It was 44 F degrees and light winds today in Michigan! I took the Morane and the Fokker DR1 out for some trim flights. Both models were balanced well and straight. Except the Morane's rudder couldn't be trimmed enough with the transmitter. It's a good idea to make notes on trim flights. So, I am sharing my notes in this blog.
The Morane needed a few degrees up elevator because I reset the wing incidence at a zero angle. I bent the elevator up and once the plane got some speed the rudder took over and it climbed level. Back on the ground I moved the rudder servo control horn to give neutral rudder. Now I could fly straight hands off. I need to reduce the throw by moving the control wires in on the servo. The Morane has a big rudder and it was a bit too twitchy. It will ROG easy and looks very scale as it barrels down the runway and lifts off.
The Fokker Triplane was hand launched and went straight up nosed over and dove in. Luckily no damage. I gave the elevator a few degrees down bend. This time the plane refused to climb and dove. A little less down elevator and another try. Ahhh! - it sets up just like the full-size DR1. You have to keep the nose down with elevator and climb with lift from the massive wing area.
Now the DR1 gently flew out level and with some throttle majestically took to the sky. Into the breeze and it climbed steeply. I realized this plane needs very little throttle. To bring the nose down I gave a little rudder and less throttle. Once I got used to the triplane characteristics I confidently could climb, dive, spiral and land. But with its big rudder I needed to move the control wires to the innermost servo control horn positions.
The Fokker flies very smoothly and will fly on its own. Add throttle and it climbs, back off slightly and she's level. Then just steer around. Landing into the wind you have to keep a little throttle so the nose stays up. It doesn't dead-stick land.
Both planes self level if you come off the stick.
Really fun!
The Morane needed a few degrees up elevator because I reset the wing incidence at a zero angle. I bent the elevator up and once the plane got some speed the rudder took over and it climbed level. Back on the ground I moved the rudder servo control horn to give neutral rudder. Now I could fly straight hands off. I need to reduce the throw by moving the control wires in on the servo. The Morane has a big rudder and it was a bit too twitchy. It will ROG easy and looks very scale as it barrels down the runway and lifts off.
The Fokker Triplane was hand launched and went straight up nosed over and dove in. Luckily no damage. I gave the elevator a few degrees down bend. This time the plane refused to climb and dove. A little less down elevator and another try. Ahhh! - it sets up just like the full-size DR1. You have to keep the nose down with elevator and climb with lift from the massive wing area.
Now the DR1 gently flew out level and with some throttle majestically took to the sky. Into the breeze and it climbed steeply. I realized this plane needs very little throttle. To bring the nose down I gave a little rudder and less throttle. Once I got used to the triplane characteristics I confidently could climb, dive, spiral and land. But with its big rudder I needed to move the control wires to the innermost servo control horn positions.
The Fokker flies very smoothly and will fly on its own. Add throttle and it climbs, back off slightly and she's level. Then just steer around. Landing into the wind you have to keep a little throttle so the nose stays up. It doesn't dead-stick land.
Both planes self level if you come off the stick.
Really fun!
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