Pre-Flight Checklist - ACE R/C 1400 Glider Operation Manual

IV. FLYING
You should have a flight instructor teach you how to fly the Whisper. Like a real airplane, you must have an
understanding of how to fly the model before launch, or you will probably not be successful. Check at your hobby shop
or call the AMA (in the front of this book) for flying clubs in your area.

Pre-Flight Checklist

Choose a calm day for your first flights. Never fly in winds over 5 mph. Also, choose an open field with no
obstacles or people. The field should be at least the size of a football field.
Make sure your batteries are fresh.
Make sure there are no other pilots operating on the same channel (frequency) as you are. If you turn your radio
on while he is flying, you will cause him to crash.
Check you radio for good range (50 ft. with the antenna collapsed) and proper operation.
1. Hand Launch Flight
We recommend that the first flights be simply hand launched, both to learn the basics of flight control plus make
sure the airplane is set up (trimmed) for proper flight.
A proper hand-launch of the airplane is necessary. It must be launched into the wind with a firm toss. The
airplane must be tossed level or even pointed a little down. It should never be thrown upward, or it will stall and
crash. Turn very gently right and left to keep the wings level and only use the elevator if the airplane dives or stalls.
As you gain familiarity with the airplane, the launch can be progressively more aggressive; eventually, you can achieve
flights of up to 30 seconds from just a hand launch!
2. Mini-Start Flight
Mini-Start is a catapult system that takes the plane up to 200 feet of altitude. At this altitude, you can expect
3 or 4 minutes of glide time; once you gain skill, you can use upward air currents (thermals) to keep the airplane
aloft for much longer periods.
The Mini-Start consists of about 40 feet of latex rubber tubing and about 200 feet of nylon string. One end is
secured to the ground with a peg and the other end has a ring and a ribbon. The ring hooks onto the tow hook that is
on the bottom of the Whisper's fuselage. The Mini-Start is then stretched back and then the Whisper is launched. The
Mini-Start must be laid out so the launches will be into the wind.
For the initial Mini-Start launches, stretch it back only about 10 paces. Launch the plane the same as a hand
launch.
While under the power of the Mini-Start, turn very gently right and left to keep the wings level. Let the airplane
climb out gradually and gently until it reaches the peak of the launch. The Mini-Start ring should drop off the tow-hook
and the plane will then be on its own. While flying, always keep the airplane upwind of yourself and within a
reasonable distance so you can see what it is doing. Remember, when the plane is coming toward you, when you move
the stick to the right, the airplane will go to the left from your point of view. This is the hardest thing to learn. Initially,
you can keep your body pointed in the same direction as the airplane and look over your shoulder. That helps.
Usually, only small stick movements are required. Try to keep your flying smooth. You can turn the plane by
bumping small amounts of rudder and then return to neutral. Use the elevator to keep the airplane at the desired
altitude. After awhile, coordinate your turns with the elevator; i.e., bank the plane with a little bit of rudder, then feed
in some up elevator to maintain the turn at the same altitude.
If the plane tends to turn one way or the other use the trim lever on the control stick to neutralize the flight. Same
thing applies if the place wants to climb or dive.
3. Landing
When your Whisper reaches about 50 feet of altitude, set up your landing approach. Always try to land INTO
THE WIND. Keep your turns gradual and only use elevator to maintain a gradual glide. If you feed in too much up
elevator, the plane will stall and may crash.
Just before touchdown, "flare" the plane by adding up elevator. The plane should slow down even more and come
in for a gentle landing. Don't add too much elevator, too soon!
Walk over to the plane and turn off the switch on the plane, then the transmitter switch.
Check over the plane to make sure nothing loosened up or broke during the flight.
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