Great Planes PT-E Trainer Electric Kit - GPMA0110 - Manual (Page 39)

The instructor will usually tell you about flying rules
at the field The number one rule you should always adhere
to is Do not turn on your radio system before you
first check out what frequencies people are using at
the time. If you turn on your radio system while someone
is flying on the same frequency as your transmitter, you
will probably cause their airplane to crash' This is called
"shooting someone down" No one wants all their hard
work ruined because someone wasn't thinking and turned
on their transmitter at the wrong time Always remember
this rule.
The instructor will check the model over to make
sure all the screws are tight and that the prop is tight.
He/she will check hinges to see if they are securely glued.
The instructor therefore checks all parts of the model to
see if it is airworthy The instructor will recommend
changes to be made before the model is ready for flight.
TRIM OUT THE MODEL
Trimming the model means that you have an experi-
enced flier fly the model and make final adjustments to
the position of and amount of throw in the control surfaces
The distances for the control surface throws we gave you
previously are close to where they should be But you won't
really know until the plane is in the air Slight changes
may need to be made The experienced flier, usually an
instructor from a local club, will know what to change as
the model is flying The instructor will adjust the trim
levers on the radio transmitter to make the model fly
straight and level with the control sticks in neutral Then
when the plane is on the ground the instructor will adjust
the clevises at the rudder and elevator so the trim levers
can be moved back to neutral (As you become more experi-
enced, you can trim out your new models yourself The
first flight for any new plane should be used to trim it
out) Trim changes may be needed anytime so keep check-
ing to see how the control surfaces react to the stick move-
ments
YOUR FIRST FLIGHTS
The ideal way to leam to fly is to use the "buddy
box" system The instructor has his (or her) transmitter
attached to yours by a trainer cord There is a switch on
the instructor's transmitter so he can control who is flying
the model If you get into trouble, the instructor can switch
the control back to him and get the model flying safely
again The instructor will take the plane up to a safe al-
titude and then let you take over to practice for 2 or 3
minutes Then the instructor can land the model for you
As you progress, you then learn to land the plane and take
it off by yourself and then to do a complete solo!
THE TAKEOFF (From a Hard-Surface Runway)
(Under the supervision of an experienced R/C pilot)
If you have followed all of the above instructions and
your instructor has inspected your model and trimmed it
out, you should now be ready for takeoff If you are flying
from a hard-surfaced runway, you may place the PT-Elec-
tnc on the runway heading into the wind. Turn on the
transmitter and receiver, and switch on the toggle switch
Standing behind the airplane, advance the throttle stick
all the way to start the motor As the airplane begins to
roll it will start to turn left or right Make corrections with
the rudder to keep it rolling straight into the wind If it
veers way off heading, cut the throttle, bring the plane
back and try again
After the airplane has good speed, gently pull the
elevator stick back until the airplane breaks ground and
begins to fly (Here is where most beginners make their
first big mistake') Using the elevator stick, make the plane
climb gradually, while using the rudder to keep the plane
heading into the wind If you climb too steeply right
after takeoff (before the plane has good flying speed),
the wing will stall and the plane will drop sharply.
Continue to climb gradually, even through the first turn,
until the airplane reaches an altitude of 200 to 300 feet
above the ground, which will give you some "maneuvering
room" and time to make corrections in the event that you
make a mistake.
THE TAKEOFF (Hand-Launch Method)
(Under the supervision of an experienced R/C pilot.
Many people feel that "hand-launching" is the
easiest and best way to perform the takeoff with light-
weight airplanes such as the PT-Electnc.
The proper hand launch method is as follows If you
have followed all of the above instructions and your in-
structor has inspected your model and trimmed it out, you
should now be ready for takeoff The person launching the
airplane should grasp the bottom of the fuselage just be-
hind the landing gear and point the nose into the wind.
Turn on the transmitter and receiver, and switch on the
toggle switch Standing behind the airplane, advance the
throttle stick all the way forward to start the motor As
soon as the motor starts, the hand launcher should raise
the airplane above his head and run into the wind (it is
not necessary to run far or extremely fast) After several
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