GRAUPNER ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO User manual

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For order nos. 41900
41910
Assembly Instructions
ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO
High Performance Model Glider
for
Flatfield, Slope and Aerotow
Minimum of a 5-channel radio control system is required!
#62624

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Technical Data
Wingspan 3001 mm
Fuselage length 1420 mm
Airfoil profile TA-30-Strak 8,3 %
Elevator profile 10 %
Wing area 48,2 dm²
Elevator area 4,2 dm²
Flight weight, from 2200 g
Longitudinal dihedral (deg) 1°- 1,3°
Centre of gravity (from root leading edge) 84-88 mm
Important Safety Advice
You have purchased a model aircrraft kit which can be used to build a fully functional
radio control model, together with the nessesary aditional parts and accessories. The
tit manufacturer GRAUPNER have no control over customer compliance with
assembly and operating instructions as well as the installation, operation, use and
maintenance of the components associated with the model. Therefore GRAUPNER
accept no liability for losses, damages or costs which arise from operational or
behavioural errors or which are in any other way connected with the aforementioned
kit. If not stipulated by law the company GRAUPNER is under no obligation to pay
compensation for whatever reason, including personal injuries, death, damage to
buildings as well as damages caused by loss of turnover or business, by interruption
of business or other indirect or direct consequential damages resulting from the
operation of the model aircraft. Under all circumstances and in any case the total
liability is limited to the amount that has actually been paid for this model.
The assembly and operation of the model is undertaken solely at the operator’s risk.
Cautious and considerate handling on the part of the user when operating the aircraft
is essential in order to prevent personal injuries and damage to property.
During the construction phase
Please observe the safety and handeling instructions of the manufacturers when
handling adhesives and solvents. Some adhesives and solvents can cause health
problems and material damage if not used correctly. Dispose of leftover glue and
paint safely by returning them to a specialist dealer or taking them your local waste
disposal collection site. Be aware that handling sharp balsa knives and pins can
easily lead to injuries. Ensure that children have no access to tools, glues or
varnishes.A generously sized clear working space is a particular advantage for all
handicrafts.
Please seek the advice of an experienced aero-modeller for assistance with
any aspect of the construction processes with which you are unfamiliar.
Flight Operations
Never fly your ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO in nature reserves or landscape
conservation areas. Always give due consideration to the habitats of animals and
plants as trees. Bushes and shrubs serve birds for nesting and bringing up their
young.

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You may want to consider taking out a special RC-model liability insurance if
applicable. These safety instructions must be kept safe for future reference and
handed to the buyer in case of the resale of this model aircraft.
Manufacturer’s Declaration:
Should any item sold by us in the Federal Republic of Germany and purchased by a
consumer (§ 13 BGB) found to be faulty with regards to material or workmanship, we,
the manufacturer Graupner GmbH & Co KG, D 73230 Kirchheim/Teck will take
responsiblity for the correction of faults of the item to the extent as described
hereafter. The consumer cannot assert rights from this declaration if the impairment
of the usability of the item results from natural wear and tear, use under competitive
conditions, improper use (including installation) or effects of external factors.
This manufacturer’s declaration does not affect the legally or contractually granted
claims for defects and statutory rights of the consumer towards the seller (dealer)
arising from the contract of purchase.
Extent of Warranty
In the event of a warranty we will at our discretion either repair or replace the faulty
goods. Further claims, especially claims for refunding costs in connection with the
defect (e.g. costs for installation or removal) and compensation for consequential
damages – where permitted by law – are excluded from warranty. Claims from legal
regulations, especially in accordance with the product liability law, are not affected by
this.
Conditions of Warranty
The buyer must claim under warranty in writing, enclosing the original proof of
purchase (e.g. invoice, receipt, delivery note) and this warranty card. In addition the
faulty goods must be posted to the above address at the buyer’s expense.
The buyer should describe the material or processing fault or the symptoms of the
fault as precisely as possible in order to enable us to check our duty of warranty.
The transport of the item from the consumer to us as well as its return are effected at
the consumer’s risk.
Period of Validity
This declaration is only valid for claims based on this declaration which are asserted
during the entitlement period. The entitlement period is 24 months from the date of
purchase of the model by the consumer when purchased from a dealer in the Federal
Republic of Germany. If faults are reported after the expiry of the entitlement period
or if the proofs or documents which are required in this declaration for the assertion
of claims due to faults are submitted after the expiry of the entitlement period, the
buyer is not entitled to any rights or claims specified in this declaration.
Limitation of claims
If we do not accept a claim stated in this declaration which has been asserted in due
form during the entitlement period, any claims based on this declaration lapse six
months from the date of assertion, but not before the end of the entitlement period.

