Aerohobby SKYSEEKER 370 User manual

SKYSEEKER 370 RTF
Patent Pending
Instruction Manual

Welcome to the world of
ReadyToFlyFun!
Congratulations!
You now have the easiest ying 3 channel radio
control powered glider ever - The SkySeeker GT
from ParkFlyRC.com. Built to last and advanced
enough to grow with you.
Follow these simple steps and you’ll be surprised how
easy it is!
2

STEP 1. Battery Charging
TIP TO MAXIMIZE FLIGHT TIME
After charging, if you wait more than a few hours
before ying, charge again to top-off the battery.
Time to top-off is usually only a few minutes.
Follow these directions if your kit came with the FlyRite RCTM peak charger.
Otherwise refer to the directions provided with the charger of your choice.
¤ Attach the battery connector - push until you feel a “click”.
Plug in AC adapter to wall outlet, or DC adapter to auto
cigarette receptacle and it’s circular power connector into
the charger unit.
¤ Red light will ash while charging and will stop ashing
when nished. Charging time is under 40 minutes.
¤ Unplug the battery, then unplug the circular power connec-
tor to reset the charger. Now you may charge another
battery repeating these steps.
See “Warnings and Safety” on page 19
3

4
STEP 2. Tail & Wing Mounting
¤ Center wing on fuselage by aligning the arrows on
the wing with the fuselage seam
¤ Secure wing in place by attaching 4 rubber bands to
the wing hold-down rods. First attach two crossing to
form an “X”, than one on each side.
If your plane already has the tail mounted, proceed-
directly to the wing mounting below.
¤ Insert the Vertical Fin mounting studs through the
holes in the Horizontal Fin and then through the
holes in the fuselage tail and secure with thumb-nuts.
When the landing gear is used, add the tail wheel
before securing the thumb-nuts.
¤ Hold off on connecting the pushrod clevis connectors
to the tail until ready for the Tail Control Test (Step 4)
and follow the linkage setting and adjustments.

STEP 3. Transmitter Set Up
¤ Tie the included red ag to the end of your antenna.
¤ Remove transmitter back cover by pressing down on
the area marked “PUSH”.
¤ Install 8 new Alkaline AA size batteries. (Not
included) NiCd or NiMH batteries may also be used.*
¤ Check the polarity before replacing the cover.
¤ To test, switch on the transmitter. The Green LED
should glow brightly.
¤ Replace batteries when the red LED glows brighter
than the green LED.
IMPORTANT: Never attempt to charge Alkaline batteries.
¤ If you will be using NiCd or NiMH batteries, the charging jack
on the side of the transmitter accepts chargers compatible
with HiTec or Airtronics radios. (Not included)
5

STEP 4. Tail Control Test
6
These are the trims used to adjust the “neutral” point of
your control stick. Conrm they are both centered when
performing this test.
These switches that set the direction of each servo.
Conrm they are in the position shown. The left switch
should be DOWN, the right switch UP.
¤ Switch on transmitter - green LED lights
¤ Install battery beneath canopy and plug in connector
¤ Move the stick side to side and the rudder should move
as shown on the following page and return exactly level
with the tail surface.
¤ Move the stick up to down and the elevator should move
as shown on the following page and return exactly level
with the tail surface.
¤ If movements are not as shown, or don’t return level with
the tail surfaces, check the following:

7
Moves Rudder to Right
Moves Elevator Down
Moving Stick to Right
Pushing Stick Forward
Conrm the clevis connectors are inserted into the outer most hole of
the rudder and elevator control horns. The other end of the push rods
connect to the white servo arms- second hole from the pivot. The white
servo arms are located close to the oor of the fuselage beneath the
canopy. Proceed with the following adjustment, only when a ap
fails to return level with the tail surface while the trim is centered.
Pry the connector sides apart using a small screw driver and carefully disconnect it from control horn. Thread
the clevis along the push rod to adjust the effective length of the linkage. Insert the clevis back into the outer
hole of the control horn and check the position of the ap. After you set the ap level with the tail surface , “snap”
the connector back into the outer hole of the control horn.
Push-Rod Linkage Settings & Adjusting the Neutral Point of the Flaps

STEP 5. Motor Test
8
¤ Set throttle to OFF, then switch transmitter ON
¤ Install battery in fuselage
¤ Place the plane with canopy open on a smooth oor.
¤ Apply a small amount of throttle - motor starts
¤ Gradually increase until plane moves a few inches. This
conrms your motor and battery has sufcient power.
¤ Set throttle OFF
¤ Remove battery from fuselage
¤ Switch transmitter OFF
ALWAYS STAY CLEAR OF THE PROPELLER!
Throttle Off

STEP 6. Choose a Large, Open Field
9
A large open grassy is best.
SAFETY FIRST!
Never y over or near people, vehicles, buildings, power lines, airports, and highways.
Crash damage is NOT covered by the warranty
TIP TO LOCATE A PLANE LOST IN A FIELD
Apply short throttle bursts to produce motor noises until you can home-in on it’s location.
The motor noise is louder than the servos unless the propeller is jammed or the battery
is depleted.

