❑
Be certain to range check your radio equipment according to
the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to fly.
❑
Run your engine for the first time on the ground.
A lot of
problems can be avoided if your new engine has been “broken in”
by running at least two tanks of fuel through it on a test stand
before you attempt to fly.
❑
Double check the alignment and movement of all the controls
one more time! Make sure none of the pushrods are binding or the
servos stalling.
Make sure the control surfaces move in the
proper direction when you move the sticks. You’d be amazed to
know how many models have been destroyed on takeoff with one
of the controls reversed. Don’t let it happen to you! It’s a good idea
to get into the habit of checking for proper control response every
time you get ready to fly.
❑
Adjust all of your pushrod linkages so that the control surfaces
are in their neutral position when the transmitter sticks and trim
levers are centered. When you get to the flying field, don’t be
surprised if the elevator and rudder are suddenly misaligned after
you had them perfect at home. Temperature and humidity changes
can cause nylon pushrods, like those on the KADET LT-40’s
elevator and rudder, to shrink or expand slightly. If they are just
slightly out of neutral, use the trim levers on the transmitter to
neutralize them again right before flying.
❑
RECOMMENDED CONTROL SURFACE TRAVEL
ELEVATOR: 9/16” UP, 9/16” DOWN
RUDDER: 1” LEFT, 1” RIGHT
AILERONS: 3/8” UP, 3/8” DOWN
THROTTLE:
Tx Stick Trim Lever
Carburetor
Result
Forward Forward
Full Open High Speed
Back Forward
Slight Open Good Idle
Back Back Full Closed
Kill Engine
❑
Make sure all of the screws and bolts on your model are tight.
Double check to see that all of the servos are secure, all of the
servo control arms are screwed on firmly, all the R/C Links are
clamped shut.
❑
Charge your radio batteries before every flying session!
Do not try to fly your KADET LT-40 in your backyard, at the local
school yard, or in any other heavily populated area! If you have
never seen an R/C airplane of this size fly before, you probably
don’t realize how much room you really need. An area as big as
three football fields, that is free of power lines, trees, poles,
houses, and other obstructions is the minimum amount of room
that you will need. A school yard may look inviting, but it is too close
to people, buildings, power lines, and possible radio interference.
The best place to fly your model is at a designated model airplane
flying field. Ask your local hobby dealer or check online to find out
if there is an R/C club and flying field in your area. The local club
field is the ideal place to fly your new Kadet! Joining the local
flying club will not only give you access to a large, safe place to fly,
but you will enjoy being around all types of R/C model airplanes
and talking to their builders.
Learning to fly radio control model airplanes is not a skill you will
learn in a few minutes. It’s very similar to learning to fly a real
airplane in that you should enlist the help of an instructor before
you try to pilot the airplane yourself. A lot of things can go wrong
with these machines, and if you are not prepared to deal with them
instantly, you will loose your brand new airplane in a crash. To
practically eliminate any chance that your first flight will end in
disaster, we strongly recommend that you seek the assistance of
a competent R/C pilot to help you with your first flights.
An instructor serves two purposes. First, he will take your model
up for its first test flight to make sure it is performing properly
before you try to fly it. When a brand new R/C model takes off for
the first time, there is no way of knowing which way it is going to
go. Some models will try to climb, while others may want to go
down. Some will turn left, others right. Some models will be doing
both at the same time! It doesn’t mean that there is anything
wrong with the model, but these minor differences must be
“trimmed out” in order for the model to fly “hands-off” straight and
level. An experienced pilot can instantly correct an out of trim
model before it crashes to the ground. An inexperienced beginner
has almost no chance of saving an out of trim model!
The second reason for an instructor is to have someone there who
can correct any mistakes you make when you take over the
controls for the first time. Let the instructor get the model airborne
and flying straight and level at a safe attitude (“several mistakes
high” as the old saying goes) before he turns the transmitter over
to you. You will quickly find out that it is very easy to over control
an R/C model and to get disoriented - EVERYONE DOES IT AT
FIRST! If you get out of control on your first flight, quickly hand the
transmitter back to your instructor so he can rescue the airplane.
He will get it leveled off and then let you try it again. Without an
instructor, you would not get a second chance!
In addition to not over controlling, another problem beginners need
to overcome is the left/right control reversal that happens when a
model is flying towards you one minute, away from you the next.
For example, if you were seated in the cockpit of a full-scale
airplane and moved the control stick to the right, the airplane
would always turn to your right. Moving the control stick to the left,
the airplane would always turn to your left. Well that’s not always
true with an R/C airplane! If the model is flying away from you, the
controls are normal - right stick makes the airplane go right, left
stick makes the airplane go left. But when the model is flying
towards you, the controls are reversed - now when you move the
stick to the right, the model turns to its right, but that means it turns
to your left! This control reversal is very confusing to all first time
R/C pilots! More than a few licensed full-scale pilots have found out
that flying R/C airplanes is a lot different than flying full-scale
airplanes because of this phenomenon.
It’s not that learning to fly R/C is difficult, it’s just a lot different than
anything you have ever done before. Anyone can learn to fly the
KADET LT-40 if they are willing to listen and learn!
Fly your KADET LT-40 as often as possible. After you get a few
flights under your belt with an instructor at your side, you will begin
to feel more comfortable at the controls. Soon you will be flying
“solo” with little thought of the moves required. It will just come
naturally! Don’t get discouraged if you have a minor crack-up.
Repair the damage and get back into the air as soon as possible.
GOOD LUCK AND SAFE FLYING!
24
PRE-FLIGHT CHECKOUT
FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY!
LEARNING TO FLY R/C