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Applicable law
German material law applies exclusively to this declaration and the claims, rights and
duties arising from it, excluding the provisions of international private law and UN
Sales Law.
The following points must always be observed:
• Check before launching the model that the remote control system is functioning
correctly and that all mechanical and ellectrical connections are secure.
• The batteries are fully charged and the range of the remote control system is
checked. In particular the transmitter and and receiver batteries must be charged.
• Check that the radio control channel in use is free. Never fly your model if you are
unsure whether the channel is free.
• Follow the recommendations and instructions supplied with your remote control
system and accessories.
• Ensure that all control servos are operating freely and not mechanically restricted.
• Batteries must not be short-circuited.
• Remove the batteries for transport and whenever the model is not in use.
• Do not expose your model to extreme temperatures, high levels of humidity or
dirt.
• Secure the model and RC-components during transport against damage or
slipping.
• IMPORTANT: The model’s built-in battery must not be disposed of with
household waste. The battery must be disposed of in battery recycling containers.
• IMPORTANT: The model and the transmitter must not be disposed of with
household waste, but must be taken to a recycling depot for disposal as electronic
scrap. Contact your local council for further information.
Pre-Flight Checks
Before each flight check the correct function and range of the radio control system by
switching on the transmitter as well as the receiver, extend the transmitter antenn
and check from an appropriate distance that all control surfaces are operating
correctly, both in terms of magnitude and sense.
Depending on your level of experience and particularly in the case of the first flighgts,
it is advantageous to have an experienced helper by your side to offer assistance
with the pre-flight checks and first flights.
Care and Maintenance
• Clean the model after each flight. Only use suitable cleaning products for cleaning
the model and the RC-components. Contact your specialist dealer for information
about this.
• When cleaning decor print products (decor sheets, design foils) detergents which
contain solvents must not be used as they can damage or destroy prints. Please
use warm soapy water and a soft cloth for cleaning.

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Notes about the construction of the model
Before commencing the construction of the model you should take time to read
through these instructions in their entirety. Be particularly aware of potential dangers
when using sharp tools.
Remove any grease residue from each adhesive joint before bonding. This can for
example be achieved by sanding and treating with a non-relubricating detergent.
Before glueing together parts ensure that the relevant surfaces (especially with
regards to the fibreglass fuselage) are carefully roughened with a suitable grade
sandpaper and thoroughly degreased, e.g. with acetone. Otherwise sufficient
adhesion cannot be guaranteed.
Necessary tools for the construction of ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO
Pencil (lead grade HB), a set square as well as a tape measure or meter rule,
household scissors, a narrow sharp knife such as e.g. a balsa knife, order no. 980,
an electric miniture and assorted drill bits.
Glueing of materials
The following table lists some examples of adhesive connections. This list by no
means claims to be complete.
Material Usage (example) Adhesive Type
Order no.
_________________________________________________________________
Glass-fibre Canopy cover with fixing wire UHU plus endfest 300
reinforced polymers order no. 950.43
with steel
wire
Glass-fibre Fuselage with servo board UHU plus endfest 300
reinforced polymers order no. 950.43
with wood
Note:
Roughen the surfaces to be glued in the fuselage with fine-grained sandpaper to
remove any adhesive release agents. Wipe off any grinding dust. The glossy surface
of the fuselage must be rendered matt as otherwise good bonding of the adhesive
with the fuselage cannot be guaranteed. For information about bonding the
individual parts to one another follow the processing instructions of the adhesives.
When using adhesives containing solvents ensure that your work area is well
ventilated. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers.

