E-flite Carbon-Z Cub User manual

Carbon-Z® Cub

Instruction Manual

IMAA Legal

NOTICE

All instructions, warranties and other collateral documents are subject to change at the sole discretion of Horizon Hobby, Inc. For up-to-date product literature, visit www.horizonhobby.com and click on the support tab for this product.

Meaning of Special Language:

The following terms are used throughout the product literature to indicate various levels of potential harm when operating this product:

NOTICE: Procedures, which if not properly followed, create a possibility of physical property damage AND little or no possibility of injury. CAUTION: Procedures, which if not properly followed, create the probability of physical property damage AND a possibility of serious injury. WARNING: Procedures, which if not properly followed, create the probability of property damage, collateral damage, and serious injury OR create a high

probability of superﬁ cial injury.

WARNING: Read the ENTIRE instruction manual to become familiar with the features of the product before operating. Failure to operate the product correctly can result in damage to the product, personal property and cause serious injury.

This is a sophisticated hobby product. It must be operated with caution and common sense and requires some basic mechanical ability. Failure to operate this Product in a safe and responsible manner could result in injury or damage to the product or other property. This product is not intended for use by children without direct adult supervision. Do not use with incompatible components or alter this product in any way outside of the instructions provided by Horizon Hobby, Inc. This manual contains instructions for safety, operation and maintenance. It is essential to read and follow all the instructions and warnings in the manual, prior to assembly, setup or use, in order to operate correctly and avoid damage or serious injury.

Age Recommendation: Not for children under 14 years. This is not a toy.

Safety Precautions and Warnings

As the user of this product, you are solely responsible for operating in a manner that does not endanger yourself and others or result in damage to the product or the property of others.

• Always keep a safe distance in all directions around your airplanes to avoid collisions or injury. This airplanes is controlled by a radio signal subject to interference from many sources outside your control. Interference can cause momentary loss of control

• Always operate your airplanes in open spaces away from full-size vehicles, trafﬁ c and people.

• Always carefully follow the directions and warnings for this and any optional support equipment (chargers, rechargeable battery packs, etc.).

• Always keep all chemicals, small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children.

• Always avoid water exposure to all equipment not speciﬁ cally designed and protected for this purpose. Moisture causes damage to electronics.

• Never place any portion of the airplanes in your mouth as it could cause serious injury or even death.

• Never operate your airplanes with low transmitter batteries.

• Always keep aircraft in sight and under control.

• Always use fully charged batteries.

• Always keep transmitter powered on while aircraft is powered.

• Always remove batteries before disassembly.

• Always keep moving parts clean.

• Always keep parts dry.

• Always let parts cool after use before touching.

• Always remove batteries after use.

• Always ensure failsafe is properly set before ﬂ ying.

• Never operate aircraft with damaged wiring.

• Never touch moving parts.

To register your product online, visit www.e-ﬂ iterc.com

The E-flite Carbon-Z Cub

hank you for purchasing the E-ﬂ ite® Carbon-Z® Cub aircraft. Like the full-scale Carbon Cub SS airplane available from Cub Crafters, in your hands is a remark-

ably versatile airplane designed by World Aerobatic Champion, Quique Somenzini, to deliver a pleasure cruiser with incredible muscle. In conjunction with rigid Carbon-Z construction, the remarkable AS3X® system built into the included Spektrum™ AR635 receiver (BNF Basic version only) makes it possible for you to experience a performance envelope that’s wider than ever before possible, more stable and crisp on the controls. This means that no matter how you like to ﬂ y, you’ll enjoy both rock-solid stability and maneuverability without any sacriﬁ ce in precision or control feel. Although this aircraft may look tame, its brushless power system has been specially chosen to offer brutish performance for unbelievable STOL performance as well as unexpected 3D aerobatic agility. In addition, its ready to become your favorite tow plane for sailplanes and can easily carry a camera above the cabin making this already amazing model the ultimate utility aircraft. Plus, you can make your Carbon-Z Cub even more versatile by adding the optional Carbon-Z Cub Float Set to the hard points already built into the airframe that allow you to make virtually any place in the world a viable ﬂ ying site.

