The Inside Loop - 2009/07
Center of Gravity: the crucial point
An airplane's balance point—its center of gravity—is perhaps the most crucial element of any model. Designers who draw plans pinpoint it, manufacturers that produce kits explain the range, and factories that build ARFs give us the exact measurement. If it’s to fly, that point needs to be right for the aircraft to perform as intended.
During a scratch-built or plans-built project, part of the fun is selecting and placing equipment. My goal is that when the model is finally assembled, the airplane sits on the CG and requires no ballast.
The passion of aeromodeling can be intense; it should be if we respect our creations' capabilities. That one point, the center of gravity, influences everything, and, justifiably, we cling to the harmony it creates. Focus on the CG, get it right, and the rest will follow.
As in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, we're looking for the fit that's just right. It's a chase, and working through the course satisfies our passion.
First flights and lessons learned
As soon as the wheels leave the runway, a pilot can tell whether the moments to follow will be great joy or sheer terror. I like the joy element, but not every project has worked out so flawlessly.
Regardless, that's the pursuit, and I go for it with every project. Along the way, the differences discovered between one model and the next are appreciated and add abilities that will benefit the project that follows.
Compromise and priorities
The trouble is, to achieve the center of gravity, we sometimes sacrifice other things; we compromise. Exchange a large engine for a lighter one (maybe give up some power), move the servos around the fuselage (cut more holes and make some dust)—that sort of thing. When I'm passionate about a project, I sometimes let all other daily stuff fall off the to-do list.
Driving through neighborhoods, sometimes you can tell where the modeler lives; it's the house with the tall grass in the yard. I'll stay up late some nights, skip a few dinners, and chase the garbage truck down the street because I've forgotten to take the trash out—all supposedly for the good of the model that needs to be completed for an important occasion. When compromises occur, consider the consequences—like the sight of me running down the street in slippers after the garbage truck.
The reality is that family, friends, and a career are what we juggle so that we maintain the correct center of gravity that includes a hobby or sport. After I work long hours on a project, I look forward to the time I'll give back to the people in my life. As with the model project, when we maintain good balance, the benefits affect all things.
Life lessons and modeling lessons go hand in hand. So now my modeling skills will be applied to my home-improvement skills—by painting the upstairs hallway. But afterward, we'll go out and watch our son's soccer team kick some butt. Go Titans!
Team building and team flying
Team building is an exercise that members of aeromodeling clubs do without even knowing. Like minds create a harmony that attracts others and, sooner than later, a great family results. Eric Henderson's article about team flying is as much about developing relationships as it is about communication and proficiency—otherwise known as teamwork.
At a full-scale air show, the audience is captivated by aircraft flying in close proximity to each other. I don't know if it's the drama in the possibility of sudden contact or the awe of human talent and machine ability. Many of us have seen the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds perform. After the show, the crowd moves on with a profound respect for the teams—a marketing tool if there ever was one.
Team flying is an example of how club members can get together and be successful. And they do it with something they're already having fun with: a model airplane. The entertainment value is virtually limitless, both in the successes and the failures. Lucky for us, the pilots are safe on the ground.
Eric's article is good at describing how to start small and work your way up. I like the idea of beginning with foam models, since accidents with those are less likely to puncture the wallet.
When the effort comes together, the team has the ability to display, in an appreciable form, what it is to be a member of an aeromodeling group. It's something special, that's certain.
—MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
