33
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Mount the switch to the fuselage side (opposite the muffler) and connect the battery lead to the switch, and the switch and servo
leads to the receiver.
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IMPORTANT
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It is critical that your airplane be balanced correctly. Improper balance will cause your airplane to lose control
and crash!
Center of Gravity Location:
5" - 6" (127mm-152mm) back from the leading edge of the wing, measured at the fuselage sides.
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WARNING
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This is the recommended C/G range.
FOR TEST-FLYING WE SUGGEST YOU START WITH THE C/G AT 5-1/2" (140MM), then move it farther back as you
become familiar with the flying characteristics of the airplane. It is not recommended that the C/G be located any farther
back than 6" (152mm).
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IMPORTANT
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Balance the Big Bee ARF with the fuel tank
empty and the airplane fully assembled.
❑
Install the wing onto the fuselage, then apply two short pieces of masking tape onto the
bottom
of the wing,
5-1/2" (140mm)
back from the leading edge, measured at the fuselage sides.
❑
Place your fingers on the masking tape, and carefully lift the airplane. If the nose of the airplane falls, the airplane is nose heavy.
To correct this, move the battery pack and/or receiver back far enough to bring the airplane into balance. If the tail of the airplane
falls, the airplane is tail heavy. To correct this, move the battery pack and/or receiver forward far enough to bring the airplane into
balance. When balanced correctly, the airplane should sit level or slightly nose down when you lift it up with your fingers at the
C/G location.
☞
Once you have flown and become familiar with the flight characteristics of the airplane, the C/G can be moved fore or aft within
the C/G range to change the flight performance. Moving the C/G back will cause the airplane to be more responsive, but less stable.
Moving the C/G forward will cause the airplane to be more stable, but less responsive.
DO NOT FLY THE AIRPLANE BEYOND THE RECOMMENDED BALANCE RANGE OR AN
UNCONTROLLABLE CRASH COULD RESULT!
SECTION 17: BALANCING THE BIG BEE ARF
❑
# 2 Phillips Head Screwdriver
❑
Ruler
❑
Masking Tape
YOU'LL NEED THE FOLLOWING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES:
☞
Lateral balancing will make the airplane easier to trim and will make it track straighter in the air. It is strongly recommended.
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Turn the airplane upside down and tie one length of string to the propeller shaft and one length of string to the tail wheel wire.
❑
With someone helping you, carefully lift the airplane up by the two pieces of string. Watch how the wing reacts. If one side of the
wing drops, that side is heavier than the other. To correct this condition, stick a small piece of self-adhesive lead weight to the
bottom of the lighter wing half (the one that doesn't drop). For best mechanical advantage, place the weight as close to the wing tip
as possible, but make sure to apply the lead to a solid portion of the wing structure, not to the covering material over an open
structural bay or the weight will rip off during flight.
❑
Repeat the procedure a couple of more times to double-check your findings. When done properly the wing should stay level
when you lift the airplane.
SECTION 18: LATERAL BALANCING THE BIG BEE ARF
