P-51 CONTROL THROWS

[boomer108]

Hey everyone!
 
This is for everyone that has a FMS -51. I am setting up the control throws on my new P-51B Dallas Darling and the manufacture says the high rate for the elevator is 40mm. At full deflection up I can barely make 38mm and down 30mm before it hits the rudder control rod. Obviously this isn't right and all the P-51 instruction manuals show the same rate settings. Now normally I like to follow the Mfgs recommendations, but common sense says go with the fullest amount of deflection possible for high rate and 75% for low rate. Is this what everyone else has done or am I missing something?

Roy B.

[Grossman56]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Hey Boomer, that's what I did with both of mine and they fly fine.  It confused me as well, but with those settings it seems fine.  I also have A3L's in both, just got back from flying Big Beautiful Doll this morning, utilizing the external gain, its pretty cool, you need an eight channel receiver which she just happened to have.  Also did the external gain control on the Waco and that helps a lot.
I'm pretty sure you know about the aluminum retract side replacements, I highly recommend them.  I use half flaps on landing and watch out for tip stalling, get an idea of your minimum speed for landing before peeling off all your altitude.
ALWAYS check your landing gear before flight!!
FMS is notorious apparently for gear failure.  Mine will get hung up on occasion, like today as a matter of fact. One wheel down, oh oh!
Retracted the gear again and then dropped them again, both came down.
Nothing like a belly landing to ruin your day, but I dodged that bullet.
BBD got a new motor, I upgraded to the 580 and it does give her a little more poke.  Did the zip tie mod on the prop with some very thin zip ties, could probably get away with a little thicker.

Grossman56 

[boomer108]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Thanks G Man!

Just wanted to know I wasn't missing anything besides my mind. If I can figure out a way to put the A-3L in Dallas Darling with my 6 channel Tactic I'll do it. I also am ordering the faceplates from CNC. I took your advice on the extra sticky double sided tape for the A-3L in the Waco, so far so good. Thanks again for your help G Man. Good flying!

ROY B.

[Grossman56]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Good to hear Roy. she flies great with or without the gyro, I just like the feel.  As much as I hate to mention it as people tend not to believe in it,  my Shangrila has aileron/rudder mix which just makes her fly beautifully, I'd recommend it. Put it on a switch and try it, if you don't like it, just hit the switch off.  Let me know if you want to know what mix I use.

Grossman56 

[boomer108]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Good to hear Roy. she flies great with or without the gyro, I just like the feel.  As much as I hate to mention it as people tend not to believe in it,  my Shangrila has aileron/rudder mix which just makes her fly beautifully, I'd recommend it. Put it on a switch and try it, if you don't like it, just hit the switch off.  Let me know if you want to know what mix I use.

Grossman56 

I would like to know what mix you use. I use it on my other planes and I like it. Thanks again!

Roy B.

[Grossman56]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Hey Boomer, sorry about not getting back sooner.  I have aileron/Rudder mix at. right -26, left -26 on my Spektrum DX8.  Spectrum calls for minus numbers for some reason, anyway, works great for me.

Grossman56

[boomer108]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Hey G man!

My Tactic also uses negatives. I will try that out. Thanks again and good flying.

Roy B.

[Grossman56]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

One thing I should mention is that if you use an offset on your sub trim for your rudder, such as I have on the P51B, that you need to adjust the A/L mix to reflect that.   In my case I have the rudder set so she's off center to the right (giving a tendency to pull right to correct the direction as the plane at neutral wants to go left) If you set your A/L mix at -26 left and -26 right, you'll have more right than left.  Follow me so far?
So what I did was to add more left so that I could see that the throw to the left and right were visually even.  I ended up with -30 left and -26 right.  Something to take into consideration.

Grossman56 

[boomer108]

RE: P-51 CONTROL THROWS

Gotchya Gman! 
   I don't use sub trim on my P51B but if I do I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

Roy B.