Bench trimming is important.

[Ty Marcucci]

I have read Bret Bucks "bench trimming" article and have tried to follow it and others as well. As a result, almost all of my new planes have "flown right off the bench" so to speak. BUT, today, I had a real thrill, twice actually. A guy that has launched me on many occasions with out any problems, launched my new Skylark.  As it took off, I thought the lines had snagged the grass (impossible actually), but that is what I thought. It came in at me. I pulled the handle back and backed up quickly. The plane got airborne and snapped into regular flight. What a tug.  The rest of the flight was almost perfect. First flight, full pattern, with very little to trim. Had to move the lines about 1/8 inch forward. All else just great.  Second launch, same pit man, same results. It again came in at me, only this time the prop broke, thankfully. Engine died trying to eat grass. LOL

Well, the pit man thought it was his fault the first time and was shown, by others,  how to launch a CL plane. Redundant, but he took the blame. Me, I am so used to planes chasing me, I just sighed with relief the darn thing didn't gore me.

Seems the tail wheel was arranged to turn the plane to the left. Ah, this is the one I didn't roll on the ground to check how it would taxi. This is important, always during the bench test roll it on the floor for at least ten feet to see how it tracks. A slight right turn, OK. NOTHING to the left, ever.  My pit man was not to blame, much to his relief and I told him so.  If  I didn't trust him to launch me correctly, I would never had asked him to do so.  He is a true gentleman and took all blame when he didn't have to. It was my fault for forgetting an important step in bench trimming a model. A .51 coming at you ain't funny.

[Paul Taylor]

Glad no one was hurt Ty.

I got to see that same dance a few weeks ago when someone else got there line snagged on grass. The plane did a full 360 turn and was headed right for the flite line before the lines got tight and the plane jumped in the air. No damage but it sure got our attention.

Paul 

[Charlie Pate]

Once saw a sterling Yak 9 make a left and go straight at the pilot .
He threw down the EZ just and ran to the side and fell down.
The yak picked up speed and flew over his head missing him by about 3 feet, then proceeded
to circle while the weight of the lines held the plane banked at about 60 degrees.
The slight up in the elevator keep the plane circling and the rudder offset pulled it into the sky.
The plane went out of sight and was high enough that you could barley hear it.
It finally ran out of fuel 4 min. later and found the ground knocking the body off the wing ;thats all.
The guy sold it on the spot and the purchaser had it back in the air the net week.