Model Airplane News – August 2019

AUGUST 2019 61

Figure 4

Straight lines are maintained using small (brief) aileron bumps

to keep the wings level. Small course changes are made using a

small bump of aileron (in and out) to bank the wings slightly.

In addition to the above takeoff procedures, pilots

fl ying high-performance planes should hold in some

right rudder after liftoff , to counter the left-turning

tendency (yaw) caused by propwash, and then

gradually remove the right rudder as the airplane

gains speed and starts fl ying straight on its own.

Figure 5
Always remember to use small bumps of rudder to maintain your
departure course and a small amount of up-elevator during the
initial climbout.

SUMMARY OF STANDARD TAKEOFF

Here’s a summary of the standard takeoff procedure (Figure 5),

which can be used for both high- and low-performance airplanes:

〉〉 Point the airplane into the wind.

〉〉 Hold in a small amount of up-elevator and steadily advance the

throttle to full. Do not hesitate.

〉〉 Smoothly tap the rudder to steer until the airplane lifts off.

〉〉 Lessen the elevator when the plane leaves the ground, and keep

the wings level with the ailerons.