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Important Note
No adhesives which contain solvents, in particular no superglue, must be used
for any glueing which comes into contact with the polystyrene in the wings
cores. These adhesives lead to the large-scale destruction of the styrofoam; the
part consequently becomes unusable. Always use solvent-free adhesives for
this process. We recommend glueing with UHU-Endfest or epoxy resin
thickened with cotton flocks. However, do avoid using 5 min Epoxy for
bondings which are relevant for statics or control technology!
Tip: Using with Epoxy Resins
Epoxy alone is not a viable adhesive! However, the addition of appropriate
additives turns laminating resin into a variety of excellent adhesives. Choose
the appropriate additive to create an adhesive which perfectly matches the job
requirements:
1. Chopped cotton fibre flocks produce a tough, but flexible bond.
2. Superfine glass fibres produce a very hard, but well grindable bond.
3. Micro-balloons produce a highly effective, lightweight filler.
Radio Control System
Especially recommended: Computer system from mc-12 to mc-24
or

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Recommended servos for:
Rudder and DES 678 BB,MG order no. 7943
Elevator
Ailerons and DES 448 BB,MG order no. 7914
Wing flaps
Receiver power supply PRX-3A order no. 4135
As receiver a DS 19 or SMC 19 or SMC 14 can be used
Required servo extension cables
Order no. 3935.18 for connection to receiver (4 pieces)
For the receiver battery we recommend: Order no. 7674.2 which must always be
properly maintained and charged before and after each flight, i.e. the battery ought to
be be discharged and re-charged several times until it reaches the full specified
capacity.
Re-chargeable batteries are recommended for the receiver and transmitter as they
provide the highest level of safety. For suitable battery chargers see our catalogue.
Assembling the ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO
Only begin the assembly after you have familiarised yourself with the individual
components and construction stages. In the event that a component should give
reason for complaint this should be communicated to your specialist dealer prior to
the start of construction.
The wings
Feel with your fingertips for the servo openings for the aileron and flaps servos, then
melt them free with a hot soldering iron or cut free with a sharp balsa knife and adjust
to accomodate the control horns as nesssary. As shown in both photos glue in the
GRP control horns using suitably thickened epoxy resin.

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The depth of the servo openings is mechanically prefabricated; it may, however, be
necessary to adjust the depth of the openings by removing further Styrofoam (as
much as possible, until veneer with a fibre orientation transverse to the wingspan
becomes visible).
While waiting for the the adhesive to cure, prepare the servo control horns as shown
in the photo. The outer hole may need to be drilled open to a diameter of 1,6 mm to
accomodate the push-rod.
With servo in the centre (neutral) position the prepared servo levers are mounted on
each respective servo and tightly screwed down. In order to do this, place the servo
via the remote control in neutral position.

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Before glueing the servos on the covers the connection cables must be soldered onto
the extension cables which have already been pre-fitted into the wings and the
mounting links must be removed from the servos. When doing so ensure that the
correct polarity is applied, i.e. the correct colour-coded cables are soldered together.
As shown in the photo isolate the soldering joints with heat shrinkable tubing which
must be pushed onto the cables before soldering.
Now the servos are glued onto the servo covers; as shown in the photo. The servo
lever must be in the centre of the output fairing and the servo must be about 8 mm
from the edge. The servo cover and the servo casing itself must be well roughened
with sandpaper. Superglue (order no. 5821) can be used as adhesive here. Ensure
that the servo is placed in the correct position at the first attempt at assembly.
Note: When using superglue it is not possible to move the item at a later stage in
order to correct its position.
The push-rods for the ailerons and wing flaps are made from the M2 threaded rods
supplied in the hardware pack and are fitted with a M2 lock nut and a M2 clevis. The
aileron push-rods must be bent so as to measure 40 mm from the mount point on the
servo lever to the clevis pin. For the wing flaps the distance must be about 45 mm.
The exact length can be adjusted after screwing the covers is adjusted by turning the
clevis in or out.

