Pilot Communications Decathlon 180, User Manual

Page 1: ...Decathlon 180 USER MANUAL WINGSPAN 4580mm LENGTH 3170mm ...

Page 2: ... installation of our products a radio system failure or pilot error Model airplane owners use our products at their own risk Pilot RC will not be liable for any costs unless agreed and proved beyond doubt the failure was due to faulty materials or fabrication Any agreed cost will not exceed the cost of the airframe and not include engine radio equipment or third party claims Should you wish to ret...

Page 3: ...ng over factory installed slots Press control horn into position Trace around the locking plate with a knife and remove the covering Scuff the middle of horns with a piece of sand paper for good glue bond Wipe off sanding dust prior to gluing ...

Page 4: ...e 30 minutes epoxy inside the pre cut slot and coat the horn with epoxy as shown Slide the horn into slots with locking mount plates Wipe away excess glue with rubbing alcohol Make sure the horn is perpendicular to the rudder ...

Page 5: ...h a fine line marker as shown Locate and drill holes in the tail wheel mounting block Install the blind nuts through the opening in the rear of the fuselage Mount the tail wheel assembly using blue Loctite on the threads screws Draw a line here ...

Page 6: ...ng in the rear of fuse with 3 screws in accordance with the pre drilled holes Drill a 1mm hole in the bottom of the rudder and mount steering spring with a wood screw as shown Cut off excess wire from the spring Ensure the spring is under slight tension ...

Page 7: ...Landing Gear Assembly Straight edge to front Taper to rear NOTE The main landing mounting direction ...

Page 8: ...cking nuts Do not over tighten the hardware Install the landing gear axles with lock nut Tighten the lock nut against the landing gear strut making sure the flat sides of the axle bolt vertical with ground Install wheels and wheel collars using loctite on the set screws ...

Page 9: ...in the wheel pant is cut to fit the hex nut on the axle Check for proper clearance over the wheels and that wheel pants are level with the fuselage Drill the holes for the mounting bolts and install the blind nuts Finish the wheel pant mounting with the bolts and use Blue Loctite on the threads ...

Page 10: ...Turn on your transmitter and make sure servos are centered before putting on servo arms Locate and drill 2mm holes into nylon servo arm to attach the included fiberglass servo arms Mount the screws and nuts Use a few drops of CA to hold arm in place for drilling Use a drop of CA glue on each nuts ...

Page 11: ...ring Scuff the horns with a piece of sand paper for good glue bond Wipe off sanding dust prior to gluing Apply the 30 minute epoxy inside the pre cut slot for horn and coat the horn with epoxy as shown Slide the horn with locking plate into place Wipe away excess epoxy with rubbing alcohol Note Some trimming of the horn might be required for the horn to fit flush ...

Page 12: ...as shown to connection Locate servo cut outs and remove the covering with a knife Tape the servo lead securely to the pull string Pull the extension lead through to the root of the wing Use a 1mm drill bit to drill for the servo mounting screws Install servo with output shaft toward the leading edge of the wing ...

Page 13: ...ron Flaps Servo Installation Install the servo arm facing outboard toward the wing tip Adjust pushrod length so the servo arm is at 90 degrees and aileron panel in neutral position Rudder servo installation ...

Page 14: ...r servo leads into the fuselage using the factory installed pull string same process as ailerons Use 1mm bit to drill the mounting holes Install the servos with the out put shaft facing forward Cut the covering on the pre drilled hole for stab mounting Insert carbon spars and slide horizontal stab into position ...

Page 15: ...stab with mounting bolts and washers Apply Loctite to threads before installation Install the servo arm facing down Adjust pushrod length so the elevator is neutral and the servo horn is at 90 degrees Repeat steps for the other elevator servo ...

Page 16: ...urn on your transmitter and make sure servos are centered before installing the rudder servo arm Drill holes with a 2mm bit for hardware Mount the screws and nuts Hold with tape or a few drops of CA to the edges Drop CA glue on nuts ...

Page 17: ...g forward Install the rudder servo arm with cable attach points aft Tape the rudder to the vertical fin in the neutral position to help with the rigging Mount the cables with the pre installed ball link cable ends to the rudder servo arm Cut the covering in the tail to expose cable exit slots Run the cables out the slots Make sure the cables cross in the middle ...

Page 18: ...und tubing Remove excess slack from cable and crimp with diagonal pliers This is what a completed cable should look like Cut off excess cable after crimping Repeat process for opposite rudder cable Shrink the heat shrinking tube over the crimp for a clean appearance Adjust the rudder cable threaded fair leads to obtain appropriate cable tensions Remove tape that was holding rudder straight Tighten...

Page 19: ...Rudder Servo Installation 2 The process for the rudder servo installation is the same process as for the ailerons ...

