I built two FT Flyers to run some tests. One had ailerons and slightly enlarged control surfaces and the other was a standard three-channel one. Neither had any downthrust and both had the thin wire pushrods mounted on the upper side of the rear fuselage, like suggested. They both flew OK, but both had a rather nasty trait that made them difficult for beginners. When they were given down elevator to penetrate the wind, they dived down in an almost suicidal way. They flew fine when going round with their nose slightly raised and using the throttle to adjust the height, but in the breeze today, they drifted down-wind, so needed down elevator to penetrate it.. I've been watching all the Youtube videos I can to see if others have this trait, but most are flying in calm conditions and I don't see the guys use any down elevator, except the one below, which shows the problem quite well. the pilot probably just put it down to himself not knowing how to control it, but that's what happened to mine except I didn't crash. I'm wondering whether it's something to do with the large flat wing or the rather thin pushrod.
I'm going to do some experiments to see if I can make it more acceptable. Has anybody else experienced this on the FT Flyer? Did you find a way to improve it?
See the dive at 0:55
Note they way it swoops down at about 1:10
I'm going to do some experiments to see if I can make it more acceptable. Has anybody else experienced this on the FT Flyer? Did you find a way to improve it?
See the dive at 0:55
Note they way it swoops down at about 1:10