Great Planes Tracer 46 Kit - GPMA0400 - Manual (Page 42)

Tracer does not, however, possess the self-recovery
characteristics of a primary R/C trainer and should only be
flown by experienced R/C pilots. This plane is fully capable of
performing a full range of aerobatics - from simple loops and
rolls to impressive horizon-to-horizon slow rolls. The Tracer is
limited only by your abilities and imagination. Have Fun!
Takeoff on “low” rates if you have dual rates on your
transmitter–especially if you are taking off in a crosswind.
For all models it is good practice to gain as much speed as
the length of the runway will permit before lifting off. This
will give you a safety margin in case the engine quits. When
you initially advance the throttle and the tail begins to lift,
the Tracer will begin to turn to the left (due to the torque of
the engine–a characteristic of all taildraggers). Be prepared
for this by applying sufficient right rudder to keep the Tracer
running straight down the middle of the runway (or flying
field). The left turning tendency will decrease as the plane
picks up speed. Be sure to allow the tail to rise off the
ground before lifting the model into the air. Depending on
the surface you are taking off from, you will need to apply
little or no up elevator until flying speed is reached. Don't
hold the tail on the ground with too much up elevator, as the
Tracer will become airborne prematurely and may stall.
When the plane has gained enough flying speed to safely
lift off, gradually and smoothly apply up elevator and allow
the model to climb at a shallow angle (do not yank the
model off the ground into a steep climb!).
We recommend that you take it easy with your Tracer for
the first several flights, gradually “getting acquainted” with
this great pattern trainer as your engine gets fully broken in.
If you feel as though you have your hands full, keep this
one thing in mind: pull back on the throttle stick to slow
the model down. This will make everything happen a little
slower and allow yourself time to think and react. Add and
practice one maneuver at a time, learning how the Tracer
behaves in each. For smooth flying and normal maneuvers,
use the low rate settings as listed on page 39. High rate
elevator may be required for crisp snap rolls and spins.
Sometime well before it's time to land you should climb your
Tracer to a safe altitude and cut the throttle to an idle and
check out the model's low speed characteristics. Do this a
few times so you know what to expect upon landing.
When it's time to land, fly a normal landing pattern and
approach. Keep a few clicks of power on until you are over
the runway threshold. For your first few landings, plan to
land slightly faster than stall speed. Later, with a little
practice you will find you can make slow 3-point landings.
You'll notice that this pattern trainer model lands more like a
typical sport model, to take the scare out of the ‘glides
forever' behavior of most pattern aircraft.
Have a ball! But always remember to think about your
next move and plan each maneuver before you do it.
Impulsively “jamming the sticks” without any thought
is what gets most fliers in trouble rather than lack of
flying skill.
Now that you're feeling comfortable with taking off and
landing your Tracer, the following maneuver sequences and
trimming information will be of great benefit to you in getting
your Tracer flying at its absolute finest, as well as
challenging your own skills and giving you something fun to
do on the flight line!
NOTE: The sequences provided are a great starting point
whether you are thinking about flying pattern (be sure to
join NSRCA and acquire the current year's sequences) or
just looking for something different to fly.
The following is an excerpt from the Academy of Model
Aeronautics Competition Regulations 1999-2001
handbook. Note: (U) means upwind; (D) means downwind.
SPORTSMAN PATTERN MANEUVERS
1. Takeoff (U)
2. Straight Flight Out (U)
3. Half Reverse Cuban Eight
4. Straight Flight Back (D)
5. Stall Turn without Rolls (U)
Pattern Flying
Landing
Flying
Takeoff
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