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<DIV><FONT size=2>Having had three "failsafe" landings in the last 20 plus
years I am a bit torn between spin and slow (on idle) descent. [Two rx xtal
failures and a TX short BTW]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>When you go to idle at neutral rudder and aileron, one wing
always drops (on a pattern-neutrally stable plane) and the plane begins a slow
circular descent that gradually heads down wind. I can see the
argument for a spin, but it could become a snap if everything fails at high
speed. No biggie I guess if it is up there. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Eric.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=knowhow3@bellsouth.net href="mailto:knowhow3@bellsouth.net">Rick
Kent</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 16, 2005 5:09 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Fail-safe settings for
control surfaces</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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<DIV>I'd have to agree that a spin with throttle to off or idle, is the
only setting that makes sense. It's the only way to make the plane do a
known, predictable maneuver without the benefit of the
transmitter's guidance. I see people arguing for straight and level all
the time, but how will that help if you're in a 90 degree dive or
flying the part of a humpty bump or something that temporarily aims the
plane towards the pits? I'd much prefer not to have to search hundreds
of acres of land for a flyaway aircraft or risk spectators. The spin is
the only setting that accomplishes those goals, IMHO.</DIV>
<DIV>Rick </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV id=IncrediOriginalMessage><I>-------Original
Message-------</I></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV id=receivestrings>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>From:</B></I> <A
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>Date:</B></I> Monday, May 16,
2005 04:21:31 PM</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>To:</B></I> <A
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt" <i><B>Subject:</B></I> Re:
Fail-safe settings for control surfaces</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hi Larry</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Having had a TX failure, I know from
experience the utter helplessness that a pilot feels when his plane is
no longer in his control. It sucks big time and I do not wish it on
anyone. The most important thing is to ensure the safety of
everyone around you as the plane is now simply a projectile on an
uncharted course. </FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>These are my thoughts on "Fail Safe" settings...
<U>no one else's</U>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>First and foremost, I consider this a "failure
setting" hence the title "Fail" .... not some sort of "glitch-setting"
setup to get my plane to maintain a path of flight. </FONT><FONT
face=Arial>If your looking for a "glitch safe" setting I don't have any
answers...sorry.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Now following the "Fail" part of your dilemma
(i.e. your TX has failed for some reason) comes the "Safe" part. This is
setting up your controls to make the airplane do a controlled
"arrival" without 1) killing or injuring anyone and 2) causing any
property damage. Remember the plane is going in regardless and, unless
your on short final when the failure occurs (not likely), your
going to probably lose the airframe. The intent is to not loose
anything else.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Once you come to that realization, the set up is
easy. I have a spin programmed into mine. Not a fast one that we see in
competition but a slower, winding descent that will cause the
aircraft to arrive somewhere within the box (which is where I fly
98% of the time). Slight right aileron, slight right
rudder & some up elevator with the throttle at Idle. Will
this save my plane? No. Will it provide the most safety for everyone
around? I believe it will.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>For those that have PCM RX/TX's and have no Fail
Safe setup whatsoever then your odds of failure equalling disaster
are high (same as non PCM types in fact). For those with Fail Safe
set to "steady state" with idle then your a little better off as the
plane will likely maintain a relatively steady path until impact
with whatever/whomever it hits. Remember you have no control at
all. And for those like myself with the spin setup, I have
somewhat better odds of containing the carnage as it's going in
within the box. Last time I checked most of the pattern boxes where
devoid of obstacles (cars/people etc) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Now under some circumstances the "Spin" scenario I
use may not give me a lot of time but I would plan to do a couple
things to get my plane back under control. 1) Make sure the TX is
"On" and you didn't adjust the trim's with the "On" switch.... seen
it done:-) 2) push/hold the antenna into the TX (might be a contact or
the antenna has twisted loose... seen it done.) 3) Yell your frequency
out loud as someone may have turned "on" accidentally. (Or you
forgot to tag up yourself and he's on legitimately ... seen it
done. ) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Remember PCM Fail Safe is not the be all and end
all. You could find yourself in equal trouble when the RX battery
dies because you forgot to charge/check the voltage or the RX fails. It
just gives you an way to help prevent possible disaster when the TX
fails, nothing more.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>These are my thoughts and I'll leave it to you and
anyone else out there to decide how they want to have their plane react
when there is a hard TX failure (not glitches). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Safe building & flying,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Dave Reaville<BR>NSRCA I-VP<BR>Canada West
District<BR>NSRCA 3156<BR>MAAC 56510 <BR><A
href="http://members.shaw.ca/patternwestnews/">http://members.shaw.ca/patternwestnews/</A> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; rem_MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=larryc4@cebridge.net href="mailto:larryc4@cebridge.net">L
Caldwell</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 16, 2005 7:03
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Fail-safe settings for
control surfaces</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Hi All,<BR><BR>What is the general concensus for the best
setting for the control <BR>surfaces on a pattern plane, and why.
I'm going to be put a PCM <BR>receiver in my plane, primarily for the
throttle fail-safe, but I'm not <BR>sure what would be best for the
control surfaces.<BR><BR>I would like to have the safety of the
onlookers, other fliers, and <BR>field neighbors as the main priority,
but still have a chance to recover <BR>the plane if it comes out of
failsafe.<BR><BR>I've considered these options:<BR><BR>1) Low idle,
controls at neutral but with a slight amount of up <BR>
elevator. That might be a good way to see brief lockouts,
but<BR>the plane could travel a long way if it stayed locked at at
high<BR>altitude.<BR><BR>2) Last good signal doesn't seem like a good
idea to me if it<BR>stays locked out. You could get anything
there.<BR><BR>3) This seems safest for the crowd, but probably bad for
the future of <BR>the plane. Low idle or engine off, full spin
entry on the <BR>controls.<BR><BR>Any better ideas?<BR><BR>Larry
Caldwell<BR>Brookland,
Arkansas<BR>=================================================<BR>To
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