GRAUPNER ALPINA 3001 ELEKTRO User manual

GRAUPNER GmbH & Co. KG D-73230 KIRCHHEIM/TECK GERMANY
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// Order. No. 41950
41960
Instructions
ALPINA 3001 ELEKTRO
Electric-powered model glider
This model requires a six-function radio control system.

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Specification
Wingspan approx. 3001 mm
Overall length approx. 1420 mm
Wing section TA-30 series, 8.3 %
Tailplane section 10%
Wing area approx. 48.2 dm²
Tailplane area approx. 4.2 dm²
Total surface area approx. 52.4 dm²
Min. all-up weight, according
to fittings, approx. 2450 g
Longitudinal dihedral approx. 1- 1.3°
Centre of Gravity approx. 84 - 88 mm aft of the wing root leading edge
Important safety notes
You have acquired a kit which can be assembled into a fully working RC model when
fitted out with suitable accessories. However, we as manufacturers have no control
over the way you build and fly your RC model aircraft, nor how you install, operate
and maintain the associated components, and for this reason we are obliged to deny
all liability for loss, damage or costs which are incurred due to the incompetent or
incorrect use and operation of our products, or which are connected with such
operation in any way. Unless otherwise prescribed by binding law, the obligation of
the GRAUPNER company to pay compensation, regardless of the legal argument
employed, is excluded. This includes personal injury, death, damage to buildings,
damage due to loss of business or turnover, interruption of business or other direct or
indirect consequent damage whose root cause was the operation of the model.
The total liability in all cases is limited to the amount of money which you actually
paid for this model.
This model aeroplane is built and flown at the sole and express responsibility of the
operator. The only way to avoid injury to persons and damage to property is to
handle and operate the model with the greatest care and consideration at all times.
During construction
When handling adhesives and solvent-based materials it is important to observe the
safety notes and instructions supplied by the manufacturer. Many glues and solvents
are capable of causing injury and damage to materials if they are not used com-
petently. Take waste glue and paint to your local model shop or toxic waste collection
centre.
Note that balsa knives, pins, etc. have sharp points and edges, and should be hand-
led carefully to avoid injury.
Take care to keep tools, adhesives and paints out of the reach of children.
A large, unobstructed working surface is a great advantage for all types of model-
making.
If you are a relative beginner and are not sure of any process, it is always best
to ask an experienced modeller for help.

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Flying the model
Never fly your ALPINA 3001 Champ ELEKTRO in a nature reserve or any other
protected site. Please don’t disturb the animals and plants which live in the
countryside.
Trees and bushes are the natural habitat of many birds, and also serve as nesting
sites and general protection for them.
Before you fly the model for the first time it is essential to take out a special
insurance policy designed to cover modelling risks.
These safety notes should be kept in a safe place. If you ever dispose of the
model, be sure to pass them on to the new owner.
Manufacturer’s declaration:
If material defects or manufacturing faults should arise in a product distributed by us
in the Federal Republic of Germany and purchased by a consumer (§ 13 BGB), we,
Graupner GmbH & Co. KG, D-73230 Kirchheim/Teck, Germany, acknowledge the
obligation to correct those defects within the limitations described below.
The consumer is not entitled to exploit this manufacturer’s declaration if the failure in
the usability of the product is due to natural wear, use under competition conditions,
incompetent or improper use (including incorrect installation) or external influences.
This manufacturer’s declaration does not affect the consumer’s legal or contractual
rights regarding defects arising from the purchase contract between the consumer
and the vendor (dealer).
Extent of the guarantee
If a claim is made under guarantee, we undertake at our discretion to repair or
replace the defective goods. We will not consider supplementary claims, especially
for reimbursement of costs relating to the defect (e.g. installation / removal costs) and
compensation for consequent damages unless they are allowed by statute. This does
not affect claims based on legal regulations, especially according to product liability
law.
Guarantee requirements
The purchaser is required to make the guarantee claim in writing, and must enclose
original proof of purchase (e.g. invoice, receipt, delivery note) and this guarantee
card. He must send the defective goods to us at his own cost, using the address
stated above.
The purchaser should state the material defect or manufacturing fault, or the
symptoms of the fault, in as accurate a manner as possible, so that we can check if
our guarantee obligation is applicable.
The goods are transported from the consumer to us and from us to the consumer at
the risk of the consumer.

