Conference vmszoo::rc

I flew a Sr. Falcon with a Webra (non-ported) .61 for a few years and it was a 
very nice "trainer" with good response and it would glide forever deadstick. It 
doesn't have "vertical forever" performance but that isn't a trainer. The kit 
(as are all CG kits I've built) was excellent quality and the instructions were 
easy to follow. A Senior Falcon is a good 60 sized 4 channel trainer and I miss 
mine (aileron servo failed full deflection and I corkscrewed into the ground and 
exploded into toothpicks)

    The venerable Senior Falcon was MY trainer and first proportional radio
    controlled model some 27-years ago.  Perhaps a bit dated, it still
    makes a great model and would be a fine trainer.
    
    I'm not sure of the dimensions anymore but I'd guess about a 65" span
    and ~7-7 1/2 lb. finished weight.  It _will_ fly on a .40-.45 but is
    perfect for a .60 (which I'd recommend).
    
    Goldberg kits are among the best in terms of wood and hardware quality
    and plans are well done as well.  All-in-all, the Falcon'd be a good
    first plane choice.
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      	         \|/		|______|__(o/--/  | \	   	       
      | |        00	       <|  ~~~  ____ 04 ---- | --------------------
    |_|_|        (O>o		|\)____/___|\_____|_/	   Adios amigos, Al
      |     \__(O_\_	        |	  |___/	 o	   (The Desert Rat)

    
    
    A senior falcon is really an under estimated plane.  Yes, it's sturdy,
    easy to build (watch out for wing warp when you heat that monocote),
    very predictable and flies nice and slow.  I especially like the bigger
    trainers because one you get them up high enough to be safe you still
    can see them.
    
    But, the Falcon is versatile and even aerobatic.  I have built many.  I
    like them as tail draggers.  I've added flaps, they'll fly backwards in
    a breeze.  I've flown them with 45s, 60s, and a 60 four cycle.  With a
    little modification of incidence angles they can perform amazing tricks
    without being touchy.  I recommend them highly.
    
    I know this is late but I just got into this conference.

>                      <<< Note 1238.3 by DPDMAI::GUYER >>>
>                          -< Better late than never. >-
...
>    a breeze.  I've flown them with 45s, 60s, and a 60 four cycle.  With a
>    little modification of incidence angles they can perform amazing tricks
>    without being touchy.  I recommend them highly.

So tell us more about the incidence mods.  I don't have a Senior Falcon
but if anyone ever considered purchasing one surely they would read the
Senior Falcon note.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
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    I answered .4 directly and I will try to repeat it here.
    The Senior Falcon, being a trainer, is highly sensitive to speed
    changes.  Note this does not necessarily mean throttle changes.  For
    example, at the bottom of a loop or any other manuever that would
    increase speed the plane would tend to climb.  That would be baloon at
    the end of a loop.  This is because the plane is designed to be trimmed
    for a certain speed as are real planes.  This allows the beginner to
    control the altitude of the plane with throttle.  This really gets in
    the way when you want to do aerobatics.  To get the trainer
    characteristics the plane is designed with positive incidence in the
    main wing and "0" or negative incidence in the horizontal stab.  I
    don't remember exactly, it's been a while.  These incidence angle are
    what need to be changed.
    
    Because the wing is semi-semetrical "0-0" does not work.  You may need
    to experiment a little but the main wing needs to be "0" or slightly
    negative and the horizontal stab needs to be slightly positive.  The
    engine needs to be "0" vertically but needs the right thrust to
    compensate for "P" factor.  The best way to accomplish this is to shim
    the wings till you get what you want.  If you rubber band them on
    initially you can play around with them and when you have it right you
    can glue down the stab.  I'd keep the bands on the wing but other
    methods will work.  The end result is that as speed increases you get
    more lift from the stab which reduces the angle of attack on the main
    wing thereby keeping overall lift the same.  No more balooning and all
    the manuevers become easier to fly.
    
    Keeping the weight down is also important.  A 60 size engine needs to
    be mounted farther aft than a 40 or 45.  When I put a four cycle in I
    actually had to cut off the nose behind the firewall and move
    the firewall back because of the carb being behind the engine.  This
    eliminated the need for tail weight.  In addition, you will want to
    move the balance point (C.G.) back some.  The trick here is the farther
    back you move it the more responsive it is, go too far and OOPs, it's
    either too squirly or the tail falls out of the sky so do it a little
    at a time. 
    
    Adding flaps causes the plane to pitch up when you lower the flaps so
    be carefull when you do that.  Mine went from full up elevator trim
    to full down elevator trim when I lowered them.

    It's been so long long since I did this I forgot to mention that I also
    cut the dihedral by about half.  Even though the plane is designed for
    ailerons the original dihedral angle makes it more difficult to do good
    aileron rolls and other things like slips.