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Post by rookieflyer421 on Dec 18, 2014 6:05:56 GMT 1
I bought my Supercub today. i put it together and made the rookie mistake of taking it out right away. just being and eager beaver. well i crashed my plane had to make some minor repairs i got lucky just had some plastic damage and a few nicks on my leading edges but before all this when i would taxi my plane it goes straight for about a hundred feet then the wing just dips to the right and in drags on the ground. is this normal? if not how do i fix this problem it is really starting to annoy me.
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Post by hghost on Dec 18, 2014 7:03:08 GMT 1
Not sure what you are saying
The plane sets level on the ground sitting still ?
You have to connect the battery and allow the SAFE ESC to set itself, it takes about 60 seconds and the control surfaces will move up and down
But you have to leave it perfectly still while it does that....if you do not you throw off the control surfaces
How I do it is let the Cub set on it's wheels and I hook the battery up and leave it on the ground until it sets it's controls, Than I pick the plane up
and put the battery in the battery box and close the lid.
If you move the plane while it is setting the controls it will mess up
You have the SAFE Super Cub so it sets the Elevator in the Up direction slightly to take off
BUT
The rudder and rear tail wheel are tied together...so when the wheel goes right or left so does the rudder
YOU have to steer the plane in the direction you want it to go with Rudder input
It is possible the Control Horns ( plastic ends on control rods from the servo's ) are slightly off and the Rudder is set a little to far right
But I dare say you did not allow it to set before you took off ?
Put the Super cub on a flat- level table, workbench and hook the battery up and allow the controls to do their thing....they will make a noise and go up and down and side to side.
Now as it sets still look to see if the Rudder is lined up with the Vertical stab ( tail section )...If it is slightly right or left
un-snap the control horn-( plastic piece on control wire ) and twist the horn in or out to pull the Rudder to the level position ( that is manual adjustment )
OR
You can go to the Rudder servo and loosen the screw and slightly move the Servo arm to get the Rudder straight ( that is manual adjustment )
OR
You can go on your TX ( transmitter / radio ) and adjust the Trim button-slide and make the rudder move right or left and set it level ( that is trim adjustment )
BUT
Some planes have a slight right or left drift on take-off...some worse than others.
IF you set the Rudder straight and true and the plane still drifts Right/Left on take off
Just give a little input the opposite direction on take off and it will be fine...also you can use that trim on the TX to do that slightly....
But be careful you may cause it to turn /drift right or left while in the air as well, if not trimmed right.
Many variables...BUT , i dare say it was because you did not allow it to be still when you hooked up the battery
the SAFE System has to initialize before you touch it ( less than 60 seconds normally ) controls will move and will make a noise when doing it and than will get quiet and still.
Try that first and see if that helps
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Post by rookieflyer421 on Dec 18, 2014 7:11:40 GMT 1
okay thanks hgghost. i will try that when i attempt to fly tomorrow or crash as i have read on here. been doing my homework before i attempt another flight
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Post by hghost on Dec 18, 2014 7:27:52 GMT 1
Just be careful and make sure you keep the speed up..Not wide open, but not below half at first either....the SAFE will limit your control input so you have to have a large area to turn in.
But the plane will dip it's nose in the turn so you have to apply slight Up elevator when you turn to keep it level
IF you get in trouble remember you have the panic button you press and hold and the plane will go to level no matter what orientation it is in...even upside down it will turn right-side up.
things happen fast and you panic and forget...you can use that panic button for your benefit even when landing...slow down, line the plane up where you want it to land
ease off throttle and hold that panic button, it will drift in and land almost on it's own.Ease of throttle to land, throttle up to take off in beginners mode
But make sure you have plenty of room to fly in and turn in....beginners mode is very limited...intermediate mode allows more control input but not fully, but it has No self leveling
but the panic button will still work in every mode.
read up on it more.....and take your time.
It does take time to learn....No one does it right the first time out.
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Post by coupe1942 on Dec 18, 2014 8:20:06 GMT 1
At least you did better than I on a first flight. I crashed right into a liquor store. I did some damage to the prop shaft and, of course, the cowl, too. The reason I initially crashed was unique though. I just stood there after my first take off and had my jaw hang on the ground as I looked in wonder and amazement at this little plane actually taking flight. By the time I actually looked at where it was going, I didn't have enough speed or height to turn away from that liquor store wall. At least I got some good personal experience afterward in making repairs. :-)
I am still not quite certain as to what exactly your referring to by your initial comments. Some things are just difficult to explain fully when the other people are not there to understand. You could have a broken wing, stretched out wing strut or broken strut attachment, landing gear axles that are bent, bent rudder control, broken control horn or even a host of other items which could all be the main culprit. Me, I'd find a flat surface to put the SC onto and start a thorough check of each system and part before trying your next flight. Anxious to fly as you may be, a very thorough exam or flight check can sure save lot to the cost of potential repairs. It may be something simple, but it is always best to check every component after any crash. This can be an expensive sport quickly if you don't do that.