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Duration of validity
This declaration only applies to claims made to us during the claim period as stated
in this declaration. The claim period is 24 months from the date of purchase of the
product by the consumer from a dealer in the Federal Republic of Germany (date of
purchase). If a defect arises after the end of the claim period, or if the evidence or
documents required according to this declaration in order to make the claim valid are
not presented until after this period, then the consumer forfeits any rights or claims
from this declaration.
Limitation by lapse of time
If we do not acknowledge the validity of a claim based on this declaration within the
claim period, all claims based on this declaration are barred by the statute of
limitations after six months from the time of implementation; however, this cannot
occur before the end of the claim period.
Applicable law
This declaration, and the claims, rights and obligations arising from it, are based
exclusively on the pertinent German Law, without the norms of international private
law, and excluding UN retail law.
The following points are important and must be observed at all times:
 Before you fly the model check that the radio control system is working reliably,
and that all connections are secure.
 The batteries must be charged and the range of the radio control system must be
checked before you operate the model. In particular, the radio control system
batteries must be fully charged before each session.
 Ensure that the channel you intend to use is not already in use by other
modellers. Never fly the aeroplane if you are not certain that your channel is free.
 Read and observe the instructions and recommendations provided by the
manufacturer of your radio control system and accessory components.
 Ensure that the servos are not mechanically obstructed at any point in their
travel.
 Dry cells and rechargeable batteries must never be short-circuited.
 Remove all batteries from the model prior to transporting and storing it.
 Do not subject the aircraft to dirty or cold conditions, or high levels of humidity or
heat.
 Secure the model and your RC equipment carefully when transporting them.
They may be seriously damaged if they are free to slide about.
 IMPORTANT: when the flight battery is exhausted, you must not dispose of it in
the household waste. Take the pack to your local battery reclamation centre.
IMPORTANT: when the useful life of the model and the transmitter are over, do
not discard them in the domestic rubbish. The electric and electronic components

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in particular must be taken to your nearest electrical recycling centre. Ask your
local authority if you are not sure of its location.
Pre-flight checks
Check that the radio control system works correctly and at full range before every
flight: switch on the transmitter and the receiving system, and extend the transmitter
aerial to its full length; walk away from the model, and check that all the control
surfaces work smoothly and immediately at an appropriate distance; check also that
they deflect in the correct “sense” in relation to the stick movements.
If you are a relative beginner to this type of model flying, we recommend that you
enlist an experienced model pilot to help you check and test-fly the machine.
Care and maintenance
 Clean the model carefully after every session. The aeroplane and RC com-
ponents should only be cleaned using suitable cleaning agents. Ask your model
shop for information.
 When cleaning any types of printed decoration (decals, design films) it is
important to avoid using solvent-based cleaners, as such agents may ruin the
printing. Use nothing more than a mild liquid detergent solution and a soft cloth.
Notes on building the model
It is essential to read right through the building instructions before starting work on
the model. Bear in mind the hazards involved in the use of tools.
Before making any glued joints, be sure to clean the surfaces and remove all traces
of grease. We recommend sanding lightly, before wiping with a non-greasy cleaning
agent. Before gluing parts to the fuselage it is essential to roughen the surfaces with
fine abrasive paper and de-grease them with acetone or similar solvent, otherwise
you will not obtain strong, durable joints. This applies in particular to moulded GRP
fuselages.
Tools required to build the ALPINA 3001 Champ ELEKTRO
Pencil (HB lead), felt-tip pen, setsquare, tape measure or metre rule, household
scissors, sharp narrow-bladed knife, e.g. balsa knife, Order No. 980, small electric
drill, set of twist drills.

