Menu Model

Modify physical parameters (helicopter)
Register "Landing gear"

Main gear spring rate
This value defines the vertical spring rate of a gear. A high value will allow a small bouncing up and down only. This value is interesting for landing gears with vertical gear constructions.

Main gear forward twist rate
As above but the spring rate refers to forward or backwards. A high value produces a very rigid gear and the gear will not bounce forwards or backwards.

Main gear upwards twist rate
As above but upwards, especially for sloping gears. A high value produces no bouncing from the point of suspension to the wheel.

Main gear damping
A landing model will generate a force into the spring capabilities of your gear and the gear will bounce back causing the model to jump. The damping acts like a breaking moment against the back-bouncing and will reduce the jumping.

Front/skid gearwire twist rate
Again the vertical twist rate describing the ability of a front gear or skid to twist vertically.

Front/skid gear twist rate
As above but in forward, backward or sideward direction.

Front/skid gear damping
A front gear or a skid also has the tendency to bounce back once a force is applied, causing the model to jump during landing. A high damping decreases this tendency.

Gear detrimental drag area
This value describes the effect, the visible area of the gears has in view of aerodynamic resistance. A high value produces a high resistance, limiting the top speed of your model or causing a break once the gear is lowered.

Distance of gear CP below longitudinal axis
An extended gear produces a lower center of pressure (CP), causing a nose-down effect when the gear extends at high speed.

Side breaking coefficient of friction
This value determines the force necessary to slip the standing model sidwards.

Side breaking coefficient of sliding friction
Once the model slides sidewards, this value determines the resistance, if the sliding continues.

Forward breaking coefficient of friction
This value determines the force necessary to slip the standing model forward. Very small with wheel based gears but high with skids.

Forward breaking coefficient of sliding friction
Once the model slides forward, this value determines the resistance, if the sliding continues.

Caster
This is the angle between the point of turning and the wheel axis. A high values produces a good forward stability.

Distance of CG in front of main landing gear
Distance of CG above main landing gear

These values refer to the position of the CG relative to the main gear. There is no effect on the flight characteristics but a strong impact on the characteristics during takeoff, landing and taxiing on the ground.

For models with a tail skid the distance in front of the landing gears is always negative. A value close to 0 increases the tendency to tip-over. A high value of distance ABOVE the landing gear will even increase this tendency.

For models with a front gear, the distance in front of the landing gear (main gear) is positive. If the value is too high, the model tends to rotate suddenly. If the value is too small, the front gear looses contact and the models tends to fall back onto the tail fuselage.

If the distance above the main landing gear is too high, the models tend to fall sidewards even at minor curves.

 

The parameters caster, distance of CG in front of main landing gear and distance of CG above main langing gear are available only for models with main gear wheels.



Please also refer to:

General data, Drive, Main rotor, Tail rotor, .
Physical data - overview.