Which Plane to Fly and Computer Radio Question

[Horsefeathers]

I’ve flown RC before but it’s been many years. Never got past the trainer stage but I could land a full-house .40 safely - most of the time. I know something about building and setting up models since I kept my hand in C/L, off and on, over the years. Now I’m anxious to get back in the air. I’ve been a club member since last fall so I should be able to get help. I want to fly one of these planes this weekend if the weather holds out. My dad recently gave me a Sr. Falcon and a Sweet Stik that he had not touched in 30 years. I did a lot of work on them over the winter and now the engines are running fine and they’re both ready to fly. The HP.61 powered Falcon logged a few flights back in the ‘70s. The Stik (now K&B .45 powered), has never flown.

I know that the Falcon (66" trainer) should be easier for me to fly but my question is - would it really be so much easier that I should rule out the Stik (50" shoulder wing-no dihedral) as a first attempt? In a way, I feel more comfortable with the smaller model. Which one should I take to the field?

My second question concerns programming a computer TX. I don’t pretend to know anything about these but after trying out the controls, they feel a little touchy and I’m thinking that exponential may be a good idea. What does the group think? How much exponential and on which control surfaces, to start with? TX is a Futaba 6X super. Thanks for the help. Much Appreciated. :confused:

[abenn]

Personally, although I have no experience of either of the models you mention, I would not like to start out again with a 50" shoulder-wing model. The Falcon would be the one for me until I'm sure I've got my eye in.

I've never used exponential, except where I've built it into the model. And I doubt if you need it on a trainer. If you want to make the controls less sensitive you need to dial in some "rates". Then, by flicking the rates switch, you can change from 100% sensitivity (rates off) to whatever you've dialled in (rates on). If you've got the controls set to the manufacturer's recommended throws, probably no need to set rates to anything less than 70% or so.

Don't forget to carry out all your checks at the field -- receiver range, and directions of all control surfaces -- before you try to fly.

[fhhuber506771]

Fly the easier model first. That would be the Falcon.

You have it... fly it. Its going to make the initial flights easier.. which will reduce your stress levels. (which will double the amount it makes it easier)

The Stick is not a huge jmp from the Falcon.. so within a month you should be flyng it too. (If not the same day)

******

As for exponential.. it won't hurt.. and might help a LOT if you don't go overbaord on it. If you dial in 90% expo.. you'll have essentially no control until you pass 1/2 stick travel. 10% to 30% should be no problem.

Note:: JR use + expo... Futaba use - Expo. (backwards makes it MORE sensitive in the center.. the opposite of what you want)

[fhhuber506771]

As for dual rates... I never use them... I set dual exponentials.

If I want the soft center of "low rate" i still want 100% of my normal "full rate" available IMMEDIATELY if I need it. I don't want to have to reach up and flip a switch to get it when I'm already probably in trouble.

[abenn]

Good point, fhhuber506771. I suppose my preference for rates derives from when I didn't have exponential on my tranny, and the fact that some of the newbies at our club don't have it either. But I should have said I only use rates when trying out an unknown (to me) model -- it gives me a chance to quieten things down if the model is too sensitive. Once I know how it feels, I then adjust the linkages on the model (if necessary) so that I don't have to use rates any more.

[ivanc]

If you need more oppinions - mine is the same as fhhuber's. Go for the Falcon, do not use low rates but expo instead.

[Horsefeathers]

Some good suggestions here. We'll go for the Falcon. Haven't gone into rates yet. I'm confused because "rate" usually means speed but that doesn't seem logical. Wouldn't you want that to be proportional to the stick?. Do they mean throw or travel? Anyway, except for stick sensitivity, I plan to keep it simple by adjusting throws mechanically. Not by programming more or less. Trimming will be done with linkage, then zeroing the tabs, instead of using memory. The old-fashioned way. With two planes set up, model memory would be nice but it's too much for my brain right now. Thanks to all for the opinions.

[ivanc]

Dual rates have nothing to do with speed but control surface deflection. You set up the "high rates" the usual way for getting the recommended throws. Then you flip the dual rate switch(es) and set the "low rates" to 60-70% (or whatever the recommended low rates values are) through programming your computer radio (sometimes even a non-computer radio can offer dual rates). Thus by a flip of a switch (or two or three switches - one for each control surface) you can select either full deflection (more sensitive plane) or partial deflection (less sensitive plane - like for landing). You can even do this while flying - flip the switch(es) before take off for low rates, fly around then flip to high rates and do some wild aerobatics, switch back to low rates for landing. And again I would always setup low rates on my planes but will never use them - instead I'm using max recommended control surface deflections (sometimes even to 120% of the recommended) and a LOT of exponential - 80-90% for smooth response around stick center.

[bildo baggins]

Bigger models are actually easier to fly. I had both the Falcon 56 and Sr. Falcon way back in the day. They are both a dream to fly and very docile.

[ivanc]

Bigger models are actually easier to fly.Absolutely correct! Easier to FLY but most of them are harder to LAND! :eek: :D

[fhhuber506771]

Absolutely correct! Easier to FLY but most of them are harder to LAND! :eek: :D

Depends on the model...

Most people when moving to larger models move to more aerobatic models also. A Goldberg Tiger 60 is one of the easiest models to shoot touch-n-goes I have ever flown... much easier than a 4*40. Maybe the 4*60 with retracts I had was close to as easy as the Tiger 60. The Fokker Dr1.. was a beast any time you touched the wheels to the ground. My GP LIL Poke was also a beast about landing (too touchy.. and bothered too much by the slightest breeze.)