Hand launching .... any tips?

[Larrys4227]

Had a 1/2A Lil' Bat .049 out for the first time last weekend, and while the plane flew ok .... we had lots of problems on the hand launch.  Its been a long time since I or my helper had launched an 049 .... so our woes are probably because of that. My helper was just tossing the plane from the outboard wing .... sort of like a frisbee but without too much force.  The plane seemed to jerk on the lines to the outside, and then fly in towards the center of the circle.

Is there something that I, as the pilot, should do as the plane is launched? Step back? Lead the plane (whip?) Cross my fingers and pray?

FlySafe!  Larry (Larrys4227)

[ray copeland]

Larry, does she fly ok after you get going? Mostly i only have those issues if the plane is underpowered, overpropped or not balanced correctly. Your launcher should do as you stated, point a little out and up and just release gently. I have had some so tailheavy that they would come right back at the launcher!!

[George]

The standard way to hand launch, if there is such a thing, is to hold the fuselage with the left hand and the outboard wing tip with the right hand.

Make sure the controls are near neutral, and that the thrust line is pointed straight or a little outward...never into the circle.

Give a light toss level or a little upward. How much depends on the power and weight of the plane. Make sure the toss is straight ahead, tangent to the circle. This is critical...if you toss it inward, the lines will go slack; if you toss it outward, it will jerk on the lines and again go slack. Straight ahead will help the fllyer maintain tension and control.

On the handle end, take a step back to maintain line control. Don't jerk the handle. If the lines go slack, move back quickly to regain tension, but don't jerk it.

The launcher must depend on a hand signal (usually a wave-off with the free hand) from the flyer since he usually can't hear verbal instructions due to his close proximity of the engine.

For your Bat, I would suggest the launcher holds the rudder and the wing tip.

You folks will develop a method by practicing.

George

[Larrys4227]

I had several successful full flights (1-2 minutes) and once the plane got going, the motor would lean out and really haul-butt.  My helper estimated 3 second laps (30ft lines). I think Ray hit on a point ..... underpowered. At launch, I kept the motor from screaming, cause it kept leaning out so much after 1/2 lap or so, and right at launch it did seem to have issues getting forward momentum. The prop is a 5.5x3.5 .... and I've since found out that this is a speed prop.  I've also been using some old Cox red-can fuel, and sunday I noticed it had a cloudiness to it.  I think there is moisture in it. Yesterday I ordered some SIG Champion and waiting for that to come in.

George, thanks for the tips ..... I know our technique wasn't the greatest, but both of us had agreed that the plane shouldn't need anymore than alittle toss forward, out and up. I'll have my helper try a two-handed launch next week.  Running too rich I think was causing alot of problems.  Maybe with new fuel, the erratic needle settings will go away.

I will say though, once the plane got going, it was a bullet. The controls were super sensitive, and I've since changed things to calm that down. I might even have to extend the lines .... I cant imagine 2 of us out there trying to combat and get out of each others way while the planes are going as fast as they are.  These engines and props are the same ones I used when I was 10 years old .... flying combat with my brother. How we did it I'll never know .... maybe I'm just too old now. LOL!

FlySafe!  Larry (Larrys4227)

[LARRY RICE]

Larry,
          In most of our model kits we add a tech support number to answer these type questions.
         The launcher should hold the model by the wing tip at waist level. The lines must be tight and the nose of the plane aimed, for the plane to fly out straight and not in the flight path. The launcher should hold the plane so that he/she can swing the plane across in front of him/her at waist level in a tennis swing type motion and release the model. Do NOT Throw the model. It will fly out of their hand. CONTROLS MUST BE IN NEUTROL! The pilot should be ready to step back if needed.
Larry
Black Hawk Models
(562) 428-8020

[Jim Thomerson]

You might try having the launcher just take a couple of steps forward and releasing the airplane with at most a gentle push.  This will give a little forward velocity without a jerk. 

[Larrys4227]

Thanks Larry and Jim for your tips .... I've seen several 049-size youtube videos and the launchers are just gently tossing the plane forward. As Larry said, from waist high in a tennis swing or frisbee motion.  Gotta try this this weekend AND make sure the RPM's are up on the motor.

When I was 10 I was riding a bike... and could get back on one now with no difficulty. At the same age I was flying combat wings with my brother .... you'd think I would just KNOW how to do this. LOL! 

FlySafe!  Larry (Larrys4227)

[Bill Adair]

Crashed the last 1/2A Flite Streak I built on it's maiden flight, when a guy at work offered to hand launch it for me. I offered to show him the proper technique, but he insisted that he knew how. I shouldn't have listened. 

He threw the Streak with such force that it bounced off the ends of the lines, and turned directly toward me! I just stood there in shock, as it climbed over my head and dived into the pavement a few yards away. Total loss, including the new Cox Baby Bee I'd only run on the bench.

Bill

[Kim Doherty]

Larry,

Do you have wing tip weight? If so how much?

You should probably have about 1/4 ounce.


Kim.

[Larrys4227]

Larry,

Do you have wing tip weight? If so how much?

You should probably have about 1/4 ounce.


Kim.

