Tracking in rounds

[Bob Reeves]

Anyone have any idea what makes or breaks the ability of a stunt ship to track well in round loops? I have a Skylark .46 that flys well and is in fairly diecent trim but I really have to concentrate and fly it through the rounds. I have other stunt ships that just seem to lock in but the Skylark is a constant fight to get the rounds round...

[Tom Perry]

Just for the heck of it try temporarily adding about an oz. of nose weight and see what happens.  Don't even check where the CG is just try it.  Some airplane can be too light and need some ballast.  I've never flown the plane you are having problems with but I know if the Nobler is too light it doesn't fly as well.

As long as you make the weight temporary, it's like chicken soup.  It might not help but it won't hurt.   

[Bob Reeves]

Thanks Tom,

Will try it and see what it does...

[Steve Helmick]

Read PW's Impact article. Bruce Perry did, moved his LO's back 3/16", and his "Jester" finally grooved like it should. Adding more nose weight will do the same thing, of course, but lose some of the snap and corner.  Steve

[Randy Powell]

I was trimming a new plane last weekend. It seemed to hunt around a bit in level flight (upright and inverted). I messed with the pushrod length a bit but it really seemed to lock in with I moved the leadouts back about a quarter inch.  It tracked pretty well in round before, but now it's on rails.