Leadout spacing question ?

[Rob Killick]

Hi ,

I was looking at the close up of Paul Walker's IMPACT and noticed the leadout spacing on his ship are very close together .
To what advantage does the narrow lead-out spacing provide ?
I've almost always had about 1-1/2" to 2"  spacing on my planes .

Rob K.

[Bill Little]

Hi ,

I was looking at the close up of Paul Walker's IMPACT and noticed the leadout spacing on his ship are very close together .
To what advantage does the narrow lead-out spacing provide ?
I've almost always had about 1-1/2" to 2"  spacing on my planes .

Rob K.

Hi Rob,

the closer together, the better, as long as they do not hang up.  Why?  I'll let some of the experts say, but I have seen leadouts on top Expert's planes almost come out of the same hole.  I use 1/2"-3/4", for no particular reason.

[John Miller]

I'm far from a true EXPERT, but here's the reasoning behind the close spacing of the leadouts.

By getting the leadouts close to the optimum sweep location, yaw, from shifting the load onto one or the other leadout, during manuevers,  is reduced. This helps eliminate, or greatly reduce some trim problems for competitive airframes.

 

[minnesotamodeler]

...Which is why on many of my designs I use over-and-under leadouts, aligned horizontally, about 1/2" apart vertically.

[Shultzie]

Hi ,

I was looking at the close up of Paul Walker's IMPACT and noticed the leadout spacing on his ship are very close together .
To what advantage does the narrow lead-out spacing provide ?
I've almost always had about 1-1/2" to 2"  spacing on my planes .

Rob K.

Years ago...(George Lieb?) actually had one of his innovative stunters that both leadouts themselves would pass through one threaded reworked nylon like' opening at the inside tip...using fairly long "staggered" leadout lines (about 6 to 8 inches or so???)

All he had to do was quickly unthread that modified Boeing surplus reworked nylon screw that after reworking it became his adjustable single leadout fitting. All he had to do was then to change the setting was to back it  out  and place it into another hole in order to move the leads forward or back.
He never had a problem with the lines locking up or snagging during the times that I saw him fly that model. However, he had to use only one set of specially cut .015's to fit that one model.
However I remember that that light weight screw that appeared to be nylon...was not nylon but mfg. from some other kind of exotic material. I tried to make one for that old twin tailed Nobler of mine...without success using a Home Depoe closet door nylon screw. It was not only too hard to cut and fit...but after a test.....that screw was made with too soft a plastic and those cabled leadouts would saw quickly through and fail.
I never did install that in the Nobler....but always thought the idea had great merit.
Humm? Here is a sloppy 1 minute pencil sketch???

[Paul Walker]

I'm far from a true EXPERT, but here's the reasoning behind the close spacing of the leadouts.

By getting the leadouts close to the optimum sweep location, yaw, from shifting the load onto one or the other leadout, during manuevers,  is reduced. This helps eliminate, or greatly reduce some trim problems for competitive airframes.

 

Yes....I agree with what John said. That's the reason I do it.  AND, I can feel when they are too far apart!

Paul

[Jim Thomerson]

On a 1/2A size airplane I have gone to having them come out one hole.  With even 1/4 separation, the yaw is noticeable. 

[Elwyn Aud]

Here's an extreme example of the opposite end of the spectrum. I imagine it's probably built according to plans.

[Bill Little]

Yes....I agree with what John said. That's the reason I do it.  AND, I can feel when they are too far apart!

Paul

Thanks Paul, I didn't want to say the wrong thing!

Was I imagining things or did Billy have both his lead outs coming out the same hole on his Razorback T-Bolt at the 2004 Worlds?