Page 20: ...nstall the engine cowl over the engine Install the spinner bulkhead onto the engine and center the spinner bulkhead with the cowl Remove cowl and mount fire wall at present location Drill 3mm mounting holes for hardware through the motor box into aluminum angle brackets Glue the firewall at that location with 30 minute epoxy Triangle stock is included to reinforce firewall ...

Page 21: ...Engine Installation Note Use Blue Loctite on final installation of engine mounting screws ...

Page 22: ...ht line for a precise throttle linkage connection Epoxy and screw the tray in place Make a hole for push rod path with a Dremel tool Measure and bend to a sharp Z bend as shown Cut off extra length wire Mount the throttle pushrod ball end to the throttle arm and Z bend to the servo arm Finish the servo installation with two additional mounting screws Drop glue on the nut ...

Page 23: ... ignition to the outside of the engine box with double sided tape Allow room for spark plug leads and wire connections Drill holes in motor box for zip ties and secure module with ties The ignition battery installs the same manor except under the engine box Lock the connectors with the provided safety clip to prevent vibration from loosening connections ...

Page 24: ...Engine Box Hatch Epoxy the hatch in place and install self tapping screws Fuel Tank Installation To fueling dot To engine To atmosphere ...

Page 25: ...nstallation Mount the fuel tank with Velcro straps There is a factory laser cut hole for the fueling dot aft of the engine cowl on the left hand side of the fuselage Secure all fuel lines connections with zip ties ...

Page 26: ...stic cooling air deflector only offer for 107 122 decathlon to the inside of the cowl Secure with thick CA or silicone Some trimming might be necessary for clearance with the engine Extend a ball driver tool by cutting standard ball driver in half and adding a section of copper tubing a small heat shrink tubing Note Avoid sharp corners to prevent stress cracking from vibration Note An extended All...

Page 27: ...tch mounting holes are located under the covering on either side of the fuselage for your convenience Opening the cabin door exposes two additional pre cut switch locations in the servo mounting plate Finish the mounting the switch with screws and nuts ...

Page 28: ...Wing Assembly Wing brackets Install the brackets at mounting locations under side of wing Use Loctite on threads Lift strut components Short side Long side ...

Page 29: ...Wing Assembly Layout identify and assemble lift strut components Do not fully tighten hardware at this time ...

Page 30: ...acers and mount the lift struts to the wing Thin spacers are for the out board brackets and thick spacers for the inboard brackets Leave hardware lose Install wings on fuselage and make sure every thing is aligned Tighten all hardware ...

Page 31: ...entical brackets that are for the horizontal stabilizer two with steeper bands that are for the vertical stabilizer and a double sided bracket that mounts on the aft screw of the tail wheel bracket under the fuselage Attach the nylon clevises and threaded cable ends to the metal tail brackets Install the included cables and crimp into position Balance cable tensions ...

Page 32: ...Elevator Assembly Note make sure cable tensions are balanced to prevent warping ...

Page 33: ...LED Lights Assembly Optional Pilot RC LED lighting kit optional ...

Page 34: ...or Velcro straps After you have a few flights under you belt you can change control deflections based on personal preference as well as adjust the CG back in 1 4 intervals Set exponential up to approximately 40 on your elevator to make great landings on low rates and 70 exponential on High Rate Flying Settings Throttle Adjust idle full Elevator 40 Degrees on High rate 12 Degrees on Low rate Ailero...

Page 35: ...295mm DECATHLON 107 129mm 300 73 154mm DECATHLON 122 146 5mm 300 88 170mm DECATHLON 150 182mm 300 107 211mm DECATHLON 180 217 5mm 300 122 236mm 400 150 125mm 330 60 101mm 400 128 157mm 330 67 152mm 330 73 154mm Trainer 90 145mm 330 78 162mm V1 Sport 88 145mm 330 78V2 152mm V2 SKYWOLF 88 155mm 330 88 170mm 330 92 206mm V1 DOLPHIN 71 224mm V1 330 92V2 178mm V2 DOLPHIN 71 204mm V2 330 107 211mm DOLPH...

Page 36: ...naline burned off by bragging to your fellow members how good it flies Fly low and at a medium speed on your first few flight Listen to your engine run and have an observer with you to remember what you talked about during the flight or if you get into trouble Always balance your props vibration is a killer Remember nose heavy airplanes fly all the time tail heavy airplanes fly only once Be on the...

Page 37: ... 34 Chengnan Er Road Zhongshan city 528455 Guangdong Province China Web www pilot rc com Email pilot rc 139 com info pilot rc com Tel 86 760 88781293 FAX 86 760 88780293 Zhongshan Pilot Model Aircraft Product Ltd ...