GREAT PLANES Spirit Elite ARF Instruction Manual
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GREAT PLANES Spirit Elite ARF Instruction Manual

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Wingspan: 78.5 in. [1981mm]
Wing Area: 645 sq. in. [41.6 sq dm]
Weight: 46 - 48 oz. [1304 - 1360g]
Wing Loading: 10.3 - 10.7 oz./sq. ft. [31.4 - 32.6 g/sq dm]
Length: 46 in. [1168mm]
Radio: 4 - 6 Channel (4 servo wing mixing functions required for advanced set-ups - see the back pages of this manual)
Great Planes
®
Model Manufacturing Co. guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date of
purchase. This warranty does not cover any component parts damaged by use or modification. In no case shall Great Planes' liability
exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Further, Great Planes reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice.
In that Great Planes has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor
accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using the user-assembled
product, the user accepts all resulting liability.
If the buyer is not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of this product, the buyer is advised to return this
kit immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase.
READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE
STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS
IMPORTANT WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF
THIS MODEL.
© Copyright 2002

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

WARRANTY
TM
1610 Interstate Drive Champaign, IL 61822
(217) 398-8970, Ext 2
airsupport@greatplanes.com
GPMZ0234 for GPMA1047 V1.1

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  • Page 1: Instruction Manual

    Further, Great Planes reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice. In that Great Planes has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Install the Aileron and Flap Servos ........6 For the latest technical updates or manual corrections for the Spirit Elite ARF, visit the web site listed below and select Install the Wing Dowels and Bolt Plates ......7 the Great Planes Spirit Elite ARF. If there is new technical FUSELAGE ASSEMBLY ...........8...

  • Page 3: Additional Items Required

    R/C club for your first flights. If you're not a Spirit Elite ARF. member of a club, your local hobby shop has information ❏ about clubs in your area whose membership includes Great Planes CG Machine™ (GPMR2400) ❏ experienced pilots. Straightedge with scale (HCAR0475) ❏...

  • Page 4: Ordering Replacement Parts

    ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS To order replacement parts for the Great Planes Spirit Elite ARF, use the order numbers in the Replacement Parts List that follows. Replacement parts are available only as listed. Not all parts are available separately (an aileron cannot be purchased separately, but is only available with the wing kit).

  • Page 5: Kit Contents

    If any parts are missing or are not of acceptable quality, or if you need assistance with assembly, contact Great Planes Product Support. When reporting defective or missing parts, use the part names exactly as they are written in the Kit Contents list on this page.

  • Page 6: Wing Assembly

    WING ASSEMBLY Install the Ailerons and Flaps 1" [25mm] 3/4" [19mm] ❏ 2. Locate the four servo hatch covers and trim out the Trim the Corners servo arm openings. Seal the edges using a sealing iron. ❏ 1. Cut the 2" x 9" [51 x 229mm] sheet into 3/4" x 1" [19 x 25mm] pieces.

  • Page 7: Install The Wing Dowels And Bolt Plates

    ❏ ❏ 9. Tie the string to the extension and pull it through the wing. ❏ ❏ 4. Using epoxy, glue the servo blocks to the hatch covers. ❏ ❏ 10. Trim out the servo wire access hole on the bottom of the wing and route the wires through.

  • Page 8: Fuselage Assembly

    ❏ 2. Round the front edge of the two 5mm dowels. ❏ 2. Mark wing bolt locations onto the wing as shown. ❏ 3. Trim off the covering that hides the dowel holes. Trial fit the two wing dowels into the wing panels. ❏...

  • Page 9: Install The Stabilizer (Stab)

    ❏ 5. Install the wing onto the wing saddle. Line up the ❏ center line of the wing with the center line of the fuselage 2. Place the stab onto the mount and clamp the trailing and drill a 5/32" [4mm] hole at the marks. Drill completely edge so it is centered on the fuselage.

  • Page 10: Install The Fin

    ❏ 5. Remove the covering inside of the marks. ❏ IMPORTANT!!! Do not cut into the wood or you will 3. Glue the alignment pins into the holes using thin CA seriously weaken the structure. so they stick out of the stab no more than 1/8" [3mm]. ❏...

  • Page 11: Align The Tail

    ❏ 3. Flip the stab over and glue the other side in the Align the Tail same manner. ❏ 4. Install two of the CA hinges in the rudder and install onto the fin. ❏ 5. Glue the rudder hinges using the same technique as A = A the elevators.

