Many R/C pilots will hype the plane that allowed them to solo. The 2nd R/C Flight School staff has had the opportunity to fly many different training aircraft and the NexStar has risen to the top of our list. Since the RC Flight School has switched to the NexStar, every student has safely landed during the first or second day's training.

NexStar Attributes

The Nexstar is one of the slowest, toughest and easiest to fly trainers that we have ever used at the flight school.  The NexStar is also a 60 size trainer at a 40 sized price!  The Nexstar ARF cost $99.95, goes together perfectly in about 4 hours and add 1 more hour for installing optional flaps. We installed either a OS .46 AX or FX engine with a 11 X 4 or 11 X 5 prop. The Nexstar, with training flaps and droops installed, flies well at 1/3 throttle or less. We recommend coupling (mixing) ailerons and rudder, and using aileron differential to eliminate adverse yaw! More on this latter.  We also recommend the use of Spectrum's DX7 for several reasons, but the most important feature...it's fast! The response of the plane enables the instructor to make "saves" not possible with less advanced systems!

Durability

The other trainers that were used at the school were just not durable enough to stand up to the constant student abuse, especially landings.  Firewalls, rear tail sections and wings were the major weak spots for earlier planes.  Several students have "cart wheeled" a NexStar during their landing attempts and occasionally the horizontal stabilizer will be damaged saving the rest of the airframe.  We just unscrewed the tail feathers, and installed a spare set and repair the damaged unit when time permits! As expected, the nose gear take a beating as well.

The weakest link is the landing gear. Even after cleaning the paint and enlarging the "retaining" holes, the gear has a tendency not to stay in place.  Three ways that we have found to fix this problem. 1) 1/4"nylon wing bolt, with the head of the screw ground down to the same diameter as the shaft, just push the bolts into the "release holes" for the landing gear.  The retaining tabs give way, and the bolt is secure. (Unscrew to get it out)  2) Remove the wing, take a long, thin, screw driver and find the edge of the nylon "retainers". Push down firmly to seat these tabs into the landing retaining holes. (Try this first)  Click here to see how we repair the NexStar's main gear!

Adverse Yaw Solutions .. (The NexStar not Tail heavy!!)

In simple terms, Adverse Yaw is the tendency for a high wing plane to resist turning and the tail drops when it does turn. The NexStar inherently has plenty of adverse yaw, that's why it's difficult to turn the plane. Adverse Yaw is more of a problem with the NexStar because the wing sits higher above the datum or center line of the airplane. (The closer the wing is to the center line, adverse yaw is less. There are two solutions that will eliminate this tendency and they work OK, separately, and even better together.

1) Set up the ailerons with differential. 
That means the ailerons have more up, with a little "down" travel. The NexStar RTF aileron servo arm looks like a "Y" and is used to reduce the amount of "down" travel on the ailerons.  You can also program your computer radio to do the same thing, HOWEVER, each aileron has to be operated by its own servo and separate channels. (The NexStar has servo mounts under the covering for each aileron). The setting used for the Polk was 120% up and 25% down.

2) Mixing Rudder & Ailerons
The coupling mix should be ONE to ONE or 100%. When properly configured, the right aileron moves up and the rudder moves to the right (when facing from behind) when the radio right control stick is moved the right.  This setup will make the NexStar handle very smoothly. (With the use of a computer radio, there is no loss of control from either stick).

 

Note:  The NexStar ready to fly airplane already has the "Y" servo arm installed for the ailerons. This "Y" adds differential to the ailerons.  Mixing or coupling the ailerons and rudder  improves handling even more.  In order to couple the RTF NexStar, for the best performance, a computer transmitter should be used.

Taking Off (Seems to be a problem for beginners!)

 The NexStar is generally mild mannered when it takes off.  The technique is simple; point the nose at a "target": 1) Get it rolling STRAIGHT toward that "target". Steering with the left stick.  2) Once it is straight at the target, then advance to full throttle. 3) Bump the right stick back, be prepared to decease to
 1/2 throttle quickly and push the nose down to keep the climb rate shallow.  3) You should be looking at the target during the takeoff roll, not at the plane!  Let the plane move into your direct line of sight.  This technique sounds nuts, but it really works well.

If the Nexstar is pulling hard to the left, it's not all engine torque. It's because of P-factor

What is "P-Factor"?

P-Factor is an aerodynamic effect that causes propeller-driven planes to yaw when they are flown at high power and low speed (takeoff and climb out, for example.)

At low speeds, the plane flies at a substantial angle of attack, and so the airflow is not parallel to the plane's axis. Relative to the plane, the airflow is directed several degrees upwards. Now the prop axis is normally parallel to the plane's axis. As the prop rotates, on one side the blades are traveling upwards and on the other side they are traveling downwards. (On most planes, the prop turns clockwise, as seen from behind, so the left side goes up and the right side goes down.)

The upwards angle of the airflow causes the downward (right) side of the prop to have a greater airspeed and angle of attack than the upward (left) side. So the downward (right) side of the prop generates more thrust. Pull harder on the right side of the plane than on the left and the plane will yaw to the left.

This is one of the reasons why most real prop planes need a certain amount of right rudder to keep them straight during takeoff and climb out.

The other factor that requires right rudder on takeoff (in planes with clockwise props) is spiral prop wash. The sideways component of the spiral prop wash strikes the vertical stabilizer from the left (in conventional single engine configurations), also causing a yaw to the left. In general, the spiral prop wash effect is a lot stronger than P-factor.

You also need right aileron to keep the plane straight to counteract the rotational torque from the engine's).

