Great Planes Giant Aeromaster Kit - GPMA0502 - Manual (Page 48)

1 I will have completed a successful radio equipment
ground check before the first flight of a new or repaired
model.
2 I will not fly my model aircraft in the presence of
spectators until I become a qualified flier, unless assisted
by an experienced helper.
3. I will perform my initial turn after takeoff away from the
pit or spectator areas and I will not thereafter fly over pit or
spectator areas, unless beyond my control
4 I will operate my model using only radio
control frequencies currently allowed by the Federal
Communications Commission.
Takeoff on "high" rates if you have dual rates on your
transmitter - especially if you are taking off into a
crosswind For all models it is good practice to gain as
much speed as the length of the runway will permit before
lifting off This will give you a safety margin in case the
engine quits When you initially advance the throttle and the
tail begins to lift, the Aeromaster will begin to turn to the left
(due to the torque of the engine-a characteristic of all
taildraggers) Be prepared for this by applying sufficient
right rudder to keep the Aeromaster running straight down
the middle of the runway The left turning tendency will
decrease as the plane picks up speed Be sure to allow the
tail to rise off the ground before lifting the model into the air
Depending on the surface you are taking off from, you will
need to apply little or no up elevator until flying speed is
reached Don't hold the tail on the ground with too much up
elevator, as the A e r o m a s t e r will become airborne
prematurely and may stall When the plane has gained
enough flying speed to safely lift o f f , gradually and
smoothly apply up elevator and allow the model to climb at
a shallow angle (do not yank the model off the ground into
a steep climb').
CAUTION (THIS APPLIES TO ALL R/C AIRPLANES) If,
while flying, you notice any unusual sounds, such as a
low-pitched "buzz", this may indicate control surface
"flutter" Because flutter can quickly destroy components
of your airplane, any time you detect flutter you must
immediately cut the throttle and land the airplane'
Check all servo grommets for deterioration (this may
indicate which surface fluttered) and make sure all
pushrod linkages are slop-free If it fluttered once, it will
probably flutter again under similar circumstances unless
you can eliminate the slop or flexing in the linkages Here
are some things which can result in flutter Excessive
hinge gap, Not mounting control horns solidly, Sloppy fit
of clevis pin in horn, Elasticity present in flexible plastic
pushrods, Side-play of pushrod in guide tube caused by
tight bends, Sloppy fit of Z-bend in servo arm, Insufficient
glue used when gluing in the elevator joiner wire or
aileron torque rod, Excessive flexing of aileron, caused
by using too soft balsa, Excessive "play" or "backlash" in
servo gears, and Insecure servo mounting
The Great Planes Giant Aeromaster is a great-flying
large-scale sport model that flies smoothly and predictably, yet
is highly acrobatic The Aeromaster does not, however,
possess the self-recovery characteristics of a primary R/C
trainer and should only be flown by experienced RC pilots
This plane is fully capable of performing a full range of
aerobatics - from simple loops and rolls to impressive
Lomcevaks The Aeromaster is limited only by your abilities
and imagination Have funi
We recommend that you take it easy with your Aeromaster
for the first several flights, gradually 'getting acquainted with
this great sport model as your engine gets fully broken in If
you feel as though you have your hands full, keep this in
mind pull back on the throttle stick to slow the model
down This will make everything happen a little slower and
allow yourself time to think and react Add and practice one
maneuver at a time learning how the Aeromaster behaves in
each For smooth flying and normal maneuvers, use the low
rate settings as listed on page 45 High rate elevator may be
required for crisp snap rolls and spins For good knife-edge
performance forward fight speed is the key
Sometime well before it's time to land you should climb
your Aeromaster to a safe altitude and cut the throttle to an
idle and check out the model's low speed characteristics.
Do this a few times so you know what to expect upon
landing
When its time to land, fly a normal landing pattern and
approach Keep a few clicks of power on until you are over
the runway threshold For your first few landings, plan to land
slightly faster than stall speed and on the main wheels, as
this is the easiest way to land your Aeromaster Later, with a
little practice, you will find you can make slow 3-pomt
landings.
Have a ball! But always remember to think about your
next move and plan each maneuver before you do it.
Impulsively "jamming the sticks" without any thought
is what gets most fliers in trouble rather than lack of
flying skill. Happy Landings!
48