Nose points down

[coosbaylumber]

Just why do so many of the 1960's models constructed to competition have their nose pointed down some. The airplane is often drawn on a plan perfectly orizontal, but add on the fixed landing gear and tires and the nose then points down some degrees.

I would assume it to flatten out at about T.O. speed, with nose gear off the ground and thus no turning capability. The trainers and slow aircraft of the era seemed to be designed with a more horizontal approach.

Wm.

[davidfee]

Well, one nice thing about having a short nose gear is that it helps you to avoid making a very ugly landing if you don't flare quite enough.

But I have no idea what the real answer to your question is. Interesting observation.

[BMatthews]

It was for landing and takeoff points. Yes the nose gear was often a tad short so the wing would have a negative angle of attack when the nose gear was on the ground. It was so the model would tend to "stick" the landing.

I didnt' fly RC competition back then but I read EVERYTHING and the landings counted and a bounce hurt your final score.

[coosbaylumber]

Guess I had been looking at it from the ground up, instead of other way around. Had not been thinking of the touch down quality.

Most all articles and plans back when just do not discuss this matter. It must have been one of those assumptions that no one now remembers why, but it was true then.


Wm.