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For extra security, the clevis and lock-nut ought to be secured with UHU screwsafe.
Now is the time to mount the clevises in the control horns and fasten the covers using
the flat-head screws supplied in the hardware pack.
Tip: Countersink the holes to achieve good aerodyamic performance!.
There are two ways to connect the servos to the receiver: The first option is to extract
the connection cables from the openings in the fuselage and then plug them together
with the extension cables. The second option is to solder onto the connection cables
using the wing servo quick connection order nos. 2972 and 2973 whereby the servos
are automatically connected when both wing halves are assembled.

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The openings in both sides of the fuselage wing fairing must be opened out at the
positions marked in the molding. Ensure that you leave about 1mm space arround
the larger rectangular opening for the wing joiner.
To ensure that the wings are held secure against twisting loads at the fuselage, four
steel wing incidence pins need to be securely bondede into the wing root ribs.
Open out the holes in the root ribs to accomodfate the wing incidence pins using a
Ø 3 mm drill to a depth of about 50 mm. The the wing halves can now be dry-rigged
against the fuselage using square CFK wing joiner and the wing panels may be dry
fitted to check for allignment. Tip: Take care to avoid that the wing incedence pins are
not pushed back into the holes in the wing roots!
The wing joiner.
The wing joiner for the ALPINA 3001 Champ PRO is in the form of a carbon square
joiner in a carbon composite sleve. The wing joiner itself a high-quality carbon fibre
laminate with in-built V-shaped profile which ensures excellent load bearing
properties. In spite of high levels of standardisation there can be small tolerances in
the fit due to limitations in the production process. This is NOT a quality defect – it
can be easily adjusted, if necessary, in a few seconds using 120-grain sandpaper.

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Now is a good time to install the compression strut, supplied as part of the wooden
parts kit. Carefully adjust the length of the hardwood piece to fit inside the width of
the fuselage, just aft of the trailing edge incidence pins. It is important that the strut
fit snugly, without distorting the shape of the fuselage, but correcting for any minor
manufacturing tollerence in respect of the wing/fuselage fairing. The strut is
bonded into place using suitably thickened epoxy resin.
Once satisfied with the fit and allignment of the wings on the fuselage, the wing
incidence pins may be bonded into the holes in the root ribs. The pins should
protrude about 7 – 10 mm from the wing roots. Be sure to make one pin in each wing
a little longer than the other, and round off the end of the pins to facilitate easier
assembly at the flying field. Once both wings have been marked and drilled, carefully
check the alignment before bonding the incidence pins into place. Apply a suitable
release agent to the holes in the fuselage fairing before applying a suitably thickened
epoxy. Then fit the wings to the fuselage, with the steel joiner installed to allow the
epoxy to cure overnight. Tip: Use a layer of kitchen film between the wing/fuselage
joint to avoid any excess epoxy from forming a permanent joint!
To complete the work on the wing halves glue the pressure pins (multilocks) into the
blind holes in the root ribs. In order to do this, press the pressure pins into their
counterparts in the fuselage. If necessary rework the blind-holes slightly to
accomdate the pressure pins. Apply a little adhesive in the blind-holes in the root ribs
and assemble the wing on the wing joiner and allow to cure.
TIP: Once again, use a layer of kitchen film between the wing/fuselage joint to avoid
any excess epoxy from forming a permanent joint!
Fuselage and Canopy
Fit the pin carrier strip (grooved strip) into the canopy. Then deburr the edges of the
pin and bond it securely into grooved strip. The pin should protrude about 22mm
beyond the end of the carrier strip. Glue the pin/carrier assembly such that that the
pin protrudes about 6 mm beyond the edge of the canopy and a distance of about 3
mm remains, measured on the inside of the canopy. Carefully file (not too much!)
with a round file a small groove into the fuselage in the centre of the front canopy
section, into which the canopy pin will lock. The canopy retainer consists of the GRP-
spring. The spring protrudes 10 mm beyond the rear canopy rim. The canopy spring
is fixed with superglue and subsequently laminated over with 1-2 layers of glass-

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fabric tape (160 g) and resin over a length of 50 – 60 mm. be sure to roughen the
joints with sandpaper (80 grain) before bonding with a suitably thickened epoxy resin
– as shown.
When mounting the canopy to the fuselage, place the canopy onto the fuselage so
that the GRP-tongue on the rear end can firstly be pushed so far into the fuselage
that the steel pin will be pushed under the fuselage section when the canopy is
pushed forward again.
When being pushed forward the canopy self-centres automatically in the canopy
frame on the fuselage.
To install the servo tray, start by tearing off the fabric tapes on the inside of the
fuselarge.

