How to Flying Off Stooge Smoothly?

[Kafin Noe’man]

I have been flying with stooge lately, and it’s been wonderful to be able to fly solo. However, 5 out of 10 flights, the plane often got hung up at stooge’s posts (I have the stooge with the posts) when I release the cable. So, what are the tips to ensure the plane is taking off of the stooge smoothly?

[Perry Rose]

Change to a stooge with a pin that captures a wire attached the tail of the plane.

[Ken Culbertson]

 

Change to a stooge with a pin that captures a wire attached the tail of the plane.

  Never likes the post kind.

Ken

[Dan McEntee]

I have been flying with stooge lately, and it’s been wonderful to be able to fly solo. However, 5 out of 10 flights, the plane often got hung up at stooge’s posts (I have the stooge with the posts) when I release the cable. So, what are the tips to ensure the plane is taking off of the stooge smoothly?

     I use the post style or upright style and get good release from it. You need to explain what "got hung up" actually means. If the uprights fall away forward and lay flat on the ground cleanly and evenly, there should be no problem. If you have padding on the uprights, make sure it goes far enough towards the hinge point where the stabilizer on the model does not hang up on it. When the uprights are set in the take off position and the release is set. They should be vertical or leaning only slightly back, and holding the model securely back. IS the stooge not anchored well enough and it's moving when you pull the release cord?  Having it hang up 5 out of 10 times, (and that would be half of the time) tells me that you are not executing something correctly.
    Type at you later,
    Dab McEntee

[Dave Moritz]

I agree with Dan’s assessment. I used a post-type stooge with success for a few years. But I changed over to the wire & pin stooge as it worked better for the full range of model sizes.

Dave Mo…

[John Rist]

Else where in this BB is how to build a wireless stooge. Gets rid of the third line that you can trip over.

[john e. holliday]

I have  the Brodak upright stooge which I got for the tri geared planes.  I can release the legs and lay them flat and use the pin release on the planes with a loop in the tail skid or a clip/loop made to fit tail wheel.  The only problem I had was some of my planes have a short distance between the stab and trailing edge of the wing.  So the arms would hang p on the wing and wedge there not letting plane move.

[Dan McEntee]

I agree with Dan’s assessment. I used a post-type stooge with success for a few years. But I changed over to the wire & pin stooge as it worked better for the full range of model sizes.

Dave Mo…

     But you can't launch tricycle landing gear that way. Kafun needs to explain what "hung up on the stooge posts" means.. I'm thinking it's something simple.
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[L0U CRANE]

Are the uprights separately spring loaded to snap flat (forward) when the release is triggered? If you are depending on the  stab LE only, I expect there could be problems...

I've only used a pin and tailwheel wire loop type but doodled out ways to have uprights drive themselves flat on release.

Luck!

[Phil Spillman]

I am using, when needed , a stooge which was originally designed by Bob Hunt's Dad which is a pin spring loaded type hinge. Once upon a time I had no trouble getting down on the ground to engage the spring pin loaded mechanism but now at almost 85 I can get down but it's a bear getting back up!!! So attach a longer wire to the tail wheel so that you may bed down, as in the "Arthritic Launch" mode to link up the wire stooge attachment! Brodak sells these stooges which are the original design and which work really well!

I attach the stooge to the earth with about 3" long nails. I always carry a claw hammer to drive the nails into the ground especially in the hot dry summer months when the ground gets like concrete! In addition I use a Stanley chalk string as my stooge release storage since all I have to do when done with the stooge is wind up the cord to put it all away in the trunk of my van! Hammer, Stooge and storage ride with me almost all the time. Therefore I won't leave home without it!


Phil Spillman

[Phil Spillman]

Forgot to answer the original question as to getting off the ground "smoothly" while flying with a stooge! Well I simply attach the safety thong to my wrist, check neutral, every time, and pull the release cord while I prepair to step back to absolutely maintain line tension as I fly along with the plane as it begins to rise off the ground. I walk with the plane in its flight direction as well. I use my arm to follow the plane flight path as it climbs up always being a thought   ahead of the plane.

Phil Spillman

[Dennis Toth]

Make sure the posts are smooth and not to long above the stab. When taking off hold neutral as the plane releases and let it climb smoothly to level flight. If you hold up it can push the tail down and if the stooge legs have bare foam on them dig in and hang up. Put some smooth vinyl tape running the length of the post to prevent this.

Best,    DennisT