Carl Goldberg GPMA1956 Eagle 2 ARF User Manual
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Check also to see that your nose wheel turns to the right when
you give right rudder. Your throttle should open to permit full
power when the stick or tab is moved forward or up. Finally,
make sure that everything on your aircraft is neatly and firmly in
place-motor fastened down, servos snugged down, receiver and
battery wrapped in foam rubber, tank properly supported, etc.
Prop and spinner must be tight. The receiver antenna must be
extended, not coiled up inside the model. Nothing should be
loose, or unfinished, or unchecked.
With everything ready, the engine should be started and broken
in for a least a tank or two at no more than moderate speed.
While the engine is running, make sure the control surfaces do
not jitter or move until you command them and that the throttle
also responds properly to your command.
GROUND STEERING PRACTICE
For a couple of hours, practice taxiing the model around at low
speed. This is a very helpful step in making you feel more at
ease in controlling the model. Do not rush it. Use a parking lot
rather than a street where you are likely to run into a curb and
damage your model. Practice taxiing in light breezes or when the
air is calm; as strong or gusty winds can catch a wing and flip
your plane over. Apply minimum throttle that just keeps the model
moving at a walking pace. With the rudder stick and rudder trim
in neutral position, the model should move straight ahead. If it
constantly turns left or right, the nose wheel is not pointing
straight forward and should be adjusted by loosening the steering
arm.
When the plane is pointing at you, the steering will seem
"reversed." When you give right rudder, the plane turns to your
left-but the model actually is turning to its right. With practice,
you will become accustomed to this. When the model comes
toward you, simply push the stick left or right, in whichever direc-
tion the ship is turning. Another helpful technique is shown in
Sketch A. "Head-on disorientation" is dangerous in the air, where
things can happen pretty quickly. Before flying, it is wise to
spend some time familiarizing yourself with orientation by operat-
ing the controls, with the plane set on a table, while you view it
from different positions. The more familiar you become with the
behavior of the model as you control it on the ground, the better
prepared you will be for flying.
After taxi runs are completed, thoroughly examine the model and
tighten any loose screws, etc. First flights should be made on a
day that is not very windy or gusty. There should be very few
people or other distractions around; you will need to concentrate.
Your success doesn't depend on following the instructions here to
perfection, but you should have a flight sequence in mind. Think
ahead of the model ¾ don't chase it around the sky, always one
though and one control command behind it.
GENERAL FLIGHT TECHNIQUES
In flying, it is very important to make all your control movements
slow and measured. Rapid movements tend to throw the model
out of control. Try to make all turns gentle, not tilting (banking)
the wing very much. If you increase the bank, making the turn
steeper, there will be a corresponding weight increase and reduc-
tion of lift. Therefore, when you bank your plane, it will start to
descend. To maintain altitude in a turn, add enough back stick
(up elevator) to hold the nose "up" through the turn