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Gluing different materials
The following table gives examples of some typical joints, but it makes no claim to be
comprehensive.
Materials Typical joint Adhesive
Order No.
GRP to Canopy to UHU plus endfest 300
steel wire latch wire Order No. 950.43
GRP to Fuselage to UHU plus endfest 300
wood servo plate Order No. 950.43
Note:
Areas of the fuselage which are to be glued should be rubbed down with fine-grit
abrasive paper to remove any traces of mould release agent. Carefully remove all
sanding dust. Aim at reducing the glossy surface to a matt finish, otherwise there is
no chance of a durable glued joint between the fuselage and other parts.
When using adhesives it is important to observe the instructions supplied by the
manufacturer. The main Graupner FS catalogue includes many other types of glue.
Ensure good ventilation in your workroom when using solvent-based adhesives.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Important note
It is essential to avoid using solvent-based glues for any joint in which the
adhesive comes into contact with the styrofoam wing core. This applies in
particular to cyano-acrylates, as these materials immediately attack the foam
and cause large-scale damage; in most cases the component is rendered
unusable. Use only solvent-free adhesives; we recommend UHU-Endfest (24-
hour epoxy resin) or epoxy laminating resin thickened with chopped cotton
strands. Do not use 5-minute epoxy for joints which are vital to airframe
integrity, or for crucial control linkages!
Note regarding: “gluing with epoxy”
Epoxy laminating resin is not an effective adhesive on its own! These resins only
work well as glues when thickened with various additives. You can adjust the
qualities of your adhesive by choosing the appropriate additive to suit your
application:
1. Chopped cotton strands produce a tough, flexible joint.
2. Super-fine glass fibres produce a rock-solid joint which is easy to sand.
3. Micro-balloons transform epoxy resin into a lightweight filler paste.
Radio control system
We particularly recommend: mx-12 to mc-24 computer systems

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or
Recommended servos:
For rudder and DES 678 BB MG Order No. 7943
elevator
For ailerons and DES 448 BB MG Order No. 7914
flaps
Receiver power supply PRX-3A Order No. 4135
Suitable receivers include the DS 19, SMC 19 and SMC 14.
Servo extension leads required
Order No. 3935.18 For permanent connection to the receiver 4 reqd.
Electric motor and accessories
Motor
Order No. Propeller Order No. Spinner Order No. Flight battery Order No. Speed controller Order No.
COMPACT 540
7720 40 x 25 cm 1336.40.25 42 mm Ø 6042.5 LiPo battery,
3/3200 mAh
7657.3
BRUSHLESS CONTROL 70
7237
See the main FS catalogue for details of suitable battery chargers.

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Assembling the ALPINA 3001 Champ ELEKTRO
Please don’t start work on the model until you have read through the instructions and
understand the purpose of the various components and stages of construction. If you
are not satisfied with the quality of any part, take it back to your model shop for
replacement before modifying it in any way.
The wings
Use your fingertips to locate the horn slots in the ailerons and flaps, remove the
covering film over them using the tip of a hot soldering iron or a sharp balsa knife,
then trim them as required so that the horns are a snug fit. The GRP horns should be
glued in the slots as shown in the two photos, taking care to produce really strong
joints.
The slots are machine-cut to approximately the correct depth, but you may need to
make minor adjustments by removing a little more of the foam core. Ideally you
should aim at removing foam inside the slots until the veneer is exposed, in this case
with the grain running at RIGHT-ANGLES to the wingspan.
While the glue is curing you can use the time to cut down the servo output levers to
the shape shown in the photo. Drill out the outermost hole in the output arm to 1.6
mm Ø to suit the threaded steel pushrod.
Centre the servos, then push the prepared output arms onto the servo output shafts
and fit the retaining screws.

