Post by alaskabliss on Feb 19, 2011 1:29:33 GMT 1
Now that I have had several flights on the cub with flaps i just wanted to give my opinion on their performance since when I fist got into the SC worl I had no clue and heard different opinions so here is mine.
On calm days the flap do help to get you into the air faster. My plane has the brushless upgrade so I tested them with minimal throttle take offs so the increased performance wasn't just the motor. If you have about 5mph head wind they start really getting fun for take offs. I would suspect that the flaps would really show their true benifits if I were to add more weight to the plane like a camera while flying with limited runway length. The plane ascends with less of a nose up attitude but still with a faster rate of climb. I have my elevator mixed at 20% and this seems perfect for take off and landing.
Landings were a little disappointing at first till I learned how to land with the flaps. Normal nose down approach was still faster then I thought it would be. Once again some wind makes them alot funner to see how short you can bring it in. On final I drop my flaps and push the nose down to lose altitude and just about no throttle. Once about 30 feet off the ground I level off and pull the nose up as if I was flaring the plane and add enough throttle to keep the nose up as it slows down while still loosing altitude. Some people call this hanging it off the prop, which can bite you if your motor coughs or the batter decides to die. At this point I am just above the ground and almost full up on the elevator and bumping the throttle to keep it smooth till it touches down. I tried this with out flaps and it was much faster of an approach and longer run out on the ground. The thing to be careful of is the dreaded stall. You are on the bitter edge of stalling so be ready to burst the throttle if needed to get the nose up a bit. I have had a couple hard landings from stalling just above the ground but I never had the wings dip like a standard stall does witch is nice. It took me a battery worth of touch and goes to figure out the trick and get comfortable with it. I do have my elevetor horns set one hole from max throw to help keep me from stalling. I would suspect if I had full throw and had full up on the elevators I would be alot closer to stall speed easier, not sure.
Another thing I noticed is that cross wind landings are easier without flaps. I noticed with flaps the plane weather vaned alot more and any slight gust would pick you up and glide you around. Ailerons would help in this situation but I havn't got them yet.
So my opinion is that the flaps are great fun and add realism to the plan but they can bite you if you push the slow speeds to much. I fly my stock cub and have just as much fun trying to land short so I don't feel flaps are a must have but they are sure worth you time and little money to install. I can land in five feet on the ice with flaps from touch down to stop and take off 3/4 throttle in about three feet with a little breeze. Good luck with the flying and lets hope summer is coming soon with better weather
On calm days the flap do help to get you into the air faster. My plane has the brushless upgrade so I tested them with minimal throttle take offs so the increased performance wasn't just the motor. If you have about 5mph head wind they start really getting fun for take offs. I would suspect that the flaps would really show their true benifits if I were to add more weight to the plane like a camera while flying with limited runway length. The plane ascends with less of a nose up attitude but still with a faster rate of climb. I have my elevator mixed at 20% and this seems perfect for take off and landing.
Landings were a little disappointing at first till I learned how to land with the flaps. Normal nose down approach was still faster then I thought it would be. Once again some wind makes them alot funner to see how short you can bring it in. On final I drop my flaps and push the nose down to lose altitude and just about no throttle. Once about 30 feet off the ground I level off and pull the nose up as if I was flaring the plane and add enough throttle to keep the nose up as it slows down while still loosing altitude. Some people call this hanging it off the prop, which can bite you if your motor coughs or the batter decides to die. At this point I am just above the ground and almost full up on the elevator and bumping the throttle to keep it smooth till it touches down. I tried this with out flaps and it was much faster of an approach and longer run out on the ground. The thing to be careful of is the dreaded stall. You are on the bitter edge of stalling so be ready to burst the throttle if needed to get the nose up a bit. I have had a couple hard landings from stalling just above the ground but I never had the wings dip like a standard stall does witch is nice. It took me a battery worth of touch and goes to figure out the trick and get comfortable with it. I do have my elevetor horns set one hole from max throw to help keep me from stalling. I would suspect if I had full throw and had full up on the elevators I would be alot closer to stall speed easier, not sure.
Another thing I noticed is that cross wind landings are easier without flaps. I noticed with flaps the plane weather vaned alot more and any slight gust would pick you up and glide you around. Ailerons would help in this situation but I havn't got them yet.
So my opinion is that the flaps are great fun and add realism to the plan but they can bite you if you push the slow speeds to much. I fly my stock cub and have just as much fun trying to land short so I don't feel flaps are a must have but they are sure worth you time and little money to install. I can land in five feet on the ice with flaps from touch down to stop and take off 3/4 throttle in about three feet with a little breeze. Good luck with the flying and lets hope summer is coming soon with better weather
