GREAT PLANES Christen Eagle .46, Instruction Manual

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
AMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Radio Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Power System Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Propeller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Batteries and Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Required Hardware and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Adhesives and Building Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Optional Supplies and Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Building Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
KIT CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
PREPARATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ASSEMBLE THE WINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
INSTALL THE TAIL SURFACES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
INSTALL THE TAIL PUSHRODS AND SERVOS . . . . . . .14
ASSEMBLE AND INSTALL THE LANDING GEAR . . . .15
INSTALL THE POWER SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Glow Engine Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Brushless Motor Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
FINISH THE MODEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Install the Receiver and Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Install the Cowl and Spinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Install the Wings and Struts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Install the Canopy/Hatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Apply the Decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Install and Operate the Brushless Motor Battery . . . .28
Check the Control Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Set the Control Throws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Balance the Model (C.G.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Balance the Model Laterally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
PREFLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Identify Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Balance Propellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Ground Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
LITHIUM BATTERY HANDLING AND USAGE . . . . . . . . 31
AMA SAFETY CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Fuel Mixture Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Great Planes
Christen Eagle .46 ARF! The highly popular kit sport plane,
first released in 1978, was originally produced as a model
by Great Planes in 1/3 scale size. The popularity of the 1/3
scale led us to develop a smaller .46 size Eagle for those
modelers who prefer to fly smaller planes.
The Christen Eagle has all the great flying characteristics
of its larger counterpart that helped make the 1/3 scale
successful. In addition, a brushless power system option
is detailed in this manual and accommodations have been
provided in the fuselage structure for electric components.
A wingspan of only 42.5" [1080mm] allows the plane to be
transported fully assembled with ease. If you do need to
remove the wings, they disconnect from the fuselage quickly
by removing four screws, two wing bolts, and sliding the
interplane struts out of their slots.
For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to
the Great Planes Christen Eagle .46 ARF visit the Great
Planes web site at
greatplanes.com . Open the “Airplanes”
link, then select the Christen Eagle .46 ARF. If there is new
technical information or changes to this model a “tech notice”
box will appear in the upper left corner of the page.
AMA
Academy of Model Aeronautics: If you are not already a
member of the AMA, please join! The AMA is the governing
body of model aviation and membership provides liability
insurance coverage, protects modelers’ rights and interests
and is required to fly at most R/C sites.
Academy of Model
Aeronautics
5151 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302-9252
Tele. (800) 435-9262
Fax (765) 741-0057
modelaircraft.org
IMPORTANT!!!
Two of the most important things you can do to preserve the
radio controlled aircraft hobby are to avoid flying near full-
scale aircraft and avoid flying near or over groups of people.
PROTECT YOUR MODEL, YOURSELF
& OTHERS… FOLLOW THESE
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Your Christen Eagle .46 ARF should not be considered
a toy, but rather a sophisticated, working model that
functions very much like a full-size airplane. Because of its
performance capabilities, the Eagle, if not assembled and
operated correctly, could possibly cause injury to yourself or
spectators and damage to property.