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The servos are centred by switching on the RC system and setting the trims to
neutral.
The next step is to glue the servos to the servo well covers, but first you will need to
solder the servo leads to the extension leads (already present in the wings), and
remove the servo mounting lugs. Solder the joints carefully, ensuring that you main-
tain correct polarity, i.e. connect like colours of wire together. Insulate each soldered
joint with a separate heat-shrink sleeve, which must be fitted onto the wire before the
joint is soldered.
The servos can now be glued to the covers as shown in the photo: the output arm
must be positioned in the centre of the pushrod fairing, and there should be an 8 mm
gap between the servo and the edge of the moulding, as shown below.
Thoroughly sand the servo well cover and the servo case before gluing them
together.
It is possible to use cyano, Order No. 5821, for these joints, but in this case you must
ensure that the servo is positioned correctly “first time”, i.e. you will have no oppor-
tunity to adjust the servo position if you use cyano.

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Each aileron and flap pushrod is assembled using an M2 threaded rod, an M2 nut
and an M2 clevis, as supplied in the kit. Note that the angled end of the aileron push-
rods must be formed in such a way that the distance between the linkage hole on the
servo output arm and the clevis linkage pin is 40 mm. For the flaps the same dimen-
sion is 45 mm. Final adjustment can be made later by screwing the clevis in or out on
the threaded rod, once you have screwed the servo cover in place.
It is essential to apply a drop of UHU schraubensicher (thread-lock fluid) between the
clevis and the locknut to prevent the clevis working loose.
You can now connect the clevises to the control surface horns, and fix the servo well
covers in place using the countersunk screws supplied; drill pilot-holes for the screws
beforehand. TIP: if you want the last word in aerodynamic efficiency you can
countersink the screw-holes in the moulding.
There are two possible methods of connecting the servos to the receiver: one is to
route the servo extension leads from the receiver out of the openings in the fuselage,
and then connect them to the extension leads in the wings when the model is rigged;
the other is to solder the extension leads to the wing servo quick-connectors, Order

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No. 2972 and 2973. In this case the servos are connected automatically when you
plug the wing panels into the fuselage.
The four incidence pegs must now be glued in the wing root ribs so that the wings
have a fixed location relative to the fuselage, and cannot swivel on the wing joiner.
Open up the rectangular holes in the root fairings on the fuselage, cutting along the
marked lines using a rotary cutter and / or a file. Leave about 1 mm space all round
the opening for the wing joiner.
Drill 3 mm Ø holes in the wing root ribs for the incidence pegs, drilling to a depth of
50 mm. To check the fit, plug the two wing panels into the fuselage using the rectan-
gular CFRP joiner and the incidence pegs. Take care not to push the steel dowels
right into the wings.
Wing joiner
The aerodynamic forces of the ALPINA 3001 ELEKTRO are absorbed by a rectan-
gular-section carbon joiner which fits into a hybrid carbon spar in the wings. The wing
joiner is a high-quality hand-made laminated component which incorporates the
correct dihedral, and is immensely stiff and strong. Although the parts are carefully
standardised it is still possible that you will find minor tolerances in the fit. This is not
a quality defect, and any tightness can be eliminated with a few careful passes of
120-grit abrasive paper.

