i just got a pattern plane from a guy who got it from a guy. you know the story. well here it is. the fuel tanks are behind the C.G. is that normal. i dont know what brand of plane it is. so i used the C.G. calculator on georgacombat sight. it looks like the plane pattern flyer has on his avator. any help on finding pattern plane manufactors would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Sometimes it's not necessary to know the exact CG specified by the manufacturer. You're going to want to tweak it anyway to find the best balance for your type of flying. A good starting point is about 1/3 of the way back from the leading edge of the wing at the fuselage. If you have dual rates, set a high rate for elevator that is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch greater throw up and down than your low rate so you don't run out of elevator on landing if the plane is too nose heavy. You can also use try using 50% or more minus expo on the elevator instead of dual rates. If you're running a pumped engine or a YS, the fuel tank CG is best located right on the airplane CG or about 1/2 inch behind.

If you plan to fly patterns, try NSRCA.org and print out the trimming chart. Better yet, find someonw else who's doing the same thing and team up. The trimming chart will tell you how to trim, but someone who understands pattern can tell you why things happen the way they do.

Good Luck

Here is a little info about the plane along with a few pictures

64.5" wing span

64" long

all fiberglass fuselage

foam sheeted wing

O.S. RF .61P motor



Thanks for any help. fuselage

bottom of wing

inside the fuselage

complete plane

plane

This could be a Summit, LA-1 or LA-2 design. It's definitely one of the "rockets" from the mid 80s or 90s. You're going to want to keep this baby moving along in the sky because it probably has a higher wing loading than modern pattern planes. These planes like to go fast, with lots of momentum to carry them through maneuvers. Today's upper level pattern schedules require planes with light wing loading and lots of power, as the maneuvers are piled one on top of the other with no real opportunity to get up momentum between them.

This will make a good entry level plane if you plan to compete, and it's a great sport plane. Nothing flies like a pattern plane, including this one.

thank again for the info. i dont think ill ever be good enough to compete. but a plane that likes to go fast thats what im talking about.