General Low-wing Vs High-wing Piloting

BCJ

Member
I've flown mostly high-wing planes to date (with one exception). I just acquired a warbird and want to brush up on flying low-wing planes. I've searched around, without success, for a good primer on the differences between flying a low-wing plane vs a high-wing one. Can you guys point me to the right place? and/or give me your thoughts?
 

Tony

Staff member
A high wing plane will be more stable in the air due to it's lower CoG. A low wing plane will be more agile in the air, but will tend to tip stall easier. This being a war bird, the wing loading is likely going to be higher making the tip stall (turning with not enough air speed) even more likely.

High wing will also self level, even with a straight wing, although not that well. Dihedral will make it self level quite well which is why 3 channel planes have no ailerons.

Just remember to keep up air speed and it should be fine. And stay on top of the controls.
 

BCJ

Member
A high wing plane will be more stable in the air due to it's lower CoG. A low wing plane will be more agile in the air, but will tend to tip stall easier. This being a war bird, the wing loading is likely going to be higher making the tip stall (turning with not enough air speed) even more likely.

High wing will also self level, even with a straight wing, although not that well. Dihedral will make it self level quite well which is why 3 channel planes have no ailerons.

Just remember to keep up air speed and it should be fine. And stay on top of the controls.

Thanks, Tony.
One other question: I'm setting up a new plane... won't fly til spring. Is there a way I can test out the linkages and servo action without going through the process of binding with my TX?
BTW, the "Like us on FaceBook" link at the top of your site seems to be broken. I got an error message from FB when I clicked on the link.
THANKS
 

RandyDSok

Well-Known Member
You will have to bind to test the setup...


I'll also add that when flying warbirds... they have long noses and tend to nose over when landing. So you have to land just so and use your elevator to help keep the nose up. I strongly recommend practicing in your flight sim of choice until it feels natural. It'll more than pay for itself vs having to repair your aircraft all of the time.
 

Fly-n-Low

Active Member
A servo tester will operate the servos if all you want to do is test throws.

BTW on real aircraft, the low wings usually have more dihedral than high wings because of the CG difference. But then being a warbird, that goes out the window most likely.
 
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gliderflier

New Member
i was never a fan of low wing airplanes, mid wing for 3D and high wing for stable fun flights like the Cub, low wing airplanes you must fly with speed or hello stall and crash :)





radio control gliders
 
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Smoggie

Well-Known Member
Low wing can be very stable and slow fling. Wing position is just one of several variables that effect stability. A little extra dihedral will make a low wing plane as stable as a high winger.
Stalling is more down to wing loading and wing shape (and some other things) than it is about high or low position. There is no reason in principal why a low winger should have a nasty stall or need to fly fast.

Just to illustrate the point, heres a model with low wing and swept back wings, that flies pretty darn slowly, and doesnt seem to have any stability or stall issues:

I think what leads people to make these assumptions about low wing models is that most low wing models are of WW2 warbirds like Spitfires and Mustangs and the like. They of course are fast flying and can be quite tricky (just like the full size versions were).. But the reason they fly that way isn't really their wing position, it's a lot of factors, wing loading and wing shape being two big ones.
 
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RandyDSok

Well-Known Member
My own preference is to fly a mid wing ... they seem to have less coupling than the high or low wing models. Still, I like flying a WWII warplane as well. I got a biplane, but never finished building it out so I can't say how they fly. High wings fly ok, but they lack something in the looks department IMO.
 
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