As a matter of fact, the BHM kit for the Lil' Bat  comes with a hardware package, and INCLUDED is the recommended
weight..... a big-fat-washer.  Its about the size, weight of a nickel. The few times I flew it through a full tank it seemed level, and when the engine died, its rather short and abrupt landings were pretty flat. 

Fly Safe!  Larry (Larrys4227)

[jim gilmore]

Hand launching is an art... but easy to learn to do right.
Remember you are attempting to help the plane along it's flight path....
which is circular and not a straight line.
At best a simple step and release is all that is needed.
as long as the aircraft is running at a reasonable rpm.
If you find that when the plan is release at too low an rpm it tends to slide into the circle you may have an issue of too little tip weight.
with the left hand lightly holding the body and the right hand holding the wing from the topish....
fingers just need to relaxed as you push the arms forward to let it fall/forward on release.
Slight up to neutral works best.so that the plane will recover any lost altitude before it hits the ground.

[Tim Wescott]

Much of the 1/2A flying I've gotten recently (well, last year) has been sleeve launched.  If the plane accelerates enough, your helper should be able to hold it level and drop it, with no shove whatsoever.  Nine times out of ten it'll recover fine.  The tenth -- well, I hope you're flying over grass...

To launch, I hold the plane by the leading edge of the outboard wing and the fuselage (or the other wing leading edge).  I gently toss it along the line of flight, but I make no attempt to fling it at flying speed -- if it can fly at all, it can accelerate up to flight speed before it hits the ground.

[John Paris]

I have a couple of these models and seem to remember using only one hand with the motor mount pinched between my thumb and index finger with the finger tips resting on the leading edge of the inboard wing.  A few brisk steps and gentle release seemed to work well.  If you would like to try an airplane that is a challenge to hand launch, I would suggest an Osborne Platter.  If it wasn't for the big rudder, I don't know what I would do.
John

[Bill Heher]

I've always preferred the - Two step and toss - just a couple steps along the circle and a slght toss.
Slight being a gentle swing of the arm from waist to shoulder level, straight and level / slightly nose up. I usually hold by the fuselage between motor and C/G, maybe steady the outboard wing, but toss from fuselage.

The launcher continues a couple more steps directly away from the circle and is out of the way- no distraction to the pilot, no plane in the back of the head in case of a sudden loop.

Pilot should be ready to give a bit of down and step back - launch often ends up to steep with plane climbing / stalling / rolling in on pilot  - especially if he instinctly gives it UP.

[Peter Nevai]

If everything with the model is OK and it is not overweight. Being launched down wind, then Almost aything I had hand launched only required pointing to the out side a bit and just letting go. 90% of success relies on the pilot. Relax, don't try to fly the airplane before it is actually flying, just hold neutral and when the plane is launched rather than have the launcher toss or pitch the plae to the outside, Take a few steps backwards to help build line tension.

If your launcher is tossing the plane to the outside and you are stepping backwards at the same time then you will get a healthy  jerk that can turn the plane right back at you. Did I mention that you should relax? A little plane like that flown over some nich deep bushy grass will get no damage if it just falls to the ground after launch. It is exactly how I learned to fly. I had a monokoted LiL Satan and we hand launched and flew it in a field with ankle high grass.

[john e. holliday]

Sounds like some good advice has already been given.   I tell my plane holders/launcher don't even think of throwing the plane.  Flying wings are to be held with right on out board leading edge tip.   Left hand on the trailing edge.  Hold the plane at a slight nose up.  The pilot must have neutral on the handle and ready to move.  The guy with the plane must release the plane as soom as the pilot signals.  Right hand first as the plane should pull out of the left hand.  Another thing is the guy with the plane may have to nose it up to get the engine to lean out and then go back to launch attitude.   Planes with a fuselage the launcher may have left hand on the fuse.  Never let the launcher stand inboard of the airplane.   Have had many examples of why with combat planes going inverted on launch.  Sometimes pilots are asleep at the handle.

[jim ivey]

Oh dear, hand launching .should be renamed hand letting go!  All the guy launching has to do is point it perpendicular to you and let go. No throwing ,chucking or pitching involved. speed jobs, thats different. You need a real pro with a strong arm to launch one of those.

[M Spencer]

Method utilised for forigners in tight T-Shirts was ;

Get aiming point : about 20 deg. to right of straight : " look at that when you let go .

Bank the plane out , not in .

Wait till the pilots hanging on to the handle , or therell be Trouble .

AFTER signal , DONT look at pilot again . ( see No. 1 )

Dont aim the plane at the pilot .

 

Ex Spitfire Mechanic launching DeH 88 on maiden flight had it aimed at me on maiden flight .

Luckily a ' palm up STOP and pointing east resolved issue . Had realeased Spit G-51 Previously.
Two Foxes billowing exhaust whilst hes in a flash blazer were overlooked . He was 72 yrs old  .

 
 15 Yr old girl with right lower leg in plaster gave perfect launch .

left hand behind canopy , right on outer wing L.E.
Right step lurch  left foot , drop before falling over , with follow through.

Dont put the L.H. on inboard wing, if the pilot jerks the plane back your fingers will go into the combat wings prop .
Afore said forigners , whod never seen a C/L plane before gave better than average launches .

The phrase ' just let it fly out of your hands ' is pobably worth mentioning .