G4 - A bit confused about steering (Super Cub)

[idealhobbies]

Bear with me, I'm new at this and I swear it woun't be an 18 page 300+ response question... (sorry, been reading back postings by a certain someone that I found quite humerous)

Ok... I have a Super Cub on it's way and I'm a little confused about steering. I'm practicing on G4 to help with the upcoming learning process. What I'm confused about is the steering on the Super Cub and how it relates to G4 Simulator.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o249/totalsnafu/ScreenShot1197821510.jpg

Is the Red area steering my plane or the Yellow? On my controller, should I be steering with the right stick or left (throttle). Pardon my ignorance, I'm just a touch confused. If I steer with the right stick, it steers great, left (throttle) leaves a lot to be desired and does not seem correct.

[idealhobbies]

I think that I may have worked things out myself. The aircraft that I was practicing on all were 4 channel. The Skyfly is a 3 channel model and I would assume that handles more like what I should expect. Very different handling, I must say.....

[Phoenex]

Beginner planes such as the Super Cub have two control surfaces in the Tail. The Yellow circle is around the Rudder. The red circle in the rear is around the Elevator. Normally on a 3 channel plane the Elevator and Rudder are on one stick, the right one or the only one and the throttle is on the left or it is on a slider switch here is the U.S. Below is a link to bring you up to speed on what each control surface is for and how it will affect your plane. Be sure to look at the animations.

http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/fltmidcont.htm

[flydiver]

Yes, you figured it out. In normal flying the right stick controls direction. For 3 channel planes (rudder/elevator/throttle) the R stick (sideway) is the rudder. When you go to ailerons the R stick becomes the ailerons and the L stick (sideways movement) becomes goes to the rudder.

Ailerons will bank a plane to turn it while the rudder pushes the tail around to "steer" it though there will be some banking also.

fly

[idealhobbies]

Thanks a lot.

[sdavismil2000]

Totalsnafu I am also letting you know if you get the super cub as an RTF (ready to fly) model then all steering will be done on the right hand. Which is actually correct placement for steering the aircraft. However, the super cub unless upgraded will come as a 3 channel airplane and all steering is done with the rudder. This is great for beginners because it will allow you to learn how to control the airplane while in the air and not a lot of room for error. Just remember that when turning the control stick one way or the other pull the stick down too climb a little as you turn.

If you do not don that then you will go into a spin and crash dramatically. But this is a great plane and is able to withstand some abuse.

Back to upgrades. Once you get to the point and would like to upgrade the super cub I have heard that it is really easy to do. (I have not done it personally yet) YOu can make it a 4 channel airplane which means all you are adding are ailerons (controlled by the right stick with the elevator). With the 4 channel airplane the ailerons are the main way to turn the aircraft in the air and the rudder is use to keep a good alignment when landing and when taxiing on the ground since the tail feathers is steerable.

P.S. I would suggest looking into getting your own personal electronics (i.e. transmitter and reciever) this way you will be able to get use to the controls of an actual radio instead of using their supplied radio equipment.

For example on the RTF model the radio is just a junk controller that just has a slider bar for throttle and the control stick for rudder and elevator.

[idealhobbies]

Thank you very much. Flying the 3 channel plane on G4 is showing me the difference in steering. Plane came in today. Now, back to the sim for more practice....

[flydiver]

You are being a bit discouraging for to someone just getting going. The basic package for the SC is fine. It does what it was intended quite well. It is one of the best RTF packages out there but being proprietary does have it's limitations. A good transmitter will cost more than the whole RTF package. Not a lot of new fliers are willing or know enough to go that route. They'll know when that time has come.

You cannot just throw ailerons or a brushless motor on it. The proprietary electrics make that impossible. You have to change everything. Only the individual can decide if it's worth it. Personally I sold mine to someone learning (he loves it like I did) and got an ARF MiniMag. Lots of people do the full ticket upgrade though.

fly

Totalsnafu I am also letting you know if you get the super cub as an RTF (ready to fly) model then all steering will be done on the right hand. Which is actually correct placement for steering the aircraft. However, the super cub unless upgraded will come as a 3 channel airplane and all steering is done with the rudder. This is great for beginners because it will allow you to learn how to control the airplane while in the air and not a lot of room for error. Just remember that when turning the control stick one way or the other pull the stick down too climb a little as you turn.

If you do not don that then you will go into a spin and crash dramatically. But this is a great plane and is able to withstand some abuse.

Back to upgrades. Once you get to the point and would like to upgrade the super cub I have heard that it is really easy to do. (I have not done it personally yet) YOu can make it a 4 channel airplane which means all you are adding are ailerons (controlled by the right stick with the elevator). With the 4 channel airplane the ailerons are the main way to turn the aircraft in the air and the rudder is use to keep a good alignment when landing and when taxiing on the ground since the tail feathers is steerable.

