Model Airplane News – August 2019

62 ModelAirplaneNews.com

ENTERING THE PATTERN

Novice pilots should avoid making turns until they

have achieved a safe height (Figure 6). Th ey are also

encouraged to reduce power to at least half before

the fi rst turn, thus setting the stage for a more

forgiving fi rst turn. Upon completing the turn, set

the power and trim for straight and level fl ight at the

speed at which you are comfortable fl ying. Th is will,

of course, be diffi cult for pilots who neglect to hold

the centerline during the climbout and who are still

working to position the plane into comfortable view.

Trimming at the novice stage is made considerably

easier by raising the transmitter to see that the

throttle is close to the speed at which you’re

comfortable fl ying. Th is eliminates the throttle as

a distraction while you maintain the pattern and

trim. Th e most important aspect of takeoff with an

airplane requiring trim is to keep fl ying the plane until

you have enough altitude to think about trimming.

Despite what you may heard, airplanes rarely

crash because they are out of trim. Rather, out-

of-trim airplanes crash because their pilots are so

preoccupied with trimming that they fail to make the

necessary control inputs to keep them in the air.

BOTTOM LINE

You don’t have to be a veteran pilot to take off like

one when you understand the mechanics involved.

If you’ve been reacting to the airplane and using the

more diffi cult trial-and-error method to take off ,

you might feel as if something is missing the next

time you fl y because your takeoff s will seem much

easier yet more improved. Beginners—remember to

keep the wings level. Happy fl ying! J

FLIGHT TECHNIQUEMASTERING THE TAKEOFF

Figure 6
Th e most important aspect of the takeoff is keeping the wings level after liftoff and avoiding turns
until achieving a safe height. Smoothly taking out elevator as soon as the plane lifts off is crucial to
maintaining a shallow climb and plenty of fl ying speed.

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