trols for the first time. Let the instructor get the model airborne
and flying straight and level at a safe attitude (“several
mistakes high” as the old saying goes) before he turns the trans-
mitter over to you. You will quickly find out that it is very easy to
over control an R/C model and to get disoriented - EVERYONE
DOES IT AT FIRST! If you get out of control on your first flight,
quickly hand the transmitter back to your instructor so he can res-
cue the airplane. He will get it leveled off and then let you try it
again. Without an instructor, you would not get a second chance!
It’s not that learning to fly R/C is difficult, it’s just a lot different than
anything you have ever done before. Anyone can learn to fly the
KADET SENIOR if they are willing to listen and learn! Remember
the first time you tried to ride a bicycle? It seemed completely
awkward the first time, but once you learned how, it quickly be-
came very easy. Learning to fly R/C model airplanes also comes
quickly to many people. Fly your KADET SENIOR as often as
possible. After you get a few flights under your belt with an in-
structor at your side, you will begin to feel more comfortable at the
controls. Soon you will be flying “solo” with little thought of the
moves required.
Because of its large size and relatively light wing loading, the
KADET SENIOR is best flown in light or no wind conditions. For
initial test flights, we strongly recommend that you choose a calm
day with little wind. That way the airplane can be much more eas-
ily and accurately trimmed. The goal is to trim the airplane for
"hands off" level flight at cruising speed.
On the initial test flight, you may find that you need a little "down"
trim in the elevator to get your KADET SENIOR to fly level. This
is not uncommon and is perfectly normal for a flat-bottom airfoil
airplane. Flat bottom airfoils are very speed sensitive - i.e. the
faster the airplane flies, the more it wants to climb. Airplanes like
the KADET SENIOR, with a very light wing loading, also have a
very wide speed range. The speed at which you fly the KADET
will determine the elevator trim setting you need to achieve hands-
off level flight. You will also find that everytime you change your
throttle setting (and thus your airspeed) you need to change your
elevator trim. So don’t be alarmed if you need a little down eleva-
tor trim to fly hands-off level at your cruising speed. It’s not un-
common for this type of airplane. Most KADET SENIORS will fly
level at “normal” cruising speed with the elevator drooped down
about 1/8” or so.
The KADET SENIOR is capable of mild aerobatics, such as loops,
rolls, Immelman turns, stall turns, Cuban 8s, etc. A competent
pilot can fly it inverted. However, the design is really intended for
training beginning pilots and leisurely slow flying.
Good luck and safe flying!
19
JOIN THE AMA
The governing body for radio-control model airplanes in the
United States is the
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS,
commonly called the
AMA
. The
AMA SAFETY CODE
provides
guidelines for the safe operation of R/C model airplanes. While
AMA membership is not necessarily mandatory, it is required by
most R/C flying clubs in the U.S. and provides you with important
liability insurance in case your R/C model should ever cause se-
rious property damage or personal injury to someone else. For
more information, contact:
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS
5161 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302
Telephone: (765) 287-1256
AMA WEB SITE: modelaircraft.org