Careful with that spoileron switch

knut · Jun 25, 2002, 07:13 PM

My Liftoff XXS just kept going downwards.

After it finally hit, at 45 degrees & far away, I saw it: I had accidentally activated the spoilerons. Wings fine, serious cracks in the fuselage.- what one calls "Pilot Error"

Knut

Keithw · Jun 27, 2002, 01:23 AM

I know how you feel.
I have my spoilers interlocked with the flaps as well, so can't normally hit them by mistake,
Problem is, on one of my gliders, i put the ailerons down a bit as flaps for thermalling, so if you hit the spolier sw by mistake then, down she comes.
did that in a 7x7 comp a couple of weeks ago.
didn't realise it until had lost lots of height & was able to see the ailerons were sticking up in the air !!!!

Jurgen Heilig · Jun 27, 2002, 11:29 AM

??? Even with the spoilerons up you still have full elevator authority! There is no need to descend at a 45° angle. Why didn't you pull up?

Jürgen

bhchan · Jun 27, 2002, 12:08 PM

Your spoileron should NOT be activiate with a switch. I have mine on the throttle(flap) stick so I can modulate the amount as needed. Also, as Jurgen pointed out, the elevator should has enough authority to over come the spoileron effect. This is how you slow down, full spoileron and up elevator to slow down to land.

One more point, spoileron needed to be up at least 70 deg to be effectiver as spoiler. Any less just give you lots of wash out, not drag.

Learn to control the plane, not just flipping switches and watch it crash.

Brian

rorywquin · Jun 28, 2002, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bhchan
Your spoileron should NOT be activiate with a switch. I have mine on the throttle(flap) stick so I can modulate the amount as needed. Also, as Jurgen pointed out, the elevator should has enough authority to over come the spoileron effect. This is how you slow down, full spoileron and up elevator to slow down to land.

One more point, spoileron needed to be up at least 70 deg to be effectiver as spoiler. Any less just give you lots of wash out, not drag.

Learn to control the plane, not just flipping switches and watch it crash.

Brian

Mine is on a two position switch ! Why not ?

bhchan · Jun 28, 2002, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rorywquin

Mine is on a two position switch ! Why not ?

May be you like it that way. I like to be able to adjust the glide path as speed changes. I find presets only good for a single condition, never the right one.With the spoileron on the flap stick, you can dial in any amount at anytime to fit the speed of the plane.
Fot example, you are coming in and short, you can close a little bit of the spoileron to extent the glide. If you have them on a switch, you can only turn it off; the plane will speed up, missed the landing.

Andy W · Jun 28, 2002, 10:24 AM

The only argument against using throttle-activated spoilers is that sometimes you do want to add a little power, but not full power. Of couse, as a full-scale sailplane pilot, I'm already fully aware of how important it is to depend on altitude, not power, as your energy reserve!

So, I am in the process of converting my models over to throttle-stick spoilers, starting with my LMR gliders, and moving over on my hotliners, then F5B, in stages - as I get more comfortable with it.
So, I can see this from both sides of the fence, but I agree with Brian, even though I still use a switch for spoilers on my F5B ships..
..a

Jurgen Heilig · Jun 28, 2002, 01:05 PM

I use a three position switch for the motor.

Jürgen

bhchan · Jun 28, 2002, 02:03 PM

For hotliners and F5B planes, I use a push button for motor, it Normally OPEN and push to close. When you let go the button, motor off. On my planes (glider type) there is only two speeds, Motor on, brake on.

Jun 25, 2002, 07:13 PM	#1
knut Halloechen aus Texas ! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: austin, tx, usa Posts: 121	Careful with that spoileron switch My Liftoff XXS just kept going downwards. After it finally hit, at 45 degrees & far away, I saw it: I had accidentally activated the spoilerons. Wings fine, serious cracks in the fuselage.- what one calls "Pilot Error" Knut

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Jun 27, 2002, 01:23 AM	#2
Keithw Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Auckland New Zealand Posts: 323	I know how you feel. I have my spoilers interlocked with the flaps as well, so can't normally hit them by mistake, Problem is, on one of my gliders, i put the ailerons down a bit as flaps for thermalling, so if you hit the spolier sw by mistake then, down she comes. did that in a 7x7 comp a couple of weeks ago. didn't realise it until had lost lots of height & was able to see the ailerons were sticking up in the air !!!!

Jun 27, 2002, 11:29 AM	#3
Jurgen Heilig Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: 53859 Niederkassel, Germany Posts: 13,463	??? Even with the spoilerons up you still have full elevator authority! There is no need to descend at a 45° angle. Why didn't you pull up? Jürgen

Jun 27, 2002, 12:08 PM	#4
bhchan Electric Airplane Junkie Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Mateo, Ca , USA Posts: 4,535	Your spoileron should NOT be activiate with a switch. I have mine on the throttle(flap) stick so I can modulate the amount as needed. Also, as Jurgen pointed out, the elevator should has enough authority to over come the spoileron effect. This is how you slow down, full spoileron and up elevator to slow down to land. One more point, spoileron needed to be up at least 70 deg to be effectiver as spoiler. Any less just give you lots of wash out, not drag. Learn to control the plane, not just flipping switches and watch it crash. Brian

Jun 28, 2002, 10:24 AM	#7
Andy W That sickening crunch.. Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 40,255	The only argument against using throttle-activated spoilers is that sometimes you do want to add a little power, but not full power. Of couse, as a full-scale sailplane pilot, I'm already fully aware of how important it is to depend on altitude, not power, as your energy reserve! So, I am in the process of converting my models over to throttle-stick spoilers, starting with my LMR gliders, and moving over on my hotliners, then F5B, in stages - as I get more comfortable with it. So, I can see this from both sides of the fence, but I agree with Brian, even though I still use a switch for spoilers on my F5B ships.. ..a

Jun 28, 2002, 01:05 PM	#8
Jurgen Heilig Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: 53859 Niederkassel, Germany Posts: 13,463	I use a three position switch for the motor. Jürgen

Jun 28, 2002, 02:03 PM	#9
bhchan Electric Airplane Junkie Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Mateo, Ca , USA Posts: 4,535	For hotliners and F5B planes, I use a push button for motor, it Normally OPEN and push to close. When you let go the button, motor off. On my planes (glider type) there is only two speeds, Motor on, brake on.