How to get plane to climb

[Olympiadmom]

We just had our regionals and our school ended up making it to state so we need to figure out how to get this plane to rise instead of fall. Any suggestions? Here's our flight from regionals. https://www.dropbox.com/s/wrmndqx5fgm01 ... M.mov?dl=0

[JasperKota]

Looks a bit to me like you're throwing the plane to launch it - just let go of the propeller gently and let go of the plane. Also looks like the circles are too tight - tilt the stabilizer a little less, or rudder a little less, whatever method you're using to make the plane turn - it should do better with wider circles. There's also a lot of stalling happening, not sure how your plane is designed (looks like freedom flight?), but try lowering the front wing post a bit. If that's not adjustable, move the wing slightly backward on the motorstick, or add some clay towards the nose of the plane to adjust the center of balance.

[jander14indoor]

Agree with point about throwing the plane, don't.
In addition, that plane is banking WAY to hard. That's driving the turn far more than stab tilt or rudder. You need to increase the lift on the left wing (this will also open out the turn as already recommended). The bank is using a LOT of the planes energy to turn instead of climb.
How to do that. While building, increase the length of the left wing vs the right. Twist the wing so the left wing has a higher leading edge relative to the trailing edge than the right.
After built, cut the leading spar in the center about half way through. Crack, don't break, the leading spar. Lift the tip of the leading spar about 1/8 up above straight and reglue the cut to lock the bend in place. You may have to do this a couple of times, the 1/8 isn't magic, but pretty typical. This is a classic trick to trim out these planes to fly mostly level.
Why do you have to do this? Well, the rubber is turning the prop hard to the right, basic Newton's laws, equal and opposite reaction, the rubber has to turn the plane hard to the left. You need a force to counteract that so the plane can fly level and more of the lift be available to climb instead of turn.

AFTER your plane is flying mostly level, maybe SLIGHT left bank, use stab tilt and/or rudder to adjust turn diameter.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[Olympiadmom]

We've made adjustments but can't get it to climb.

[OpticsNerd]

I also think that you are throwing the plane too hard. It's okay to give a slight push at the beginning if you aren't angling the plane upwards. I have a plane that flies for over 2 minutes, but if I threw it up it wouldn't fly anywhere even close to that. For now, I wouldn't worry much about it not lifting, first you need a smooth flight where the plane increases or decreases its altitude consistently. Also, what company did you get the model from?

[drcubbin]

I agree with the "no pushing". We started SO 3 years ago buying balsa and building our own elastic launched gliders (lots of trial and error, especially when trying to create ailerons out of packing foam). Not much climbing though - we called them "flying phone books!" We moved to Freedom Flyers, then to Laser Cut, now we are torn between the two. Anybody else?

[M017]

My teammate is having trouble with his plane going down rapidly if he does a torque of over 2, any suggestions?

[coachchuckaahs]

As noted with others, your SSM is probably low. Try moving CG forward and increasing incidence.

This assumes that the rest of the plane is straight and he has trimmed for basic flight (just under a stall on letdown).

CG should likely be in the range of 33 to 50mm in front of the TE, and decalage 6-10mm.

Of course much depends on the design, the tail moment, stiffness of motor stick, quality of build etc. etc.Best to see a photo of plane, even better to see video of flight.

Coach Chuck