Great tips. I believe if the CG is spot on, you should be able to throw most planes (fairly fast) unpowered over tall soft grass, and they should glide pretty well.
Great explanation! So wish I'd seen this 2 1/2 years ago when I started flying. Learned a few of your tips the hard way. Going to start marking appropriate battery. A great idea. Getting more planes and batteries all the time. I really like your emphasis on tactile markings for CG. I've tried hot glue blobs and they're kinda okay. Was walking around the department store a year ago and somehow ended up in the sewing department. Accidents happen. For some reason, my eyes locked onto the sewing pins with the round plastic heads so I grabbed a pack. I'd been using felt pen marks for CG and when I got home I clipped off the pins so they didn't go through the wing, pushed them in enough to be 1/3 buried, removed them, added hot glue and replaced the pin. Works really well and I've since added it to most of my planes. My eyes get worse every day and I worked much of my life in the trades so my fingertips have lost much of their sensitivity. But I can feel those pins.
I couldn't agree more and very well explained, how important the correct centre of gravity is! Unfortunately, I have made the experience that some models are very sensitive and you can't really determine the correct centre of gravity with your fingertips, so you have to use a centre of gravity scale. I would have liked to have some hints for this.
@@Painless360 As always, excellent video. I've always been confused by watching experienced pilots on RUclips stating that they had to change the CG. I can't imagine ever having the confidence to say the manufacturer instructions and markings are wrong, and modify the plane in that way. How do they come to that conclusion? Can you do a follow up video demonstrating the tools and/or intuition that would lead to a CG change? Are there consequences to making that change? In other words, I'm assuming someone would make this change for their particular set up and I imagine the new CG would be much less tolerant of deviation?
It is all about how the model flies as covered in the video. If it flies like a pig - probably need it closer to the nose, if it pitches down at higher throttle and up at lower throttle and feel 'mushy' then it's probably nose heavy. If it flies 'level' on all power levels and responds in a predictable way it good. If it flies like crap with lots of pitch-iness in the elevator and aggressive responses then it's probably tail heavy.. ;)
@@Painless360 Yes, those symptoms would certainly cause you to move your components around, but at what point would you say the factory CG is wrong, move the nubs, and tell other people to do the same? Do you see the difference?
dont forget to check forums for the CG, a lot of planes are way too noseheavy in the manual (at least in my experience). note that a noseheavy plane will pitch down during takeoff and slow flight and on high speed it will pitch up. during flight you can test the CG doing the DIVE TEST without motor, elevator should be neutral on conventional planes(flying wings should have a little up elevator) the plane should pitch up slightly to have the best CG. but, sometimes you want a little more nose weight on gliders because it will have a little self correct tendencies on elavator.
Very good video thank you! I found it better off to replace stock motor and esc on mini ar to 5s setup. Small 650mah 5s and its become my favorite model. Fast and responsive and efficient when you want to be. If only I could land without doing 6 approach attempts haha its so fast! 124mph wind at its back full throttle m8!
Your advice is excellent...if you have a mark for where the CG goes or plans for the plane. I am reviving an old RTF plane that has neither. CG was never mentioned in the manual, which I kept and recently studied carefully to try to find it (It is an Aerobird Swift by Hobbyzone). Because I have long ago tossed its original NiMH battery, and am now using a LiPo, I am wondering how to balance it and what mass of battery to use. It is a 1meter V-tail (elevator only) with ailerons and can't tell if its squirreliness is my not knowing how to fly with ailerons or its CG being off. Right now the CG is about 3/4 of the way tailward, from the leading edge of the nearly flat wing. All my old sailplanes I could just toss and see how they float to the ground to check the CG and trims, but this one is made to fly only fast with motor and hits the ground quickly if not throttled up.
It's always frustrating when basic things like throws and CG are not in the manual. For such an old model the forums were one of the best bets... best of luck
Maybe you can expand on this topic by giving advice on how to interpret the plane's attitude while flying, when you are in the process of dialling in the CG and what the symptoms are and tests one can do to check when the CG is at the right point (for a conventional wing type plane).
