Winter build project: Wolfgang Matt’s ATLAS

H Chris

Good to hear you have got a few flights on her now, be good to see you back at the field regularly again!

I will be there tomorrow if you need any set up help.

Good to hear that it went up and back down a few more times. I'll be out tomorrow and it would be good to have them both flying together. All three Altas's have needed rudder trim to counter the lack of side thrust, so either there is not enough shown on the plan or the electric motors need more side thrust than the glow version of 40-years ago. and the knife edge mix should be simple enough to program at the field.

Thanks for the offers of help, I'll gladly take all the advice as it would be nice to get the Atlas to fly as well as it can. I'll see you tomorrow.

A while ago Jon mentioned in passing a way of ensuring that both elevator halves worked in unison by using two pieces of wood clamped, one on each half of the elevator and projecting past the rudder. If all is good they will be aligned and track together through the deflection of the control surface. This is probably a well established thing that everyone knew but me.

A bit late in the day I thought I'd check to see how it was looking on my Atlas, both halves are driven by the same servo, but via two push rods. I'd set it up by measuring the control horn lengths and ensured they were the same both sides and I used the wing tips to centre each half...

...I have to confess that I was staggered to discovered my two halves were not aligned, I then had to resort to utter shock when I discovered they didn't track together either as one side had a larger degree of travel than the other!



A little playing with the linkages and it's much better now.

So thank you Jon, it might take a while for your words of wisdom to filter through, but I usually get the hint in the end

Ignorance is bliss sometimes. I've not had the conversation with Jon and have not had to do the homework!

Glad to be of service Chris, good to know that you dolisten to me occasionally

Have you actually varnished those 2 bits of wood?? :lol:

Nope, that's the finish you get with a very sharp plane iron Jon

I put off the homework as long as possible Mike I think we are talking months ago I had the conversation with Jon. Anyway you've always got to take what he says with a pinch of salt. He tried telling me that when he was doing the flying for James Bond, one guy ripped the wings off his Mig and it still flew fine, the only issue was landing :whistle: What I took from that is that the wings are like the rudder, only useful when taking off and landing.

How dare you doubt my far fetched tales, I will find the photos, that'll show you!

Jon said

I will find the photos, that'll show you!

No need to provide photographic proof Jon there was a reliable witness. I was there and saw it happen, but it wouldn't have worked had the model not been equipped with elevons to provide roll control. And it didn't continue to work as the model was slowed to land and the lift provided by the broad fuselage became less than the weight of the mode! at which point flight ceased when it stopped being an aeroplane and turned into something more akin to a sack of spuds.

David, are you trying to suggest that you have no vested interest in maintaining Jon's reputation?

Anyway, it was nice that Jon got mentioned in the Hughes Fan Club Magazine , I mean BMFA Mag recently.