.
Before making the first test flight, take the time to make sure each of the flight control surfaces are moving in the correct
directions and are properly centered. Once you're certain that they are, check these controls, once again. Next, holding
the model securely, throttle-up the motors to make sure they're reaching full power and sound in "synch". The propellers
should be balanced and free of dings and nicks - never fly your model with propellers that are damaged in any way!
Finally, we strongly suggest that you perform a range check of your radio system using the range test criteria spelled out in
the instructions that came with your particular radio system.
With everything now checked, double-checked, and
working properly, you should be ready to commit to
flight. With one hand, hold the model by its belly,
just below the wing saddle, while holding your
transmitter in your other hand. Face directly into the
prevailing wind direction and advance the throttle
stick to approximately 2/3’s power. Take a few brisk
steps forward and launch the model straight ahead,
giving it plenty of flying speed, while keeping the
wings level and the nose pointed directly at the
horizon. Never launch the model with the nose up
or with one wing lower than the other!
Doing this has the potential of inducing a stall condition that, in turn, could cause the airplane to crash due to lack of
airspeed. If, for whatever reason, you feel that you cannot make a successful hand launch by yourself, ask a flying buddy
to launch the airplane for you. Just be sure that he completely understands what you want him to do - wings level, nose
pointed at the horizon, and a good hard launch.
The airplane should smoothly leave your hand launch and fly quickly away in a slight climb. Add a little more power and
continue flying the airplane directly upwind while gaining speed and altitude. Once the model is at a reasonable trimming
altitude, begin the trimming process, with the transmitter trims to achieve straight and level flight at about the 2/3’s throttle
setting. Once the model is trimmed to your satisfaction, you can begin to explore it’s flight envelope.
One of the first things that we always like to check out on any new
model is the stall characteristic. At altitude, hold the model in a level
upwind heading and begin throttling back the motors, while gradually
adding up elevator input to maintain altitude. The goal here is to
observe what the model does when it becomes fully stalled and to
also learn the approximate speed and attitude it's in when the stall
occurs. Our prototype Do 217 models demonstrated fairly clean
stalls, with the nose dropping forward and controlled flight resuming
shortly thereafter. This is very good information to have when it
comes time to set-up the landing.
We have found with our Do 217 prototypes that the roll authority is
quite good using the suggested aileron movements in this manual.
With practice, the rolls can be made almost axial with judicious
elevator input. But the type of roll that we really prefer with this model
is the more rounded "military" type roll - these just look great!
If your own Do 217 is powered with the brushless motors suggested in this manual, it should have plenty of power. This
means that loops can be made from level flight and can actually be quite large. Also, despite the relatively small amount of
available rudder throw, the Do 217 can also make some impressive flat turns. We have also induced our prototypes into
some very nice looking spins and have had no problem at all, stopping the spin exactly when we wanted to by neutralizing
the controls.
You should also find that your Do 217 model will fly inverted very comfortably, but will likely require some down elevator
input to maintain level flight. We have even done outside loops with our prototypes and even though these are far from
being prototypical to the full-size aircraft, they do look very cool.
In all of this, there is one maneuver that you will probably never get tired of, and that is the long, low fly-bys. Man, does
this airplane ever look the part when flown in high or low-speed, low-level passes!