Hghost may have the right idea on what your trying to say. Me, I have just learned to be a bit more cautious in trying to get into the air as quickly as most newbies. Reading all the info posted at this site is sure a good help in avoiding many of the pitfalls that can surely happen. Good luck with your fix. My SCs are out in the garage and I don't have quick access to them at the moment, but a good inspection can probably narrow down the problem, I believe. One thing you may do that may possibly help you a bit before you skip to the air directly is to do some ground time first in simply running about the parking lot on the ground and learning what the controls feel like at various speeds below the actual take off for flight point. I did this at various speeds when just learning and it actually helped me to get a real feel for the plane and how easily it can tip to either direction as I tried to control it. It also allowed me to feel the response on the ground and later compare that to the response of the controls in flight. May be a training idea that could help you if you wanted to try it out. The intent is not to bring the plane up fast enough to actually take off from the taxi area, but to see what effects the controls had on the ground and to help determine some characteristics of the plane as you use the controls in the taxi mode.
My SC seemed to have an intent to head out to the right once I liftede off the ground, but also when I gave it too much power when turning on the taxi area, but your's tries to turn left, as best I can tell. Not sure just why. Again, good luck to you.
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Post by rookieflyer421 on Dec 18, 2014 18:09:49 GMT 1
Thanks for all your help guys the weather is good for flying today. So when I get home I plan on taking out my S/C for some ground practice maybe a short flight. My repairs were minor. Checked everything over 4 times last night. Tested my flaps and rudder and even the motor. All is working well. Some tape fixed all that was broken. Thanks for all your input guys.
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Post by hghost on Dec 18, 2014 22:53:26 GMT 1
No flaps on a Super Cub ?
Super Cub is Three channel plane
Motor-Rudder-Elevator
I am sure you meant elevator....
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Post by rookieflyer421 on Dec 19, 2014 0:59:16 GMT 1
yes i meant elevator sorry still getting used to the terms.
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Post by coupe1942 on Dec 19, 2014 1:04:32 GMT 1
Funny you mention that, but each time I get a "time off" from flying my planes for any extended period at all, I still forget many common terms, too. Sometimes I have to go to the various sections here to look them up once again. I also have to remind myself if I am addressing HobbyZone, HobbyKing or HobbyTown. Gets confusing at times and I still make mistakes. :-)
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Post by rookieflyer421 on Dec 19, 2014 1:08:40 GMT 1
its a lot to remember. I have a quick question. how to i have soft landings on bumpy grass my landings today were a little rough as the wheels touched down and snagged a bump in the grass and folded the landing gear. causing my plane to slide on the ground. no major damage just a little frustrating that my flawless flights had to end bad.
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Post by hghost on Dec 19, 2014 1:25:10 GMT 1
its a lot to remember. I have a quick question. how to i have soft landings on bumpy grass my landings today were a little rough as the wheels touched down and snagged a bump in the grass and folded the landing gear. causing my plane to slide on the ground. no major damage just a little frustrating that my flawless flights had to end bad. PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE |
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Post by Knackered Sailor on Dec 19, 2014 12:49:15 GMT 1
Going back to the original question, you actually referred to the wing tipping when 'taxiing' over 100'! Why would you taxi that distance when it will take off in 6-12 feet?
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Post by rookieflyer421 on Dec 19, 2014 17:18:58 GMT 1
Just practicing my ground movements. Getting used to the plane. I found out why my plane was leaning. From side to side. I didn't have the landing gear in properly. So I fixed it last night it's in nice and snug now. I made a dumb mistake.
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Post by coupe1942 on Dec 19, 2014 18:05:09 GMT 1
Sometimes you really have to rock those pieces into place pretty hard and from side to side. I have arthritis in my hands and an old shoulder injury which makes tasks as this more difficult at times for me. Gads, when it is cold and rainy, it can actually be quite the chore, too. Once snapped firmly into place though, it takes a pretty good wallop to losen it on my planes these days, to it is not all that often that I have to do this task.
Glad you found the problem and solution. Have fun in flying.
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Post by hghost on Dec 19, 2014 18:35:03 GMT 1
Just practicing my ground movements. Getting used to the plane. I found out why my plane was leaning. From side to side. I didn't have the landing gear in properly. So I fixed it last night it's in nice and snug now. I made a dumb mistake. Those Flite Test Video's explained that as well...I hope they helped you out. here is one in case others are interested, it is great information watch the entire series, it's great www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nNdpcm91Ds |
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