Great Planes Proud Bird ARF - GPMA1260 - Manual (Page 2)

2
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Great Planes Proud
Bird ARF! The Proud Bird was specifi cally designed to be a
fast, precision airframe while maintaining the requirements of
the NMPRA Electric Formula One (EF1) racing rules (the rules
can be found at nmpra.org). Accommodations are provided
to install different brushless motors that are allowable per the
race rules. You will fi nd that the Proud Bird is a pleasure to
build as it assembles quickly.
Although the Proud Bird was made for racing, it makes a great
sport fl ier as well. The Proud Bird can be fl own with a .15 size
brushless motor and a 3S battery which will give you longer
fl ight times and a more casual fl ight envelope.
For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to the
Proud Bird visit the Great Planes web site at www.greatplanes.
com. Open the “Airplanes” link, then select the Proud Bird
ARF. If there is new technical information or changes to this
model a “tech notice” box will appear in the upper left corner
of the page.
AMA
If you are not already a member of the AMA (Academy of
Model Aeronautics), please join! The AMA is the governing
body of model aviation and membership provides liability
insurance coverage, protects modelers’ rights and interests
and is required to fl y at most R/C sites.
Academy of Model Aeronautics
5151 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302-9252
Tele. (800) 435-9262 Fax (765) 741-0057
Or via the Internet at: http://www.modelaircraft.org
IMPORTANT!!! Two of the most important things you can
do to preserve the radio controlled aircraft hobby are to avoid
fl ying near full-scale aircraft and avoid fl ying near or over
groups of people.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
PROTECT YOUR MODEL, YOURSELF & OTHERS…
FOLLOW THESE IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. Your Proud Bird ARF should not be considered a toy, but
rather a sophisticated, working model that functions very
much like a full-size airplane. Because of its performance
capabilities, the Proud Bird, if not assembled and operated
correctly, could possibly cause injury to yourself or spectators
and damage to property.
2. You must assemble the model according to the instructions.
Do not alter or modify the model, as doing so may result in an
unsafe or unfl yable model. In a few cases the instructions may
differ slightly from the photos. In those instances the written
instructions should be considered as correct.
3. You must take time to build straight, true and strong.
4. You must use an R/C radio system that is in good condition,
a correctly sized motor, and other components as specifi ed
in this instruction manual. All components must be correctly
installed so that the model operates correctly on the ground
and in the air. You must check the operation of the model and
all components before every fl ight.
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
AMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Battery Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Radio Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Motor Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Propeller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Adhesives and Building Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Optional Supplies and Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Building Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
KIT INSPECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
KIT CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
PREPARATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ASSEMBLE THE MODEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Build the Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Assemble the Tail Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Install the Power System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Assemble & Install the Landing Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Install the Wing Fairings, Belly Pan & Cockpit Floor . 17
Finish the Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Apply the Decals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Check the Control Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Set the Control Throws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ESC Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Balance the Model (C.G.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Balance the Model Laterally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
PREFLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Identify Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Balance Propellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Ground Check & Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
MOTOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
AMA SAFETY CODE EXCERPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Radio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
FLYING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Takeoff
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
TRIMMING THE PROUD BIRD FOR RACING . . . . . . . . 26
TABLE OF CONTENTS