background image

Wingspan ........................................63 in (1600mm)

Length w/Spinner .........................52.5 in (1334mm)

Wing Area ............................710 sq in (45.8 sq dm)

Flying Weight ...................................5.25 lb (2.4 kg)

Assembly mAnuAl

Alpha 40 with Spektrum

 DX5e

Engine Size ..............................  .45 cu in (included)

Radio...............................Spektrum DX5e (included)

Servos  ........................................4 servos (included)

Specifications

Spektrum is used with permission of 

Bachmann Industries, Inc.

Summary of Contents for Alpha 40 with Spektrum DX5e

Page 1: ...g Area 710 sq in 45 8 sq dm Flying Weight 5 25 lb 2 4 kg Assembly manual Alpha 40 with Spektrum DX5e Engine Size 45 cu in included Radio Spektrum DX5e included Servos 4 servos included Specifications Spektrum is used with permission of Bachmann Industries Inc ...

Page 2: ...g the Control Surfaces 20 Section 7 Wing Installation 21 Section 8 Your Spektrum DX5e Radio System 22 Section 9 Battery Installation 22 Section 10 Digital Trims 23 Section 11 Low Battery Alarm 23 Section 12 Trainer 23 Section 13 Binding 24 Section 14 Checking the Control Surface Movement 27 Section 15 Hi Lo Rate 31 Section 16 Setting the Control Throws 32 Section 17 Checking the Throttle Operation...

Page 3: ...tional Parts and Accessories Fieldmate Prebuilt Field Box HAN117 Mosfet Power Panel HAN106 Metered Glow Driver w Ni Cd and Charger HAN7101 PowerPro 12V Starter HAN161 Manual Fuel Pump HAN118 Double Vision Fast Field Charger HAN114 Aluminum Transmitter Case for Single Tx HAN124 Digital Variable Load Voltmeter HAN171 Long Reach Glow Plug Wrench HAN2510 Super Glow Plug EVOGP1 Transmitter Stand HAN252...

Page 4: ... Hangar 9 E flite and Align You ll be able to fly aircraft that are only available on FS One such as the T REX Blade CX2 Blade CP Pro Hangar 9 P 51 and F 22 PTS And as always with the Hangar Pack you still get all the same great features that you did with the original aircraft Instructions for Disposal of WEEE by Users in the European Union This product must not be disposed of with other waste Ins...

Page 5: ...on of or to any part of the Product This warranty does not cover damage due to improper installation operation maintenance or attempted repair by anyone other than Horizon Return of any goods by Purchaser must be approved in writing by Horizon before shipment Damage Limits HORIZON SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES LOSS OF PROFITS OR PRODUCTION OR COMMERCIAL LOSS IN ...

Page 6: ...arranty Inspection and Repairs To receive warranty service you must include your original sales receipt verifying the proof of purchase date Provided warranty conditions have been met your Product will be repaired or replaced free of charge Repair or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon Hobby Non Warranty Repairs Should your repair not be covered by warranty the repair will ...

Page 7: ...on Never operate your model with low transmitter batteries Carefully follow the directions and warnings for this and any optional support equipment chargers rechargeable battery packs etc that you use Keep all chemicals small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children Moisture causes damage to electronics Avoid water exposure to all equipment not specifically designed and protected...

Page 8: ...sh with the bottom of the fuselage Step 3 Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to install the remaining landing gear assembly Step 4 Locate one of the landing gear straps The strap will be used to secure the main gear to the fuselage Holes have been pre drilled for the screws that secure the landing gear strap in position Note Before installing the screws apply 2 3 drops of thin CA into each of the holes to harde...

Page 9: ...ver and two 3mm x 12mm sheet metal screws to secure one of the straps to the bottom of the fuselage Step 6 Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to secure the remaining landing gear strap to the bottom of the fuselage Section 1 Landing Gear Installation ...

Page 10: ...rom the fin will fit into the holes that are pre drilled in the stabilizer as shown Step 2 Slide the two 4 washers onto the threaded rods from the bottom of the stabilizer Step 3 Use scissors to cut the end of the tube of threadlock Cut only the corner so the application of the threadlock can be controlled easier than if the whole end were cut off Step 4 Apply a drop of threadlock onto each of the...

