Help with WL Toys A280 warbird

[Turnnburn64]

New to RC airplanes and just bought a WL Toys A280 war plane to get started. Flying it has been enjoyable and actually started doing stunts with it. Landing it has been a bit more troublesome. After touchdown, the plane taxis a short distance then takes a nosedive, even while I'm moving the elevator up to keep the nose up. I've tried moving the battery back a bit in the nose, but it still does not remedy the issue.

I have also noticed that even before I begin to taxi down the runway, the elevator is almost completely down. When I first power on the transmitter, the elevator automatically goes to the down position just before taking off. Shouldn't it start in the neutral position? Something just doesn't seem right. What adjustments do I need to make?

Thanks,
Orlando

 

[Doom!]

New to RC airplanes and just bought a WL Toys A280 war plane to get started. Flying it has been enjoyable and actually started doing stunts with it. Landing it has been a bit more troublesome. After touchdown, the plane taxis a short distance then takes a nosedive, even while I'm moving the elevator up to keep the nose up. I've tried moving the battery back a bit in the nose, but it still does not remedy the issue.

I have also noticed that even before I begin to taxi down the runway, the elevator is almost completely down. When I first power on the transmitter, the elevator automatically goes to the down position just before taking off. Shouldn't it start in the neutral position? Something just doesn't seem right. What adjustments do I need to make?

Thanks,
Orlando

How tight are your wheels? Do they spin freely?

 

[Tunedfrog]

I agree with the tight wheels.

 

[Turnnburn64]

How tight are your wheels? Do they spin freely?

Wheels spin freely, not tight at all.

 

[Turnnburn64]

I've tried making some adjustments to the pushrod at the elevator end, then trim adjustments. It's actually flying worse than when I first got it. When in the air, it wants to nosedive when I let off the elevator stick.
When turning on the transmitter, the elevator flaps turn downward. I have almost no upward elevator control. Seems to me I have a bad servo. But I could be wrong.

 

[Doom!]

Sounds like you need to disconnect the pushrod and recenter your servo, then reattach your pushrod.

 

[Turnnburn64]

How do I go about doing that? I get how to disconnect the pushrod, but how do I recenter the servo?

 

[Turnnburn64]

I did a Google search and making adjustments now. I definitely have more Up elevator now and just a bit of Down. Going to fly it and make some trim adjustments to see what happens. I think I got from here.

BTW, not a newbie to RC's. I've been flying drones and helis for several years now but never really had to make servo adjustments. Especially on the drones. My next purchase may be the FMS Ranger EPv2. It seems to have gotten good reviews so far.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Welcome to RCTALK.COM!!!

I stick to surface mostly. I only have a micro drone to fly right now. I hope to learn to fly one day tho.

Good luck with your plane!

 

[Turnnburn64]

Welcome to RCTALK.COM!!!

I stick to surface mostly. I only have a micro drone to fly right now. I hope to learn to fly one day tho.

Good luck with your plane!

Thank you sir.

 

[WickedFog]

How do I go about doing that? I get how to disconnect the pushrod, but how do I recenter the servo?

You probably figured it out, but remove servo horn. Turn radio gear on so servo centers. Replace servo horn so elevators are centered as close as possible. If your radio has OpenTX or EdgeTX, you can go in and set your servo center point and +/- travel so your trim is basically at zero. I am sure other radios have that as well. Or a sub-trim setting. My OCD hates my trims not close to zero LOL.

 

[Edfrombama]

New to RC airplanes and just bought a WL Toys A280 war plane to get started. Flying it has been enjoyable and actually started doing stunts with it. Landing it has been a bit more troublesome. After touchdown, the plane taxis a short distance then takes a nosedive, even while I'm moving the elevator up to keep the nose up. I've tried moving the battery back a bit in the nose, but it still does not remedy the issue.

I have also noticed that even before I begin to taxi down the runway, the elevator is almost completely down. When I first power on the transmitter, the elevator automatically goes to the down position just before taking off. Shouldn't it start in the neutral position? Something just doesn't seem right. What adjustments do I need to make?

Thanks,
Orlando

Good morning to all-

Now, I don't want to bad-talk WL Toys rc planes- I have several of them and fly them often- but the control system of these inexpensive planes will make a preacher cuss. I have found a great deal of day to day changes and variation in the flight and the control of my WL Toys planes- and there seems to be no rhyme nor reason for the difficulty.
I've tried resetting control connections, I've tried resetting the controls themselves- sometimes works, sometimes- not so much.

When I take one of my WL Toys plane to the field, I set it up for takeoff, see if she flies, and if things go well, I have a lot of fun- these rc planes look great in the air. But if the system is being stubborn, I just pick up the plane and put it back in the truck to try another day.

Wish I could offer more help, but these planes are just damned difficult.

you all be safe and keep well- Ed

 

[Doom!]

Sorry to hear @Edfrombama I know how frustrating it can be when you head out to get some relaxing time and come home frustrated instead.