STEP 7. Choose a Calm, Temperate Day
SUCCESS TIP: Flying in too much wind is
the #1 reason for crashes and lost planes.
10
Flag Test
Don’t y in winds
that lift the ag
more than this.
Follow these guidelines -you’ll be glad you did
On your rst ights, wait for winds less than 5
mph -use the ag test. After plenty of experi-
ence, you’ll be able to safely y in winds up to
15 mph.
COLD WEATHER TIP: The battery will not pro-
vide enough power to y near freezing tempera-
tures. For best performance, warm a cold battery
to 60F prior to ight.

STEP 8. Range Test
11
You will need an assistant (adult recommended)
¤ Set throttle to OFF, Switch transmitter ON and extend antenna.
Note: Throttle must rst be OFF before it can be activated.
¤ Install battery in fuselage
¤ Warn your assistant to stay clear of the propeller as you hand
over the plane and explain the following.
¤ You will pulse the throttle as your assistant walks 100 paces away.
You should hear the motor respond smoothly with each pulse.
¤ Keep your hands off the tail control stick. Your assistant will watch
and listen carefully for unexpected tail responses accompanied by
servo noises. There should be none.
If you become aware of others ying within 3 miles of your site, check
with them rst before beginning the range test, otherwise, if they are
operating on the same crystal frequency, they may loose control and
crash as a result of this test or ying.
Removable Crystal
Note the Frequency
marked on the label.
If your plane does not range test correctly, do not y.
Call Product Support at 1-602-759-9636 for directions
on how to proceed.

STEP 9. Launch
12
On rst ights, have your assistant (adult recommended)
launch the plane while you control the transmitter.
¤ Make sure your battery was charged
within a few hours of launching
¤ Instruct your assistant to gently toss the
plane held overhead, into the wind when
you apply full throttle. It should be
tossed straight ahead, with the wings
level.
¤ You need only to make short left-right
stick corrections as needed to keep the
wings level and ying straight into the
wind. Leave the throttle full. If the plane
does not climbing, pull back slowly on the
stick until you see it climb slowly, but don’t
overdo it. SUCCESS TIP: If your plane requires that you
hold the stick constantly to one side, or back
more than a slight amount, recheck the tail test
given in Step 4. Use the slider trims to make
small in-ight adjustments so your plane will y
straight with hands off the stick. See Step 12.

13
¤ When your plane reaches about 50 feet, begin a slow
wide turn. The wings will tilt causing some loss of lift
and may reduce your climb rate. Get in the habit of
pulling back on the stick slightly while maintaining the
left or right stick position.
¤ Continue to climb in wide circles with full throttle until
about 100 feet and then drop the throttle to about
50%.
¤ With your plane high in the sky, it’s time to experiment
with the stick control. Always start with slow gradual
stick movements. If you panic, release the stick and
your plane will naturally regain control.
¤ Once your plane returns to about 50 feet, repeat the
wide turn climb pattern to obtain higher altitude.
1. The wind will add or subtract lift to your plane. Be ready to respond by pulling back on the stick when ying
with the wind, and pushing the stick forward when ying against or into the wind.
2. Not sure which way to turn the stick? Imagine yourself seated in the cockpit so your plane will always turn in
the direction of your stick. Otherwise your turning directions must reverse when your plane apporaches.
3. Don’t let your plane get so far away that you have difculty determining it’s orientation. Try to maintain a ight
path in circles high over your head so you can see it well at all times.
STEP 10. Flying
B E G I N N E R S U C C E S S T I P S

STEP 11. Using the Elevator
14
The throttle will control airspeed which lifts your plane
while ying level. Elevator control enables your plane to
turn upward or downward at any speed. However if you
pull it upward too sharply, the airspeed will drop fast, and
“stall” the airplane. To avoid crashing from a stall, always
maintain enough altitude to recover from it.
Just after a stall, the plane dives. To recover, pull the
stick completely back (full UP elevator) with full throttle
until the plane pulls out of the dive. Be careful, since
pulling the stick back tor too long will cause the plane
to stall again.
When pushing the stick forward (DOWN elevator), make
sure to always have enough altitude to avoid crashing.
DOWN elevator may be used to avoid the onset of stalls.
Aside from landings and stunts, the elevator is most
useful to maintain level ight as airspeed uctuates due
to wind, gusts and other disturbances.
Avoid Stalls

STEP 12. Flight Trim Adjustments
15
Rudder Trim
If your plane always turns in one direction, use the
trim control lever below the control stick to correct for
it. Your plane should y straight with the stick in the
neutral center position. If additional adjustments are
needed, see Step 4.
These trim adjusts are best performed in-ight so you
can see the results immediately.
Elevator Trim
If your plane always goes up or down, use the trim
control lever to the side of the control stick to correct
for it. Your plane should y straight with the stick in
the neutral center position. If additional adjustments
are needed, see Step 4. Your plane should have a
steady shallow climb at full throttle.