Page 11: ...the top side of the stabilizer when installing the tail assembly o Step 7 Locate a 4 washer and 3mm x 10mm machine screw Slide the washer onto the screw then apply a small amount of threadlock on the screw o Step 8 Insert the screw into the hole in the fuselage and through the stabilizer to the pre installed blind nut on the top of the stabilizer Use a 2 Phillips screwdriver to tighten the screw S...

Page 12: ... of the elevator control horn The alignment of the elevator will be covered later in this manual Step 11 Connect the clevis to the center hole of the rudder control horn The alignment of the rudder will be covered later in this manual Attach clevis to center hole Section 2 Fin and Stabilizer Installation ...

Page 13: ... on the engine It will fit closely to the engine when it is positioned correctly Slide the spinner backplate onto the engine crankshaft so it is tight against the flywheel Step 3 Slide the propeller onto the engine crankshaft The blades of the propeller will be positioned against the bosses for the spinner screws of the spinner backplate as shown below Step 4 Slide the propeller washer onto the en...

Page 14: ...to properly tighten the propeller nut Note Make sure the propeller has not moved from its position as described back in Step 3 If it has the spinner cone will not be able to be installed in the following steps Step 7 Slide the spinner cone over the propeller It will fit into the grooves in the spinner backplate when installed Step 8 Use the three 3mm x 10mm sheet metal screws supplied with the spi...

Page 15: ... both sides of the fuselage Step 2 Slide the second wing dowel into the pre drilled holes in the rear of the fuselage Center the dowel so it extends equally from both sides of the fuselage Step 3 Use the following photo to confirm the location of the wing dowel installation in the fuselage Step 4 Apply thin CA into the joint between the dowel and fuselage to keep it from moving Section 4 Wing Dowe...

Page 16: ...the wing panel as shown The wing tube will only slide in halfway so do not force it in any further than it will slide easily Step 2 Slide the remaining wing panel onto the wing tube Step 3 As you slide the wing panels together make sure the aluminum pin at the back trailing edge of the wing slides into the hole of the receiving wing panel Slide the two wing panels tightly together so there is no g...

Page 17: ...ing alcohol Paper towel Painter s tape Covering iron Note It is not necessary to glue the wing panels together on your model This section has been provided in case you opt to do so Make sure your vehicle has enough room to transport the joined wing before joining the wing panels using this method Step 1 Slide the wing tube into the wing panel as shown The wing tube will only slide in halfway so do...

Page 18: ...ube Step 4 As you slide the wing panels together make sure the pin at the back trailing edge of the wing slides into the hole of the receiving wing panel Slide the two wing panels tightly together so there is no gap between the two Step 5 Use a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to remove any epoxy that seeps from the joint between the two wing panels Section 5b Optional Gluing the Wing Halves ...

Page 19: ... cured use a covering iron to apply the covering to the joint of the wing Use the orange covering on the bottom of the wing and the white covering on the top of the wing Step 8 Connect the clevises from the aileron pushrods to the aileron control horns The alignment of the ailerons will be checked later in this manual Section 5b Optional Gluing the Wing Halves ...

Page 20: ...nd trim If necessary detach the clevis from the control horn and thread the clevis in or out on the rudder pushrod until the rudder is aligned with the fin as shown Remember to attach the clevis back in the center hole as described earlier in the manual Checking the Ailerons Center the aileron stick and trim If necessary detach the clevis from the control horn and thread the clevis in or out on ea...

Page 21: ...e when installing the remaining rubber bands Step 3 Install a second set of rubber bands on the wing as shown Step 4 Continue installing a total of six or more of the rubber bands alternating the direction of each set until they have all been installed Hint Always end the rubber band installation by installing the cross rubber bands last They will help in keeping all the other rubber bands in posi...

Page 22: ...O Rate Switch Charge Jack Trainer Switch Mix Switch Antenna Mode 2 Section 9 Battery Installation Remove the battery door and install 4 AA batteries noting the polarity of each corresponds with the diagram in the battery holder Replace the battery door Note Optional NiCd or NiMH 1 2 volt AA rechargeable batteries can also be used A charge jack is located on the right side of the transmitter for co...

