attaches. The receiver mounting area on the fuselage is designed for the feather and sub micro
receivers ONLY if you really want the bird to float.
The Slow Hawk will still fly with an added
payload, but the use of any non-micro radio components, bigger motors, heavier battery
packs, etc, will possibly stress the airframe and mechanics and lead to structural failure
even if the center of gravity was kept correct. Therefore, USE THE RECOMMENDED
TYPE OF RADIO GEAR ONLY!
LAUNCHING:
NOTE: Always "pre-flight" your model before each flight to make sure everything is in order and
nothing has vibrated loose.
Launching is accomplished simply by setting your elevator TRIM TAB back to full up, (or about
a 30 degree angle of the tail from horizontal), powering the bird up to full throttle flapping and
giving it a gentle toss forward and upward. The model should climb out quickly. (If you have
your elevator trim set back, and yet the model does not climb out smartly, your battery pack
does not have a proper charge AND/OR you may have too much up elevator. Often times
flattening out the tail and allowing the bird to gain airspeed results in a faster claimb than trying
to hold the nose of the bird up with too much elevator.
Once you have it at a comfortable altitude, you can then trim the elevator trim tab forward to
flatten out the tail of the model so it flies with less drag. Turn inputs will always be amplified by
pulling back on the elevator stick simultaneously. Once up to a comfortable altitude you may
throttle back considerably and still maintain altitude. Maintaining altitude with the lowest
possible throttle setting is the key to obtaining the longest flights. Experiment cautiously with
different throttle settings and flapping rates until you get a feel for flying.
GLIDE LOCK FEATURE:
The Slow Hawk 2 comes with a standard provision for gliding flight. This simple yet effective
"glide lock" device, invented by Sean Kinkade, allows the wings of the bird to lock in at an
optimum dihedral for both thermal glides and for safe glide-in landings. There are actually two
glide modes and the model will go into one mode or the other automatically when the power is
shut off by throttling down. The first mode is called the "pigeon glide" mode and the second
mode is the flatter glide or lock-in mode. The pigeon glide is when the wings automatically go
up to full up dihedral position when power to the motor is shut off. The lock-in mode locks the
wings at a flat, more conventional dihedral which produces a better glide ratio. The glide lock
device is a simple lightweight randomly activated system so throttling down will not always lock
in the flatter glide on each try so several consecutive tries may be required until the wings lock
in. Nevertheless both glide modes are entertaining and fun to experiment with. Here are some
basic guidelines on gliding flight:
First, this ornithopter by virtue of its flexible membrane wing does not have a great glide ratio
so brief glides are all to be expected in the absence of thermals. However,
you are likely to experience some great glides from time to time due to various weather
conditions. This has been seen quite frequently and without an obvious explanantion.
It seems that thermals and rising air currents can come about wherever and whenever they
want to and odds are the Slow Hawk will find its way into them providing the owner with a
delightful glide, or even powered climb for that matter.
Tips on gliding flight:
