.
Pre-Flight
Make sure the servos are securely mounted, the servo arms have their retaining screws in place, and all screws are tight.
Range check your radio as per the manufacturer's instructions and make sure it is fully charged. If there are any problems,
send the radio in for repairs.
Double Check Everything You Can Think Of!
A model and radio that is not prepared and working properly on the ground before take-off will not improve in the air - IT
WILL GET WORSE! There is no point attempting to fly until everything is 100% correct.
FLYING THE RISER 100
First Test Flight
While it is possible that a R/C sailplane can be mastered by a beginner without any assistance, the odds of success are
pretty slim. Don't be too proud to ask for advice and help from more experienced fliers. A little help at the right time from
an instructor can get you out of trouble and possibly save your model from a bad crash.
Choose an area that is free of obstructions such as buildings and trees and pick a day when there is little or no wind.
Fasten the wing to the fuselage with eight #64 rubberbands. Place six of the rubberbands on parallel to the ribs and
crisscross the final two. If your flying site is occupied by other fliers, check with them to be sure that your frequency won't
interfere with theirs, and vice-versa.
Turn your receiver and transmitter on and fully extend the antenna. Gently hand toss the sailplane into the wind with the
nose pointed slightly down and the wings level. Start by running a couple steps with the model, then release it with a
smooth spear throwing action. Aim for a spot on the ground about 50 yards out ahead of you.
DO NOT THROW THE SAILPLANE VIOLENTLY!
If the nose of the sailplane pitches up, feed in some down elevator. If
the nose pitches down, feed in some up elevator.
DO NOT OVER CONTROL!
Keep your control movements smooth. If the sailplane veers left,
feed in some right rudder. If it veers right, feed in some left
rudder.The main thing to remember when flying a sailplane is not to
over control. If the model does get out of control, and you have
sufficient altitude, a glider is so stable that you can usually just let go
of the sticks momentarily and the model will right itself. Many models
have crashed because a beginner continued to send the wrong
input. On landing, when the sailplane is about two feet from the ground, make sure the wings are level and start slowly
feeding in some up elevator to slow the model and establish a gentle descent. The model should settle onto the ground in
a slightly nose high attitude.
After each test flight, readjust the R/C links on the pushrods so that the trim levers on the transmitter can be returned to a
neautral position. It may take several flights to completely trim out the model.
Thermal Soaring
Thermal soaring is by far the most popular type of R/C soaring. It is not uncommon to see two or more sailplanes riding
the same thermal, all of them circling for altitude and staying in the thermal. A thermal is a rising column of hot air - air that
has been overheated by the sun radiating off dark areas of ground such as roads, plowed fields, buildings, etc. Thermals
can be found year around and just about anytime of the day. However, the most active time for thermals is during the
spring and summer months with mid-morning to mid-afternoon being the best time of day to find them. Thermals are easy
to detect on days when the wind is light. Many times you can feel the temperature difference when the warm thermal air
passes by you. Often a low fluffy cumulus cloud indicates the location of a thermal. Also watch for large birds (hawks,
gulls, eagles, buzzards, etc.) circling and maintaining their altitude without flapping their wings. They are riding a thermal!