Page 23: ...r or slave The trainer switch is located on the back left of the transmitter When using the trainer function plug the trainer cord SPM6805 into the trainer port in both the master controlling and the slave training transmitters The master transmitter must have the power turned on and the slave transmitter must have the power turned off Note The DX5e trainer system is compatible with all JR and Spe...

Page 24: ...included as reference The AR500 receiver must be bound to the transmitter before it will operate Once bound the receiver will only connect to that transmitter Step 1 Remove the receiver cover in the fuselage to access the receiver Step 2 Temporarily remove the power plug from the battery bind port in the receiver and plug it into the aileron extension Plug the bind plug into the battery bind port ...

Page 25: ... on the power switch Turning on the switch will place the transmitter into bind mode Within a few seconds the system should connect and the LEDs on the front of the transmitter will flash The LED on the receiver should go solid indicating the system has connected Once the system has connected release the trainer switch Note Do not hold the trainer switch and turn on the power during normal operati...

Page 26: ...om the receiver and store it in a convenient place Step 7 Unplug the power lead from the aileron extension and plug it back into the power bind port of the receiver Turn on the transmitter and receiver to confirm that it is bound and working properly Then replace the receiver cover in the fuselage Section 13 Binding ...

Page 27: ...of the elevator with the radio system Pushing the elevator aileron stick right stick on the transmitter forward will make the airplane elevator move down This will cause the aircraft to pitch down while in flight Check the movement of the elevator with the radio system Pulling the elevator aileron stick right stick on the transmitter back will make the airplane elevator move up This will cause the...

Page 28: ...and the right aileron will move down The will cause the aircraft to roll left in flight Check the movement of the aileron using the transmitter When the elevator aileron stick is moved right the right aileron will move up and the left aileron will move down This will cause the aircraft to roll right in flight Section 14 Checking the Control Surface Movement ...

Page 29: ... to turn left while on the ground and to yaw left while in flight Check the movement of the rudder using the transmitter When the rudder throttle stick left side of the transmitter is moved right the rudder should also move right This will cause the aircraft to turn right while on the ground and to yaw right while in flight Section 14 Checking the Control Surface Movement ...

Page 30: ... in the opposite direction example shown below you will need to use the Servo Reversing feature of your radio system Follow the instructions included with your radio to change the servo reversing of the offending control surface Wrong Right Section 14 Checking the Control Surface Movement ...

Page 31: ... the switch is in the lower position a reduced travel of 50 is achieved on the aileron elevator and rudder channels This is useful allowing the aircraft to have a high control rate switch in the HI position for aggressive maneuvers and a low control rate switch in LO position for smooth precise maneuvers High 100 rate on aileron elevator and rudder Low 50 rate on aileron elevator and rudder Sectio...

Page 32: ...th the up and down directions as shown below Low Rate 5 16 inch 8mm 10 degrees Low Rate 5 16 inch 8mm 10 degrees High Rate 1 2 inch 13mm 16 degrees High Rate 1 2 inch 13mm 16 degrees Required Parts Transmitter Assembled airframe Required Tools and Adhesives Ruler The control throws from the factory are preset in the transmitter This section has been provided in case any servos or control surfaces ...

Page 33: ...ds you will need to adjust the clevis at the carburetor by threading it in or out to eliminate any binding Throttle Open Move the throttle stick and trim up or the fully open position as shown The carburetor should open without binding the throttle servo If the servo binds you will need to adjust the clevis at the carburetor by threading it in or out to eliminate any binding Section 17 Checking th...

Page 34: ...the trim lever upward to open the carburetor roughly 1 16 inch 1 5mm This will be the idle position for your engine The idle will be fine tuned at the field so the engine will idle reliably without stalling for slow flight and landing procedures Section 17 Checking the Throttle Operation ...

Page 35: ...ha RTF is 23 4 3 inches 70 76mm back from the leading edge against the fuselage If your plane is only slightly out of balance try placing the balancing stand towards the nose or tail by 1 8 inch 3mm and recheck the balance If it looks good and sits level then you re good to go Lifting the Model and Observations Make sure the Alpha RTF is balanced using either your fingers or a balancing stand Plac...

