Dream-Flight alula TREK User manual

Designed to go wherever inspiration takes you...
Sometimes where we get to fly is as magical as the flying itself. The Alula-TREK is ready to make the journey
wherever the lift takes you. The world’s most popular bird-like RC flying wing is back and more refined than
ever. Whether you're hiking on a mountain ridge, riding the breeze on a dune at the beach, or searching for
thermals at the neighborhood park... the Alula-TREK is ready to go. This modular design is equally at home
secured on a backpack or stowed in an overhead bin. Be inspired: fly where you never considered.
Modern RC Glider Design
The Alula-TREK was developed from the ground up to provide pilots of all skill levels a unique RC soaring
experience with minimal building skills required. Getting into the air has never been easier with features like a
factory-installed skid plate, pre-installed canopy retention magnets, and pre-glued carbon spars and control
horns. Previously only available by separate purchase, the Alula-TREK now includes an integrated wing retention
system as a standard feature. The most refined Alula yet is ready to get out and glide, when you are.

“Alula”- Why the Name?
We love birds! A few years back we stumbled onto the word “alula” while looking for inspiration through a book
on bird anatomy. Officially pronounced “al-you-la” in the bird world, we like the sound of “ah-loo-la” when
referring to our glider.
Upon researching further, we learned that the “alula” on a bird wing (see figure below) is a set of feathers
attached to the bird’s equivalent of a thumb. These “thumb feathers” on a bird serve as a quasi leading edge
slotted flap that helps to delay the onset of a stall. It works by maintaining the airflow over the top of the wing
at high angles of attack. This serves the bird well during take-off, landing, and perching in difficult locations.
Simply put, we found the name fitting due to the low speed performance of this little glider and its bird-like
appearance. Given that many of us use our thumbs to control our RC aircraft, this little glider provides us with
some “thumb feathers” of our own.
al·u·la
New Latin origin, meaning a little wing.
The group of three to six small, rather stiff feathers
growing on the first digit, or thumb of a bird's wing.
An evolutionary adaptation which delays the onset of
stall by reinvigorating wing airflow.
A Red-tailed Hawk prepares for landing
with Alulae (pl.) in full effect.

Designer's Notes
"Originally, I wanted to design a glider with which I could join the Red-tailed Hawks in flight above my parents'
home in the Santa Barbara foothills. The design needed to be easily flung to soaring altitude above the oak-
studded hillside, and had to be able to negotiate the often light and inconsistent canyon updrafts. Over the
years, the Alula design has evolved into a glider that can be taken and flown just about anywhere, without much
hassle. The Alula's simplicity and low parts count inspires a sense of freedom, while it's organic form triggers the
same sentiment one often experiences while admiring a soaring bird in flight.
The Alula-TREK's wing mimics the gently forward-swept configuration used by the Red-tailed Hawk, and many
other soaring birds for that matter. This crucial design element is conducive to low speed circling flight which
helps the pilot navigate small, confined sources of lift by eliminating tip stalls and maximizing control surface
authority at very low airspeeds. This nature-inspired wing design also has the added benefit of lending itself to
the wingtip launch method, contributing to a straighter launch when coupled with the large vertical tail.
Overall, the sleek compact shape, low weight, forward-swept wing, and optimized airfoils and tail, all make for
a glider which launches easily to altitude and responds quickly to lift, allowing the pilot to "get on step" quickly
within a thermal. The minimalist flying wing configuration also makes for hassle-free flying since it is robust and
easy to repair on the spot." -Michael Richter, January 2015.
Michael Richter with an early hand-cut Alula prototype
in 2004. The Alula's low weight, easy launching, and
tight maneuverability allowed Michael to achieve his
dream of joining the Red-tailed Hawks in the light
updrafts above his parent's canyon-side home in Santa
Barbara, California.
3D CAD rendering shows the evolution of the Alula design that continues
in 2015 with the new Alula-TREK. This further refined design features the
easiest assembly and setup to date.

