HobbyZone Super Cub Z1 User manual

HBZ7115
HobbyZone®products are distributed exclusively by
Horizon Hobby, Inc.
4105 Fieldstone Road
Champaign, IL 61822
©2006 Horizon Hobby, Inc.
9035
Instruction Manual

Crash damage is not covered
under the warranty.
Be sure to read the warranty
on page 34 and "Warnings and
Safety" on page 30 before you
proceed to Step 1.
Congratulations on your purchase of the HobbyZone®Zone 1
Super Cub. Your Super Cub has come with everything needed
to get you into the air—all in one box, and because it’s a Zone
1 product, it is specifically designed for you to be able to teach
yourself how to fly. You will only need to thoroughly read the
instruction manual, attach the wing, tail, and landing gear, and
then charge the flight battery prior to your first flight.
HobbyZone’s innovative Anti-Crash Technology is the latest
breakthrough in RC flight. Anti-Crash Technology™ (ACT) makes
teaching yourself to fly easier and safer than ever before. With
ACT, anyone can fly. Two sensors on the Super Cub, one on the
top and one on the bottom of the fuselage, monitor the position
of the plane in relation to the ground. When the plane is flying
level, the top sensor sees the sky, while the bottom sees the
ground, and they tell the onboard computer that the plane is
flying correctly. If the plane enters a dive and the sensors detect
that the plane’s orientation is incorrect, the system will automati-
cally correct the control inputs and help prevent the plane from
crashing, allowing you time to regain control. ACT lets you fly
without worry. And once you’ve gained experience with your
Super Cub, you can turn ACT off for more complete control and
increased maneuverability.
Your HobbyZone Super Cub comes with everything needed to
get you into the air. A video compact disc (VCD) is also included
to give you some helpful hints before you take to the sky for the
first time, and includes flying footage.

4
Step 2
5
Step 1
1. Turn on the transmitter.
2. Install the flight battery into the
battery compartment (located at the
bottom of the fuselage) and plug it
into the connector. (The transmitter
should ALWAYS be turned on prior to
installing flight battery, and should
be turned off AFTER the flight battery
has been unplugged).
3. Make sure clothing, fingers, and
property are clear of the propeller,
and ensure you have a good grip
on the plane. Move the slide throttle
all the way back to arm the motor,
and then slide the throttle forward
slowly. The propeller should spin at a
high speed when the throttle is
moved forward. (If the prop does
not spin, the battery is sufficiently
discharged and you can go straight
to the instruction section for charging
the battery—Step 3).
1. Remove the battery cover and install
the included 8 AA batteries.
2. Be certain that you observe proper
polarity when installing the batteries,
and then replace the cover on the
transmitter.
3. To test the transmitter’s function,
turn on the switch on the front of the
transmitter. The LED should glow
brightly.
4. Replace the batteries with fresh AA
batteries when you hear the low
voltage battery alarm beeping.
5. Once the alarm goes off, you only
have a few minutes of power left,
so don’t delay landing your plane
any longer than necessary to land
it safely.
Installation of Batteries into the Transmitter Motor Test and Battery Discharging
WARNING: Keep everything clear of the propeller
at all times! A moving propeller can cause severe
injury and damage.
4. Keep the throttle advanced until the
propeller slows and finally stops. This
means the battery is fully discharged
and ready to be fully charged with
one of the included chargers.
5. After you have ensured the motor
functions correctly and the battery
is completely discharged, unplug
the flight battery and then turn off
the transmitter.

Step 3
7
Step 3
6
DC Peak Charger Maximum
Charge Rates
4.8V 600mAh Ni-MH .8 amps
(requires HBZ1027)
6.0V 600mAh Ni-MH .8 amps
(requires HBZ1027)
4.8V 300mAh Ni-MH .4 amps
(requires HBZ1027)
7.2V 900mAh Ni-MH 1.2 amps
7.2V 1000mAh Ni-MH 1.2 amps
8.4V 1000mAh Ni-MH 1.2 amps
WARNING: If you exceed the maximum charge rate
recommended above, you can cause permanent
damage to the charger and battery, and in some
cases, may cause a fire.
Charging the Aircraft Battery
Your Super Cub comes with a variable
rate DC peak charger, as well as an AC
peak charger. This way, you can use the
charger that best fits your needs.
DC peak charger features:
• Adjustable charge rate from
300mAh—1.2A
• LED indicator
• Peak charges 4- to 7-cell Ni-Cd and
Ni-MH battery packs
1. Select the charge rate of 1.2A for
charging the included 8.4V 1000mAh
battery pack.
2. Connect the battery to the charger.
3. Plug the charger into a12V power
outlet of an automobile. Adult super-
vision is required. PLACE BATTERY
ON HEAT-RESISTANT SURFACE
DURING CHARGING.
4. The LED of the charger will blink on
and off steadily while fast charging.
5. When the LED glows solid, the charger
automatically switches to a trickle
charge, indicating that the battery
is charged. The battery will feel warm
when it is charged.
6. We recommend that you peak charge
your battery within a few hours of
flying your Super Cub.
1.0
1.2
HBZ1026
.3
.4
.6
.8
AC peak charger features:
• Delta peak charging circuitry safely
charges your battery pack
• 500mAh charge rate for 8.4V batteries
• 400mAh charge rate for 9.6V batteries
• LED and timer
• Charges only 7- and 8-cell Ni-MH
battery packs
1. Plug the battery pack into the
connector of the AC peak charger.
2. Plug the AC peak charger into a
standard 110/120 AC wall outlet and
place the battery on a heat-resistant
surface while charging.
3. Never leave the charger and battery
unattended during charging.
4. In about 2 hours, a completely
discharged battery pack will be fully
charged. The LED will flash while
charging and glow solid when the
pack is fully charged, and the battery
will feel warm.
5. We recommend that you peak charge
the battery shortly before flying.

