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The ribbon isn't just for decoration. It's a very
important tool for successful flying. |
The Wind Factor
• The
lower the wind, the easier it is to learn!
• If you have not yet mastered the Commander, do not fly
unless the winds are less than 6 mph. As much as you want
to fly (and we don't blame you!), do not fly when the
winds will keep you from having success.
• Always use your transmitter antenna ribbon to determine
the wind direction, and launch directly into the wind!
• When you are flying, make absolute certain that you keep
the plane over the part of the field that is upwind from
you. Failure to keep the airplane upwind makes flying more
difficult, and can cause you to lose you plane!
• When flying the airplane and keeping it upwind as
directed, you will automatically have more time with the
nose going away from you into the wind so that you can fly
looking at the tail. For beginners, it is much easier to
give steering direction like you are in the cockpit. When
you are flying the airplane with the nose of it facing
you, give yourself plenty of room to correct steering
mistakes.
• Remember, the wind is usually faster the higher you get!
The higher you allow the plane to climb, the more the
winds will affect the airplane.
• A common mistake that many newcomers make with the
Commander is to try and fly the airplane back to you,
against the wind, by giving it full throttle. When you
give the airplane throttle, you are making it climb (and
making it smaller and harder to see). This means it may
encounter even stronger headwinds! To make progress
against a headwind, reduce power (or glide) to descend to
a lower altitude while steering into the wind.
• The plane's speed in steady level flight is nearly
constant whether at full power, or no power! The main
thing that changes is whether the plane is climbing or
descending.
• One tip that helps some beginners: If you are trying to
fly the plane toward you, pushing the steering stick
'toward the low wing" will cause the plane to level out.
• Remember to always land directly into the wind as well.
Failure to do so will cause the nose of the plane to drop,
the tail to rise and cause a likely crash. |
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General Tips
• Make certain
that you are very accomplished at flying your Commander in
Standard Mode with the aid of Smart-Trak before you attempt to fly
in Expert Mode. You should be able to fly successfully every time,
including landings that are soft and smooth prior to attempting to
advance to more aggressive flying in Expert Mode.
• Remember, once
you are in Expert Mode and Smart-Trak has been disabled, you will
have full control. This means that if you hold the sticks full
over for too long, you can enter a spiral that may threaten your
aircraft if you do not have sufficient altitude.
• After you have
charged a battery, make certain that the battery remains warm
until you need it. Do not allow the battery to be stored in a cold
place or the performance of the battery will be greatly reduced
(and may trigger the motor auto-cut circuit). If you have charged
a battery pack more than 18 hours prior to flying with it, charge
the battery again for 30 minutes immediately before you fly. If
you have purchased the DC Peak Charger (HBZ1026), you can simply
re-peak the battery.
• In Smart Trak
standard mode, if you want to make tighter turns, simply "blip"
the throttle (off-on) a few times while continuing to give the
airplane the steering input. This will help you make tighter turns
if needed.
• If you enter a
spiral and fear that you may crash release both sticks. The plane
will want to right itself. Releasing the throttle stick is a must.
Continuing to give the airplane throttle when the nose is straight
down will only cause the plane to dive even faster. If you are
already clear as to which way you are turning, you can apply the
opposite steering command to correct the flight faster. (Example:
If the plane is spiraling to the right, give the plane left to
correct). Do not give the airplane any additional throttle until
the nose is level with the tail once again.
• If you are
flying where there is only grass, you may want to remove the
landing gear and have your Commander simply skid in for a landing.
This will prevent your Commander from having the tail go in the
air and damaging the wing or nose in the event that your landing
is less than ideal. (Always used the landing gear if you are using
X-port accessories!)
• Altitude: It is
very important to fly at an altitude that will allow you to be
successful. In general, we recommend that you fly at and altitude
of approximately 100-200 ft. Flying too low will put more
obstacles in your flight path. Also winds can be more turbulent
closer to the ground. Flying at an altitude of 150 feet or so will
also allow you to see the plane better, meaning less of a chance
to lose direction perspective which can lead to a fly away or
crash. This height also allows for more time to correct pilot
error. Once you are more familiar with the airplane, you can then
choose to fly at higher or lower altitudes if you want to.
Trimming Tips
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Always set the trims to neutral before each flight. |
Turning:
• If you continually notice that the plane wants to turn
better in one direction than the other, make certain the
decals are down on the wings. If you notice they are
beginning to lift, simply rub down the decals and use a
small amount of tape if needed. (Also see the steps in the
manual.)
• Prior
to each flight, make certain that the trims are set to
neutral. Then perform your pre-flight checks ensuring your
plane is responding to the input you are giving your
transmitter accordingly. If this does not happen, do not
fly until the corrections are made. There are several
sections in the manual that will advise you on how to make
any needed trim adjustments/modifications.
• If you
notice your airplane is not turning sharp enough in
Standard Mode in one direction despite your transmitter
input, make certain there is no slack in the lines when
the controls are centered. (Example: for tightest left
turning, no slack should be in the right line, for right
turns, there should be no slack in the left line).
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Place the wing shim between the wing and the fuselage
for increased speed. |
Porpoising (nose up and down oscillations)
• Constant or severe porpoising should be corrected by
trimming the nose down as instructed in your manual. (If
repairs have added weight to the tail, you may also add
some weight in the nose.)
• If you
notice that your airplane occasionally wants to porpoise
(oscillate), pay careful attention to the timing of your
throttle input. You can smooth out these oscillations by
managing the throttle in a more- timely manner. Do not
give additional throttle as the plane is sharply
descending, but instead, add throttle as the plane is
climbing and slowing down and reduce it if the nose is
down and the plane is picking up speed. Often, just
applying constant full throttle will smooth these out.
• Your
Commander comes with a wing shim that fits between the
bottom of the wing and the top of the fuselage (see page
23 of the Commander manual). This shim will cause you to
fly faster due to the wing's reduced incidence angle. Use
this shim if you are experienced and choose to fly when
the winds are gusting at more than 10 mph. Adding the wing
shim can help reduce porpoising as well, especially in
turbulent air. Note: Adding the wing shim will also cause
the plane to fly faster, so be alert. |
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Minor Repairs
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A cutaway of the tail boom in its housing. |
If you begin
to notice that when you launch the airplane, it pitches
quickly into the ground and it will not climb, there may have
been some damage causing this. This may be especially true if
you have had a recent crash or hard landing. Look inside the
fuselage from the canopy opening and locate where the tail
boom should be attached inside the plastic keeper
(notch/cavity). This keeper can be easily located by looking
into the fuselage just beyond the radio equipment. If you have
found that the boom has indeed snapped out of the keeper,
follow these simple instructions:
1. Place the tail boom back into the keeper/housing.
(Pressing on the bottom of the fuselage at the notch can help
open it up to allow it to be snapped back in place)
2. Find a long narrow stick (wooden dowel preferred)
3. Mix up a small amount of 6 minute epoxy
4. Carefully epoxy the top of the tail boom as well as
the side area where the tail boom enters the keeper/housing
making certain that none of the epoxy drips or comes in
contact with the radio equipment.
5. Let the epoxy properly cure. Once this is done, your
Commander should be ready to once again take to the sky.
(Some people have also made small holes above the boom and
used a plastic zip tie to help secure the boom.)
As noted in the manual, Packing tape and epoxy are good
materials for minor repairs. |
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