flights and when you become more acquainted with your Tower
Trainer, you may wish to experiment by shifting the balance up to 1/4"
[6mm] forward or backward to change its flying characteristics.
Moving the balance forward may improve the smoothness and
stability, but the model may then require more speed for takeoff and
may become more difficult to slow for landing. Moving the balance aft
makes the model more agile with a lighter, snappier "feel." In any case,
please start at the location we recommend. Do not at any time balance
your model outside the recommended range.
❍
2. With the wing attached to the fuselage, all parts of the model
installed (ready to fly), and an empty fuel tank, hold the model at the
marked balance point with the stabilizer level.
❍
3. Lift the model. If the tail drops when you lift, the model is “tail
heavy” and you must add weight* to the nose. If the nose drops, it is
“nose heavy” and you must add weight* to the tail to balance.
Note: Nose weight may be easily installed by using a heavy spinner
hub or gluing lead weights to the firewall. Tail weight may be added
by using Great Planes (GPMQ4485) “stick-on” lead weights.
*If possible, first attempt to balance the model by changing the
position of the receiver battery and receiver. If you are unable to
obtain good balance by doing so, then it will be necessary to add
weight to the nose or tail to achieve the proper balance point.
If you are a novice, there is one thing that you will need to fly your
Tower Trainer 40 safely that is not furnished with the kit: You will need
a qualified instructor to teach you how to fly. No model ever made will
let you teach yourself to fly safely. It can be done, but you would be
seriously risking more than just the airplane. To find an instructor, you
should join an R/C flying club. If there is not a club nearby, then you
should find an experienced model pilot who is willing to help you. The
chosen instructor should fly well enough to allow you to concentrate
on your own flying. If you are worried about your instructor crashing
your model, you will not be able to concentrate on learning to fly. After
you have found an instructor, you should spend some time just talking
with the instructor about what you will be trying to learn. The
instructor should inspect the model to be certain that it is ready to fly.
Listen to the instructor and learn from their experience.
Now that you have a good model and an instructor that you can
trust, you can go out and start learning to fly. You can expect to be
very nervous at first, and will make some mistakes. There will be
several instances where the instructor will prevent you from
crashing. This will be unsettling, but the thing to do is jump right
back into flying the model (after your knees stop shaking, of course).
This is one of the most important things about learning to fly model
airplanes...you have to fly! Fly as often as you can. Be sure to make
several flights each time you go to the flying field, but give yourself
time after each flight to calm down and discuss the flight with your
instructor. Spending some time after each flight talking about what
happened and what you need to work on to improve your skills will
pay off with greater confidence in your own growing abilities.
CHARGE THE BATTERIES
Follow the battery charging procedures in your radio instruction
manual. You should always charge your transmitter and receiver
batteries the night before you go flying, and at other times as
recommended by the radio manufacturer.
BALANCE THE PROPELLER
Balance your propellers carefully before flying. An unbalanced prop
is the single most significant cause of damaging vibration. Not only
will engine mounting screws and bolts vibrate out, possibly with
disastrous effect, but vibration will also damage your radio receiver
and battery. Vibration will cause your fuel to foam, which will, in
turn, cause your engine to run rough or quit.
We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer (#TOPQ5700)
in the workshop and keep a Great Planes Fingertip Balancer
(#GPMQ5000) in our flight box.
FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY
The best place to fly your R/C model is an AMA (Academy of Model
Aeronautics) chartered club field. Ask your hobby shop dealer if
there is such a club in your area and join. Club fields are set up for
R/C flying and that makes your outing safer and more enjoyable. The
AMA also can tell you the name of a club in your area. We
recommend that you join the AMA and a local club so you can have
a safe place to fly and have insurance to cover you in case of a flying
accident. (The AMA address and phone numbers are listed on page 2
of this instruction manual).
If a club and its flying site are not available, you need to find a large,
grassy area at least 6 miles away from any other R/C radio operation
like R/C boats and R/C cars and away from houses, buildings and
streets. A schoolyard may look inviting but it is too close to people,
power lines and possible radio interference.
GROUND CHECK THE MODEL
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the operation of R/C models,
ask an experienced modeler to check to see that you have the radio
installed correctly and that all the control surfaces do what they are
supposed to. The engine operation also must be checked and the
engine “broken-in” on the ground by running the engine for at least
two tanks of fuel. Follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations
for break-in. Check to make sure all screws remain tight, that the
hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
RANGE CHECK YOUR RADIO
Wherever you do fly, you need to check the operation of the radio
before every time you fly. First, make sure no one else is on your
frequency (channel). With the transmitter antenna collapsed and the
receiver and transmitter on, you should be able to walk at least 100
feet away from the model and still have control. Have someone help
you. Have them stand by your model and, while you work the
controls, tell you what the various control surfaces are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at various speeds with an
assistant holding the model. If the control surfaces are not always
acting correctly, do not fly! Find and correct the problem first.
PREPARING TO FLY YOUR
TOWER TRAINER 40
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