| TO TEST
FOR |
TEST PROCEDURE |
OBSERVATIONS |
ADJUSTMENTS |
| 1. Control Neutrals |
Fly the model straight and level |
Use Transmitter trims for hands-off straight
and level flight |
Adjust clevises to center Transmitter trims |
| 2. Control Throws |
Fly model and apply full
deflection of each control in turn |
Check response of each control |
Aileron: Hi-rate, 3 rolls
in 3 to 4 seconds. Lo-rate, 3 rolls in 6 seconds
Elevator: Hi-rate to give a smooth square corner, Lo-rate
to give a loop of approximately 130 feet diameter
Rudder: Hi-rate approximately 30-35 degrees, for stall
turns, Lo-rate to maintain knife edge flight. |
| 3. Centre of Gravity (Method 1) |
Roll model into a near vertically banked turn |
A. Nose drops
B. Tail drops |
A. Add weight to tail
B. Add weight to nose |
| (Method 2) |
Roll model inverted |
A. Lots of down elevator
required to maintain level flight
B. No down elevator required to maintain level flight,
or model climbs |
A. Add weight to tail
B. Add weight to nose |
| 4. Decalage |
Power off vertical dive, cross wind (if any).
Release controls when model is vertical, (elevator must be neutral). |
A. Model continues straight down
B. Model starts to pull out,(nose up).
C. Model starts to tuck in,(nose down). |
A. No adjustment required
B. Reduce incidence
C. Increase incidence |
| 5. Tip Weight (course adjustment) |
Fly the model straight and
level, upright. Check aileron trim maintains wings level. Roll the model
inverted, wings level. Release aileron stick |
A. Model does not drop a
wing
B. The left wing drops
C. The right wing drops |
A. No adjustment required
B. Add weight to right tip
C. Add weight to left tip |
| 6. Elevator Alignment. (for models with independent
elevator Halves) |
Fly model away from you and into any wind.
Pull it into an inside loop or vertical climb, roll it inverted and repeat
by pushing it into an outside loop or vertical climb |
A. No rolling tendency when elevator applied
B. Model rolls in same direction in both tests
C. Model rolls in opposite directions in both tests |
A. Elevators in correct alignment
B. Elevator halves misaligned. Either raise one half or
lower the other
C. One elevator half has more throw than the other, (the
model rolls to the side with the most throw). Reduce throw on side with
the most throw or increase throw on the other |
| 1. Tip Weight (Final adjustment) |
Fly the model high into
the wind either coming towards you or or going away from you, smoothly
push the model into a vertical dive, pull out sharply and watch for a wing
dropping. |
A. Neither wing drops on
pulling out.
B. The right wing drops on pulling out.
C. The left wing drops on pulling out |
A. No adjustment required
B. Add weight to the left wing tip.
C. Add weight to the right wing tip |
| 2. Dihedral |
Fly the model straight and level into any
wind, apply rudder and watch for any tendency for the model to roll.
a. Test in both directions.
b. Make changes in increments of no more than 1/8" at
a time
c. Don't worry about the noes pitching down or up. |
A. The model does not roll.
B. The model rolls in the direction of the applied rudder.
(Proverse roll)
C. The model rolls in the opposite direction to the applied
rudder (Adverse roll) |
A. No adjustment required
B. Reduce dihedral
C. Increase Dihedral |
| 3. Side Thrust(During tests
re-trim with rudder until a straight vertical is achieved, then add side
thrust to the value of half the rudder trim that was needed. Zero the rudder
trim) (Go back and re-test after adjusting) |
Fly the model away from
you, into any wind. Pull it smoothly into a vertical climb going at least
to normal maneuver height (watch for deviations to the left or right as
it slows down) |
A. Model continues straight
up
B. Model veers left
C. Model veers right |
A. No adjustment required
B. Add right thrust
C. Reduce right thrust |
| 4. Up/Down Thrust |
Fly the model cross wind, at a distance of
around 100m from you, (elevator trim should be neutral as per test No 3),
pull it into a vertical climb and neutralize the elevator, (watch for any
deviations up or down as it slows down) |
A. Model continues straight up
B. Model pitches up, (goes towards the top of the model)
C. Model pitches down, (goes toward the bottom of the
model) |
A. No adjustment required
B. Add down thrust
C. Reduce down thrust |
| 5. Aileron Differential
(Set the model up with 12 Degrees up and 11 to 12 Degrees
down as a starting point.) |
Fly the model level and
into any wind, going away from yourself. Pull it up into a 45 Degree climb
and roll to the right. (After adjusting, try again in both directions) |
A. The model does not veer
sideways.
