Step 15
22
Landing
When you notice that the Aerobird Challenger
™
no
longer climbs well under full power (normally after
approximately 10 to 15 minutes), the battery is get-
ting low, and it's time to land. Line the model up,
heading directly into the wind toward the desired
landing spot. At 10 feet of altitude, gradually reduce
the throttle stick to turn off the motor. The Aerobird
Challenger will glide in for a landing.
Auto Cut-Off Feature: When the flight battery gets
low enough, this feature will automatically shut off
the motor and save enough battery power for the
radio and tail control so you can land safely. If the
motor cuts off, prepare to land imediately. If you
are gliding down and have some time to rest the
battery, you may re-arm the motor by moving the
throttle slider back to Off. This may give you a little
extra bit of power to adjust your landing. Do not re-
arm more than once or twice, or you may lose your
control power.
WARNING: Do not attempt to catch the airplane or
injury may result. Also, be sure to turn motor off
before you touch down or damage can occur to your
wing and propeller. Remember to always land directly
into the wind.
Expert Tip: As you get more experienced at flying,
try adding a bit of UP elevator (pull stick back) just
before touchdown to ”flare” the plane. With some
practice, your landings will be expertly smooth and
on target.
Reduce power at 10 feet
Step 16
23
Using Elevator
The Aerobird Challenger
™
is equipped with a third
channel for elevator (pitch) control. Pulling back
on the stick provides UP elevator that allows for
shorter takeoffs, better flares for landing, a better
climb rate and more effective turns (see “Turning”
on pages 19–20, Step 13). Trying to climb too
quickly will cause the airspeed to slow down and
stall the airplane. To avoid crashing from a stall,
always maintain enough altitude to recover
from it.
Just after a stall happens, the nose of the plane will
go down (looks like the plane is diving).
To recover from the stall, pull the stick back
slowly (UP elevator) once the nose of the plane goes
down and plane has built up airspeed. Exit the stall
to straight and level flight. Be careful, since pulling
the stick back too abruptly or for too long will cause
the Aerobird Challenger to enter another stall.
Effectively avoiding and recovering from stalls
requires experience. Always seek the help of an
experienced radio control pilot if you are not
familiar or inexperienced with pitch control.
When using DOWN elevator (pushing stick for-
ward), make sure to always have enough altitude
to avoid crashing into the ground. DOWN elevator
is especially effective when landing in small areas
or over obstacles.
5723_HBZ(fb cllngr. manual) 5/28/03 5:00 PM Page 22