Step 5
Attaching the Wing
Step 4
8
Landing Gear Attachment
1. Locate the included wire landing gear.
2. Slide landing gear into the allotted
slot on the bottom of the fuselage.
3. Make sure the gear is securely in the
slot by gently pulling on it after it is
attached.
4. Attach the white plastic scale covers
with the included 4 screws, as shown.
They are located in the small bag
labeled “A.”
1. Locate the wing and wing strut
screws that are included.
2. Place the wing so that it is centered
on the top of the fuselage.
3. Use the included rubber bands to
secure the wing by attaching two
bands straight across the top of the
wing, where each end is attached to
each set of band holders, and criss-
crossing two diagonally across the
top of the wing.
4. After you are satisfied that the wing
is properly centered on the fuselage,
turn the plane over and complete the
wing attachment by attaching the
struts, as shown. The screws that will
be used to attach the struts are in the
small bag labeled “B.”
5. Make certain the wing is properly
attached and centered prior to each
flight.
9

Step 6
11
Step 6
10
Attaching the Tail
1. Locate the rudder and horizontal
stab assemblies and carefully remove
them from the box. It may be helpful
to watch the included video when
installing the tail section.
2. Install the rudder assembly into the
horizontal stab, as shown.
3. Install the complete tail assembly
into the fuselage, as shown.
4. Secure this assembly to the fuselage,
from the bottom, with the included
screws. The 2 screws needed for this
step are in the small bag marked
“C” and are the two longest included.
5. Clip the tail wheel wire into the
plastic wheel housing by pulling
down slightly on the tail wheel, while
at the same time you are pushing up
on the plastic molding until the two
parts “snap” together.
6. Attach the clevis from the rudder
pushrod into the outermost hole
of the control horn on the rudder, and
slide the clear rubber sleeve down
over the clevis.
7. Attach the clevis from the elevator
pushrod into the outermost hole
of control horn on the bottom of the
elevator. Slide the clear rubber sleeve
down over the clevis. Again, refer
to the instructional video for a more
detailed explanation.
push up
pull down

Step 2
Step 2
12 13
1. Make certain the throttle slider is
in the “off” position. Turn on the
transmitter.
2. Install the flight battery in the
fuselage and plug the battery lead
into the lead inside the airplane.
3. Move the stick on the transmitter
(rudder control) side to side while
observing the vertical control surface
is moving per the input (as shown).
Tail Control Test
WARNING: ALWAYS KEEP CLEAR OF THE PRO-
PELLER IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ACCIDENTALLY
TURN ON THE MOTOR!
4. Push the stick full forward (elevator
control). When this is done, the
horizontal control surface should
move down (as shown), causing the
plane to pitch down.
5. Pull back on the stick (elevator
control). When this is done, the
horizontal control surface should
move up (as shown), causing the
plane to pitch up.
Step 7 Step 7
Right
Left
6. If your airplane is not responding,
DO NOT FLY IT! Call the Horizon
Hobby Product Support line at
1-877-504-0233.
7. When you are satisfied your airplane
is set up properly, you can unplug
the flight battery and then turn off
the transmitter. This should be done
every time you have finished flying.
NOTE: It is very important to make
sure that the control surfaces (rudder
and elevator) are at 0 degrees. Ideally,
they will be at 0 degrees when the
levers are centered. The next step ex-
plains how to make adjustments to the
control surface.
Down
Up

