Owner manual

BALANCE THE MODEL (C.G.) At this stage the model should be in ready-to-fly condition with all of the systems in place including the engine, propeller and spinner, landing gear, covering and paint, and the radio system. The fuel tank should be empty. ❏ 1. Use a felt-tip pen or 1/8"[3mm]-wide tape to
accurately mark the C.G. on the top of the wing at the joint between the center section and outer panels on both sides of the fuselage. The C.G. is located 3-13/16"[97mm] back from the leading edge of the wing.
❏ 2. With the wing attached to the fuselage, all parts
of the model installed (ready to fly) and an empty fuel tank, place the model upside-down on a Great Planes CG Machine, or lift it upside-down at the balance point you marked.
❏ 3. If the tail drops, the model is “tail heavy” and the
battery pack and/or receiver must be shifted forward or weight must be added to the nose to balance. If the nose drops, the model is “nose heavy” and the battery pack
and/or receiver must be shifted aft or weight must be added to the tail to balance. If additional weight is required, nose weight may be easily added by using a “spinner weight” (GPMQ4645 for the 1 oz. [28g] weight, or GPMQ4646 for the 2 oz. [57g] weight). If spinner weight is not practical or is not enough, use Great Planes (GPMQ4485) “stick-on” lead. A good place to add stick-on nose weight is to the firewall (don’t attach weight to the cowl—it is not intended to support weight).
Begin by placing incrementally increasing amounts of weight on the bottom of the fuse over the firewall until the model balances. Once you have determined the amount of weight required, it can be permanently attached. If required, tail weight may be added by cutting open the bottom of the fuse and gluing it permanently inside. Note: Do not rely upon the adhesive on the back of the lead weight to permanently hold it in place. Over time, fuel and exhaust residue may soften the adhesive and cause the weight to fall off. Use #2 sheet metal screws, RTV silicone or epoxy to permanently hold the weight in place.
❏ 4. IMPORTANT: If you found it necessary to add
any weight, recheck the C.G. after the weight has been installed.
BALANCE THE MODEL LATERALLY
❏ 1. With the wing level, have an assistant help you
lift the model by the engine propeller shaft and the bottom of the fuse under the trailing edge of the fin. Do this several times.
❏ 2. If one wing always drops when you lift the
model, it means that side is heavy. Balance the airplane by adding weight to the other wing tip. An airplane that has been laterally balanced will track better in loops and other maneuvers.
PREFLIGHT
IDENTIFY YOUR MODEL No matter if you fly at an AMA sanctioned R/C club site or if you fly somewhere on your own, you should always have your name, address, telephone number and AMA number on or inside your model. It is required at all AMA R/C club flying sites and AMA sanctioned flying events. Fill out the identification tag on page 73 and place it on or inside your model. CHARGE THE BATTERIES Follow the battery charging instructions that came with your radio control system to charge the batteries. 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
CAUTION: Unless the instructions that came with your radio system state differently, the initial charge on new transmitter and receiver batteries
should be done for 15 hours using the slow- charger that came with the radio system. This will “condition” the batteries so that the next
charge may be done using the fast-charger of your choice. If the initial charge is done with a fast-charger the batteries may not reach their full capacity and you may be flying with batteries that are only partially charged.
[97mm]
This is where your model should balance for the first flights. Later, you may wish to experiment by shifting the C.G. up to 3/8"[10mm] forward or 3/8"[10mm] back to change the flying characteristics. Moving the C.G. forward may improve the smoothness and stability, but the model may then require more speed for takeoff and make it more difficult to slow for landing. Moving the C.G. aft makes the model more maneuverable, but could also cause it to become too difficult to control. In any case, start at the recommended balance point and do not at any time balance the model outside the specified range. More than any other factor, the C.G. (balance
point) can have the greatest effect on how a model flies, and may determine whether or not your first flight will be successful. If you value this model and wish to enjoy it for many flights, DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS IMPORTANT PROCEDURE. A model that is not properly balanced will be unstable and possibly unflyable.
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