Flying Wing Setup

No matter which model wing you fly, be sure to take maximum advantage of its maneuverability by setting up the throws correctly. First and fore- most, be sure your elevons move freely and your c/g is per specifications.

Moving the c/g can alter your wing's flying characteristics. Moving the c/g backwards will lessen the amount of elevon reflex needed to maintain level flight. This will result in less drag, faster speeds, and snappier handling. If the c/g is too far back handling can become very twitchy and your wing will be hard to control. Start at the recommended c/g and experiment by moving the c/g backwards and forwards in small increments until you are comfortable with your wing's handling.

For starters set the aileron movement of the elevons at the absolute maximum. Some people dial in up to 120% for end point adjustment of the ailerons throws on their computer radios. Exponential rates on ailerons can be between minus 10% and minus 30%. This range allows for quick response without the controls being over sensitive. The elevator movement starting point can be about 70% of the total movement. The elevator controls on most wings are usually pretty sensitive, so exponential rates can be anywhere from minus 20% to minus 70%.

One way to check for proper elevator movement is to gain some altitude, put your wing into a shallow dive, and pull up into a loop. If the loop is nice and even, congratulations, you have the proper throws. If your wing snaps out of the loop, decrease the throws. If it doesn't want to loop, increase the throws. Moving the c/g back a little can help you loop, but may make recoveries from combat hits take longer. If your wing falls towards one side, make sure both elevons have the same throws. If the throws are identical and your wing will still not loop properly, check the lateral balance. Hold your wing in the center by the nose and tail to see if one side always drops. If so, add weight to the opposite wing tip until you achieve lateral balance. Your wing should be looping properly now!

Reproduced with kind permission from
Charles Varvaro of www.lsss.homestead.com