Top Flite TOPA0150 - Manual (Page 61)

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17. Balance your propeller (and spare propellers).
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18. Tighten the propeller nut and spinner.
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19. Place your name, address, AMA number and
telephone number on or inside your model.
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20. Cycle your receiver battery pack (if necessary)
and make sure it is fully charged.
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21. If you wish to photograph your model, do so
before your first flight.
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22. Range check your radio when you get to the
flying field.
FLYING
The Top Flite Focke-Wulf is a great-flying scale warbird
that flies smoothly and predictably. It does not, however
possess the self-recovery characteristics of a primary
R/C trainer and should be flown only by experienced
R/C pilots.
Fuel mixture adjustment
A fully cowled engine may run at a higher
temperature than an un-cowled engine. For this
reason, the fuel mixture should be richened so the
engine runs at about 200 rpm below peak. By
running the engine slightly rich, you will help prevent
dead stick landings caused by overheating.
Takeoff
Before you get ready to takeoff, see how the model
handles on the ground by doing a few practice runs
at
low speeds on the runway. Hold “up” elevator to
keep the tail wheel on the ground. If necessary,
adjust the tail wheel or main wheels until the model
rolls straight down the runway. If you need to calm
your nerves before the maiden flight, shut the engine
down and bring the model back into the pits. Top off
the fuel, then check all fasteners and control
linkages for peace of mind. Takeoff on high rates—
especially if you are taking off into a crosswind.
When you’re ready for takeoff, point the model
straight down the runway, hold a bit of up elevator to
keep the tail on the ground to maintain tail wheel
steering, then gradually advance the throttle. As the
model gains speed decrease up elevator allowing
the tail to come off the ground. One of the most
important things to remember with a tail dragger is to
always be ready to apply
right rudder to counteract
the torque of the engine, keeping the model heading
straight. Gain as much speed as your runway and
flying site will safely allow before gently applying up
elevator, lifting the model into the air. At this moment
it is likely that you will need to apply more right
rudder to counteract engine torque. Be smooth on
the elevator stick, allowing the model to establish a
gentle climb to a safe altitude before turning into the
traffic pattern.
For reassurance and to keep an eye on other traffic,
it is a good idea to have an assistant on the flight line
with you. Tell him to remind you to throttle back once
the plane gets to a comfortable altitude. While full
throttle is usually desirable for takeoff, most scale
models fly more smoothly and more scale-like at
reduced speeds.
Flight
Take it easy with your Focke-Wulf for your first few
flights, gradually getting acquainted with it as your
engine breaks in. Adjust the trims to maintain
straight and level flight. After flying around for a
while, and still at a safe altitude, execute practice
landing approaches by reducing the throttle and
extending the gear to see how the model handles at
slower speeds. If you plan to land with the flaps,
practice slow flight and landing approaches with the
flaps extended while still at a comfortable altitude.
Add power to see how she climbs with flaps as well.
Continue to fly around, executing various maneuvers
and making mental notes (or having your assistant
write them down) of what trim or C.G. changes may
be required to fine tune the model so it flies the way
you like. Mind your fuel level, but use this first flight
to become familiar with your model before landing.
Landing
Landings may be executed with or without flaps.
Modelers unfamiliar with flaps usually make their
first few landings without them, but learn to prefer
landing with flaps later on. If you are unsure, you
could always land with the flaps set to half of their full
setting. When you’re ready to land with flaps,
maintain an engine R.P.M. that is slightly higher than
normal to overcome the additional drag. Flaps and
landing gear (if you’ve installed retracts) should be
extended after the throttle and airspeed have been
reduced and the model is on the downwind leg of the
landing pattern.
CAUTION (THIS APPLIES TO ALL R/C
AIRPLANES): If, while flying, you notice any unusual
sounds, such as a low-pitched “buzz,” this may
indicate control surface
flutter. Because flutter can
quickly destroy components of your airplane, any
time you detect flutter you must
immediately cut the
throttle and land the airplane! Check all servo
grommets for deterioration (this may indicate which
surface fluttered), and make sure all pushrod
linkages are secure and free of play. If the control
surface fluttered once, it probably will flutter again
under similar circumstances unless you can
eliminate the free-play or flexing in the linkages. Here
are some things which can cause flutter: Excessive
hinge gap; Not mounting control horns solidly; Poor
fit of clevis pin in horn; Side-play of pushrod in guide
tube caused by tight bends; Poor fit of Z-bend in
servo arm; Insufficient glue used when gluing in the
elevator joiner wire; Excessive
play or backlash in
servo gears; and Insecure servo mounting.
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