THIS IS the seventh consecutive installment of this beginners' series. In previous articles you learned a little about Radio Control (RC) equipment, how to install that equipment, and how to operate it. I went on to describe a typical electric power system for a model aircraft. Last month we assembled an Almost Ready-to-Fly (ARF) model into which we installed the RC system and the electric power system.

Now, after six months of reading, you are ready to venture out to a local flying field for that first flight session.

In preparation for that first day at the field I have a few preliminary suggestions. Several of these items have already been discussed, so consider this a final refresher course. While still in your shop, remove the propeller; an accidental motor start-up could have your AeroCraft Pogo dashing around your shop, and that could cause big problems.

Check the balance point, or center of gravity (CG). The Pogo instruction manual indicates that the model should balance at a point 2 inches back from the leading edge of the wing. You can mark that exact point with a felt-tipped marker for reference purposes.

Place your hands under the wing with one finger (on each side of the pylon) touching the balance point. Support the model with these two fingers and allow it to rock back and forth. If the model is nose-heavy, the Pogo's nose will dip forward. A tail-heavy model will display the opposite effect. A nose-heavy model might dive into the ground, and a tail-heavy model might stall and crash.

The battery pack accounts for more than one-third of the total model weight. You can use that weight to your advantage to help balance the model. You would slide the battery forward if the model was tail-heavy; you would slide it toward the rear if it was nose-heavy. When it achieves the proper balance, the Pogo should be level when supported by your two fingers.

If you are flying a fueled model, you must take into account the weight of the fuel and the fact that it is burned off during the flight. Engine expert/author Frank Granelli will pick up on this subject in a later installment.

Follow the start-up procedure by turning on the transmitter, then turning on the receiver. In the Pogo, the Jeti JES-10 Electronic Speed Control (ESC) has a main power on/off switch. With power turned on to both units (the transmitter and the aircraft), the rudder and elevator should move when you apply left/right or up/down motion to the transmitter control stick.

Before doing anything, set your transmitter trim levers for the rudder and elevator to their neutral positions. Observe the rudder and elevator positions on the Pogo; both control surfaces should be at neutral.

Since the Pogo employs pull-pull strings between the servos and control surfaces, you really don't have any mechanical means of adjusting for an exact neutral position. Use your transmitter's trim levers to achieve those neutral positions. If you did everything correct during the Pogo's assembly, you should be close.

Move the control stick left and right (side to side) and notice the direction in which the rudder moves. Looking from the rear of the Pogo forward, applying right rudder control stick should cause the rudder to move to the right. Try the left side to see if the rudder moves to the left. Pull back on the transmitter control stick, and the elevator should go up.

If the direction of control is backward, change the servo direction for the affected channel at the transmitter. Most RC transmitters have servo-reversing switches. On this Hitec Neon system you must open the transmitter case, identify the proper cable, unplug it and rotate the connector 180°, then plug it back in. By reversing the correct cable, you reverse the direction of the servo.

The final step in this process is to check the position of the throttle control. On the Hitec Neon the throttle or motor control is a lever on the rear of the case that is operated by the index finger of your left hand.

Most fliers set this motor-control lever so that moving away from you (toward the right side of the transmitter case) would be high throttle (full speed). Bringing the lever toward you (to the left side of the transmitter case) would be idle and/or motor off. A cable inside the Neon case can be rotated 180°, effecting reversal of motion for that channel function.

The last item in this sequence of control checks is the amount of throw that the rudder and elevator make. Most kit manufacturers will give you a start-up guide. For the Pogo, a good starting point is for the rudder to move 1/2 inch either side of the neutral position and the elevator to move approximately 1/4 inch either side of neutral.

If you have the dual rate and endpoint options installed on your Neon transmitter, setting these control throws (excursions) is easy. Place a small ruler next to the rudder. Hold the transmitter rudder control stick hard over, and dial the endpoint control adjustment (with a screwdriver) until you have the 1/2 inch of rudder throw. Repeat this process for the elevator using the separate endpoint adjustment for that channel function.

After your first few flights you will be able to go back and make final adjustments based on recommendations you get from your instructor pilot.

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