Step 2
Step 8
14
Making Adjustment to the Control Surfaces
1. Any changes necessary to bring both
the rudder and elevator to neutral
(zero degrees) should be able to be
done by using the trim levers on the
transmitter. To do this, place the
control stick at center, and use the
slider button below the stick to
adjust the rudder (vertical surface)
until it is flush with the stationary
section of the rudder assembly. To
adjust the movable section of the
elevator so that it is flush with the
stationary section of the elevator
assembly, use the slider button to
the left of the control stick.
2. After this, if you find you are not able
to get the control surfaces flush with
each other, do not fly until things
have been corrected.
3. If corrections are needed, and moving
the trim lever(s) is not adequate,
you will need to:
a. Turn on the transmitter.
b. Insert the battery pack into the
fuselage and plug the battery into
the lead from the airplane.
c. Return the trim levers to center.
d. Remove the clevis from the control
surface horn and adjust the length of
the pushrod by turning clevis the
appropriate direction. Turning clock-
wise makes the pushrod shorter and
counterclockwise makes it longer.
Elevator
Trim
Rudder Trim
15
Choose a Large, Open Grass Field
Step 9
In order to have the most success,
and to protect property and your
Super Cub, it is very important to
select a place to fly that is very open.
The site should:
• Have a minimum of 300 feet
(90 meters) of clear space in
ALL directions.
• Be clear of pedestrians.
• Be free of trees, buildings, cars,
power lines, or anything that could
entangle your airplane or interfere
with your sightline.
• Remember, your Super Cub can reach
speeds of up to 30 mph (48 k/h), so it
can cover ground quickly.
• Plan on flying in an area that gives
you more space than you think you
need, especially with first flights.
600 feet

Step 2
Step 2
16
Step 10
Choose a Calm Day
We know you want to fly your Super
Cub as soon as you have it. However,
flying in too much wind can place your
aircraft in jeopardy. On your first flights,
make sure that the winds are no more
than 5–7 mph (8–11 k/h).
To check the wind conditions:
• Tie the antenna ribbon to the
transmitter.
• Hold the transmitter so the antenna
is parallel to the ground.
If the flag hangs down, it is calm
enough to fly. If the angle between the
antenna and the flag is less than 20
degrees, it is too windy and you need
to postpone your flight.
17
Step 11
Range Test
Prior to your first flight, you will need
to perform a range test. Two people
are needed to do this—one to hold the
airplane and one to hold the transmitter.
1. One person holds the transmitter
while the other person walks 100
paces away with the Super Cub.
2. Be sure the throttle slider is in the
“off” position.
3. Extend the antenna and turn on the
transmitter.
4. Plug in the flight battery, close the
hatch cover, and turn the latch so the
hatch cover stays in place.
5. As soon as the throttle is advanced,
the prop should spin quickly.
6. As the person moves the transmitter
controls, the airplane should respond
correctly with the controls operating
smoothly.
Warning: The person holding the airplane needs to
make sure the propeller will not come in contact with
any clothing, hair, or parts of the body.
100 paces
too windy
calm
maximum
allowed wind

Step 2
Step 2
The electronic system connected to the
sensors knows that the airplane (with
ACT “on”) should not be allowed to
enter a steep dive. If you give transmitter
input that causes the plane to enter
into a steep dive that could lead to a
crash, the ACT software will override
your input to help prevent the aircraft
from crashing to the ground. ACT will
cut the power going to the motor and
add some up elevator, as well. This
causes the nose of the airplane to pull
up, thereby helping to prevent your
aircraft from crashing. However, in
order for ACT to work properly, there
has to be sufficient altitude for recovery
(at least 200 feet or 61 meters). ACT
will only interrupt flight in extreme situ-
ations, allowing you to enjoy as much
control of your Super Cub as you need.
18
Step 12
Anti-Crash Technology (ACT)
Your HobbyZone®Super Cub comes
equipped with exclusive Anti-Crash
Technology.
™This software will help to
prevent crashes due to over-control.
The sensors that are located on the
fuselage “see” the horizon. One sensor
is located at the top of the windshield
and the other is on the bottom side
of the fuselage, in front of the landing
gear.
Remember, the purpose of Anti-Crash
Technology is to help you learn to fly
properly and smoothly. When ACT is
engaged, it means you have placed
your aircraft in jeopardy. Keeping the
stick more in the middle, and less to
the “corners” of the transmitter, will
allow you to fly more smoothly and
prevent ACT from engaging. The key is
to learn to make minor movements on
the controls. The transmitter is propor-
tional and is sensitive to movements of
the control stick. Once you have gained
more experience, and feel comfortable
flying, you can turn off ACT and have
full control at all times. It is possible to
change flight modes (turn ACT on or
off) while in flight, but sufficient altitude
is required.
To turn off ACT, simply move the switch
on the top of the transmitter to the
appropriate position. 19
Step 12
If, with ACT™on, you enter into a threat-
ening dive, you will notice the following:
• You will hear the motor power de-
crease as the ACT programming
overrides your input. This slows the
speed of the airplane and will reduce
the risk of a crash.
• The ACT software will give up elevator
input to help pull the nose up and
out of the dive.
• Once the ACT software has been
engaged (takes over), you will not
regain control until after you have
released the steering stick and
returned it to neutral.
With ACT
Without ACT