Great Planes Spirit of St. Louis ARF - GPMA1151 - Manual (Page 23)

Until you have The Spirit of St. Louis ARF properly trimmed
for level flight, we recommend having an assistant hand-
launch the model instead of taking off from the ground.
Turn on the transmitter and plug the battery into the speed
control. Turn the receiver on by following the instructions that
came with your speed control.
IMPORTANT: Confirm that the transmitter operates the
controls by moving the sticks and watching the surfaces
respond. Occasionally, electric models have been launched
with the transmitter turned off or the battery disconnected
from the speed control!
When ready to hand launch, the assistant should hold the
bottom of the fuselage behind the main landing gear, then
raise the model high above his head and point it into the
wind. With the pilot
(that would be you!) standing behind the
plane, fully advance the throttle to start the motor. As soon
as the motor is at full power, the hand launcher should
gently toss the plane into the air at a level or slightly nose-
up attitude. Be certain the model is being launched into the
wind and be immediately ready to make corrections to keep
the airplane flying straight, level and into the wind.
When the model has gained adequate flying speed under its
own power, gently pull the elevator stick back until the
airplane starts a gradual climb. Many beginners tend to pull
too hard causing the model to stall, so be gentle on the
elevator and don’t panic. If you do pull too hard and you
notice the model losing speed, release the elevator stick
and allow the model to regain airspeed.
Continue a gradual climb and establish a gentle turn until
the airplane reaches an altitude of 75 to 100 feet.
The main purpose of the first few flights is to learn how your
model behaves and to adjust the trims for level flight. After
the model has climbed to a safe altitude reduce the throttle
slightly to slow the model, yet maintain altitude. The Spirit of
St. Louis ARF should fly well and maintain adequate
airspeed at about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle.
Adjust the elevator trim so the model flies level at the throttle
setting you are using. Adjust the rudder trim to level the
wings. It may take a few minutes to get the trims adjusted,
but this should be your first priority once at a comfortable
altitude. Continue to fly around, executing turns and making
mental notes (or having your assistant take notes for you) of
what additional adjustments or C.G. changes may be
required to fine tune the model so it flies the way you like.
If The Spirit of St. Louis ARF reaches a high enough altitude,
you may periodically cut off the motor power and glide. This
may extend the flight time by several minutes, especially if you
fly into a rising air current.
Because The Spirit of St. Louis ARF flies slowly, it requires
little room to land. Begin the landing approach by flying
downwind at an altitude of approximately 20 feet [6 meters].
When the airplane is approximately 50 to 100 feet [15 to 30
meters] past you, gradually reduce power and make the
“final” 180-degree turn into the wind aligning the airplane
with the runway or landing area. Do not dive the airplane, as
it will pick up too much speed. Instead, allow the airplane to
establish a gradual descent. Concentrate on keeping it
heading into the wind toward the runway. When the plane
settles to an altitude of about 4 feet [1 meter], gently apply
a little “up elevator” to level the plane, but be careful as too
much up elevator will cause it to stall. While holding a slight
amount of up elevator the airplane will slow and descend as
it loses flying speed and touch-down on the runway.
Until you are able to accurately judge how far The Spirit of
St. Louis ARF can glide, it may be helpful to reserve some
battery power to run the motor so the plane can be flown
back to the runway. If needed, most BEC systems allow you
to move the throttle to idle and then apply power to get a
short burst of power.
After landing, allow the motor to cool for about 10 minutes
before flying the model again. The battery should also be
allowed to cool for at least 10 minutes before it is recharged.
When speaking of small models, frequently a takeoff from the
ground is called an “ROG” (
rise off ground) takeoff. Landings on
grass will be a little rough, but doing a ROG takeoff from grass
will probably not be possible with The Spirit of St. Louis ARF. If
planning an ROG takeoff, find a smooth, paved surface.
After you have trimmed The Spirit of St. Louis ARF for flight
and have become familiar with its flight characteristics, you
may try some ROG takeoffs. With the model on the runway
and pointing directily into the wind, gently apply power.
Initially, the plane may turn to the left or right because it has
not gained enough speed for the controls to become
effective. Do your best to get through this brief moment and
maintain a straight heading down the runway and into the
wind. Make corrections with the rudder to keep it rolling
straight into the wind. If the model veers too far off, cut the
throttle and try again. As the model begins to gain speed the
controls will become effective.
After the airplane has gained adequate speed (this requires
experience to gauge), gently pull back on the elevator stick
allowing the airplane to become airborne. Release some of
the up elevator control and establish a gentle climb the
same as when you were hand-launching.
Best of luck and happy flying!
ROG Takeoff
Landing
Flight
23