B. The model's path veers to the right.
C. The model's path veers to theleft. |
A. No adjustment required
B. Increase differential, increase the up throw on both
ailerons
C. Increase the down throw on both ailerons. |
| 6. Pitching in knife-edge flight
(Method 1) |
Fly the model on a normal pass and roll into
knife-edge flight, maintain height with top rudder, (do this test in both
left and right knife-edge flight) |
A. There is no pitch up or down
B. The nose pitches up, (the model climbs laterally)
C. The nose pitches down, (the model dives laterally) |
A. No adjustment required
B Alternative cures:
1. Move the C of G aft
2. Increase wing incidence
3. Add down trim to ailerons
C. Reverse the above |
| 6a. Knife-edge tracking
(Method 2) |
Fly the model on a normal
pass and roll into knife-edge flight, maintain height with top rudder,
(do this test in both left and right knife-edge flight) |
A. The model does not pitch
up or down
B. The model pitches to the canopy in both knife-edges.
C. The model pitches to it's bottom in both knife-edges
D. The model pitches in opposite directions in each kinfe-edge |
A. No adjustment required
B. Lower both Ailerons slightly Approximately 2 turns
C. Raise both Ailerons slightly approximately 2 turns
D. Use mixing from rudder to elevator to fix the problem. |
| 7. Power off Tracking (Test #1) |
Fly the model level into any wind, pull the
power off and watch for any roll off to either side |
A. No roll to either side
B. The model rolls left
C. The model rolls right |
A. No adjustment required
B. Mix 2% to 3% right aileron to low throttle, enough
to neutralize the roll.
C. Mix 2% to 3% left aileron to low throttle, enough to
neutralize the roll. |
| Test #2 |
Fly the model high at a
distance of approximately 100m into or across wind but sideways to yourself,
push it into a vertical dive, watch for any tendency to roll whilst in
the dive. |
A. The model shown no tendency
to roll
B. The model rolls to its left
C. The model rolls to its right |
A. No adjustment required
B. Mix some right aileron to low throttle, enough to neutralize
the roll
C. Mix some left aileron to low throttle, enough to neutralize
the roll |
| Test #3 |
Fly the model high at a distance of approximately
100m across any wind but sideways to yourself, push it into a vertical
dive, watch for any tendency to pitch up or down whilst in the dive. |
A. There is no pitching, the model continues
straight down
B. The model pitches up, towards the canopy.
C. The model pitches down towards the bottom of the model |
A. No adjustment required
B. Mix 2% to 3% down elevator to low throttle
C. Mix 2% to 3% up elevator to low throttle. |
| Trimming must be done in calm conditions.
2. Abbreviations are used. 3. Make multiple tests before making adjustments.
4. If any changes are made, go back over previous steps and verify or readjust
as necessary 5. A good Decalage starting point is 0 Deg. Wing, 0 Deg. Stab,
1.5 Deg. Downthrust & 1.5 Deg. Right thrust 6. The model should be
perfectly aligned whilst it was being constructed. 7. Static balance the
model prior to flying it. 8. Setting the C of G to between 34% and 38%
of the MAC is a good starting point. 9. All vertical dives are power off.
10. Setting up the model with 12 Degrees up Aileron and between 11 and
12 Degrees down is a good starting point.
(Take your time - Trimming is a constant procedure
throughout the life of your aircraft. If a trim condition changes noticably,
inspect all airframe and control components carefully to determine what
caused the change!) |
