many guys at events overlook this.

I would add a small metal rod to your bottom fins on the F-16. I learned years ago that asphalt makes you a better flyer/lander for sure.