How to Treat RC Plane Tail-Heavy Symptoms
When an RC plane is in tip-top shape, it flies like a dream. All the hard work you put into assembling the aircraft and optimizing its performance culminates in a dazzling aeronautic display. That feeling of watching their labor pay off in take-off is a big part of why people return to this hobby again and again.
When an RC plane is not in tip-top shape, the experience quickly becomes a nightmare. Handling can be atrocious, if not impossible, and crash landings can be painful to watch. This article can show you how to identify RC plane tail-heavy symptoms and resolve those issues.
What are RC Plane Tail-Heavy Symptoms?
Before you read any further, you need to know how to tell if your plane is even tail-heavy in the first place. After all, RC flyers can tumble out of the sky for many different reasons. If we just start giving you advice on an issue you might not even have, you will only continue experiencing it.
First, you need to get your plane in the air and fly it in a straight line, crossing your field of vision. As you maintain your position, gradually lower the speed and force at which you are pushing the craft. When all is well, they just lose altitude while keeping their balance. If the nose tips up, you are dealing with tail-heavy hardware. We should warn you that loss of control usually occurs, but you likely already know that if you are reading this.
While we are here, we should also mention that if the nose tips down, the plane is nose-heavy instead. The two issues are quite similar, their only difference being which end is most affected. Understanding and resolving them will require the same knowledge, so we will stick with referring to RC plane tail-heavy symptoms.
How Does This Even Happen?
Every aircraft, remote-controlled or otherwise, has its center of gravity. Let us call it "CG" for short because this term will come up many more times. CG refers to the point on the plane's body where everything is balanced: its weight, mass, and the impact of gravitational forces. We could get deep into the science, but we will simply say that being aware of the plane's CG is important.
Another concept you must understand is the center of the lift or CL. This term refers to the points on the wings that experience the most pressure from below. The tension between the plane's weight pushing it down and the plane's lift pushing it up is what allows it to stay airborne. Moreover, it keeps the craft under your control.
The relationship between CG and CL is also too complex to describe in detail within this article. The general rule is that the CG should be in front of the CL, which, as we said, is usually on the wings. If the two points are far apart, you should have a good balance.
What Can I Do?
The precise locations of the CG and CL points will be different for every aircraft model you have encountered. That is why manufacturers always include those details in the informational materials that come with their products. Referring to the manual or handbook is a good starting point for your quest to correct the balance.
In most instances, RC plane tail-heavy symptoms result from uneven distribution of weight. Perhaps you put certain parts on the back half of the plane. Perhaps you added more paint or decoration than the makers would have recommended. Whatever the case, investigate every centimeter of the plane behind the CL and see what could be moved.
Your best bet may be to adjust the location of the battery. This all-important component usually does not have a single spot on the RC plane where it must be set. You can slide it further to the front of the body. Even minor adjustments will alter the CG, which might be enough to resolve the issue. Start with the battery and experiment with different placements. Keep testing your plane to see how it handles. Hopefully, that will be enough to keep the tail from dipping.
What If That is Not Enough?
The goal of fixing a tail-heavy RC plane is to remove all traces of tail-heaviness. Even the slightest bit of imbalance puts you at risk of losing control over the craft. Moving the battery up is usually the best way to go, but sometimes the back will still tilt down as you fly.
If you cannot take the weight off the back, perhaps the best next step to take is adding weight to the nose. The idea is to counter whatever may be weighing down the tail. A result is a plane that, despite being heavier than before, maintains its balance and stays in the air better.
Most RC plane enthusiasts would advise adding lead — specifically, a bit of cut-up lead flashing material. You may have to melt a few ounces with a blowtorch and fuse the pieces into one. If so, take proper safety precautions: gloves on your hands, and a respirator over your face.
Once you have your material, bolt it to the plane. Tape and epoxy are not strong enough. The bolts will add some weight as well, so factor that into any calculations you make for extra nose weight.
Get Fresh and High-Quality RC Plane Parts Here
Learning how to treat RC plane tail-heavy symptoms may not be simple, but neither are many skills related to this hobby. More experienced friends in the community can help you if you reach out. Once you master the skills, you can pay it forward and pass on the knowledge.
As you adjust your plane, you might as well take the opportunity to optimize. The RC plane parts available at Absolute Hobbyz can help you with all your needs. They may even be lighter than the parts you currently use, so installing them may help with tail- or nose-heaviness. Visit our store and see for yourself.
