Motor Thrust Angles--Down and to the Right---Why?

by panther3001 | January 19, 2013 | (23) Posted in Tips

By: Gabriel Staples

Written: ~19 Jan 2013

Updated: 22 July 2013 (added "pendulum effect" explanation to down-thrust section, and dramatically improved the explanations in the down-thrust section)


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This article was originally posted here:  https://rc.electricrcaircraftguy.com/motor-thrust-angles-down-and-to-the-right-why

I highly recommend you check out dozens of other articles I've written at my primary sites here:  https://www.electricrcaircraftguy.com/ and here: https://gabrielstaples.com/.

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As experienced modelers know, many aircraft fly better with the motor angled a few degrees down, and a few degrees to the right.  (This is for conventional aircraft, with puller, not pusher designs, and for right-hand props [clockwise-rotating when viewed from the cockpit]).  However, after hearing or reading many people inaccurately attribute the *reasons* for this, I decided to write a bit on the matter here.
 

First off, the torque of the motor is *not* the reason for angling the thrust vector down and to the right.  Torque roll from the motor for a standard prop (clockwise rotation as viewed from the cockpit) would try to *roll* the plane left.  Angling the motor right will try to *yaw* the plane right.  These are two different axes of rotation.  Torque roll is primarily countered by trimming the ailerons with some right trim, or adding a little extra weight to the right side of the plane, *not* by angling the motor to the right.  I will admit that angling the motor to the right will have a *small,* but *very minor* effect on the roll due to several yaw-to-roll coupling factors (including dihedral-sideslip effects, fuselage-wing "shadowing" created by side-slip angles, and wing lift differential due to yaw rates--I could explain these more in detail--if you'd like me to just comment below), but these effects are minor enough that it is incorrect to say that the motor angles are needed due to motor torque trying to induce a torque roll.   After quite a bit of research, and using my educational background and experience, I will give the following relatively simple explanations of the *primary* factors requiring the right and down motor angles:

 1) Right-thrust angle:  The right-thrust angle is required for the *primary* reason of countering a LEFT yaw due to P-factor.  P-factor, or Propeller-factor, is a relatively simple concept when understood, which states that for a clockwise-rotating propeller (when viewed from the cockpit), as airplane angle of attack increases, a LEFT yaw is produced due to a thrust differential the propeller creates.  Imagine looking at the airplane from the left side (looking directly down the left wing), with the motor to your left when viewing the plane this way.  With the prop spinning, and for a positive angle of attack, it would be slanted slightly like this: /.  Since incoming air is moving directly from the left side of the page, to the right side of the page, however, you can see that as the blade swings down on the right side of the plane it is swinging also slightly "into" the wind.  Also, the downward-swinging blade will have a higher blade angle of attack (than the upward-swinging blade) due to its geometry and orientation to the incoming air.  This creates extra thrust on the right side of the plane.  As the blade swings up on the left side of the plane it is swinging slightly "with" the wind.  This creates less thrust on the left side of the plane.  The result is a LEFT YAW due to P-factor.  The right thrust angle counters this left yaw due to P-factor, for an upright, positive angle of attack.   Note: A Right-thrust angle would make the P-factor yaw *worse* not better if the plane were flying upside-down.


2) Down-thrust angle:  The down-thrust angle is required for three primary reasons that come to mind: 1) to offset the pitch up response due to a "pendulum" type effect, 2) to counter the climb response due to higher-speed airflow over the wings, and 3) to reduce yaw due to P-factor.  1) Pendulum effect (due to the Center of Pressure [CP] along the vertical axis being higher than the Center of Gravity [CG]): As throttle is increased, assuming a high-wing trainer-type airplane, the motor/fuselage tries to swing forwards since the wings above create a relatively large portion of the plane's total drag, thereby shifting the airplane's CP to be above the CG.  Imagine standing in front an airplane suspended in the air, manually pulling on the plane's nose while pushing back on the main wing situated above the fuselage. This is what the air is doing to the plane as throttle is applied.  The plane will pitch up.  2) Climb response due to higher-speed airflow over the main wings.  Airspeed over the wings due to prop-wash alone tries to almost instantaneously make the airplane climb.  Down-angle counters this "instantaneous" climb for increased throttle.  Also, the aircraft will speed up over time, causing additional lift trying to make the plane climb.  Again, down-angle counters this resultant climb effect.  3) The down-angle of the motor also reduces the "slant" of the propeller to incoming air (when viewed from the left side of the plane again), making it more upright (|), and less slanted (/), thereby also reducing the yaw due to P-factor simply by removing some of the slant (angle of attack), which causes P-factor!  Therefore, the down-thrust angle counters all three of these things: the pitch up, the climbing effect, and some of the yaw due to P-factor!

Conclusion:

Torque is *not* why motors are often angled slightly down and to the right.  Rather, the thrust angles are to counter the tendency to pitch up with increased throttle (for a high-wing airplane), to climb with increased throttle, and to yaw left due to P-factor being induced at positive angles of attack.  

For more information on P-factor read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-factor

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COMMENTS

cyasa on January 20, 2013
thanks
great article

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XFlyer on January 20, 2013
Thanks mate, I needed that :)
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cyasa on January 22, 2013
i hafe just learnt somthing thanks

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dlggliders on July 10, 2021
Pusher airplanes such as jets work the same way, rather the angle of the motor is reversed.
but i agree with the article, if you wish to counter the torque, its always best practice to add more weight on the one wing that is opposite of the rotation wing.
we talk more about this over at MicroBirds.com
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yikfhgvg on November 4, 2023
what angle should the down and right thrust angles be?
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panther3001 on November 4, 2023
I don't know. It probably depends on the airplane and its particular characteristics and dynamics. For hobby purposes, you might be able to create an adjustable motor mount and play with different angles until it "feels" right. For a foamie, just angle it a few degrees down and right and call it good. :) I'd have to do a ton of research, study, and analysis to provide a more rigorous engineering answer, so this is as good as I can do in 2 minutes. :) I'd guess it's definitely less than 20 degrees, and probably closer to 3-12 deg. in each direction.
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Motor Thrust Angles--Down and to the Right---Why?