Setup
DO NOT ATTEMPT FLIGHT IF THE WINGS ARE WARPED.
Inspect the wings for any warps that may
have occurred when covering the model, or while the model was in storage. Remove all warps before
flight.
Lack of aileron control on this model will make flying with a warped wing difficult.
Rudder -
Center the rudder. Then, set the direction, rate of travel, and dampening (expo) of the control.
The rudder servo should be controlled by the aileron channel on your radio, as the rudder on this model
also controls the roll of the aircraft. The rudder should follow aileron stick travel, i.e., moving the aileron
stick to the
right,
should move the rudder to the
right
.
Elevator -
Center the elevator. Then, set the direction, rate of travel, and dampening (expo) of the
control. The elevator will be controlled by the elevator channel on your radio. Moving the elevator stick
back
should move the elevator
up
. Moving the elevator stick
forward,
should move the elevator
down
.
The
Pietenpol Sky Scout UM
was designed to be a very docile flyer. We set up our flight controls with
fairly minimal throws. With the push rods connected, per the instructions in this manual, set the control
throws
as follows:
*
Expo settings apply only to radios which feature exponential control.
Preflight
It is recommended that you have an experienced pilot assist you with preflighting your new model.
Just like having someone proofread something you’ve written, having a second, fresh set of eyes inspect
your final product is often helpful to avoid disaster.
While not a thorough preflight check, listed below are some of the major items that you should consider
checking when developing your own preflight check list.
Get in the habit of always preflighting your
models before every flight.
Weight and Balance
-
Check the balance of your model (C.G., center of gravity). For proper
performance, the model should balance at the marks etched in the
bottom
of the
right
and
left
wing
panels (measured approximately 1 in.
aft
from the leading edge of the wing). Use your
right
and
left
index
fingers to suspend the model from
below
, at the marked balance points. If the
top
edge of the fuselage
side and horizontal stabilizer appear to hang level, the model is properly balanced and ready to fly. If the
nose or tail of the model hang
down
, move the battery
forward
and
backward
to make subtle changes, or
add clay ballast to the nose or tail, as required to achieve proper balance.
Check Weather -
The
first flight should be outdoors in
zero
wind conditions. The
Pietenpol Sky Scout
UM
can fly in winds up to 5 miles per hour.
Inspect the Airframe -
Always check for warps and obvious signs of wear or damage.
Do not fly a
warped or damaged model.
Inspect Control Surfaces -
Always check control surfaces for center, proper direction of travel, rate of
throw, secure push rod connections, hinges, and receiver/servo mounting hardware.
Check Wing Attachment Points -
Always make sure you inspect for damage and wear. Make sure that
the wing and wing struts, if applicable, are properly attached.
Rudder Travel
Low Rate +/- 15 degrees,
30% expo*
Elevator Travel
Low Rate +/- 15 degrees,
30% expo*
Build Instructions
1928 Pietenpol Sky Scout UM
- Build Instructions © 2015 Stevens AeroModel, all rights reserved.
!
Page 30