Great Planes Spectra Electric Sailplane Kit - GPMA0540 User Manual
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Die Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Final Sanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Covering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Checking for Warps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Other Items Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Glue the Hinges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Optional Hop-up Items . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Mount the Tail Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Supplies and Tools Needed . . . . . . . . . 5 Assemble Pushrods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
A Word About Adhesives . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Install Radio Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Control Throws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Types of Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Final Hookups and Checks . . . . . . . . . 30
Get Ready to Build . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Balance Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
TAIL FEATHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 PRE-FLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Build the Fin and Rudder . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Build the Stabilizer and Elevator . . . . . 7 Find a Safe Place to Fly . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Cut the Hinge Slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Range Check Your Radio . . . . . . . . . . 32
WING ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Install the Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A Decision You Should Make Now . . . 9 AMA Safety Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Build the Inner Wing Panel . . . . . . . . . 9 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Build the Outer Wing Panel . . . . . . . . . 13 Radio Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Join the Inner and Outer Wing Panels . 15 FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Final Wing Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hand Launched Trim Flights . . . . . . . . 32
FUSELAGE ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . 1 9 Your First Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Assemble Fuselage Sides . . . . . . . . . . . 19 THERMAL FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Frame-up the Fuselage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Facts About Thermals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Assemble the Canopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Thermal Soaring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Install the Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Some Important Soaring Tips . . . . . . . 35
FINAL ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Dynamic Braking Modification . . . . . . 35
Balance the Airplane Laterally . . . . . . . 25 PARTS LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Please inspect all parts carefully before starting to build! If any parts are
missing, broken or defective, or if you have any questions about building or
flying this airplane, please call us at (217) 398-8970 and we'll be glad to help.
If you are calling for replacement parts, please look up the part numbers
and the kit identification number (stamped on the end of the carton) and
have them ready when calling.
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