© 2007 Stevens AeroModel.
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Landing gear assembly: Place wheels on the landing gear assembly and retain by forcing the 1/8” star washer wheel
retainers over the 1/8” axle.
Retain landing gear to fuselage using two (2) #33 rubber bands one (1) on each side of the fuselage. Use fresh rubber
bands prior to every flying session. Use the method for landing gear attachment as described previously in this text.
Battery installation and Center of Gravity: Move battery fore and aft within fuselage to adjust the models Center of Gravity
(CG). We suggest locating the CG of the model in the upright position so that the fuselage bottom is level with the horizon
when balancing the airframe by a finger tip positioned on the underside of each wing panel 3.5” – 4.0” aft of the wing
leading edge. 3.5” aft will make the model moderately positively stable in pitch (self recovering). 4.0” aft is ideal for more
neutral aerobatic performance. Work the CG aft from the starting point of 3.5” as your skill allow.
Lateral model balance: Place a round head pin in the rudder assembly near the bottom of the rudder. With the rudder
aligned parallel to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer support the model inverted with one finger on pin head and the other
finger on the motor shaft. With the model suspended in this fashion your wing tips should balance level with the horizon.
If your model does not balance laterally, add an appropriate amount of weight to the “high” wing tip until model balances.
Hint: I use adhesive graphics like contrasting color bars on the underside of my wing to balance the model and aid
visibility.
Warped structure: Check wing and tail surfaces over carefully looking for signs of twists or warps that will need to be
removed prior to flying. In the unlikely event that you have a warped surface, have a partner heat the covering of the
surface using a heat gun on low heat setting while you gently apply a corrective twist to the structure opposite the warp.
Allow the surface to cool while holding the corrective twist. Release correction and check to see that you were successful.
If need be, repeat process until surfaces are straight and true.
Pre flight check (perform every flight):
o
No visible damage to airframe or covering?
o
Flight pack batteries charged?
o
Transmitter batteries fully charged?
o
Proper model selected on radio? (applies to computer radio)
o
Range check of radio successful?
o
Center of gravity set properly (3” from leading edge of wing)
o
Control rods securely connected?
o
Fresh rubber bands properly installed on wing and landing gear?
o
Control surfaces moving proper directions? (don’t just wiggle them, check for proper direction of travel)
o
Propeller
secure?
o
Clear the propeller and perform run-up. Smooth throttle response with no vibration?
o
Flying site clear?
Upon successful pre-flight announce your departure and commit aviation!
o
Point model into wind smoothly apply power and corrective right rudder.
o
Model should lift off in about 10-15 feet with application of ¾ throttle.
o
Climb out smoothly to safe altitude. Trim model for level flight in both pitch and roll axis.
o
Model should not be sensitive to speed (nose up or down with power changes). If significant pitch attitude
changes appear with application of throttle, re-visit aileron setup as described in this text.
o
Roll model inverted. Slight downward pressure on elevator should be required to maintain inverted flight. If
significant amounts of elevator correction are required to maintain inverted flight, revisit CG setup and aileron
setup as described in this text.
