HOME CONTACTS EVENTS FIELD LOCATION MEETINGS LINKS PHOTO GALLERY CLASSIFIED
This chart has appeared in various forms and in various places, both in print and on the Internet. It is presented here for your convenience and because the information is so useful. Use the chart as you wish but remember that not all planes will respond the same, so don't try to get your trainer to complete all of the tests!! Thanks to the originators.
NOTES
1) Trim in calm
conditions.
2) Make multiple tests
before making adjustments.
3) If changes are made,
go over previous steps and verify or re adjust as
necessary.
| To Test For | Test Procedure | Observations | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Control neutrals | Fly model straight and level | Adjust the 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 the response of each control | *Aileron Hi-rate:
3 rolls in 4 seconds. *Lo-rate: 3 rolls in 6 seconds. *Elevator Hi-rate: to give smooth square corner. *Lo-rate: to give a loop of approx. 130' dia.. *Rudder Hi-rate: approx. 30-35 degrees for stall turns. *Lo-rate to maintain knife edge flight. |
| 3. Decalage | Power off vertical dive. Release controls when model is vertical (elevator must be neutral). | A. Does the
model continue straight down? B. Does the model start to pull out (nose up) ? C. Does the model start to tuck in (nose down)? |
A. No
adjustment B. Reduce incidence$nbsp; C. Increase incidence |
| 4. Center of gravity | Method 1: Roll
model into near vertically banked turn. ; Method 2: Roll model inverted. |
A. Nose
drops B. Tail drops C. Lots of down elevator required to maintain level flight D. No down elevator required to maintain level flight, or model climbs |
A. Add weight
to tail B. Add weight to nose C. Add weight to tail D. Add weight to nose |
| 5. Tip Weight (course adjustment) | Fly model straight and level upright. Check that aileron trim maintains wings level. Roll model inverted, wings level. Release aileron stick | A. Model does
not drop a wing B. Left wing drops C. Right wing drops |
A. No adjustment
required B. Add weight to right tip C. Add weight to left tip |
| 6. Side Thrust | Fly model away from you into any wind. Pull it into a vertical climb (watch for deviations as it slows down). | A. Model continues
straight up B. Model veers left C. Model veers right |
A. No adjustment
needed B. Add right thrust C. Reduce right thrust (move thrust line left) |
| 7. Up/Down Thrust | Fly model on a normal path into any wind. Parallel to strip, at a distance of around 100m from you (elevator trim should be neutral as per test No.3). Pull into a vertical climb & neutralize elevator. | A. Model continues
straight up B. Model pitches up (goes towards top of model) C. Model pitches down (goes towards bottom of model) |
A. No adjustment
needed B. Add down thrust C. Reduce down thrust |
| 8. Tip Weight (fine adjustment) | Method 1: Fly
model as per test No.6 and pull it into a reasonably small dia. inside loop
(1 loop only). Method 2: Fly the model as per test No.6 and push it down into an outside loop (1 loop only & fairly tight). |
A. Model comes
out with wings level B. Model comes out right wing low C. Model comes out left wing low |
A. No adjustment
needed B. Add weight to left tip C. Add weight to right tip |
| 9.(a) Aileron Differential Method 1: | Fly the model towards you, before it reaches you, pull it up into a vertical climb. Neutralize controls, then half roll the model | A. No heading
changes B. Heading change opposite to direction of roll commands (ie. heading veers to models & your left after right roll). C. Heading changes in direction of roll command |
A. Differential
OK B. Increase differential C. Reduce differential |
| 9.(b) Aileron Differential Method 2: | Fly the model on a normal pass and do 3 or more rolls | A. Roll axis
on model center line B. Roll axis off to same side as roll command (ie. right roll, roll axis off right wing tip) C. Roll axis off to opposite side of model as roll command |
A. Differential
OK B. Increase differential C. Reduce differential |
| 10. Dihedral | Fly model on normal pass and roll into knife-edge flight, maintain altitude with top rudder (do this test in both left & right knife-edge flight) | A. Model has
no tendency to roll out of knife-edge
flight B. Model rolls in direction of applied rudder C. Model rolls in opposite direction in both tests |
A. Dihedral
OK B. Reduce dihedral C. Increase dihedral |
| 11. Elevator alignment (for models with independent elevator halves) | Fly model as in test #6 and pull it up into an inside loop. Roll inverted and repeat the above by pushing it up into an outside loop | A. No rolling
tendency when elevator applied B. Model rolls in same direction in both tests C. Model rolls in opposite direction in both tests |
A. Elevators
are in correct alignment B. Elevator halves misaligned. Either raise one half or lower the other half C. One elevator half has more throw than the other (model rolls to the side with the most throw). Reduce throw on one side or increase throw on the other |
| 12. Pitching in knife-edge flight | Fly model as per test no. 10 | A. There is
no pitching up or down B. The nose pitches up (the model climbs laterally) C. Nose pitches down (model dives laterally) |
A. No adjustment
needed B. Alternate cures: 1. Move the CG aft 2. Increase wing incidence 3. Add down trim to ailerons |