Tail dragger - howto ?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

reg - 30 Oct 2004 20:12 GMT

Right 'ere we go then >;-)

As a change from throwing gliders and slopers off high and steep places I
have nearly completed a tail dragger, and now need some words of advice.

Wheels are just in front of wing leading edge, tail end is a curved skid
made from piano wire.

What happens during take off ???

I open the throttle and start accelerating.... what happens with the
elevator at this stage ? Slight up elevator to keep the tail down ?

Speed increased and tail rises, plane running on front wheels
(hopefully). Elevator centred ?

As tail skid rises off ground... apply rudder to counteract (right?)
yaw ?

Speed sufficient for take off... slight up elevator to rotate and gently
climb away (Oh, I can just see it now... beautiful... ) ?

Be gentle it is my first pair of wheels >:-)

Reg

Reply to this Message

Gord Schindler - 31 Oct 2004 00:29 GMT

Sounds pretty good. IF the A/C swings left on take-off though, apply a bit
of right rudder before you open the throttle. It is easier to stop a left
swing before it starts than it is to stop one that has already started.
Gord Schindler
MAAC6694

> Right 'ere we go then >;-)
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Reg

Reply to this Message

Philip Rawson - 31 Oct 2004 01:20 GMT

Nah... put some floats on it... much easier.

Actually, you've got it about right. Maybe you don't need the elevator 'till
it's on it's two wheels and you want to lift off. Depends on the surface
you're taking off from.

--
Philip Rawson

www.flymodels.co.uk
www.aeromodeller.org

> Right 'ere we go then >;-)
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> Reg

Reply to this Message

Kevin R - 31 Oct 2004 14:52 GMT

I had 1 model that you had to hold up at the start and then add a little
down elevator to bring the tail up before it would take off
Kevin

> Nah... put some floats on it... much easier.
>
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>>
>> Reg

Reply to this Message

Dr1Driver - 31 Oct 2004 16:00 GMT

>What happens during take off ???

Hopefully, the plane rolls down the runway and rises into the air. :)

>I open the throttle and start accelerating.... what happens with the
>elevator at this stage ?

Depends on the plane. With most sport models, the tail will come up naturally
as the speed increases. Leave the elevator in neutral.

> Slight up elevator to keep the tail down ?

Use slight up elevator only at the very start of the takeoff roll. If up
elevator is held while the plane speeds up, it will take off prematurely (and
NOBODY wants premature takeoff!), often resulting in a stall and crash.

>Speed increased and tail rises, plane running on front wheels
>(hopefully). Elevator centred ?

As stated above, leave the elevator in the neutral position.

>As tail skid rises off ground... apply rudder to counteract (right?)
>yaw ?

If necessary, yes. Some planes will yaw to the left and some won't. Usually,
the planes with larger diameter, lower pitch props will yaw worse than others.

>Speed sufficient for take off... slight up elevator to rotate and gently
>climb away (Oh, I can just see it now... beautiful... ) ?

Correct. Some planes will take off without up elevator. Most won't. After
the plane is airborne, relax the elevator so your climb angle isn't too steep.

>Be gentle it is my first pair of wheels >:-)

Take it slow and easy, and it won't hurt much the first time. Good luck and
let us know if it was good for you. ;)

Dr.1 Driver
"There's a Hun in the sun!"

Reply to this Message

John Hollinshead - 31 Oct 2004 18:50 GMT

> Wheels are just in front of wing leading edge, tail end is a curved skid
> made from piano wire.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Speed sufficient for take off... slight up elevator to rotate and gently
> climb away (Oh, I can just see it now... beautiful... ) ?

That's the theory.
What normally happens is
Check surfaces......
Wack open the throttle..... to full
Waggle the rudder to track... by god it's going fast!!!!!
Dab a touch of up elevator.........
Prop hang !!!!
Level out...
A round of applause having missed the dog walker [ three points for a near
miss, double for an OAP drinks all round if it's the motor biker!]

Reply to this Message

reg - 31 Oct 2004 20:54 GMT

>> Wheels are just in front of wing leading edge, tail end is a curved skid
>> made from piano wire.
>>
>> What happens during take off ???

Thanks for all the comments and very sage advice.
The picture is somewhat clearer now.
Will give a report (and details of the crash scene, body count, etc)
when I get it finished and give it a first go, maybe in the coming week.

Reg

>> I open the throttle and start accelerating.... what happens with the
>> elevator at this stage ? Slight up elevator to keep the tail down ?
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> A round of applause having missed the dog walker [ three points for a near
> miss, double for an OAP drinks all round if it's the motor biker!]

Reply to this Message

Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / October 2004

Tail dragger - howto ?