Great Planes Spirit 2-Meter Sailplane Kit - GPMA0530 - Manual (Page 2)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Other Items Required . . . . . . . . . . 3
Supplies and Tools Needed . . . . . . 3
Die Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Types of Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Decisions you must make now ... 5
Get Ready to Build . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
TAIL FEATHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Build the Fin and Rudder . . . . . . . 6
Build the Stabilizer and Elevator . 7
Cut the Hinge Slots . . . . . . . . . . . 8
WING ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Build the Inner Wing Panel . . . . . . 9
Build the Outer Wing Panel ..... 12
Join the Wing Panels . . . . . . . . . . 14
Final Wing Assembly . . . . . . . . . . 15
FUSELAGE ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . 19
Assemble Fuselage Sides . . . . . . . 19
Frame-up the Fuselage . . . . . . . . . 20
Assemble the Canopy . . . . . . . . . . 23
FINAL ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Balance the Airplane Laterally ... 25
Final Sanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Covering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Checking for Warps . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Glue the Hinges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mount the Tail Surfaces . . . . . . . . 27
Assemble Pushrods . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Install Radio Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Control Throws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Install the Spoilers in the Wing ... 29
Balance the Model . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Final Hookups and Checks . . . . . . 30
PRE-FLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Find a Safe Place to Fly . . . . . . . . 31
Range Check Your Radio . . . . . . . 31
Install the Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
AMA Safety Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Radio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Trim Flights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Your First Hi-Start Launch . . . . . . 32
First Flights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
THERMAL FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Facts About Thermals . . . . . . . . . . 33
Thermal Soaring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Pointers for Contest Flying . . . . . . 35
SLOPE SOARING . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Flying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Slope Landings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
POWERED LAUNCHING . . . . . . 36
BALLASTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
BUILDING NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
PARTS LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
CONTEST PRACTICE CHART .. 39
2-VIEW DRAWING . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Please inspect all parts carefully before starting to build! If any parts are missing, broken or defective, or if you
have any questions about building or flying this airplane, please call or write us at the address below and we will
be glad to help. If you are calling for replacement parts, please look up the part numbers and the kit identification
number (stamped on the end of the kit box) and have them ready when calling. Thank you.
Great Planes Model Mfg., Inc.
P.O. Box 788
Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 398-8970
P.O.BOX 7 8 8 URBANA, ILLINOIS 61801 217398-8970
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