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Friday, March 12, 2010

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Sport Aviator's Flight-Tech (How-To Articles)

Sport Aviator’s ”Flight-Tech” column is designed to help new pilots learn the basic flight techniques and mechanical skills needed to make model flying an enjoyable and hassle-free experience. No pilot we know packs his airplane and equipment into the car, then drives to the field hoping to have a frustrating day complete with engine problems and loose airplane parts. In fact, all of us are looking forward to a fun day. A relaxing time spent with our friends. Maybe we can have a couple, or three, good flights and learn a few new things about flying. Then we want to head home, put the plane on charge and just enjoy. >

Flight-Tech contains articles that will help you have more good flying days than bad. We hope to help every pilot spot problems before they occur or fix them at the field if they do pop up. If something does go wrong, Sport Aviator’s Flight-Tech will help you to fix or repair them.

Check Flight-Tech’s Table of Contents below. The articles listed will always be available even as new ones are added. You can download each article as a separate PDF file, requires Adobe Acrobat, (free at www.adobe.com). If you have an immediate problem Flight-Tech has not yet covered or a question about a Flight-Tech article, write us at “Contact Center” and we’ll get you an answer. As always, comments on Flight-Tech, or all Sport Aviator columns, are welcome at “Contact Center”.

	Building A Wood Trainer Part Two The Fuselage and Tail Part Two of the four part series details assembling the fuselage, finishing the bolt-on wing mount system and building the tail feathers. The LT-40 Kadet is now framed out and ready fro hardware.
	How To Build A Wood Kit Trainer Part One Previously, Sport Aviator has shown how to assemble RTF and ARF trainers. Our Balsa USA Stik 40 review hinted at building a wood kit. Now, here it is – The long awaited series on building a wood kit trainer. In Part 1, we’ll build the wing; modifying it for better roll control, bolt-on mounting, extra strength and dual aileron servos. Join us and learn the fun, how-to’s and techniques of building your first wood kit airplane that will truly be uniquely yours.
	Welcome Back, We Missed You: Part Two Here is Part II of Welcome Back (home) for returning modelers. This part covers the birth of RTF and the growth of ARF aircraft. Just why today’s airplanes fly so well is also covered. What happened to my .60 engines is explained. What should be my first returning airplane? Read Part II and get some ideas.
	Welcome Back! We Missed You! Part One Welcome Back. We are happy you are returning to model aviation. As you have been looking around and thinking about g4etting started again, you have noticed that there are many changes since your last takeoff. This first article in the three-part Welcome Back (Home?) series explains the advancements made in radio systems, servos and batteries and then goes out on a limb making some equipment suggestions. Welcome Back, We Missed You.
	Making It Look New Again Oh No! That ground loop just removed half the wing’s covering. Read this article to fix it. Tired of having the same ARF color scheme as everyone else with that airplane? Read this article to fix it. Your old airplane need dressing up? Read this article to make it look new. Want to cover a wood kit you just finished? Read this article expanded from the Model Aviation original in the Flight-Tech Section.
	Build an ARF Trainer - Part III Part III in the “How to Build an ARF Trainer” details selecting the engine, mounting it, installing the tank and performing the many final assembly steps. Detailed and illustrated with more than 50 photos, you will feel like a pro builder even if you have never before assembled an ARF airplane.
	Build an ARF Trainer - Part II This second part of the “How to Build an ARF Trainer” details the best assembly tips and ways to get the fuselage’s airframe ready to fly. There are numerous tips and several easy to perform modifications that will enhance your ARF trainer’s performance and reliability. Visit Flight-Tech to see how it is done.
	How to Build an ARF Trainer If you have only assembled a Ready To Fly Trainer, building its corresponding Almost Ready To Fly Trainer can seem daunting. But ARF airplanes are stronger and allow the pilot to choose the radio and engine systems. They are also easier to modify for better durability and performance. Full of building tips and hints, Part One details the very best ways to build an ARF wing in the Flight-Tech Section.
	F-22 Raptor PTS Update Movies Added! - The Hangar 9 F-22 Raptor PTS is a true Basic trainer that looks like America’s newest fighter. This follow-up review explores a way to make this fine aircraft even better. Learn how to improve its already excellent flying performance. Read this Flight-Tech article.
