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The control throws are as follows:
UP
Elevator
1/2" [13mm]
LEFT
Rudder
1-1/2" [38mm]
Balance the Model
Note: This section is very important and must not be
omitted! A model that is not properly balanced will be
unstable and possibly unflyable.
The balance point (C.G.- Center of Gravity) is located directly
under the wing's main spar 3-1/8" [79.5mm] from the LE. This
is the point at which your model should balance for your first
flights. Later, you may wish to shift the balance up to 3/8"
[9.5mm] forward or aft of the spar to change the flying
characteristics of your Spectra ARF. Moving the C.G. forward
of the spar will add some stability to the electric sailplane but
it will decrease its overall performance and increase its stall
speed. Moving the balance behind the spar makes the model
more agile with a lighter and "snapier" feel and improves the
Spectra ARF's response to air currents. It also makes the
model less stable and can cause the model to "tuck under" or
dive when its flying speed increases. If you fly the Spectra
ARF with its C.G. behind the spar, pay close attention and do
not let it gain excessive speed. If it does "tuck under" and you
have plenty of altitude, give the airplane a little "down"
elevator and allow it to go under. When it starts to climb up
back of the outside loop its airspeed will drop and you can pull
out with some "up" elevator or roll out with full rudder. If you
do not have plenty of altitude, gently pull out with "up" elevator
but be careful and do not jerk it up or you may overstress the
wing structure.
With the wing attached to the fuselage, and all parts of the
model installed (ready to fly), lift the model by picking it up with
a finger on each bottom inner spar. If the tail drops when you
lift, the model is "tail heavy" and you must add weight to the
nose to balance. If the nose drops, it is "nose heavy" and you
must add weight to the tail to balance. The model should hang
DOWN
1/2" [13mm]
RIGHT
1-1/2" [38mm]
with a slight nose down attitude. Add lead to the compartment
at the front of the fuselage to correct a tail heavy model.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLY WITHOUT FIRST ACHIEVING
THE PROPER BALANCE.
Checking for Warps
This is a very important step and should be done
occasionally throughout the flying season. A sailplane's
wing is most efficient when it is not twisted or warped at all.
"Washout" (wing trailing edges twisted up at the tip) helps
make a poor wing design fly better by adding some stability
(preventing stalls) at slow speeds but it cuts down on the
wing efficiency at normal speeds. The SPECTRA ARF's
wing is designed to fly well at slow speeds without any
washout, and therefore we recommend you check to make
sure the wings are "flat" using the following procedure:
Set the wing so an inner panel is resting on a flat surface.
Any warp (twist) will show up by causing a corner of the
panel to rise off the work surface.
To remove the warp, gently twist the wing in the opposite
direction while a helper glides an iron or heat gun over the
covering on both the top and the bottom of the panel to re-
shrink the covering. Hold the twist until the covering cools
and then recheck for warps. It may take several tries to get
a warp out but it is worth it as you will end up with a
sailplane that flies straight and true and responds to air
currents like a high performance sailplane should.
Follow the same procedure to check all four wing panels
and then go back and double check them. Sometimes you
put a warp in one panel while trying to fix another. You
should also look at the tail surfaces as they too can warp.
PREFLIGHT
Charge the Batteries
Follow the battery charging procedures in your radio
instruction manual. You should charge your transmitter and
receiver batteries the night before you go flying, and at other
times as recommended by the radio manufacturer. Charge
your motor batteries as recommended by the manufacturer.
Find a Safe Place to Fly
The best place to fly your R/C model is an AMA (Academy
of Model Aeronautics) chartered club field. Ask your hobby
shop dealer if there is such a club in your area and join. Club
fields are set up for R/C flying which makes your outing
safer and more enjoyable. The AMA can also tell you the
name of a club in your area. We recommend that you join
AMA and a local club so you can have a safe place to fly and
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