2 flightS with new handle- Thanks Allen P!

[Paul Taylor]

So I have been flying my Tutor II with a hotrock type handle. At our contest Allen Perret came up from LA and I let him fly my Tutor. He did a few stunts but did not fly the pattern. When the plane landed he said the line spacing was to far apart. So I changed handles and got two flights in yesterday. Was a little to windy to try pattern but did some I/O loops and wingovers. I think I can get use to it. Time will tell.  Thanks Allen.

On a side note - same old story.... First flight good needle. Second flight.  Did not touch the needle. And it was too slow. Nothing changed other then the sun dial moved about 10 minutes. 

[Noel Corney]

Try a hotter plug. Regards , Noel.

[Paul Taylor]

Thanks Noel

I'm running the hot Merlin plug.

[Bill Little]

Hi Rootbeard,

Many engines will need a slight tweak when the second flight comes around.  Experience will say what way to go and it usually isn't much.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[Paul Taylor]

Yea I should have fittled with the needle. 

[Steve Helmick]

Some folks get away without changing the NV for months or years, but not I. We fly "rounds" when "practising", and with our climate, the temp and barometric pressure seems to change enough to make it worth taching the engine every flight. Fly every flight as if it was a contest flight, and you'll have fewer disappointing flights. I would expect that some setups might be more forgiving than others.

Regarding your handle spacing, I would say that if it works for you, stick with it. What Allen uses, he's used to it, and it works for him. But you use what works for you.  I could be wrong, but think Allen was saying that it was too wide FOR HIM, and you assumed that he meant it was too wide for your plane...not the case, IMO. As a general rule, if you use too narrow a handle spacing, you lose precision. If you use a very wide handle spacing it may mean that your controls are very slow, but that's ok if it works for you. Using a handle spacing under 3" is not a good thing, and 4" would be better, IMO.  Steve

[Zuriel Armstrong]

Regarding your handle spacing, I would say that if it works for you, stick with it. What Allen uses, he's used to it, and it works for him. But you use what works for you.  I could be wrong, but think Allen was saying that it was too wide FOR HIM, and you assumed that he meant it was too wide for your plane...not the case, IMO. As a general rule, if you use too narrow a handle spacing, you lose precision. If you use a very wide handle spacing it may mean that your controls are very slow, but that's ok if it works for you. Using a handle spacing under 3" is not a good thing, and 4" would be better, IMO.  Steve
[/quote]

Steve beat me to the punch.  Use what works for you and listen to your Nats Winning coach.  I watched Allen fly and he builds and flies great.  He had to learn what works for him just like we all do.

[Paul Taylor]

Good points Steve!

Allen is not the first person to tell me this about the handle spacing after flying the plane. I may get it a few more test flights and see if it helps. The line spacing did not change much. About 1/8 on both lines. But at least I have a handle I can adjust now and see.

Stay tuned....

[Zuriel Armstrong]

I guess the "OLDER" you get...slowing down the handle might be okay 

[Jim Lynch]

Paul,

Come on Paul, don't you know you increase nitro as the temperature rises.  You will learn how much to increase per temperture through flying and testing.  You should not gain power by turning in the needle.  This reduces oil and alcohol and will cause the engine to run hotter and speed up and some cases.

Momma Jo

[Phil Spillman]

Hi Paul et al,

Generally the wider the spacing the more twitchy the result! Trying those adjustments now will pay big dividends later! Yes by squeezing the handle leadouts you will desensitize the reactions but you may develop more controlled shapes as well! I don't think these adjustments have much if anything to do with age per SE just getting to kn ow the bird better! Nitro percentage may well be an item to think about as well! The hotter and more humid the climate the more nitro you may need! And visa versa as well!

Let me know what you think of my article in CLW once you've had a chance to read it!

Phil Spillman

[Paul Taylor]

Zuriel who are you calling old? You a few days older then me I think.  you crack me up.


Jim - it has not been hot in a few weeks. But you did teach me well.


Phil - I am looking forward to getting my CLW and will read it cover to cover and give you some feed back.

[dale gleason]

At a recent contest, I was walking by a group of flyers and the phrase, "the needle is not a throttle, it's a mixture control...." fell upon my ears.

Hey! I've heard that before!

If the air density changes, the mixture changes, so you have to re-adjust the needle. Easily done, but now if you're low on power, turning the needle in makes the mixture leaner, equals even less oxygen than what you had, losing power, losing cooling, causing run-aways. How do you get power back if you don't have a throttle? How do you get the motor to run cooler?

Wait until a cooler day to fly.

Or.........CH3NO2!  It's the O2 part that brings back the oxygen missing in the thin air. CH3, being some kind of hydrocarbon, burns well, the two together cool well...So now all you need do is figger how much to add....

I know we all know this, but I tend to forget, so maybe by writing it down here, I'll remember better.   Or, maybe it's all wrong, you can't trust everything you read on the internet.          dg