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The positioning of the components installed in the nose of the fuselage will depend to
some degree on your choice of battery pack and other RC components and all of
these will influence the balance point. Carefully check the physical layout of all the
components, bearing in mind the recommended centre of gravity.
The servo mounting tray is to be located within the cockpit opening leaving sufficient
space to accomodate the receiver battery. The servo mounting tray does fit in the
fuselage opening! Turn it around carefully and you will find that it will slip neatly into
place. Don’t be tempted to apply force, or to remove too much material which will
result in a poor fit. Mark the position carefully with a pencil and tack the servo tray in
place using an instant adhesive – before bonding the frame securely into the
fuselage with a generous bead of thickened epoxy. Allow to cure. Tip: Some may
wish to complete the job by adding a layer of wetted fibre glass cloth over the entire
servo frame allowing about 10mm extra on both sides to bond with the fuselage
sides.
Prepare the servo output arms with servo in the centre (neutral) position mount them
onto the servo output shaft. Mount the servos and the ON/OFF switch onto the servo
mountin tray.
The rudder and elevator push-rods will need to be shortened such that with the
servo in the centre (neutral) position the corresponding control surface is also
located in the neutral position. Both Bowden tubes used to support the rudder and
elevator control push-rods will naturaly also need to be shortened accordingly.
This is also a good time to install the aero-tow release (if required). There is a
good selection of purpose made model aero-tow release mechanisms available
commercially for which installation techniques vary, but the simplest form is
described below:
Carefully mark out and cut a 10mm slot about 2mm wide transversally about 5cm
from the nose and with the lower third of the fuselage diameter. Using thickened
epoxy, fix a length of PVC Bowden tube along the inside of the fuselage such that
it intersects the slot at 90 degrees. The slot should be positioned so as to allow at
least 5-10mm of the PVC tube in front of the slot. Once the resin has cured, cut
away the Bowden tube from inside the slot and insert a length of steel wire inside
the tube such that it engages both sides of the slot when closed and is clear of the
slot when open. Connect the free end of the steel wire to a suitable servo to

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operate the aero-tow release. You will require a simple loop, best made from
monofilament nylon to link up to the towline.
The winch hook
Measure and mark a point on the belly of the fuselage 55 mm from leading edge of
the wing fairing – as shown. Drill a 2.5mm hole to accommodate the winch hook.
Cover the hole on the outside with tape to protect the surface and roughen up the
inside of the fuselage in the area of the hole. Now glue the tow hook support block
into place centrally over the hole using thickened epoxy. Use a self tapping screw,
through the hole in the bottom of the fuselage to secure the support block while the
epoxy cures. Tip: for additional security, you may wish to finish the job by laminating
the support block to the fuselage bottom using 2-3 layers of suitably wetted 120g
fibreglass laminating cloth. Once the support block has thoroughly cured, drill a Ø 2
mm pilot hole to accommodate the supplied winch hook.

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The all-flying tailplane
The elevator bell-crank in this model is already pre-installed and ready for use. It may
only be necessary to slightly rework the groove milled onto the vertical stabiliser. The
tailplane halves are fitted using both Ø 3 mm steel wires. Push one steel wire through
the locating hole into the fin, the second through the milled groove in the fin and
bellcrank. Now both tailplane halves can be pressed fully home onto the steel wires.
CAUTION! Before pushing the tailplane halves onto the steel wires for the first time
these must by all means be checked for absence of burr. The tailplanes contain a
built-in locking system which may be damaged by burred edges on the wires and use
of excessive force.
CAUTION! With regard to the ARC-version of the model please ensure that the
tailplane is assembled with the correctly, with the upper-side of the elevator
uppermost. You can identify the upper-side by its dot marking at the root rib.
The Rudder
Locate and open-up the two hinge points along the leading edge of the rudder and
carefully mark the corresponding hinge points along the centre of the rudder post.
Now drill the holes using a Ø 3.5 mm drill to accommodate eye-bolts used to form the
hinge and screw these into the rudder post, but do not bond in place just yet. Insert
the GRP hinge pin through the guide tube located in the leading edge of the rudder
such that it passes through the three holes in the eye-bolts – to form an effective
hinge. Now carefully check the movement and throw of the rudder with respect to the
fin and adjust the depth of the hinge, by screwing in (or out) the three eye-bolts until
you find the optimum depth. Mark the position of the eye-bolts before bonding into
place using a suitably thickened epoxy, re-install the rudder and adjust as necessary
before finally allowing the hinge points to set. Tip: It is possible to unscrew the hinge
bolt and reset it with a little more adhesive should you find it necessary to make an
adjustment after the hinge bolts have been set into the fin post.

