Launching pusher jets

[Positive Charge]

I have only recently converted to pusher park jet models and read the threads where they say you can recognise a person who hand launches these models because they can't order 4 pint of beer with one hand.
As all the models I have seen have a carbon spar accross the wing, has anyone tried "discus" launching, like the gliderboys.
The only problem I can see is that a right handed person would launch with a left handed bank, making any torque problems worse.
Who is going to be the bravest.

Alan

[NitroCharged]

I always frisbee my wing on launch as its the only easy place to hold onto it :)

[ParkJetsFlyer]

I have only recently converted to pusher park jet models and read the threads where they say you can recognise a person who hand launches these models because they can't order 4 pint of beer with one hand.
As all the models I have seen have a carbon spar accross the wing, has anyone tried "discus" launching, like the gliderboys.
The only problem I can see is that a right handed person would launch with a left handed bank, making any torque problems worse.
Who is going to be the bravest.

Alan

Well I haven't sliced my finger's yet (Knock on formica) so try this:

Start with the throttle about 50-60% and give the jet an overhead toss, sort of like throwing a football. If you have trouble gripping the jet, make yourself a "Drop Tank" out of foam and glue it under the CG location using a strip of balsa wood.

[LuckyArmpit]

I've been flying pushers for 5 years. Every launch is full throttle and I aint yet been cut. I've seen pilots launch with no throttle. As soon as the plane leaves the hand, they fumble for the throttle. By that time, plane has it the ground or, plane has torqued over to one side from the immediate full throttle. Even see it on planes that are tractor powered and launched at 0 throttle. A straight, strong throw into the wind works every time.

Dave...

[Vintauri]

It's all about the follow through. I have launched my pushers many times and never feel like I'm going to get chopped by the prop. Flop that hand down on the follow through.

[roccobro]

I launch underhand. Pinch the fuse with the right hand, and lobb it up at a 45 deg angle with throttle at half. Might even have some right trim in to counter the torque. Haven't been bit....yet. :)

Justin

[Positive Charge]

Thanks to everone for theire help on this one. I have some joint problems(not the inhaling type!) so the over arm launch is a no go, I think I will try underarm with an overpowerful motor or go the launcher route.

Alan

[tashley]

I underhand almost everthing. If you heave it at about a forty five degree angle of attack as rocco said, or maybe a tad less it's usually always good.

[JohnVH]

I launch underhand. Pinch the fuse with the right hand, and lobb it up at a 45 deg angle with throttle at half. Might even have some right trim in to counter the torque. Haven't been bit....yet. :)

Justin


I do this with all my parkjets, but I go full throttle:D

[ParkJetsFlyer]

Hi John,

I love that T-38 launch on your video! Wow #14 thats getting in on the ground floor LOL!!

Tom - Milwaukee
www.parkjets.com

[Gordon]

Well, I've hand launched a lot of pushers too. But when my buddy had to have a whole bunch of stitches in his hand following a bad launch, I decided not to bother with those things again.

My buddy's next plane was to be a pusher Eurofighter Typhoon. But he modified it during construction to MF480 EDF power ... much safer!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332757

video: http://www.rcgroups.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1462

Gordon

[keven64]

I also underhand launch almost everything now... ;)

Keven. :)

[ParkJetsFlyer]

Hi Gordon,

Did Ron ever publish plans for the MF480 Typhoon?

Tom - Milwaukee
RCParkflyer on the "Other Forum"

[John Benns]

Hello everyone and Happy new year to you all. Any advice on a introductory first EDF airplane. You all know the the ropes. Easy setup, cost effective. repairabillity, etc, etc, blah blah blah. Is there such thing as a trainer EDF?
John

[keven64]

There are a few... here and there.

This one looks very good... http://www.keiro.ch/

I wanted an EDF model that would fly slowly enough to be hand launched, so I designed my own - over 6 years ago... ;)

This is the 5th version, made in the spring of 2003... and is very easy to fly.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125524

https://home.comcast.net/%7Etnunez08/ERC/tf5.htm

I'll be building a second one soon, hopefully this spring - with more power, though no more is needed, as can be seen from the videos...

Keven. :)

[ParkJetsFlyer]

Here is a Nice Fantrainer EDF-64 (GWS) that you can build yourself.

http://www.parkjets.com/fantrainer.html

[Vintauri]

My first EDF was a 60% Steve Schumate F-18 with a GWS 40 and Feigao motor. You can get the plans from the awesome www.parkjets.com (http://www.parkjets.com) site.

I had previously done a 60% F-15 pusher from the same bunch of plans.

Depending on your experience with other planes an EDF would not be hard to jump into.

Steve

[DIALED/CHUCK]

A friend of mine taught me over the phone how to launch a wing....I was worried, too. Follow through as the wise ones before have said. Do NOT recoil your hand after the throw...

Use an old pizza box or the like to practice (if it is a wing)...thumb over the top...four fingers on the bottom...a straight arm toss (like a clock hand going from your rear torso area straight up past your head, arm straight through the revoloution) letting go at about 1-2 o'clock for a wing.


--C

[tashley]

That's nice to know Chuck, the next time I build a plane that resembles a pizza box I'll use that technique.:D
Wait, I already have one, a Pizza Box Flyer.:D

[DIALED/CHUCK]

I know...I was like "what?" when I was told its like tossing a pizza box...but once I tried it with something not loaded with expensive electronics...it made sense and overhead launching became clear.

Problem was it took 45 minutes after each practice shot to get another box...and I prolly shoulda removed the pizza.

--C

[tashley]

"shoulda removed the pizza" Bhahaha!:D

Just messin man, actually I launch quite a few of my models that way including my SSC birds. If you have enough power they will just fly out of your hand.

[Tucson Don]

All this talk about hand launching pushers, has me thinking.............
During my boyhood days we would fling wooden darts with a "throwing
stick" This multiplied the force of the throw and by using on a model
it would keep hand away from propeller. It would be necessary to have
a sort of socket for the throwing stick to engage in bottom of the model.
What is your view on this matter?

[termite]

To complicated.

Just throw it with a follow thru and she be flyin'

Randy

[Crash Test Dummy]

Like others here have said................follow through is the key. In this video I'm launching a F-16 with a 6X5.5 APC prop at full throttle. Thats about 24000 RPM wizzing past my hand, do look nervous? I was maybe a little over dressed but not at all nervous. Follow through, follow through, and follow through. It's easy.

http://media.putfile.com/F-16-Launch

CTD