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While the wings are plugged into the fuselage, please check that the tailplane lines
up correctly with the wings. You will find a small compression strut in the wooden
parts bag. Install this component between the wings close to the trailing edge, and
adjust its position to correct any minor production tolerances in the wing sweep
angle. It is important to epoxy the compression strut in place at this stage.
When you are confident that everything fits correctly, you can glue the incidence
pegs in the wing root ribs. Ensure that the pegs project out of the wings by different
amounts: ideally this will be around 10 mm for the rear pegs, and about 7 mm for the
front ones. This makes it much easier to assemble the model at the flying field. Leave
the model components fitted together until the epoxy has cured completely.
TIP: before mixing the epoxy, it is a good idea to mask out the wing root ribs and the
facing ribs at the fuselage root fairings using wide adhesive tape, as this makes it
much easier to remove excess resin later. The tape also helps to prevent epoxy
being forced into the socket of the Multilock wing retainer.
The final work on the wing panels is to glue the Multilock pegs in the blind holes in
the wing root ribs: push the pegs into the sockets in the fuselage until they engage.
Offer up the wings, and make any minor adjustments required to the blind holes in
the root ribs. Apply glue to the inside of the blind holes in the wing root ribs, then
push the wings up against the fuselage so that the incidence pegs fit into the holes in
the fuselage, with the wing panels resting snugly against the facing ribs. Leave the
wings plugged into the fuselage until the glue has set hard.
TIP: use slightly flexible adhesive tape (e.g. paper masking tape) to hold the wings
against the fuselage. When the glue has cured completely, carefully peel off the tape
before removing the wings from the fuselage once more.

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Fuselage and canopy
Installing the canopy latch
Trim the canopy pin support rail (channeled hardwood strip) to fit inside the canopy.
Carefully de-burr the steel locating pin, round off the end, and glue it in the support
rail; note that the pin must project beyond the end of the rail by about 22 mm. Glue
the pin support rail in the canopy in such a way that the pin projects by about 6 mm
beyond the edge of the moulding. There should be a gap about 3 mm wide between
the pin and the inside face of the canopy. Using a round file, carefully file a small
notch in the front of the canopy flange to accommodate the canopy retaining pin.
Take care: don’t file away too much material! The canopy is retained on the fuselage
by a GRP leaf-spring; the spring should project beyond the rear end of the canopy by
10 mm. Tack the canopy spring in place with cyano, then epoxy one or two layers of
160 g glass cloth over it and onto the canopy, over a length of 50 to 60 mm. Remem-
ber to sand the joint surfaces with 80-grit abrasive paper before applying the glue.

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The canopy can be fitted on the fuselage once the resin has cured: place the canopy
in the recess, and engage the GRP tongue at the rear end. Push the canopy
towards the tail until the pin clears the front flange, and can be engaged in the notch,
then slide it forward again until the canopy fits snugly in the recess.
When you slide the canopy forward, it will naturally centre itself on the fuselage
flange.
Before the RC plate is glued in the fuselage, the special peel ply on the inside of the
fuselage sides must be removed as shown in the picture.

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Installing the RC components and the electric motor in the fuselage
The three laser-cut plates must be glued in the fuselage to support the electric motor
and the receiving system components.
Attach the electric motor to the motor bulkhead using the retaining screws supplied
with the motor.
Place the electric motor assembly in the fuselage, working from the canopy opening.
Fit the spinner loosely on the motor shaft, and position the motor in such a way that
the spinner backplate is exactly parallel to the front face of the fuselage. Carefully
withdraw the spinner cap, apply adhesive all round the joint area, and then fit the
spinner cap again. Leave the spinner cap in place while the glue is hardening, so
that the motor cannot shift out of position.

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Cut down the servo output levers to the shape shown in the photo, centre the servos
from the transmitter, and push the output arms onto the servo output shafts.
Screw the servos to the RC plate, then glue the plate in the fuselage, positioned as
shown in the photo below.
The flight battery can be fixed to the battery plate using Velcro (hook-and-loop) tape.
Once you have established the correct Centre of Gravity, mark the battery’s position
using a pencil.
Installing the catapult hook
The catapult hook is required for the launching aid for the Alpina 3001 Champ
ELEKTRO. It is installed in a similar manner to the towhook, except that the hole
position should be 150 mm from the point of the fuselage nose.

