Preparing To Fly - Pelikan Daniel SLING mini Instruction Manual

9. Centre of gravity (CG)
Support your model with your thumb and index finger (refer to the
figure). The model should be level (or with the nose slightly down)
when supported at 48 mm behind the leading edge of the wing. You
should achieve that with the model as it is, right out of the box. You
may correct the centre of gravity location by moving the position of
the receiver pack. If necessary add some lead to the nose or tail. It will

PREPARING TO FLY

Step 1: Flying field
The flying field should be a flat, grassy site. There should be no buildings,
cars, electric power leads or any other obstacles within at least 50 m. A
shallow slope oriented straight into the wind could be a perfect place to
start with your SLING mini.
We highly recommend you to join a local model flying club – you will get
access to their flying field along with advice and help to make your first
steps into model flying much easier and safer.
Step 2: The right weather
Calm summer evenings are perfect for the maiden flight.
Step 3: Range check
The range check of your radio is an essential pre-flight test. Once the
FLYING
Now the most important advice in this entire manual:
During the first flight we recommend that you have the support
of an experienced RC pilot.
There is no shame in asking for help – new full size aircraft are test flown
by skilled factory test pilots – and only then are regular pilots allowed to
take control. RC model control requires some skills and reflexes people
are not born with. It is not complicated to gain these skills – it just takes
some time; this will vary with your natural talent. Full size pilots start
under the supervision of a skilled instructor; they learn to fly at a safe
altitude at first, learn landing and take-off techniques, and only then are
they allowed flying solo. The same principles apply with RC models too.
Please do not expect that you will be able to put your model in the air and
fly it without any previous RC experience.
Many will have gained skills in controlling their favourite computer
game character by hammering the control buttons or sticks. For model
flying this skill will have to be unlearnt! The sticks movements required
to control your model are small & gentle. Many models including SLING
mini are happier if you let them "fly by themselves" for most of the time,
with small and gentle stick movements to simply guide the model in the
required direction. RC flying is not about stick hammering, it is all about
small stick movements, and observing the effect of that stick movement.
Only later is it possible to anticipate the effect of larger stick movements
that can be dangerous to your model in the earlier stages of model flying.
Step 1: Hand launch and initial trimming
• The model must be launched into wind every time. Throw grass into the
air to observe the wind direction.
• Turn on your transmitter.
• Connect and put the receiver battery into the nose and secure the canopy.
• Hold your model with the wings and fuselage level (refer to the
not spoil the performance of your SLING mini, but she will recognise an
incorrect centre of gravity immediately. An incorrectly balanced model
is difficult to fly, and might not fly at all!
10. Control surface travel volumes
The travel volumes of the control surfaces are influenced by the dual
rate (D/R) switch on your transmitter and the position of the push
rods on the respective servo arms and elevator/rudder horns. Fitting
the push rods closer to the control surface increases the travel volume,
whilst attaching the push rod to the outer hole decreases the travel
volume. Fitting the push rods closer to the servo shaft decreases the
travel volume, whilst attaching the push rod to the outer hole increases
the travel volume.
48 mm
check has been successfully accomplished you can be sure your model can
be operated in a reliable and safe manner within a certain range. As the
model can be controlled only if the pilot is able to recognize the position
of the aeroplane in the air, the regular operational range of your teeny
tiny SLING mini is ca 50-60 m.
Turn on your transmitter, ask a friend to hold it, connect the receiver bat-
tery to the model and walk away holding the model in a regular flight
position in the height of your shoulders. The elevator and rudder has to
respond to control inputs (control stick movements) without any glitch-
ing or jitter within the range of 60 paces.
Only prepare to fly if the range check is 100% successful.
drawing) – it is better to ask a friend to launch your model than to do
everything by yourself – you can then concentrate on the controls.
Launch your model with a gentle push straight and level. You will feel
the point at which the model is trying to fly naturally. Do not give it
Launch into the wind .Wing and fuselage level or slightly down.
too strong a push. Do not throw your model with nose up, or greater
than 10 degrees down. The model must have a certain minimum speed
from the very start to stay airborne. It is not enough to just place your
model in the air.
• If everything is OK SLING mini will glide gently to the ground without
need for a control input. If SLING mini quickly loses altitude, pull the
elevator stick very slightly towards you (just a little!) to achieve a
steady shallow glide. If SLING mini pitches her nose strongly, imme-
diately push the elevator stick to prevent the stall; to achieve a steady
shallow glide.
Step 2: Flying
Please note: SLING mini is quite a small model, so do not let her fly too
far away. Please remember you can control your model only so long as you
are able to see the model's orientation in the air. The safe range of your
radio is much further than the range of your eyes!
How to control your model?
In contrast to cars or boats, aircraft fly in three dimensional space which
makes full control more complex. Turning the steering wheel left or right
makes a boat or car to turn left or right, applying more throttle the ve-
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