  • Page 12: Install The Elevator And Rudder Pushrods

    ❏ 4. Roughen the end of the tube an inch or so [25mm] with sandpaper. (This will provide a better gluing surface). ❏ 5. Use epoxy to glue the tube to the fuselage at the slot. ❏ 6. Route the 28" elevator pushrod guide tube into the fuselage.
  • Page 13 ❏ 10. Insert the elevator pushrod (the one with the modified horn) through the back of the fuselage, into the guide tube and to the elevator servo. ❏ Align the Control 11. Position the control horn so the clevis holes are Horn on the centered over the hinge line.

  • Page 14: Install The Receiver And Battery

    Install the Receiver and Battery ❏ 16. Bend the pushrod up 90° at the mark. Cut off the excess pushrod 1/4" [6mm] from the bend. ❏ 1. Wrap the receiver battery with 1/4" foam rubber and install it as far forward in the nose as possible. ❏...

  • Page 15: Hook Up The Wing Servos

    Hook Up the Wing Servos ❏ 1. Attach four clevises with retainers onto the 4 short wire pushrods. Attach them to the four remaining control horns as shown. ❏ 3. Epoxy the plywood tow hook plates into the fuselage ❏ so the middle hole of the plate lines up with the mark you 2.

  • Page 16: Attach The Canopy

    ❏ 6. Enlarge the holes in the servo arm with a 5/64" [2mm] Attach the Canopy (or a #48) drill bit. ❏ 7. Attach the hatch covers using four #2 x 3/8" [6mm] screws. Correct Incorrect ❏ 8. Position the control horns on each surface so the clevis holes are lined up over the hinge line.
  • Page 17 ❏ 3. Using sandpaper, rough up the inside of the canopy where the canopy frame will be glued. Clean with isopropyl alcohol. ❏ 4. Place the canopy in position on the fuselage. Carefully grip the sides and remove the canopy WITH the plywood frame.

  • Page 18: Balance The Model

    BALANCE THE MODEL CONTROL SURFACE THROWS These are the recommend control surface throws: ELEVATOR: 1/2" [13mm] up 1/2" [13mm] down Balance at 3-1/4" [82mm] RUDDER: 2" [50mm] right 2" [50mm] left AILERONS: 3/4" [19mm] up 3/8" [9.5mm] down FLAPS: 1-3/8" [35mm] down TOW HOOK LOCATION NOTE: This section is VERY important and must not be omitted! A model that is not properly balanced will be...

  • Page 19: Ama Safety Code

    Range Check CHECKLIST Ground check the operational range of your radio before the During the last few moments of preparation your mind first flight of the day. With the transmitter antenna collapsed and may be elsewhere anticipating the excitement of the first the receiver and transmitter on, you should be able to walk at flight.

  • Page 20: Flying

    Hi-Start Launch A hi-start is the most common way to launch your SPIRIT The SPIRIT ELITE ARF is a very gentle plane that flies well ELITE ARF. Follow the directions that came with the hi-start in light to moderate winds. Practice coordinating ailerons and lay it out directly into the wind.

  • Page 21: Advanced Features

    The SPIRIT ELITE will really slow up and will thermal “on a dime”. This set-up is great for duration type There are several types of mixing the Spirit Elite ARF can flying without a lot of wind.

  • Page 22: Thermal Soaring

    THERMAL SOARING SLOPE SOARING As the glider approaches a thermal, the wing tip that To be able to slope soar, you need a slope with a smooth reaches the rising air first will be lifted before the opposite piece of land (or water) out in front of it and a breeze blowing wing tip.
  • Page 23 BUILDING NOTES Kit Purchased Date: _______________________ Date Construction Finished: _________________ Where Purchased:_________________________ Finished Weight: __________________________ Date Construction Started: __________________ Date of First Flight: ________________________ FLIGHT LOG...
  • Page 24 OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE FROM GREAT PLANES Great Planes® Spirit 100 ™ (GPMA0550) • Huge, 100” wingspan for extra-smooth flight! Build the Spirit 100 kit with either of TWO wings: a sport wing with the same S-3010 airfoil as the original Spirit...or a larger wing (with highly efficient Selig 7037 airfoil, plus ailerons and flaps) that can use crow type mixing for Wingspan: 99.5 in (2530mm)

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