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The tailplane
The all-moving tail crank is factory-installed on this model, but you may need to make
minor adjustments to the guide slot for the rear tailplane joiner wire. Plug the tailplane
panels into both sides of the fin using the two 3 mm Ø steel dowels: the one dowel
fits through the front pivot hole in the fin, the second through the rear hole in the
crank, working through the machined slots in the fin. The two tailplane panels can
now be pushed onto the steel dowels on both sides.
CAUTION: it is essential to remove any rough or sharp edges from the ends of the
steel dowels before fitting the tailplane panels for the first time. The tail panels are
retained by an integral clamp which could be ruined by rough edges on the steel
dowels if you force them into place.
CAUTION: if your model is the ARC version, please ensure that the tailplane panels
are the right way up; the top surfaces are marked with a dot at the root rib.
The rudder
Use your fingertips to locate the hinge points on the leading edge of the rudder.
Remove the covering film over the slots, and mark their position on the fin sealing
strip (trailing edge). Drill 3 mm Ø holes at the marked points on the sealing strip,
taking care to drill them in the centre of the strip. Attach the ring-screws to the rudder
by sliding the pivot rod (2 mm Ø GRP) through the hole from either end. Now offer up
the two ring-screws to the holes in the fin sealing strip, and carry out any minor
adjustments required; this is also a good time to check the rudder travel to each side
of centre. The two ring-screws can now be glued in the holes in the fin sealing strip.
Allow the epoxy to set hard before gluing the horn in the bottom end of the rudder:
bend the end of the rudder pushrod at right-angles, fit the horn on the angled end,
and mark its position on the rudder. Drill a 4 mm Ø hole in the rudder, raked forward
at such an angle that the linkage hole lines up with the hinge pivot axis.

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Assembling the ALPINA 3001 Champ ELEKTRO
Fit the rectangular wing joiner through the fuselage. Slide the wings onto the joiner
to the point where the servo extension leads can be connected. Finally push the
wings in until the Multilocks engage, and hold the wings firmly against the fuselage.
Important: the wing and tailplane panels must be held securely in place; it must not
be possible for them to slide outwards, away from the fuselage.
The Finish
CAUTION!!!
Like other models in our range, the Alpina is manufactured using LTSCP technology,
aimed at obtaining the optimum balance between airframe strength and weight. This
technique permits a reduction in the thickness of the wing skins, and their ability to
conduct heat is therefore very great. Styrofoam melts at temperatures above 70°C, and
to avoid ruining the foam cores it is essential to use types of decal film which have
low-temperature adhesive. Whatever film you use, it is important to apply the heating
tool as briefly as possible.
We therefore recommend the use of low-temperature decal films, especially self-
adhesive types.
Balancing the ALPINA 3001 Champ ELEKTRO
Assemble the model completely, ready to fly, and support it under the wing roots on
both sides of the fuselage at a point around 84 mm from the root leading edge; the
model should now balance level, preferably with the nose inclined slightly down-
ward. The lead ballast required to obtain correct balance must be secured per-
manently in the fuselage nose, so that it cannot possibly shift in flight.
Before flying the model for the first time it is important to set all the control surfaces
accurately to centre (neutral position), with the transmitter trims also at centre.

