I'm setting up a new airplane and I got off track on the trimming. Peter Goldsmith wrote a really great article on trimming airplanes but its long, and pretty dense. If you have never read it you should. I think I have read it 3 times now and its finally starting to sink in. My problem is I get to the field and I forget what to do and what I'm supposed to be looking for.

So I made a PDF that you can print out and take to the field. Give it to your caller and you can work on trim issues. The card is ordered in the same order that Mr. Goldsmith recommends. Its been seriously shortened to make it all fit on one page.

If anyone has any recommendations for improvement please let me know and I will work on it.

Updated: 5/2014
There are now apps for your smart phone that have this same information in an easy to use form:

• The Trim App for Android & IOS runs you through the trimming process interactively.
• The IMAC Pro app for IOS also includes the trim chart in the 'tips and tricks' section.

That is so cool. Thanks for putting it up here.

Awesome, I'm going to laminate it and put it in my new box (Thats fortunate enough to house a new JR12X) I guess now it's no more excuses,just me and the impending ground.lol

Thanks guys, I'll keep working on the formatting.


The CG test that I have on the sheet is not the one that he recommends. He suggests using spin entry to test the CG. Scott Stoops in "Mastering Radio Controller Flight" suggests using inverted flight to test the CG (model should pitch nose down slightly and in upright flight it should do the same thing).

I cant find the source of the 45 degree upline test. I know I read it somewhere and I use it because you have time to think. You can let go of the sticks and just watch what the model does and have lots of time to recover. Spins and level inverted flight seem more risky on an untrimmed model to me.

Any ideas where I might have picked that up?

That's helpful,
Thanks.

I updated it just a little bit to make it clearer.

Originally Posted by gareth.ky

Any ideas where I might have picked that up?

I heard it from QQ.

Originally Posted by Rolling Thunder

I heard it from QQ.

Well that would be a good source

Nice work. Thanks.

You're welcome.

Updated again:

• Added lines between alternate maneuvers for the same step
• Added a row for each possible bad behavior so you can just check stuff off.
• Added check boxes for each "What to look for" that needs correcting
• Added a blank area under each step for notes
• Generally tried to cut down the number of words on the page
• Switched over to Excel

Great Job! I had also written a short hand version of his article. His article is to my thinking and ability, is the best overall methodology for trimming a model aircraft that I have come across. I have used it for IMAC and F3A aircraft.
Jim

Great job Gareth!! That's sure to benefit a lot of folks in this sport. Especially newbies!!

Ditto's on the Gratitude!

Nice job
... anyone have any ink for my printer?

Thanx for the work Gareth