STEP 13. Landing
16
¤ When you notice that your plane no longer climbs well under full power, your battery is getting low, and
it’s time to land.
¤ Approach the desired landing spot from a direction that will allow a straight line directly into the wind.
¤ Push forward on the stick (Down-Elevator) slightly while reducing the throttle to begin a slow gradual descent.
At 10 feet of altitude, turn off the motor and glide your plane in for the touch-down. The skid on the underside
of the fuselage will effectively bring your plane to a stop.
WARNING: Do not attempt to catch the airplane or injury may result. Also be sure to turn the motor off before
you touch down or damage may occur to your wing and propeller.
Auto Cut-off Feature: When your ight battery gets low enough, this feature will automatically shut off the
motor so you will be sure to have enough reserve power to control the rudder and elevator needed to safely land.
If the motor cuts off, prepare to land immediately.

Post Flight Inspection
17
Keep your plane ying well and safely.
Perform these checks before every ight and denitely after every hard landing or crash.
¤ Power Off First! Unplug the ight battery before turning the transmitter power off.
¤ Propeller in good Condition and Main Wing Centered. Replace the propeller if worn or damaged.
¤ Control Surfaces Level and Functional. If the control surfaces don’t return to center
position, a servo may have pulled out of the mounting screws and will require remounting.
If you nd that the control surfaces don’t move with stick movement but you hear the
servo gear noise, check for a detached or broken servo arm or gear(s).
¤ Wing and Tail Damage. Repair foam tear-outs with wide clear packaging tape. Use a 5 minute Epoxy to
repair more serious breaks in the foam. Check the wing, tail n and horizontal stabilizer for rigidity. A crack
or deep crease will make the surface imsy. Use Epoxy to repair cracks in the foam, otherwise replace it.
A warped or twisted wing will not y! Protect your wings from heat and deformation by transporting
and storing the wings in the foam package.

Replacement Parts & Warranty
18
90 DAY LIMITED WARRANTY
ParkFlyRC warrants it’s products free from all defects in material and workmanship for a period of 90 days
from the date of purchase with the following exclusion. Due to the nature and operation of RC aircraft in
ight, the warranty does not extend to the aircraft body or it’s components beyond the initial preight testing.
Carefully check the parts and operation BEFORE your rst ight. Damage incurred from ying, landing, crashing
or modication is not covered under the warranty.
Warranty Parts Replacement: If you discover defects during the rst preight test outlined in the instruction
manual, please call our toll-free Customer Service line at 602-759-9636 for technical support. If you are directed
to return the product to our Service Center, you will be provided with an RMA (Return Authorization) number.
If in our opinion, after inspecting the product, we determine it to be defective, we will repair or replace it at
our discretion.
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
Please visit our web site for replacement parts, FAQ’s and more success and repair tips. If you don’t nd what
you need online, send us an email or give us a call.
park[email protected]
[phone] M-F 10am-4pm MST
3370 N Hayden Rd #123-245
Scottsdale, AZ 85251-6632

Warnings & Safety
19
(1) Observe all warnings and safety instructions provided in this manual; otherwise serious injury or damage
can occur.
(2) Always keep the propeller away from hair and body parts even if it’s not spinning.
(3) DO NOT FLY WHEN IT’S TOO WINDY – you can lose control and crash causing injury or damage. Never
y your plane near people, parked or moving cars, power lines, water, buildings or trees.
(4) Battery Charging: Use only the battery charger intended for use with your plane. Do not leave a charging
battery unattended. Place the battery on a hard dry heat-resistant surface, DO NOT lay it on carpet
while charging.
(5) NEVER cut into the battery, charger, or airplane wires or serious injury can occur. Causing the battery
to “short out” (connecting positive-red and negative-black bare wires) can cause a re, serious injury
and damage.
(6) The transmitter should ALWAYS be ON whenever the ight battery is connected. This will prevent
unexpected motor action.
(7) Remove the ight battery immediately after landing.
(8) Never y on the same frequency as another yer in your area. The frequency of your transmitter is
marked on the crystal tag.

©2010 ParkFlyRC
3370 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251