Academy of Model Aeronautics Wattage Thermalaire EP, Assembly Manual

22

Now continue level flight, which will be a small

series of tiny corrections of elevator and rudder to
keep the airplane straight and level.  If you lost alti-
tude during the turn, this is a good time to climb again.
Before the airplane gets too far away, try another turn.
Continue making standard turns and keep the airplane
over the flying field.

The next maneuver will be descent.  Usually one

pairs descent with landing but, in fact, most model
airplanes are constantly descending and climbing.
Having the ability to perform a good controlled de-
scent is important.  To descend, simply throttle back
to turn off the motor.  As the motor is turned off,
allow the airplane's nose to drop some.

The descent should be gentle, so let the nose drop

about 10 to 20 degrees.  Keep the wings level unless
a turn is required.  If you must turn, bank as usual to
start the turn but only hold about half of the normal
amount of up elevator you usually hold to maintain a
turn.  In doing so, you will not slow the airplane down
too much.  When you've reached your desired alti-
tude, level the wings and add throttle as you add some
up elevator to level the airplane.

The final maneuver will be landing.  For your

first landing, the goal should be to get the airplane
down anywhere on the field without hitting anything.
Landings should always be made into the wind.  Usu-
ally, it is easiest to set up for a landing by making a
landing approach.  The first part of the landing ap-
proach is the descent.  Descend going with the wind,
opposite the direction you will be landing.  Once
you've descended to an altitude of about 30 feet, turn
into the wind.  At this point level the wings, throttle
back until the motor turns off and allow the nose to
drop.  When the airplane is about 10 feet off the
ground, or just above eye level, apply small amounts
of up elevator to slow the descent and slow the air-
plane.  Remember to keep the wings level.  At this
point the airplane should descend but it will seem
like the nose has not dropped much.  If the airplane
doesn't descend, allow the nose to drop a little.  Just
before the airplane touches down, apply some up el-
evator to level the airplane with the ground.

Things to Avoid

1) Stalling.  Stalling is when the air stops flow-

ing over the wing properly.  This only happens when
the airplane is flying very slowly.  A stall normally
results in the nose dropping rapidly.  If a stall does
occur, allow the nose to drop, which will increase the

airspeed, then apply up elevator to level the airplane.
Remember to not pull too much up elevator or the
stall may occur again.

2) Radical Turns.  Keeping the wings level and

making standard turns are big steps in preventing the
airplane from getting out of control.  If the airplane
seems too fast or is getting into too steep a turn, try
letting all of the controls go to neutral, then reduce
the throttle and make corrections to level the wings
and then level the airplane.

3) Overcontrolling.  Most new pilots try to fly

like they are playing a video game.  Most likely you
will never need full stick movement for any correc-
tion.  Typically, you will need very little down
elevator either.  Remember to move the control stick
only small amounts at a time.  The radio control sys-
tem is proportional, meaning the amount you move
the control stick is in direct proportion to the amount
the control surface moves.  Full deflection of the con-
trol surfaces is typically reserved for correcting a
major mistake or trying an aerobatic maneuver.

Planning the First Flight

After reading through the maneuvers, you need to
plan your first flight.  For your first flight pick a day
that is clear and not windy.  Too much wind will com-
plicate your first flight.  Take the time to envision the
flight path.  The flight will, of course, begin with
hand launching and climb-out.  Once a safe altitude
has been reached, make a turn down wind and con-
tinue to climb.  Level off at about 100 feet of altitude.
Try to perform a basic figure 8 pattern.  Learn to make
small corrections to keep the airplane pointed in the
direction you want it to fly.  After 3 or 4 minutes,
begin your descent to land.  Turn into the wind to
land.  If your first landing gets the airplane down in
one piece and it's located somewhere on the flying
field, that's pretty good!

We hope that this information will help you make

those first few flights successful.

The following is intended for those pilots who

have mastered flying the Thermalaire EP.  Thermal
flying is by far the most difficult aspect of glider fly-
ing; however, it can be the most rewarding.  The
beautiful thing about the Thermalaire EP is that be-
cause it is electric powered, you have a much better
chance of being able to seek out and locate thermals.
For more information on thermals, check your local

BASICS OF THERMAL FLYING