Page 36: ...he Frequency When using a Spektrum radio system follow the guidelines for use of DSM radio systems at your particular field Checking the Controls Before starting your engine check to make sure the controls are operating in the correct directions and the linkages and surfaces are not binding anywhere Also look at the clevises and clevis retainers to make sure they are secure and will not come loose...

Page 37: ...Face the model with the transmitter in your normal flying position Pull and hold the trainer switch while toggling the HI LO Rate Switch four times The LEDs will flash and the alarm will sound indicating the system is in range check mode Hi LO Rate Switch Trainer Switch Step 3 You should have total control of the model with the trainer switch pulled at 30 paces 90 feet Step 4 If control issues exi...

Page 38: ...Caution Do not attach the glow driver yet Step 3 With the throttle fully open place your thumb over the carburetor and rotate the prop clock wise through 6 complete revolutions thus priming the engine Step 4 Close the throttle to the idle position and have a helper hold your airplane Step 5 Attach the glow driver Step 6 Turn the engine over using an electric starter The engine should fire within s...

Page 39: ... engine and let it warm up prior to attempting any adjustments Make sure that the high speed adjustment process is complete before attempting to adjust the low speed needle valve Step 2 Close the throttle slowly You will adjust the low speed needle setting by rotating the SetRight adjustment bar clockwise to lean the engine and counterclockwise to richen the engine Caution Do not attempt to adjust...

Page 40: ...lug Engine Runs Inconsistently Hole in fuel line Replace fuel line Bad or old fuel Replace with fresh fuel ENGINE Maintenance After each flying session Step 1 Fully drain the fuel from the tank Step 2 Start the engine and run it until the fuel is completely run out of the engine Step 3 Try starting the engine three more times or until it will no longer fire This gets all the fuel out of the engine...

Page 41: ...re they are connected and in good working order If you find a clevis that is showing signs of wear or is broken replace it with a new clevis Also check the nylon connectors at the servo for any wear or damage If they look worn or in bad shape replace them as well Checking the Control Horns Inspect the control horns to make sure they have not crushed the wood of the control surface If so remove the...

Page 42: ...ng the engine to the mount are tight Adjusting the Steering Trim When adjusting the steering trim do not use the trim on the transmitter The rudder trim on the transmitter is used to trim the rudder while the aircraft is in flight If you find your model does not track straight during taxi loosen the screw and adjust the position of the nose wheel Remember to tighten the screw as soon as you have c...

Page 43: ...been ascertained and corrected Safety can never be taken lightly Step 1 Check the battery voltage on both the transmitter and the receiver battery packs Do not fly below 4 3V on the transmitter or below 4 7V on the receiver To do so can crash your aircraft Note When you check these batteries ensure that you have the polarities correct on your expanded scale voltmeter Step 2 Check all hardware link...

Page 44: ...lity while in flight Leading Edge The front of a flying surface Main Landing Gear The wheel and gear assembly the airplane uses to land It is attached to the bottom of the fuselage Nose Gear The part of the landing gear that is attached to the nose of the fuselage The nose gear is usually connected to the rudder servo to help you steer the airplane on the ground Pitch Axis The horizontal plane on ...

Page 45: ...Building and Flying Notes ...

Page 46: ...with metal blade propellers or with gaseous boosts other than air nor will I operate model aircraft with fuels containing tetranitromethane or hydrazine 8 I will not operate model aircraft carrying pyrotechnic devices which explode burn or propel a projectile of any kind Exceptions include Free Flight fuses or devices that burn producing smoke and are securely attached to the model aircraft during...

Page 47: ... site a day use agreement between sites or testing which determines that no interference exists A frequency management agreement may exist between two or more AMA chartered clubs AMA clubs and individual AMA members or individual AMA members Frequency management agreements including an interference test report if the agreement indicates no interference exists will be signed by all parties and copi...

Page 48: ... 2008 Horizon Hobby Inc 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign Illinois 61822 877 504 0233 horizonhobby com 12843 ...

Reviews: