Top Flite TOPA0905 - Manual (Page 37)

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY
Check the Control Directions
❏
1. Turn on the transmitter and receiver and center
the trims. If necessary, remove the servo arms from
the servos and reposition them so they are centered.
Reinstall the screws that hold on the servo arms.
❏
2. With the transmitter and receiver still on, check
all the control surfaces to see if they are centered. If
necessary, adjust the clevises on the pushrods to
center the control surfaces.
❏
3. Make certain that the control surfaces and the
carburetor respond in the correct direction as shown
in the diagram. If any of the controls respond in the
wrong direction, use the servo reversing in the
transmitter to reverse the servos connected to those
controls. Be certain the control surfaces have
remained centered. Adjust if necessary.
Set the Control Throws
Use a Great Planes ® AccuThrow ™ (or a ruler) to
accurately measure and set the control throw of each
control surface as indicated in the chart that follows.
If your radio does not have dual rates, we
recommend setting the throws at the high rate
setting. NOTE: The throws are measured at the
widest part of the elevators, rudder and ailerons.
Balance the Model (C.G.)
At this stage the model should be in ready-to-fly
condition with all of the systems in place including
the engine, landing gear, covering and paint, and the
radio system.
❏
1. Use a felt-tip pen or 1/8" [3mm]-wide tape to
accurately mark the C.G. on the top of the bottom
wing on both sides of the fuselage. The model should
be balanced upside-down. The C.G. is located
5-1/2" [140mm] back from the leading edge of the
bottom wing, measured at the fuselage sides.
5-1/2” [140 mm]
More than any other factor, the C.G. (balance
point) can have the greatest effect on how a model
flies, and may determine whether or not your first
flight will be successful. If you value this model and
wish to enjoy it for many flights, DO NOT
OVERLOOK THIS IMPORTANT PROCEDURE. A
model that is not properly balanced will be unstable
and possibly unflyable.
IMPORTANT: The Staggerwing has been
extensively flown and tested to arrive at the
throws at which it flies best. Flying your model at
these throws will provide you with the greatest
chance for successful first flights. If, after you have
become accustomed to the way the Staggerwing
flies, you would like to change the throws to suit
your taste, that is fine. However, too much control
throw could make the model difficult to control, so
remember, “more is not always better.”
These are the recommended control surface throws:
High Rate Low Rate
ELEVATOR 3/4" up 1/2" up
3/4" down 1/2" down
[19mm] [13mm]
RUDDER 1-1/2" right 1" right
1-1/2" left 1" left
[38mm] [25mm]
AILERONS: 3/4" up 1/2" up
3/4" down 1/2" down
[19mm] [13mm]
FLAPS: 1-3/8" [35mm] down 1" [25mm] down
Note: When flaps are deployed you can expect the
airplane to balloon slightly. To minimize this we
mixed 1/16" [1.6mm] down elevator trim when the
flaps were deployed. If you have a flap to elevator
mix you may wish to consider this mix as well.
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