Great Planes Christen Eagle ARF - GPMA1217 - Manual (Page 46)

Section 6.0: RADIO REQUIREMENTS
6.1 All transmitters must be FCC type certified.
6.2 FCC Technician or higher-class license required for 6
meter band operation only.
Additional IMAA General Recommendations
The following recommendations are included in the Safety
Code not to police such items, but rather to offer basic
suggestions for enhanced safety.
Servos need to be of a rating capable to handle the loads that
the control surfaces impose upon the servos. Standard servos
are not recommended for control surfaces. Servos should be
rated heavy-duty. For flight-critical control functions a
minimum of 45 inch/ounces of torque should be considered.
This should be considered a minimum for smaller aircraft and
higher torque servos are strongly encouraged for larger
aircraft. The use of one servo for each aileron and one for
each elevator half is strongly recommended. Use of dual
servos is also recommended for larger aircraft.
On-board batteries shall be 1000 mAh up to 20 lbs., 1200 mAh
to 30 lbs., 1800 mAh to 40 lbs. and 2000 mAh over 40 lbs.
flying weight. The number and size of servos, size and loads
on control surfaces and added features should be considered
as an increase to these minimums. Batteries should be able to
sustain power to the onboard radio components for a minimum
of one hour total flying time before recharging.
Redundant and fail-safe battery systems are recommended.
The use of anti-glitch devices for long leads are recommended.
There is no maximum engine displacement limit, as it is the
position of this body that an underpowered aircraft presents
a greater danger than an overpowered aircraft. However, the
selection of engine size relative to airframe strength and
power loading mandates good discretionary judgment by
the designer and builder. Current AMA maximums for engine
displacement are 6.0 cu. in. for two-stroke and 9.6 cu. in. for
four-stroke engines. These maximums apply only to AMA
Sanctions concerning competition events (such as 511, 512,
515 and 520) and, as such, the maximums apply. All IMAA
(non competition) events should be sanctioned as Class “C”
events, in which these engine size maximums do not apply.
Generally, it is recommended that no attempt should be made
to fly a radio controlled model aircraft with a gasoline engine in
which the model aircraft weight would exceed twelve (12)
pounds (underpowered) per cubic inch of engine displacement,
or be less than five (5) pounds (overpowered) per cubic inch of
engine displacement. Example: Using a 3 cu. in. engine, a
model would likely be underpowered at an aircraft weight
greater than 36 pounds. With the same engine, an aircraft
weighing less than 15 pounds would likely be overpowered.
Servo arms and wheels should be rated heavy duty. Glass-
filled servo arms and control horns are highly recommended.
Control surfaces linkages are listed in order of preference:
1. Cable system (pull-pull). A tiller bar is highly recommended
along with necessary bracing.
2. Arrow Shaft, fiberglass or aluminum, 1/4" or 5/16" O.D.
bracing every six (6) to ten (10) inches is highly recommended.
3. Tube-in-tube (nyrod). Bracing every few inches is highly
recommended. Inner tube should be totally enclosed in
outer tube.
4. Hardwood dowel, 3/8" O.D. bracing every six (6) to ten
(10) inches is highly recommended.
Hinges should be rated heavy duty and manufactured for
Giant Scale use primarily. Homemade and original design
hinges are acceptable if determined to be adequate for the
intended use.
Clevis (steel, excluding heavy-duty ball links) and
attachment hardware should be heavy duty 4-40 threaded
rod type. 2-56 threaded size rod is acceptable for some
applications (e.g. throttle). Clevis is to have lock nuts and
sleeve or spring keepers.
Propeller tips should be painted or colored in a visible and
contrasting manner so as to increase the visibility of the
propeller tip arc.
End of IMAA Safety Code
❏
1. Fuelproof all areas exposed to fuel or exhaust residue
such as the cowl ring, wing saddle area, etc.
❏
2. Check the C.G. according to the measurements
provided in the manual.
❏
3. Be certain the battery and receiver are securely
mounted in the fuse. Simply stuffing them into place with
foam rubber is not sufficient.
❏
4. Extend the receiver antenna. Make sure the antenna
has a strain relief inside the fuselage to keep tension off the
solder joint inside the receiver.
❏
5. Balance the model laterally as explained in the instructions.
❏
6. Use thread locking compound to secure critical
During the last few moments of preparation your mind
may be elsewhere anticipating the excitement of the first
flight. Because of this, you may be more likely to overlook
certain checks and procedures that should be performed
before the model is flown. To help avoid this, a checklist is
provided to make sure these important areas are not
overlooked. Many are covered in the instruction manual,
so where appropriate, refer to the manual for complete
instructions. Be sure to check the items off as they are
completed (that’s why it’s called a
check list!).
CHECKLIST
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