LOL what a longwinded explanation from the pilot!


This line said it all:
" Chopping the throttle kept the plane from getting higher, but caused the immediate..."

Pilot Error- should have flown higher, should have nosed down to avoid stall, and most definitely- should not have chopped throttle... chalk it up as experience. Next time don't shoot yourself in the leg by eliminating thrust.

These mig's have a history of crashing, read up more on the foamy EDF forums. They had a tendency to lose elevator control and dive to the ground during a fast pass.

However, this was on takeoff, he pulled up too hard and stalled. Pilot error.

Originally Posted by Vapor Trails

Pilot Error- should have flown higher, should have nosed down to avoid stall, and most definitely- should not have chopped throttle... chalk it up as experience.

Please explain how I "should have nosed down"? The elevators were ineffective (no airspeed or prop blast over them). The jet thrust line is angled so that at full power it keeps pushing the nose up. And, climbing higher wasn't an option either...the plane had stopped climbing just at the instant I chopped power.

So, what exactly was the better course of action?

Originally Posted by bandetlol

However, this was on takeoff, he pulled up too hard and stalled. Pilot error.

Exactly right! The sudden pitch up combined with the nose getting bounced up caused the plane to over rotate. Once that happened there was no way to get the nose back down.

In the future you need to be able to find your switches on the the transmitter with out looking get familiar and also get in a habit of allways using the same switch locations for certain functions such as throttle cut flaps flight modes and so on. All comes with flight time and experience all good carry on. Yogi

Originally Posted by radfordc

Please explain how I "should have nosed down"? The elevators were ineffective (no airspeed or prop blast over them). The jet thrust line is angled so that at full power it keeps pushing the nose up. And, climbing higher wasn't an option either...the plane had stopped climbing just at the instant I chopped power.

So, what exactly was the better course of action?

Keep the power on and do a loop? Just kidding. Hahaha

Originally Posted by radfordc

So, what exactly was the better course of action?

Doing a proper pre-flight, where you check all the flying surfaces, including the flaps? Not looking at your transmitter during the takeoff roll and continuing the takeoff, lifting off at a higher speed? Aborting the takeoff when you saw there was a problem?

Originally Posted by radfordc

Please explain how I "should have nosed down"? The elevators were ineffective (no airspeed or prop blast over them). The jet thrust line is angled so that at full power it keeps pushing the nose up. And, climbing higher wasn't an option either...the plane had stopped climbing just at the instant I chopped power.

So, what exactly was the better course of action?

Your so right, you gave up flying it and killed your throttle at the perfect moment- nice job!

To much elevator on takeoff put it into rocket launch mode. Then broadside in to the wind . Not enough power to pull out. Next the stall and the tumble to the ground. The rocket launch without enough power is almost always a disaster that ends in a sad way.

Originally Posted by Vapor Trails

LOL what a longwinded explanation from the pilot!


This line said it all:
" Chopping the throttle kept the plane from getting higher, but caused the immediate..."

Pilot Error- should have flown higher, should have nosed down to avoid stall, and most definitely- should not have chopped throttle... chalk it up as experience. Next time don't shoot yourself in the leg by eliminating thrust.

It's well known now that this plane can lock into a high alpha position at full throttle at low airspeed and this is what happened as explained by the OP who fully knows now where it went wrong after thinking about his experience. Be great if we all knew everything all the time but most of us don't and have to learn from our mistakes and if generous to others share the experience. Of course some know everything and are happy to belittle as well.

Originally Posted by radfordc

Please explain how I "should have nosed down"? The elevators were ineffective (no airspeed or prop blast over them). The jet thrust line is angled so that at full power it keeps pushing the nose up. And, climbing higher wasn't an option either...the plane had stopped climbing just at the instant I chopped power.

So, what exactly was the better course of action?

With Futaba and others you can program a default takeoff configuration so that the TX will not link to the plane if the flaps are not set, the wheels are up or all switches are not in takeoff position. So the crash could have been prevented because the plane would not take off in a non default condition. If you fly a lot , it is easy to get lazy and miss a switch here and there. Let the transmitter to it for you.

Originally Posted by Yogi1

All comes with flight time and experience all good carry on. Yogi

Experience, huh? Let's see I started flying RC in 1964....so maybe any day now I will have the knack?

You make a good point about standardizing the switches on the Tx. That's something I've always done. The flap switch is the same for every plane I own. You would think I could find it...right?

Originally Posted by Angelo

Doing a proper pre-flight, where you check all the flying surfaces, including the flaps? Not looking at your transmitter during the takeoff roll and continuing the takeoff, lifting off at a higher speed? Aborting the takeoff when you saw there was a problem?

Good points, all! To be honest, this is the first time I've crashed a plane due to pure pilot error in a long while. No matter how long you do this stuff you still get a dumb thumb from time to time.

Originally Posted by raydar

It's well known now that this plane can lock into a high alpha position at full throttle at low airspeed and this is what happened as explained by the OP who fully knows now where it went wrong after thinking about his experience. Be great if we all knew everything all the time but most of us don't and have to learn from our mistakes and if generous to others share the experience. Of course some know everything and are happy to belittle as well.

Thanks raydar. It's sometimes hard to show your dirty laundry in public. There are plenty enough people to quickly point out your faults. Maybe someone else will learn from my mistake.