Great Planes PT-40 Kit (original) - Manual (Page 36)

4. TRIM OUT THE MODEL
Trimming the model means that you have an
experienced flier fly the model and make final adjust-
ments to the amount of throw in the control surfaces
The distances for the control surface throws we gave
you previously are close to where they should be
But you won't really know until the plane is in the
air Slight changes need to be made The experienced
flier, usually an instructor from a local club, will
know what to change as he or she flies the model
The instructor will adjust the trim levers on the radio
transmitter to make the model fly straight and level
with the control sticks in neutral Then when the
plane is on the ground he or she will adjust the
clevises at the rudder, elevator and ailerons so the
trim levers can be moved back to neutral (As you
become more experienced, you can trim out your new
models yourself The first flight for any new plane
should be used to trim out the model) Trim changes
may be needed anytime so keep checking to see how
the control surfaces react to the stick movements.
5 LEARNING TO HANDLE THE MODEL ON THE
GROUND
After your instructor makes sure the model is
airworthy, it's your turn' The first thing you do is to
practice taxiing the model on the runway Choose a
time when there is very little wind to blow the model
over on the ground Work the controls with a gentle
hand Don't push the sticks way over as far as they
go Give small amounts of right or left rudder to keep
the model heading straight down the runway As the
model heads away from you, pushing the rudder stick
to the right makes the model turn to the right and
pushing the stick to the left makes the model turn
to the left Now turn the model around, slowly' Too
fast and you could tip it over Now as the model comes
toward you, pushing the rudder stick to the right
makes the model turn left' The model is actually still
turning right but it looks backwards to you because
the model is coming at you now This is normal You
may want to turn your back on the model and look
over your shoulder as you are learning to taxi.
Keep practicing the taxi on the runway, keeping
the model in control at all times After awhile, look
straight at the model as it comes toward you without
turning your back on it Push the stick in the direction
that the model is turning to make it turn the other
way Practice until you feel comfortable making the
model turn right and left and making it turn around
and come back to you Set up some empty pop cans
or something similar and practice going around the
cans without knocking them over
6. YOUR FIRST FLIGHT
The ideal way to leam to fly is to use the buddy
box system The instructor has his or her transmitter
attached to yours by a cord There is a switch on the
instructor's transmitter so he/she can control who is
flying the model If you get into trouble, the instruc-
tor can switch the control back to him/her and get
the model flying safely again The instructor will
take the plane up to a safe altitude and then let you
take over to practice for 2 or 3 minutes Then the
instructor can land the model for you As you prog-
ress, you then learn to land the plane and take it off
by yourself and then to do a complete solo'
If it is absolutely necessary for you to learn
by yourself, go to your hobby shop and buy some
books on flying models Learn all you can before you
actually take the plane up Take your time and don't
try to do everything at once You'll have to take the
plane off, do some turns and then land it again with-
out crashing it Have a flight plan in mind before
you take off Following is a sample flight plan you
might want to follow for those first critical flights
Study this flight plan and run through it on the
ground Practice moving the controls on your trans-
mitter and imagine what the plane is doing The
more you practice on the ground, the easier it will
be in the air
Read and abide by the following Academy of
Model Aeronautics Official Safety Code:
GENERAL
1 I will not fly my model aircraft in competition or
in the presence of spectators until it has been proven
to be airworthy by having been previously success-
fully flight tested.
2 I will not fly my model aircraft higher than approx-
imately 400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without
notifying the airport operator I will give right of way
to, and avoid flying in the proximity of full scale
aircraft Where necessary an observer shall be
utilized to supervise flying to avoid having models
fly in the proximity of full scale aircraft
3 Where established, I will abide by the safety rules
for the flying site I use, and I will not willfully and
deliberately fly my models in a careless, reckless and/
or dangerous manner
RADIO CONTROL
1. I will have completed a successful radio equipment
ground check before the first flight of a new or re-
paired model
2 I will not fly my model aircraft in the presence of
spectators until I become a qualified flyer, unless
assisted by an experienced helper
3 I will perform my initial turn after takeoff away
from the pit, spectator and parking areas, and I will
not thereafter perform maneuvers, flights of any sort
or landing approaches over a pit, spectator or parking
area.
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