TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR GLIDERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums
Updated 1/2014
Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your glider for
launch. This is written for a pure glider but applies to electric launched gliders as well.
The launch method is different but they are both gliders.
If you are a new pilot, you really need to heed the wind cautions.
If you are experienced, use your own judgment.
Here is how you prepare for your first flights. Skip a step and you open
yourself to problems.
Be sure to balance the plane to the suggested point. If you don't have a
reference setting from planes or a guide, then try balancing on the main
spar
as a starting point. Another reference point is 35% back from the front of
the wing at the root. It is more complex than that, but it will give you a
starting point.
It is better to be a "little" nose heavy than tail heavy. A nose heavy
plane is
more stable so you have a better chance of a smooth first flight session.
However, as you gain experience with the plane, plan to move the CG back.
This is a process you want to do slowly. The plane will be more sensitive
to lift with a more rearward CG, BUT, it will also be less stable. You have
to find that happy point and there is no magic formula. What works for you
is what works.
Respect the wind - For new pilots, dead calm to 2 MPH is perfect. No more
than 5 MPH for your first test glides and early/training flights or you will
be fighting the wind, not flying the plane.
(guess how I know)
AT THE FIELD
1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio.
If you are on 2.4 GHz this is not a concern but if you are on 72, 35, 27, 50 you need to check to see if
someone is flying on your channel.
If you turn on your radio, they will crash!
Check first!
2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day or after a hard
landing.
3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3
days
ago. Not last week. Last night or today!
4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before
you launch. Right rudder goes right and up elevator goes up, etc. Check
that
surfaces are properly aligned. Also make sure your wing is straight!
5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the
stick(s).
Be sure you have not bumped one out of position. A bumped trim can cause
the
plane to crash. (guess how I know).
6) Always launch and land into the wind. ALWAYS!!!!
7) For hand launches - good firm LEVEL throw - not up. Never
throw the plane upward on a test glide as it will most likely stall, nose
down and crash.
8) Let it fly straight out (no power on e-gliders also) - the fist
few times and see if it goes straight
and level. Try not to use the controls unless you have to. If it is
balanced
correctly, and your surfaces are trimmed it should glide straight and flat
for
about 75 to 150+ feet. If it does not, you have some balancing or trim to
adjust.
The first time I bring a plane to the field I might do 10-15 test glides,
evaluating and adjusting then testing again. Only when I am happy that the
plane glides straight and flat will I launch it. If it is going to miss
behave I want to see it at 4 feet not 40 or 400.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST FLIGHT AND YOU ARE LEARNING ON YOUR OWN
If you are learning to use a hi-start on your own, consult this article on
learning to use a hi-start:
http://www.flyesl.org/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=216
My suggestion is to make your first few hi-start launches purely test and
trim
launches Launch and spend your time testing the behavior of the plane.
Avoid
thermals until you are sure of your plane. Land after a short time and see
how it lands. Do several launch and land drills to get to know the plane.
If you have a standard radio, or a radio with mechanical trims, you should
try to trim the plane so that your trim slides will be centered when you
fly. It makes it easier to have the radio right before you fly. If you
have a computer radio with digital trim buttons, this is still a best
practice, but less of an issue as the radio will set your trims where you
last saved them.
If you can set your control throws lower for early flights do it. If you
have
dual rates, set one at 100% of recommended rate and a low rate at 70% as a
starting point. Do your tests on low if you think you might have a tendency
to over control. Too much surface movement on an unfamiliar plane can
cause
you to over control it. You can always "crank it up" later.
If you can locate some tall grass to do your first glides, that is a real
bonus. Naturally your plane will fly perfectly the first time you glide it,
but if something is out of trim, the tall grass will help cushion the plane
if it hits hard. I always go to the tall grass to do first glides of a new
plane, or a newly repaired plane
Full Launch
After this, I go for a full launch, but I am not done yet.
Now I test how the plane lands. This is more of training for me. So I
launch, fly two circuits around the field, then land. I may do this 10-15
times until I can land the plane, reasonably reliably where I want it to
land.
If I have a landing mix set-up, here is where I test it. I test the landing
mix at 100 feet to see what the plane will do. If it stalls or dives, I
will have time to correct. If I do this at 10 feet the first time, I may
not recover in time to save the plane. Only when I have tuned the landing
mix will I use it near the ground.
I worry less about where I am going to land than that I can make a safe
landing. There is no walk of shame while testing. Protect the plane, not
your ego.
Once I have done all these things, which might take hours, then and only
then
would I go for a full flight. Many will say this is over kill. I am only
sharing what I do. I feel it is better to spend the time to tune and learn
than to risk the plane or the repair bench. I want to know the plane is
right
before I send it out hunting.
Clear Skies and Safe Flying!
Best regards,
Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums
Long Island Silent Flyers |
TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES
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Posted - 08/30/2006 : 11:43:09 PM