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Next, carefully mark out the position of the rudder control horn to align with the
shroud in the rear of the fuselage and the rudder control linkage. Try to locate the
horn as close as possible to the pivot line, and at exactly 90 degrees to the rudder
hinge line. Take care to avoid any restriction caused by the rudder horn touching the
shroud in the fuselage. Now drill a 4 mm hole at the point where the rudder horn is to
be installed. The hole should be as deep as possible but take care not to pierce the
skin on the other side of the rudder. Undermine the hole using a sharp tool so as to
increase area available to the adhesive and bond the rudder horn into place using
suitably thickened epoxy.
Assembly of the ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO
Insert the wing joiner through the fuselage opening and press the wings firmly onto
the joiner, ensuring that all four wing incedence pins and the pressure pins have fully
engaged and all wing servo connections have been secured. Insert both tailplane
halves on the steel wires and check that they are secure.
Important: The tailplane and wings must be fastened to the fuselage so they
are immoveable.
Finishing
Caution!!!
The Alpina – just like other models we produce - is manufactured using very
sophisticated Load Specific Covering Thickness Procedure (LTSCP)-technology in
order to achieve the desired optimal relationship between of weight and strength. In
this process, the thickness of wing skins are carefully reduced towards the tips which
means that the thermal diffusivity is considerably enhanced! Particular care must be
taken when using heat-shrink covering films to decorate your model. You should by
all means use covering films which have a low melting point so as not to destroy the
underlying polystyrene core (polystyrene melts at temperatures greater than 70°C).
When using heat-shrink covering films you should make every effort to avoid
prolonged exposure to heat.
We therefore recommend preferably low temperature covering films such as for
example adhesive foils.

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Balancing the ALPINA 3001 CHAMP PRO
Support the completely equipped, airworthy model, right and left next to the fuselage,
about 84 mm behind the root wing leading edge. The model should now balance
itself horizontally, or as the case may be, the nose pointing slightly downwards. If
additional nose weight is required, use a measured amount of Lead (Lead shot is the
most convenient form) and fix it into the nose with suitably thickened epoxy resin
.
The correct longitudinal dihedral (decelage) is +1 to +1,3°. This is the angle of the
elevator (at the neutral position) with respect to the wing and is best measured with
the aid of an incidence meter.
The following recommended control throws have been determined following several
test flights, confirmed by several different model pilots. We strongly recommend that
you begin with the recommended throws and only change them with experience
.
Control Throws:
Ailerons plus 25 mm up minus 10 mm down
Elevator plus 10 mm up minus 10 mm down
Rudder plus 10 mm left minus 10 mm right
Thermal Position
Ailerons minus 1,5 mm down
Flaps minus 3 mm down
Speed Position
Ailerons plus 2 mm up
Flaps plus 1,5 mm up
Butterfly Position
Ailerons plus 18 mm up
Flaps minus 65 mm down
Elevator minus 3 mm down
Tip: The specified control throws may be further adjusted via the Dual Rate function
of the transmitter.