Maintaining altitude through the correct attitude is all about trimming once the CG is right. See my fixed wing videos where this is covered. Thanks for the comment, happy flying!
Question. I know you suggested not adding extra weight, but what about adding weight to the back if it is a bit nose heavy? Is that a thing? Asking because I have a Dolphin and was hoping to run one of my existing 4000mah batteries but it appears to be a bit too heavy. Can I add a bit more weight to the tail to balance it out, understanding that it will make the whole model a bit heavier?
hi sir i need yur help actually i have build a rc plane but its tale is too heavy but i dont have enough margin to add more weight because this could be a cause of under power motor
If that's the case then you'll need more weight in the nose (bigger battery maybe?) or to remove weight from the tail (move components forward). Sounds like you need a stronger motor/prop anyway if you're on the limit for weight.. Best of luck!
Lee.... Great video on CG for FW Planes, so how does this apply to Quad Copters..? My S500 has no CG marks anywhere.... & where can I find CG tools on-line to calculate CG for the Quad..? =)
As David mentions (and I cover in the video) there are online tools you can use to work it out but the best place to start is the manual for the model.. Best of luck!
Thanks for the info. This video was super helpful especially when you’re trying to go from multi rotor to fixed wing.
Perfect video think a lot people forget about how important CG is specially on a dead cat quad when the pids are working to correct it all the time.
Great tips. I believe if the CG is spot on, you should be able to throw most planes (fairly fast) unpowered over tall soft grass, and they should glide pretty well.
That is true, some models rely on a thrust angle from the motor to fly well so that can be an issue sometimes.. Happy flying!
Thank you, I’ve had some trouble launching my mini wing lately, so I’ll give this check!
Great explanation! So wish I'd seen this 2 1/2 years ago when I started flying. Learned a few of your tips the hard way. Going to start marking appropriate battery. A great idea. Getting more planes and batteries all the time.
I really like your emphasis on tactile markings for CG. I've tried hot glue blobs and they're kinda okay. Was walking around the department store a year ago and somehow ended up in the sewing department. Accidents happen. For some reason, my eyes locked onto the sewing pins with the round plastic heads so I grabbed a pack. I'd been using felt pen marks for CG and when I got home I clipped off the pins so they didn't go through the wing, pushed them in enough to be 1/3 buried, removed them, added hot glue and replaced the pin. Works really well and I've since added it to most of my planes. My eyes get worse every day and I worked much of my life in the trades so my fingertips have lost much of their sensitivity. But I can feel those pins.
I couldn't agree more and very well explained, how important the correct centre of gravity is! Unfortunately, I have made the experience that some models are very sensitive and you can't really determine the correct centre of gravity with your fingertips, so you have to use a centre of gravity scale. I would have liked to have some hints for this.
I've never had a model that picky, what was it?
@@Painless360 It was this one: 3dlabprint.com/shop/slingblade/
@@Painless360 As always, excellent video. I've always been confused by watching experienced pilots on RUclips stating that they had to change the CG. I can't imagine ever having the confidence to say the manufacturer instructions and markings are wrong, and modify the plane in that way. How do they come to that conclusion? Can you do a follow up video demonstrating the tools and/or intuition that would lead to a CG change? Are there consequences to making that change? In other words, I'm assuming someone would make this change for their particular set up and I imagine the new CG would be much less tolerant of deviation?
It is all about how the model flies as covered in the video. If it flies like a pig - probably need it closer to the nose, if it pitches down at higher throttle and up at lower throttle and feel 'mushy' then it's probably nose heavy. If it flies 'level' on all power levels and responds in a predictable way it good. If it flies like crap with lots of pitch-iness in the elevator and aggressive responses then it's probably tail heavy.. ;)
@@Painless360 Yes, those symptoms would certainly cause you to move your components around, but at what point would you say the factory CG is wrong, move the nubs, and tell other people to do the same? Do you see the difference?
dont forget to check forums for the CG, a lot of planes are way too noseheavy in the manual (at least in my experience).
note that a noseheavy plane will pitch down during takeoff and slow flight and on high speed it will pitch up.
during flight you can test the CG doing the DIVE TEST without motor, elevator should be neutral on conventional planes(flying wings should have a little up elevator) the plane should pitch up slightly to have the best CG.
but, sometimes you want a little more nose weight on gliders because it will have a little self correct tendencies on elavator.
