7
Building and Operating Instructions - Arcus V-Tail Prop 1400
No. 2593
Checking the working systems, setting up the control
surfaces
- Charge the flight battery.
- Switch the transmitter on, and move the throttle stick to the
“motor off” end-point.
- Give the flight battery a full charge, apply Velcro (hook-
and-loop) tape to the pack, place it in the fuselage, and
connect it. Wait for the speed controller to emit a series of
beeps.
- Place the canopy on the fuselage; it is held in place by a
magnetic latch.
- Check the channel assignment of the control surfaces, and
swap over the connectors at the receiver if necessary.
- Check the neutral position of the control surfaces. If neces-
sary, loosen the clamping screws in the swivel pushrod
connectors, set the control surfaces to centre, then re-
tighten the screws.
- Check the direction of rotation of the servos.
- When you move the aileron stick to the right (a), the right-
hand aileron (a) should rise, the left-hand aileron (b) fall.
- Pull the elevator stick back towards you (c), and the rear
edge of both elevators should rise (c).
- If any of the control surface functions works the wrong way
round, correct it using your transmitter’s servo reverse
facility for that function.
- Check that all the linkages are firmly fixed, but free-
moving. Check in particular that the clamping screws in the
swivel pushrod connectors are tightened fully.
- The travels are measured at the inboard end of the control
surfaces.
- The stated control throws are just a guide for the first few
flights. The final settings should be selected to suit the
individual pilot's flying style.
- The Expo settings should also be adjusted to suit the pilot's
preference.
Test-flying, flying notes
Read the sections in the Safety Notes entitled “Routine pre-
flight checks” and “Flying the model” before attempting to fly
the model for the first time.
- For your initial test-flights please wait for a day with no
more than a gentle breeze.
- A good flying site consists of a large, flat, open grassy field,
devoid of trees, fences, high-tension overhead cables etc.
- Repeat the check of all the working systems.
- Ask an experienced modelling friend to hand-launch the
aircraft for you. He should be capable of giving the aero-
plane a reasonably strong, flat launch.
- The model must always be launched directly into any wind.
- With the motor running at full-throttle, give the aeroplane a
firm launch directly into any breeze, with the fuselage and
wings level.
- Keep the Arcus V-tail Prop 1400 flying straight and level at
first; don’t initiate a turn while it is still close to the ground.
- Adjust the control surface trims if necessary, so that the
model flies straight with a reasonable rate of climb “hands
off”.
- Check the model's response to control commands You
may need to increase or reduce the control surface travels
after the first landing.
- Check the glider's stalling speed at a safe height.
- Keep the model’s speed well above the stall for the landing
approach.
- Always switch off the motor before the model touches
down, as this avoids damage to the propeller.
- If you needed to adjust the trims during the test-flight, cor-
rect the length of the appropriate pushrod once the model
is back on the ground, then return the transmitter trims to
centre so that full trim travel is available to both sides of
neutral for subsequent flights.
