Great Planes Seawind .60-.91 ARF - GPMA1360 - Manual (Page 22)

At this stage the model should be in ready-to-fly condition with
all of the systems in place including the engine, landing gear
and the radio system.
❏
1. Very Important: Use a felt-tip pen or 1/8" [3mm]-wide
tape to accurately mark the C.G. on the top of the wing on both
sides of the fuselage. The C.G. is located 1-1/32" [26mm] back
from the leading edge of the wing.
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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 right-side up on a Great Planes CG Machine, or lift it
right-side up 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
possible, relocate the battery pack and receiver to minimize or
eliminate any additional ballast required. If additional weight is
required, nose weight may be easily added by using Great
Planes (GPMQ4485) “stick-on” lead. Begin by placing
incrementally increasing amounts of weight in the nose of the
fuselage until the model balances. Once you have determined
the amount of weight required, it can be permanently attached.
Note: Do not rely upon the adhesive on the back of the lead
weight to permanently hold it in place. Over time, fuel and
water may soften the adhesive and cause the weight to fall
off. Use 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.
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1. With the wing level, have an assistant help you lift the
model by the nose of the fuselage and the bottom of the fuse
under the TE of the rudder. 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.
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 26 and place it on or inside your model.
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.
Charge the Batteries
Identify Your Model
PREFLIGHT
Balance the Model Laterally
IMPORTANT: The stated C.G. is where your model must
be balanced. The Seawind ARF does not have a C.G.
range like most R/C planes. Do not move the C.G.
forward or aft. Doing so will cause the plane to become
difficult to control. This C.G. point has been extensively
tested and you should not deviate from it.
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.
Balance the Model (C.G.)
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