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Important:
When installing the control push-rods always take great care that they run easily,
and to their full extent – including trimming – and are in no way mechanically
restricted.
When moving the rudder-control stick to the right, the rudder must swing to the right,
when moving it to the left, it must swing to the left. When moving the elevator control
stick back, both elevators must move upwards (pitch up). When moving the aileron-
control stick to the right, the right aileron must move up, the left one downwards.
When moving the butterfly-control stick back the ailerons must swing upwards and
the flaps downwards. The flaps are best operated via a slider with an electronically
restricted path, so that for a full path of the slider the specified throws are achieved.
The First Flight
Experienced model flyers will now take the first opportunity to go to the model airfield
and test fly their model in the usual manner, make final corrections and then
hopefully have much fun and success flying their Alpina 3001 CHAMP PRO.
Some tips from the practice of modelflying should help you to make the most of the
wide variety of application possibilities for this model.
Test Flying
Every flying machine, from model aircraft to passenger carrying planes, must be test
flown after completion. This also applies to your Alpina 3001. The slightest deviation
in manufacture or construction can lead to minor variations in flying characteristics
and control responses. Test flying is the means to optimise the centre of gravity and
to generally fine-tune the control response.
Avoid by all means unnecessary low altitude hand launches on a flat site. While
doing so the model is flying close to the ground in the most dangerous zone as there
is little time to make adequate corrections and damages are most likely to occur.
The Range Test (also for experts!)
Ensure that both transmitter and receiver batteries are fully and properly charged.
Before switching on the transmitter ensure that the channel you are using is free. The
channel pennant on your antenna is obligatory and indicates your channel to other
pilots! If other pilots are present, announce your channel loudly and clearly.
Carry out a range test before the first flight. You should always carry out this test as a
matter of principle before commencing each days flying. Hold the model in a way that
the antenna is not affected – at the tip of the fuselage is best. An assistant walks
away with the transmitter. While doing so the antenna is fully pushed in. While
walking away operate a control function. Observe the other servos. The uncontrolled
servos should remain stationary up to a distance of at least 80 m and the controlled
servo must follow the controlled movements without delay. Should this not be the
case check again if your channel is free. If this is the case, return the entire system
(with battery, switch cable, servos etc.) to the service department of the manufacturer
for inspection.

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Faults do not cure themselves!
This test can only be carried out if the wireless band is undisturbed and no further
remote control transmitters are being operated, even on other channels! Such trials
are not advisable on high mountains due to the extremely strong field strengths and
overshoots by other transmitters. If you are unsure about anything do not under any
circumstance fly your model, even if you are very keen to try it out and the spectators
demand a first flight demonstration.
The First Start
The first flight can be carried out in different ways: at a slope site from a hand launch,
at a flat-field site or via an aero-tow.
Aerotow is the best (safest) method to launch your Alpina 3001 for the first time. Do
not forget the usual arrangements between you and your tug pilot!
At a slope site: Wait for a good upwind phase and throw the model diagonally
downwards. Let the model initially flop – gaining speed is half the battle! If necessary
adjust the trims to achieve straight and level flight and maintain speed. Then fly
control switch curves to test cornering characteristics, control throws (roll, pitch and
yaw). Be sure to extend the air breaks/flaps briefly at height to get to know the
behaviour of the model.
If there is sufficient height, check the centre of gravity at the same time. The
procedure for checking the centre of gravity described in the following is a fine-tuning
of the centre of gravity. This method requires gentle airflow and a precisely balanced
centre of gravity; it fails in strong winds or when severe balancing errors are made.
During strong winds it is very difficult to trim the normal speed as it is very hard to
estimate the actual speed in relation to the ambient air.
The model is being trimmed in normal speed; this is considerably higher than the
pitch speed. The model must not undulate or appear "spongy" and heavy to control.
The flaps are on "neutral".
Now – provided the model is flying at a safe height – briefly apply down elevator to
place the model in a steep dive. Then allow the elevator to return to neutral
immediately and observe the flight path. The centre of gravity can be considered to
be about right if the model recovers in a gentle upward arc (100 m) without any
further control inputs.
The centre of gravity is too far forward if the model bounces quickly out of the dive
and climbs steeply.
Action: Remove lead ballast from fuselage nose, trim depth a little.
The centre of gravity is too far back if the model shows no tendency to recover, or
indeed if it even begins a steeper nosedive.
Action: Intercept the model immediately. Add lead to the fuselage nose and secure,
trim height a little.