P.S. I would suggest looking into getting your own personal electronics (i.e. transmitter and reciever) this way you will be able to get use to the controls of an actual radio instead of using their supplied radio equipment.

For example on the RTF model the radio is just a junk controller that just has a slider bar for throttle and the control stick for rudder and elevator.

[jasmine2501]

The Skyfly isn't very much like the Super Cub... neither is the "BLT", but it's closer than the Skyfly, which is underpowered and has elevator mixing which screws things up. Try using the BLT (Basic Light Trainer) - it's the blue one with the stick fuse... kind of like a Slow Stick...

[RCairplane.pilot]

yeah, just get extra battery packs an have FUN, dont sprain yer brain or pocket book on up grades an all that stuff, plenty time for that later, right now concentrate on getting in the air an getting down in one piece an haveing FUN, keep practiceing on flight sim abunch too

p.s. this morning i got a super cub as a christmas gift, LOL . thinking of tradeing it, but then the person that bought it might think that be rude, what you think Jasmine? i respect your opinion on stuff

[sdavismil2000]

I just wanted to say that I am sorry if I was coming on a little strong but just putting my input in. I actually have a Super cub myself.

[RCairplane.pilot]

hi,again, Gee Whiz,just from eyeballing my new super cub, it looks like theres not room for 8 or 9 cell pack, or even a 3s lipo, thats a drag man,if i keep it, im gonna have do something about that crap now,cuz 7 cells just aint a gonna cut it.LOL.

[idealhobbies]

Thanks for the inputs. sdavismil2000 - no worries. I've concidered the upgradeability or lack there of... worst case, I replace the "repaired" items with new, and sell it to recover some money and use that money for a new plane, or keep it for the next kid in line. "Hand me down's" are not always a bad thing.

[sdavismil2000]

RCAIRPLANE

I think since it comes with an 7-cell battery pack that you should be able to fit a 8 -cell in there as well. Anything more you will have to modify it.

[idealhobbies]

Thanks Jasmine for the info. Trying the BLT. Painfully slow aircraft, but if it handles more accurately, it's useful. Downloaded a few more planes, but there is very little in the way of 3 channel out there. For a simulator program, there are no "trainers" out there. All in all, I have put about 7 hours into the sim this week. (Great for passing time on the job ;-))

[idealhobbies]

Too funny! I've learned that if you get the BLT up to 30 mph, the wings fall off. Kinda fun being destructive!

[jasmine2501]

Too funny! I've learned that if you get the BLT up to 30 mph, the wings fall off. Kinda fun being destructive!

That is funny, cuz I upgraded it with a brushless motor. Play around with the editor and see what motors you can put on it. It flies a little better with a brushless, but you do want to keep it slow and not totally over-powered for training purposes. If it's got enough power to go vertical then you won't learn how to recognize the onset of a stall, which is probably what kills most Super Cubs.

[Stan-the-Man]

That is funny, cuz I upgraded it with a brushless motor. Play around with the editor and see what motors you can put on it. It flies a little better with a brushless, but you do want to keep it slow and not totally over-powered for training purposes. If it's got enough power to go vertical then you won't learn how to recognize the onset of a stall, which is probably what kills most Super Cubs.

*************************

Boo!!!! Hiss! Hiss! Jas, I know you're not too keen on Super Cubs, but that's cold. The 480 does fine unless the winds are strong enough to blow the plane back in your face.

I wouldn't fault the plane as much as I would pilot error for not knowing, in advance, what to do in case of a stall. The choice is up to the pilot... The flyer has the option to let the plane nose down as if to dive 20 to thirty feet, but that takes total deliberate ignorance. With the Cub, by just pushing forward on the stick, the plane will level out with no problem.

Another option is, when the nose dips, to push the stick forward as to dive at a low angle to regain speed, and then pull the stick back to level off. This can be done gently or severely, depending on the savvy of the pilot.

If someone "kills" a Super Cub because of a stall, they should be tried for animal abuse!!! :cool:

You know the old saying Jas, "Flying doesn't kill Super Cubs, people do!" :D

[jasmine2501]

Well yeah, that's exactly what I was saying... find a simulated plane that teaches you what to do in a stall. All planes can stall, even 3D planes if you don't use enough throttle. If you take that Yak-54 3D and fly it on full throttle all the time, you'll never learn to recognize that. the BLT and the Super Cub have gentle stalls, unlike low-wing warbirds and such, which can tip stall and spin out on you.