CAUTION! READ BEFORE PROCEEDING:
►The Alula-TREK RC glider is not a toy; a certain amount of experience and practice is required
to safely fly this model. We recommend consulting an experienced RC pilot before attempting to
fly this glider. With proper instruction, learning to fly RC gliders can be a safe and extremely
rewarding activity.
►ALWAYS fly model aircraft, such as the Alula-TREK, in open areas away from overhead
power/telephone lines, groups of people, trees, roads, buildings, and airports.
►BE CONSIDERATE AND RESPECTFUL! Always be considerate of passersby, spectators, and
other pilots by maintaining a safe distance between them and your aircraft during flight.
Choosing a designated safe landing zone is good practice and always give larger, heavier flying
models the right of way. Treat flying sites with the utmost of respect and care, as future access to
them is by no means guaranteed.
►The Alula-TREK must be assembled, balanced, and trimmed properly to ensure smooth,
efficient flight. Poor balance and trim WILL lead to poor flight characteristics. This is especially
true for small flying wings like the Alula-TREK that usually require a bit of fine-tuning to achieve
the best flight characteristics. Don’t be discouraged if it takes you a few flights to get it just right.
Additionally, make sure to observe proper control surface deflections that suit your skill level.
►The side-arm launch method places a certain amount of physical stress on one's body and
glider. Please proceed with caution when attempting this launch method.
►Do not store glider in areas of excessive heat, as this may cause foam parts to warp/deform,
thus adversely affecting the flight characteristics. Additionally, never place objects/weight on
glider during storage and transport unless foam parts are properly supported to prevent
warping.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pg. Topic
1 Kit Contents
2 Items Required for Completion (not included)
3 Radio Gear Setup
5 Fuselage Preparation
7 Wing and Tail Installation
11 Balancing the Alula-TREK
13 Control Surface Deflections
14 Ballast Option
15 Pre-Flight Check
16 Test Flights: Trimming for Straight and Level Flight
17 Side-Arm Launch Technique
19 Fine-Tuning Balance Position
21 “Urban Soaring” Technique
Background
Important guidelines to follow when flying the Alula-TREK
Slope Soaring
Flatland Soaring
To familiarize yourself with the assembly process, we recommend
reading over this manual before proceeding with final assembly.
When assembling your Alula-TREK, make sure to check
out the HOT TIPS found throughout this manual.

KIT CONTENTS
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
1
Fuselage and Canopy
2
L/R Wing Panels
3
Flight and Assembly Manual
4
Vertical Tail Fin
5
Small Hardware Bag Contents:
(2) Elevon pushrods
(2) Wing clamp screws
(2) Clevises with screws
Velcro for battery and receiver installation
Not shown: Logos, wing decals, and servo decals set
1.
Spare Parts
available at
dream-flight.com

ITEMS REQUIRED FOR COMPLETION (not included)
Radio Gear:
Programmable 6 channel radio system with Elevon Mixing and Dual Rates (see suggestion below)
Micro receiver, 4-6 gram weight (see chart below for receiver suggestion)
(2) Sub-micro servos (Part DFFA005 recommended, or purchase our Alula-TREK flight pack, Part DFFA008)
Receiver battery: 4.8V 300mAh 1/3AA NiMH (Part DFFA001)
Battery Extension Wire (Part DFFA013)
Tools and Extras:
Small Phillips screwdriver
Small wire or fingernail clippers for trimming servo arms
Sharp hobby knife or razor blade for relieving foam hinges
Small needle-nose pliers
Ruler or measuring tape (for setting control surface deflections)
Small weights for balancing and Ballast Option: Use our non-lead Steel Balance Weights (Part DFAA002)
Adhesives and Tape:
Blenderm Tape (Part 1525-0) for securing wing panels and making small repairs
20-25mm (1”) wide painter's masking tape –we like the blue or green stuff by 3M!
Optional:
Packing tape and strapping tape for airframe reinforcement and repair
Acrylic paints - add your personal style! Remember to clean foam with denatured alcohol first.
Suggested Transmitter and Receiver:
Transmitter
Receiver
Futaba
T6J, *T8J
*R2106GF
*We used the Futaba T8J 2.4GHz transmitter
and Futaba R2106GF receiver for our own
setup. The R2106GF receiver's extremely short
antenna makes installation a breeze! The T8J
transmitter features a special built-on antenna
for durability, and boasts easy to use, yet very
comprehensive, programming features.
2.

RADIO GEAR SETUP
►The following setup is based on the use of our 4.3g Digital servos (Part DFFA004). We have included the
exact measurements needed to recreate our setup if you choose another type of servo; however, don't skimp on
servos for your Alula-TREK! A good quality digital servo with excellent centering will ensure that your Alula-TREK
is a smooth, predictable flyer.
Gather items below:
Transmitter (battery fully charged)
Micro receiver
(2) Servos with servo arms and screws (Part
DFFA005)
Battery Extension Wire (Part DFFA013)
4.8V, 300mAh receiver battery (fully charged)
1. Locate servo arms with two holes on each arm.
Place tiny servo screws in a safe place.
2. Using small wire clippers, trim away one side of
each servo arm as shown.
3. Plug Battery Extension Wire into receiver
(observe proper polarity!). This extension wire
replaces a switch and makes it easier to turn on
the glider and charge the battery.
4. Turn on transmitter and plug battery into female
end of Battery Extension Wire to power up
receiver.
5. Activate transmitter's Elevon mixing function
(consult your radio manual for details). Elevon
mixing may be referred to as "Delta" mixing on
some transmitter models.
6. Connect servos to appropriate receiver channels.
Confirm system is bound and servos are
responding smoothly.
7. Ensure all Trims and Sub-Trims are set to zero,
and all End Points and/or Adjustable Throw
Volumes (ATV) are set to the default of 100%.
3.