Must READ tips from the AeroDoc!

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These tips are provided courtesy of AeroDoc (Pictured left handing out an award), the founder of AeroRacers Inc and the Great American Aero Derby. Luc is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus, and personally instructs the summer camps each year at the Great American Aero Derby. His tips (below) are essential to improving your flight times.

Powered Flight:

Altitude:

If you fly at a flight field altitude of 2000 feet or less asl (above sea level), I recommend you use the 1/8" rubber string. Use a string length of about 22" and wind at least 1000 times with a winder.

For altitudes of over 2000 feet, I recommend using the 3/16" (.187") rubber string. Use about 22" long rubber string length and wind about 800 times minimum with a winder of course.

Temperature:

The hotter it is, the longer your aircraft will fly.

Moisture:

Try to fly your aircraft over ground with little to no moisture. Flying over a paved parking lot is better for longer flight times on a hot day than flying over a grassy area. Try not to fly over a grassy area in the morning or later in the evening.

General:

Try different propellers and note down the flight times you achieve with each.

Vary the power by using longer/shorter rubber strings. You will be able to crank in more winds into a longer rubber string, but the longer string will also increase the overall weight of the aircraft.

Learn how to wind your aircraft to full capacity. The more winds you can pack into your motor of a given length, the longer your plane will climb under power.

Make sure your aircraft is properly balanced for the propeller and motor you are using.

As you use more winds/power, remember to increase the amount of LEFT RUDDER. Your plane should climb in a gentle spiral to the right. If it crashes to the right after take-off, increase the amount of left rudder.

Always launch your aircraft directly into the wind. Later, as you become more experienced, you can try launching your powered aircraft with the wind hitting you on the right cheek.

Keep your aircraft as light as possible. Do not use the landing gear if the plane is equipped with one as it only will increase weight and drag.

Hints for the TS-38 twin:

Make sure that you cover BOTH the top and bottom of the wing of the TS-38. Only cover one side of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers.

I recommend that you first wind the right motor of your TS-38 and then add about 30 to 50 extra winds to the left motor while winding it last.

Set the rudders straight.

Launch your aircraft 90 degrees to the wind in such a way that the oncoming wind hits you on the right cheek. Your TS-38 should climb in a spiral to the right.

Try the yellow PR-17 propellers for improved performance.

Balancing:

Balance your aircraft by forming a cradle with your index finger and thumb.

Aircraft needs to be in ready to fly condition with rubber band motor installed.

Place aircraft with wing onto finger tips slightly ahead of center of chord.

Aircraft should balance with the nose of the plane slightly pointing down.

Move wing back- or forwards until aircraft balances correctly.

Use a marker to mark fuselage so you have a reference point to adjust the wings.

Remember: Always move the wing TOWARDS where the plane is heavy. It your aircraft is nose heavy, move wing towards nose. If your aircraft is tail heavy, move the wing towards the tail.

Glider Flight:

Altitude:

Flying at higher elevations puts you at a slight disadvantage to lower elevations given the same outside air temperature.

Temperature:

Fly your aircraft on a hot, sunny day. Preferably late morning or early afternoon.

Try to fly your aircraft in such a way so it ends up doing wide circles over paved or dirt areas.

General:

Test glide your glider over a grassy area by aiming the nose of the plane DOWN at an imaginary object about 30 feet away from you on the ground. Try this in the evening or early morning when there is little to no wind. Aim glider into the wind. Give the glider a GENTLE push forward and observe it's flight.

If the glider pumps (flies up down, up down) add more ballast to the front of the aircraft.

If your glider dives, remove weight from the nose of the aircraft.

Make sure your glider flies straight. Once it launches on the high start, you want it to go up straight. Once it releases from the high start, it will start flying in large circles.

Use all the string and rubber string provided with the high start kit. Always launch straight into the wind. Watch the streamer to make sure you are lined up correctly into the wind.

Pull back about 20 steps for the first flights, but later you can pull back more in order to reach higher altitudes. You can overdo the pulling back part as your glider will go up very fast at first which will "overspeed" the airfoil and end with a crash as the wing tips stall.

Watch your glider fly. Remove weight until your glider starts pumping during the descent.

If your glider starts "rocking with the wings" during a flight that generally means that it has encountered a thermal. Thermals are pockets of hot air which will make your glider rise in altitude.

Should you get lucky and launch your plane during a thermal, it can reach starting altitudes of over 250 feet as it will really stretch the rubber string.

If you loose sight of your aircraft, try to pick a reference point like a big rock or a tree and walk straight to that point when you are searching for your plane. Never go alone. Always have an adult accompany you when you go search for your aircraft.

It is also a good idea to color your aircraft orange or another stand-out color. Otherwise you will find out that camouflage really works.

There is no substitute for practice.

Preflight Checklist:

Before you get ready to fly your aircraft, Check the following (It's as easy as CAP):

C - CG: center of gravity checked?

A - Aircraft wing leading edge facing forward??

P - Preferred launch position for wind conditions checked?