If you have trouble getting the plane to balance as in the foward sweep wings with gear up top making it top heavy, simply do it upside down.
Very good video thank you! I found it better off to replace stock motor and esc on mini ar to 5s setup. Small 650mah 5s and its become my favorite model. Fast and responsive and efficient when you want to be. If only I could land without doing 6 approach attempts haha its so fast! 124mph wind at its back full throttle m8!
Oh yea not to mention 6" carbon bi-blade.. 2150kv xing motor ;)
bravo.Thenks
Your advice is excellent...if you have a mark for where the CG goes or plans for the plane. I am reviving an old RTF plane that has neither. CG was never mentioned in the manual, which I kept and recently studied carefully to try to find it (It is an Aerobird Swift by Hobbyzone). Because I have long ago tossed its original NiMH battery, and am now using a LiPo, I am wondering how to balance it and what mass of battery to use. It is a 1meter V-tail (elevator only) with ailerons and can't tell if its squirreliness is my not knowing how to fly with ailerons or its CG being off. Right now the CG is about 3/4 of the way tailward, from the leading edge of the nearly flat wing. All my old sailplanes I could just toss and see how they float to the ground to check the CG and trims, but this one is made to fly only fast with motor and hits the ground quickly if not throttled up.
It's always frustrating when basic things like throws and CG are not in the manual. For such an old model the forums were one of the best bets... best of luck
Maybe you can expand on this topic by giving advice on how to interpret the plane's attitude while flying, when you are in the process of dialling in the CG and what the symptoms are and tests one can do to check when the CG is at the right point (for a conventional wing type plane).
Maintaining altitude through the correct attitude is all about trimming once the CG is right. See my fixed wing videos where this is covered. Thanks for the comment, happy flying!
Question. I know you suggested not adding extra weight, but what about adding weight to the back if it is a bit nose heavy? Is that a thing? Asking because I have a Dolphin and was hoping to run one of my existing 4000mah batteries but it appears to be a bit too heavy. Can I add a bit more weight to the tail to balance it out, understanding that it will make the whole model a bit heavier?
If you still can't get the CG in the right spot, even with the battery in the rear compartment, then adding tail weight is fine. Happy flying
Am I correct in saying that the CG on a low wing plane, like a Warbird, should be taken when balanced upside down?
Thats how i balance all my low wing planes
It can be easier to measure that way as the bulk of the model weight makes it 'hang down' but the placement of CG doesn't change.. Happy flying!
@@Painless360 Cool. I'll bear that in mind
Its most important in case of planes (with 25% from leading edge), if it is correctly balance it consumes less power and gives best performance.
hi sir i need yur help actually i have build a rc plane but its tale is too heavy but i dont have enough margin to add more weight because this could be a cause of under power motor
If that's the case then you'll need more weight in the nose (bigger battery maybe?) or to remove weight from the tail (move components forward). Sounds like you need a stronger motor/prop anyway if you're on the limit for weight.. Best of luck!
actually my motor has 1500grams Thurst.. and my planes final weight was with all components was 1490
Lee.... Great video on CG for FW Planes, so how does this apply to Quad Copters..? My S500 has no CG marks anywhere.... & where can I find CG tools on-line to calculate CG for the Quad..? =)
It's usually in the dead center of the frame.. Best of luck!
@@Painless360 That's what I was thinking, Thanks..! =)
Hi I'm skykalai from India.
Can you make a video of complete details of metacenter in RC boat. MC Finding and other details too :)
Nice video..
Hi, if my plane do not have the CG mark, how am I able to find out where is it?
Check on line for CG Calculator RC 👍
As David mentions (and I cover in the video) there are online tools you can use to work it out but the best place to start is the manual for the model.. Best of luck!
Love id.