Making initial trim adjustments.

[retiredflyer]

  Is it just me or is it somewhat uncoordinated making your initial, maiden trim adjustments when flying?  What I mean is, if you need to adjust the aileron left, or right, I have to take my hand off the left stick, then reach underneath/through my neck strap, feel around for the trim switch.  All while not taking my eyes of the plane that is not flying well at this point and requires a lot of right stick movement to keep it going straight. 
  I usually have to try several times to get it right. Probably just me, right?

[DieTryin]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Just have to get used to your radio. Eventually, it will be second nature. For now, if it's too far out of trim, bring it in and make adjustments on the ground.

[farmflyer]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

  Is it just me or is it somewhat uncoordinated making your initial, maiden trim adjustments when flying?  What I mean is, if you need to adjust the aileron left, or right, I have to take my hand off the left stick, then reach underneath/through my neck strap, feel around for the trim switch.  All while not taking my eyes of the plane that is not flying well at this point and requires a lot of right stick movement to keep it going straight. 
  I usually have to try several times to get it right. Probably just me, right?

No it's not just you that's the way most maidens happen. It does get easier after doing it several times. I also think that we get better at setting up and aligning the control surfaces after several builds.

[Rocketeer]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Greetings,

Sometimes if I'm having a bit of difficulty "feeling" for the trim tabs during a maiden flight and the plane is flying quite sporadic, I lift the transmitter up into a vertical position in front of my face that almost allows me to see the transmitter and the plane at the same time.

This way while I'm focusing primarily on the plane, I can use peripheral vision to get to the trim tabs and make the adjustments required.

Sometimes I will also sit in a chair and pretend I'm flying and practice "feeling" my way around the transmitter trim tabs.

Sounds weird I know, but I works for me.


Clear Skies

Bill L.
In Okla.

[PappaBear]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Hi Bill,

The suggestion you make about "Arm Chair flying" is an excellent suggestion. Its something I've been doing for years. It gets you used to the TX, the position of the trims and switches, and it also helps if you actually move the sticks as well. Take it one step further and you can imagine you are flying the plane, a bit like a simulator only a lot cheaper.

I find this works really well for me.

Martin.

[Hippie 64]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Retired I feel like a awkward goober trying to do the same thing . I don't want to look down because I may never find my plane when I look up . I've tried raising the radio up but  I need reading glasses so that's a no go . I try to set the throttle and feel but may take two or three times ....

Bryan

[Alpha]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Having a spotter present for a maiden is also preferred whenever possible. As a spotter for pilots maidening their new planes, I've often trimmed for them so they don't have to take their eyes off the airplane or their fingers off the controls.

If you're maidening alone, as I often do for obvious reasons, the others' advise about practicing on the ground is very helpful. Any model should not require too much trimming if first setup "close enough" during preflight, so the process in the air should not take too long and not distract too much from the actual flying.

[PappaBear]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Very good point Alpha, I've often trimmed a model for someone while they have been flying it.

Martin.

[Rocketeer]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Greetings Guys,

Indeed, I have also employed the "Hey, could ya come here a sec" method of trimming during maidens.

But, like Alpha, most of the time I maiden I'm alone.

Bill L.
In Okla.

[Grossman56]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Nothing like a maiden to help lose some more hair!
I too have sat and felt my way around the TX while on the ground.  Normally, I just reach down or across with my thumb.  I don't use a strap, so that might make it easier for me, not having to dodge the thing.  Diane, on the other hand, has small hands so a strap would be a good thing.  If its anchored to the center of the TX in the notch, it shouldn't get in the way though.
Its been my experience that once I've got altitude, I can set my throttle and trim with my left hand if I had to, while flying with my right, but most of the time its the thumb method.
I've also done like Bill advised and held the radio upright.

Grossman56 

[Rocketeer]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Greetings,


The main things is that we're all getting the job done...... how is inconsequential.


Bill L.
In Okla.

[doctormike]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Hold your transmitter, pretend you are flying and make it second nature, without looking, where your trims and other switches are. If you have a simulator it helps to do this. Not much worse than looking at your trans., looking back up, and NO AIRPLANE!!! Doc

[Rocketeer]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Greetings doc,

Indeed.....

Look away for a micro-second and it's..... now you see it...... now you don't!!!

Bill L.
In Okla.

[Konrad]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Many higher end radios have an Auto Trim Function. With a push of a button the radio will move the servo in the direction you are holding the stick. This forces you to bring the stick back to center position. Once your sticks are centered the servo movement  stops. This position (offset) is recorded and kept in memory as your trim position.  I've been using this method since 1989 when Ace came out with it on their MicroPro 8000.

There is so much one can do with todays modern radios. I hate to think of what I got for $500 in 1980 compared to what I can get for $500 today. And remember that the dollar back then was worth about 15 times what it is today!

Or is the issue how to trim. I like to use this chart. 
http://www.wtp.net/DBEST/trimchrt.html

I can't tell you how many times I fly somebody else's plane and think how awful it is. Center of Gravity way off (usually far too nose heavy), rudder and ailerons trimmed at cross purposes and then there are the issues with thrust lines. Even the fine models from MotionRC need to be trimmed properly to get the best performance from them. Give the chart a try the next time you are out flying.

All the best,
Konrad 

[smuzsr]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

I usually have someone on hand, so if I think I may have an issue I'll ask someone I trust to spot for me. Even still ground adjustments need to be right before takeoff. Can't count how many times I watch someone take off without checking the flight surfaces and wonder why the plane won't fly straight.

Tony

[Pheonix]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

I do the same and have been flying for many years. I am always asked, why I want someone to spot me as I fly well. I tell them, one can never be that good! Then the understand and usually someone will come up to me when I get ready to fly :)

[Rocketeer]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Greetings,

Indeed......

I too have seen many a non-checked reversed servo go into the air. Albeit, only momentarily.




Bill L.
In Okla.

[doctormike]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

I took a plane up that I had not flown for a while, assuming all would be the same as last time. NOT! For some strange reason, the rudder was reversed. I was proud of myself for immediately recognizing the problem, using reverse rudder, and saving the plane. I actually felt that I could have continued flying with the reversed rudder. Just had to think about what I was doing. Doc

[Loneflier]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

I took a plane up that I had not flown for a while, assuming all would be the same as last time. NOT! For some strange reason, the rudder was reversed. I was proud of myself for immediately recognizing the problem, using reverse rudder, and saving the plane. I actually felt that I could have continued flying with the reversed rudder. Just had to think about what I was doing. Doc

The big thing I've found when trimming, especially on a maiden flight, is DO NOT PANIC! Think about what the plane is doing, and how to correct it calmly. If tail heavy and climbing like mad, remember to add some down elevator slowly until you level out. When I was first learning, and a plane did something totally unexpected, I just didn't know how to handle it fast enough. A big part comes from experience in flying, but another just as important part, comes from keeping the panic away, and thinking about what you need to do to correct the flight. Once that is done, you won't have nearly as much trouble landing it in one piece.

Hope what I have learned the hard way will help some others!

[Konrad]

RE: Making initial trim adjustments.

Not so much an initial trim issue but rather a trim philosophy.

I like to trim my planes for Zero G. That is I have to hold as much up (back) stick to fly upright as down (forward) stick to fly inverted. This has greatly helped me in my aerobatic flying.

I do keep a flight mode set up for 1G trim (hands off upright) as this can help with some of the pilot load on landings. Not as much as you would think as you are holding back stick anyway as you are making your final approach and flair.

All the best,
Konrad