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Control surface travels
Ailerons 25 mm up 10 mm down
Elevator 10 mm up 10 mm down
Rudder 10 mm left 10 mm right
Thermal setting
Ailerons 1.5 mm down
Flaps 3 mm down
Speed setting
Ailerons 2 mm up
Flaps 1.5 mm up
Butterfly (Crow) setting
Ailerons 18 mm up
Flaps 65 mm down
Elevator 3 mm down
(max. means trailing edge or bottom edge of fuselage)
If you cannot obtain the stated control surface travels by adjusting the mechanical linkages,
use your transmitter’s DUAL RATE function to set them.
Important:
When installing and setting up the control surface linkages it is vital to ensure that
they work smoothly, are able to carry out their full movement - including trim travel -
without being impeded, and are not mechanically obstructed at any point.
When you move the rudder stick to the right, the rudder should also deflect to the
right (left stick: left rudder). If you pull the elevator stick back towards you, the trailing
edge of both tailplane panels should deflect up (stick forward: elevator down). Move
the aileron stick to the right, and the right-hand aileron should deflect up, the left-
hand aileron down. When you pull the Butterfly (Crow) stick back towards you, both
ailerons should rise, and both flaps should fall. It is best to assign the flaps to a slider,
and apply electronic limits to their movement, so that the stated travels are obtained
at full travel of the slider.
The first flight
“Old hands” will now be waiting for the first opportunity to take their new Alpina 3001 Champ
ELEKTRO to the flying site, where they will test-fly it in the accustomed manner, carry out
any minor corrections required, and then, we hope, have many hours of pleasure flying their
new model.
The following is intended to help the less experienced modeller to test-fly and trim the model
correctly, and to exploit the model's fine performance to the full.
Test flying
Every flying machine, from the humble chuck glider to the full-size aircraft, has to be test-
flown and trimmed after completion; your Alpina 3001 Champ ELEKTRO is no exception.
The slightest inaccuracy in construction can lead to a minor variation in the model’s flight
characteristics and control response. Test-flying is the process of optimising the CG, and of
fine-tuning the model’s control response.

GRAUPNER GmbH & Co. KG D-73230 KIRCHHEIM/TECK GERMANY
Modifications reserved. No liability for printing errors 12/2010
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Repeated hand-glides at a flat-field site should be avoided at all costs. The most dangerous
time for any model is when it is close to the ground, and hand launches are therefore by their
nature extremely hazardous. There is hardly any time to correct the controls, and a hard
landing can easily damage the model.
Range testing (even for experts)
Ensure that your transmitter and receiver batteries are freshly charged according to the
battery manufacturer’s recommendations. Before switching on your transmitter make certain
that your channel is vacant. The channel pennant on your transmitter aerial is obligatory, and
shows other pilots which frequency you are using. If there are other pilots present, tell them
loud and clear which channel you are on, and find out which frequencies they are using.
Before the first flight you should carry out a range check, and we strongly recommend that
you repeat the test before the start of every day’s flying. Hold the model in such a way that
your body cannot influence the receiver aerial, i.e. hold it by the fuselage nose. Your
assistant should collapse the transmitter aerial fully (but leave it attached), then walk away
from you carrying the transmitter.
As the range increases your assistant should operate one transmitter function constantly
while you watch the model’s control surfaces. The servos not being moved should remain
motionless up to a range of about 80 m, and the moving servo should follow the stick
deflections immediately and smoothly. If this is not the case, check first that your channel
really is vacant. If so, pack up your entire RC system (complete with batteries, switch
harness and servos) and send it back to the equipment manufacturer for checking.
Faults don't cure themselves!
This test can only work effectively if the radio band is not suffering interference, and if no
other RC transmitters are switched on - even if they are on other channels. In high mountains
such tests are not useful due to extreme the field strengths and excessive range of other
transmitters. If you are not sure of anything, please don’t risk a flight, even though your
fingers can’t wait to move the sticks, and your friends are egging you on.
The first flight
The first flight can be carried out in any of several ways - at the slope from a hand-launch, at
a flat field.
At the slope you should wait for a period of reliable lift and launch the model with the wings
level and the nose down. Don’t worry if the model dives at first - speed is half the battle!
If necessary adjust the trims to achieve straight flight and a reasonable cruising speed.
The next step is to fly turns alternately to left and right to check the model's turning charac-
teristics, the harmonisation (balance) between ailerons, elevator and rudder, and the aileron
differential. Be sure also to deploy the brakes (butterfly / crow) so that you have a chance to
see the change in pitch trim.
If you still have plenty of height you should check the Centre of Gravity right at this early
stage. The procedure for CG testing described here is a method of fine-tuning the model’s
balance. It can only work when air movements are slight, and when the initial CG position is