Newcomers
Bob Underwood 32 Hollandbush Ct., St. Charles MO 63376
It's a matter of position. Who knew that when you received the big-game tickets for seats on the 50-yard line, you would be sitting behind the only set of adult triplets in the United States who are seven feet, three inches tall, and wearing huge headgear designed to spur on the home team!
Position, or placement, has to do with many things. The marketplace comes to mind, as do lane assignments in the Olympics, holding a hammer, and placing your hands on the computer keyboard.
The same is true for aeromodeling. The designer takes into consideration the elements of the aircraft and its specific relationships. We often become static in our thinking relative to these areas, then people such as aircraft designer Burt Rutan come along and cause us to rethink our approach. The Voyager (the first nonstop, nonrefueled flight around the world) was something of a shock, and Burt's more recent design, the Proteus (a high-altitude, multimission aircraft), is even more so. The description heard from some is that the special-purpose Proteus resembled "two dragonflies mating." The configuration of wings and tails and bodies does not fit our view of what an airplane should look like. The important thing is that Burt's ideas work because they adhere to the laws of nature.
We must look not only at the designs we use, but at the methods as well.
Center of gravity and operational relationships
While finding the position of the center of gravity (CG), the relationships of various dimensions and other factors are important. There are other things to consider operationally. Let's look at some of those; for the most part, I will be addressing RC (radio control).
Your transmitter has a fairly standard layout no matter what brand you buy. The control sticks, trim levers, and auxiliary switches (if any) tend to fall into this standard pattern. It's true that the more complicated many-channel units tend to use a greater variety of switch placements, but not the simpler sets.
In the past I've written about whether to buy the more common Mode II or the Mode I type. In many cases it boils down to the availability of instructors. Mode II fliers (elevator/aileron on the right stick) outnumber the Mode I types, but that's not to say you won't be able to locate help for Mode I. Some instructors are capable of switching from one mode to the other. You might not find Mode I equipment as readily available in the hobby shop, but with some sets you can easily convert the unit from one mode to the other.
Notice I haven't mentioned single-stick. That's primarily because it's almost nonexistent now.
Thumb pilots vs. finger fliers
Have you thought about whether you're going to be a thumb pilot or a finger flier? Spend some time at the field and watch how people manipulate the sticks. I'll bet you find that the majority of pilots place their thumbs on the top of the stick. That's the reason the top of most transmitters are knurled.
Other fliers hold the stick with the thumb and first finger. A few curl the first finger around the stick and place the thumb on top. Which is best? Most people feel that the finger/thumb combination provides the most precise control. If that's true, why do the majority still "thumb fly"? Take an informal poll and you'll probably discover that the majority of "thumbers" are older RC fliers or younger pilots taught by older instructors. In the early RC days, the radios were not simultaneous or proportional-control transmitters, and you had to toggle or "thumb" a sticklike switch to control the model. The carryover to the newer equipment was placing the thumb on the top of the stick.
"If I 'finger-fly,' I find it harder to hold the transmitter!" you might say. That's true. However, wearing a lanyard around your neck or using a transmitter tray easily solves that problem. This takes care of trying to hold plastic with slick, fuel-soaked hands, and the support supplied by the lanyard or tray allows you to reach for trim levers or switches more safely. If you can learn to finger-fly, you'll probably want slightly longer sticks. Many radios have an adjustment process to accommodate stick length. Remember that a longer control lever allows finer, more precise movement. Your fine motor skills don't have to be quite as sharp.
Many of the younger generation have been raised with joystick video games. They are real "stick floppers," and need to concentrate on making smaller, slower stick movements.
Component placement and practical tips
What other position issues should be considered?
How about where you place switches and charging jacks on your model? Don't put them where they can be "boiled in oil." Keep them away from the exhaust-outlet side of the engine or the bottom of the fuselage, where everything seems to collect!
Yes, you electric fliers can just snicker and read on!
Where do you place the propeller on the crankshaft in relation to the compression point? Many modelers place it close to a three o'clock position. I put it near one o'clock. It seems more comfortable for getting my hand out of the way if I'm hand-starting the engine.
This is not much of an issue with an electric starter. My suggestion is to check out two things: find out what gives you the most comfort and check what position the prop will be in for landing if the engine stops because it runs out of fuel. You'll be less likely to nick a blade if the prop stops in a horizontal position.
Read on, electric fliers.
Starting the model
How do I hold the model when starting it?
What you should be asking is how should the person assisting hold the model? It is always a good idea to have someone "pitting" for you when you start it!
There are too many possibilities for problems if you are alone at the field. A prop accident is one of many. Remember that because of the nature of our activity, we are often in a very isolated location.
Most modelers reach around the prop and grasp the front of the fuselage with the left hand and prop the model with the right. Assuming you have an assistant, they typically hold the rear part of the fuselage.
Have the assistant hang on to the rear of the fuselage with one hand and hold the leading edge of the wing with the other. Have that person positioned on the side, away from the needle valve; that way, when or if you need to adjust the needle valve, you can move to the unoccupied side of the model to do so.
In a number of cases I've watched the helper get directly behind the model and grasp the leading edge of the stabilizer. Although this should be acceptable, the tail assembly isn't the most well-attached part of the model; anyone who has been around for a few years has probably witnessed this.
There are devices available to put in the ground or anchor to your field box to allow the model to be "held" during the starting process. If used, make certain these devices are well "grounded."
One technique often used when the pilot is checking the high-throttle setting is to straddle the fuselage in front of the stab, allowing your legs to capture the model. There are some safety problems with this.
One problem is the process of stepping over the fuselage (and back) and the other involves the transmitter antenna.
In this position, if you lean over with the antenna extended, it's easy to forget about the antenna and wind up with it in the prop. Bad things happen when a metal antenna hits a spinning prop!
Other position concerns
Following are other position concerns:
- Does your engine have a remote needle valve, or is it a fraction of an inch behind the prop? Fortunately, most valves are angled back after they're mounted. Others are at the rear of the engine or can be placed away from the engine.
- Is your battery going to be in the same area as your fuel tank? If so, seal it in a plastic bag. Fittings do leak sometimes.
- Are your control horns positioned so the pivot point on the clevis is lined up on the hinge line? If not, you are not going to get equal travel in both directions for that control surface.
- Where is the receiver antenna located? Hopefully it's not threaded neatly through a nest of servos or doubled back on its own length.
- Is your receiver nestled comfortably in its little foam bed? Or is it shoved rudely into a hard, dark corner to soak up all that vigorous vibration produced by your out-of-balance prop? You do balance your prop, don't you?
- Does your engine's glow plug angle forward toward the prop? If so, consider getting a remote plug attachment for it. Or you could buy extra medical coverage.
- Do you use a lanyard to hold the transmitter? What do you do with it when you are leaning over to start the engine or adjust the needle valve? Tuck the lanyard in somewhere, hold it, or throw it around to your back until you stand up to clip it onto your transmitter.
- Where do you keep your club and AMA membership cards?
The flying season is here, and we all want to have some fun!
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