Still a problem?  1) Roll the plane on a smooth service and adjust the nose gear 2) Check that droops are installed in the same spot on each wing! 3) Check that the training flaps are in the same position on each wing. 3) Reduce the push rod throw for the nose wheel, by using the hole closest to the servo center. (Use -35% exponential (Futaba) + for JR). 4) Be sure that the rudder is trimmed straight 5) Don't forget that a cross wind will cause the plane to turn abruptly into the wind.  Do not use shims or change the engine mounting in any way! It's not the engine...  All of ten of our NexStars take off straight unless there is a crosswind!

Trimming

It is important to realize that the NexStar, with droops and training flaps in place, will require lots of down trim (move the elevator trim tab towards the top of the transmitter) at approximately 1/2 throttle. If the elevator and trim tabs are neutral, you can make trimming easier by moving the elevator trim toward the top of the box five or so clicks,  Fine tune it when your are in the air. Once trimmed the NexStar will fly smoothly at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle. The NexStar, will climb smoothly when the throttle is advanced, and a few clicks of down may be necessary to bring the nose down. Note: Be aware that when removing the training aids, the trim also changes dramatically!!  Be prepared for those changes!!

Summary

We recommend that a prospective R/C pilot puR/Chase the NexStar RTF as their first plane. The NexStar RTF requires a little more of an investment up front, however the Hobbico "Learn to Fly System" will pay for itself compared to anything else on the market today!  And, they old saying "You pay for what you get" is very true in this hobby!

The fact that the NexStar is so resistant to "training abuse" covers the additional costs, not to mention that the new pilot gets an flight simulator to boot!

With the training aids in place (droops and training flaps) the NexStar flies slow, makes nice, neat turns and greased landings are no sweat! Unfortunately, many of the club instructors are not aware of the advantages of the droops, training flaps or the disadvantages of adverse yaw, so they make the student remove these aids. Training aids do enable you to learn the basics much faster!  Once you've got them soloed, start by removing the training flaps first, (trim requirements will be lots of UP trim or the elevator towards the bottom of the transmitter) get some "stick" time, then remove the droops (You will have to trim again). Now, you have your SECOND plane!

Ready to Fly Information

NexStar Tips

	Don't overly tighten the nylon wing bolt, you will crack the "flange" on the inserted retaining screw and cause the wing to separate from the fuselage during flight!
	Important note about mounting the OS .46AX CLICK HERE!
	Engine Torque, these words seem to be the most abused in them R/C Vocabulary! Engine torque makes the right wing drop, it does not pull the airplane right or left.  Most firewalls are offset to the right and slightly down to help reduce the "wing twist".
	Notice that the trailing edge of the elevator is beveled.  The trim on the elevator "appears" to higher than normal.  When doing mechanical trims, put a straight edge across the top of the elevator and then adjust the linkage.
	Tail "dragging in turns"? Review "Adverse Yaw Solutions" in the preceding review.
	Does the prop keep hitting the ground?  check the nose wheel strut and make sure that it hasn't slipped up, making the strut shorter.  If the plane sits with the nose down, move the "notch" on the strut back to the set screw on the steering arm and tighten (good place for thread locker).
	Couple the aileron and rudder for coordinated and much smoother turns!  Use either a reversed "Y" connection from the aileron port on the receiver and connect the ailerons and rudder servos or mix the aileron and rudder channels 100%. If you give right aileron the rudder should move right as well.
	Iron the covering, especially the trim before you ever start the engine.  Don't get the iron too hot when ironing the edges of the trim, it can shrink.
	When the covering edges finally do begin to loosen, thin CA applied with Pro Tips works very well. Wipe down quickly with a "shop type" paper towel.  It seems that all trainers seem to have this trait in common.
	Covering edges can also be secured with Sig "Stix-It".Brush it own, let it dry, and secure with a covering iron.
	When installing the wing, stand in front of the plane, install the wing, then pull the seated wing firmly forward, be sure the wing is straight, then push down on the nylon bolt.  Snaps every time!
	If you install flaps, ensure both deflect the same distance. If you follow Hobbico's instructions, the right flap will deploy more that the left flap.  To make them equal, just screw the down the connector on the left aileron torque rod about .15".
	If you installed training flaps and then removed them, cover the holes with clear packing tape or monocoat or even CA.
	Another good way to get the landing gear on the NexStar to fit properly. Just file the each edge, that is inserted into the plane, down a little about 1-2mms  [thanks to DW Chatham, ON
	Clean the paint off the inside of the hole on the landing gear mounting holes with the 5/16" drill bit.  After mounting, you still may have to push down the tabs, on the landing gear mount, inside and on the bottom of the fuselage.
	Do not fly the plane faster than 1/3 throttle setting, unless you want to climb or takeoff. (For training purposes)
	When installing the fuel tank, put foam behind the back of the tank.Then secure it with a popsicle stick, glued diagonally in front of the main bulkhead, The tank WILL shift backwards, unless secured.
	Landing the NexStar is not hard.  The airplane, with it's training flaps, will slowly sink, if the nose is held level and throttle at 2 to 3 clicks above idle, the landing is greased.  On touch down neutralize the elevator quickly to keep the plane on the ground. Remember, it's the engine speed that determines how fast the plane descends!!!
	Tail assembly loose?  Remove from the airplane, put masking  tape on the bottom of the stabilizer, fill with 30 minute epoxy, let set overnight.  Drill out holes to 9/16" and  reinstall.  It's good as new and tight!
	Remove the landing gear before you try to bend it back in shape!!!

Orientation

When the plane is high and away from you, you should see the top of the wing When the wing is banked over for the turn. A small portion of the top of the left wing in a right turn should be visible. The more of the wing that is seen in a turn, the more the bank angle. If you see the full span of the wing, it means that the bank angle is over too far. In a gradual left hand turn, you should only see about a quarter of the top of the right wing