	2.4 GHZ for the Common Pilot 2.4 GHz Radio Control Systems? What are they? Why do we need to know about them? What do we need to know? Find out in this Sport Aviator Flight-Tech article designed for us common everyday, sport pilots.
	Spread Spectrum: Are You Ready For Full Range?
	Those Things We Call Batteries - Part Three Noted electric power expert Bob Aberle demystifies Lithium Polymer and Lithium Ion batteries in part three of this Battery Series. Go to Sport Aviator's Flight Tech Section to learn how to safely use the most powerful battery systems in our sport.
	Those Things We Call Batteries - Part Two Part Two of this series delves into renewing batteries, how they age and how to avoid battery disasters. A primer on Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries with some tips learned the hard way. You can learn the easy way in Sport Aviator’s Flight–Tech Section
	Those Strange Things We Call Batteries - Part One The most mysterious things in RC for a newer pilot are the batteries. But they are also the most important part of your radio system since in-flight battery failure always means instant vertical landings. What they are, how to manage them, how to test them, what are their limits and more are detailed in this article. Find this, the first of a series covering all RC batteries, in the Flight Tech Section.
	Convert the Polk Hobby Dorothy to Electric Eric Henderson shows how to make the most difficult glow engine to electric motor conversion – the dreaded beam mount switch over. In a few steps, and using a small piece of aluminum, Eric changes Polk’s Hobby’s Dorothy II to a remarkable Dorothy II-E. Learn how in the Flight-Tech Section.
	ARF Wing Repair Well, it had to happen eventually. The fates have handed you a broken wing. Get it fixed and get back in the air in a few hours for just a few dollars. Learn how in Sport Aviator’s Flight-Tech Section’s “Fixing a Broken ARF wing.”
	Safety Considerations for Electical Powered Flight Noted Electric Power expert Bob Aberle points out some of the safety considerations unique to electric flight in the Flight-Tech Section.
	O.S. Max 46 AX Engine Review The new O.S. Max 46 AX has superior performance and reliability, It is very pilot-friendly and easy to start but produces enormous power. What happens when this engine is installed into a good Advanced Trainer? Find out in this in-depth engine/airplane Flight-Tech article.
	Selecting Electrical Power Systems - Part One When a person enters model aviation, he or she has a choice of power sources for his or her aircraft. Learn how to size the proper electric-motor system to model aircraft of any size and weight.
	Selecting Electrical Power Systems - Part Two In Part One, Bob explained the background of how power sources for modeling are rated and specifically how electric motors have been related in power output to glow engines. In Part Two Bob gets into the details of the motor/airplane-selection process.
	Matching Propeller to Mission Have you matched the propeller of your favorite model to its mission? Try it; a successful match makes the flying much more fun.
	Bonnie on Floats The BONNIE-20 is an electric aircraft capable of many mission profiles. Follow along as Bob Aberle sends the BONNIE “swimming”. This article includes float mounting theory good for any RC float installation.
	Bonnie 20 - Adapting to Li-Poly Batteries Electric power Guru, Bob Aberle, explores different battery options, including Li-Poly , available to the electric flyer. Includes detailed data and analysis.
	Things You Need to Know That No One Tells You There is a lot of important information that every model pilot needs to know. Trouble is, no one ever seems to tell you these things. But you can learn them here in this new Flight-Tech article series.
	Getting Your Balance Often overlooked by both experienced and newer model pilots, propeller balancing is the key to safer, more efficient flight. It is easy to do, takes but a few minutes and uses a minimum of equipment yet balancing can add power and extra years to your engine's useful life.
	Changing Your 2-Stroke Bearings The ball bearings that support the spinning crankshaft in a model glow plug engine will, at some time, need to be replaced. This guide will show you how step-by-step.
	Bad Day at the Field Eventually, it will happen to most model fliers -- the mud face plant. This article is a step-by-step guide to disassembling, cleaning and reassembling a 2-stroke engine.
	Ready To Fly? Well...Maybe RTF airplanes require little work to assemble. But there are important checks and adjustments, usually not mentioned in the directions, that should be performed before flying. Read this article and both you and your airplane will be RTF.
	Installing Mylar Hinges in ARF Trainers The success of flying a plane hinges upon correctly installing the control surfaces.

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