Your Carbon-Z Cub aircraft represents the benchmark of performance and aerobatic versatility. And it’s brought to you at both the high-value Bind-N-Fly and Plug-N-Play® completion levels. All you have to do next is read and apply the information presented in this instruction manual.

Box Contents

Basic

Speciﬁ cations

BL50 Brushless Outrunner Motor, 525Kv

60-Amp Pro Switch-Mode BEC Brushless ESC (V2)

(4) 26 g Digital MG Mini Servo (EFLR7145) (2) 13 g Digital MG Micro Servo (EFLR7155)

Spektrum™ AR635, 6-Channel

Sport Receiver

AS3X Battery: 3200mAh 22.2V 6S 30C

Li-Po (EFLB32006S30) Battery Charger: 6-cell Li-Po

battery balancing charger

Recommended Transmitter:

Full-Range 6 channel 2.4GHz with Spektrum DSM2®/DSMX® technology with programmable Mixing.

55.8 in (1419mm)

84.6 in (2150mm)

Included Included

Installed Installed

Installed

Required to

Complete

Required to

Complete

Required to

Complete

Required to

Complete

Required to

Complete

Required to

Complete

Required to

Complete

8.15 lb (3.7 kg)

1100 in² (71 dm²)

Table of Contents

AS3X System .......................................................................................4

Receiver Selection and Installation .......................................................4

Transmitter and Receiver Binding .........................................................5

Battery Installation ...............................................................................6

Low Voltage Cutoff (LVC) ......................................................................6

Arming the ESC and Receiver...............................................................7

Landing Gear Installation .....................................................................8

Rudder Installation ...............................................................................9

Horizontal Tail Installation ..................................................................10

Motor and Propeller Installation .........................................................11

Wing Installation ................................................................................12

Center of Gravity (CG) .......................................................................14

Control Direction Test .........................................................................14

Control Horn and Servo Arm Settings .................................................14

Control Surface Centering ..................................................................15

AS3X Control Direction Test ..............................................................15

Transmitter Setup .............................................................................16

Dual Rates, Expos and Mixing ............................................................16

Preﬂ ight Preparation ..........................................................................16

Flying Tips and Repairs ......................................................................17

Post Flight Maintenance .....................................................................18

Optional Tow Release Installation .......................................................18

Optional Camera Mount Installation....................................................19

AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code ...........................................20

Troubleshooting Guide AS3X .............................................................21

Troubleshooting Guide .......................................................................22

Limited Warranty ...............................................................................23

Contact Information ...........................................................................24

FCC Information .................................................................................24

Compliance Information for the European Union .................................24

Replacement Parts .............................................................................90

Optional Parts ....................................................................................91

AS3X System

Horizon Hobby has always made RC sport, scale and unique aircraft with the kind of performance experts appreciate. First used in Blade ﬂ ybarless helicopters, MEMS sensor technology within the Artiﬁ cial Stability--3 axis (AS3X) System has been speciﬁ cally tuned for airplanes helping invisibly correct for turbulence, torque and tip stalls.

Now the exclusive AS3X Stabilization system makes the leap from Ultra Micro aircraft to high performance parkﬂ yers with the AR635 receiver. The precision and performance available from AS3X equipped Ultra Micro airplanes has heralded a new era of performance, and with the AR635, that performance is introduced for larger airplanes.

ultra micro

Receiver Selection and Installation

The Spektrum AR635 receiver is recommended for ths airplane. If you choose to install another receiver, ensure that is at least a 6-channel full range (sport) receiver. Refer to your receiver manual for correct installation and operation instructions.

Installation (AR635 shown)

1. Remove the screw (A) and radio hatch (B) from the top of the fuselage.

2. Install your full range (sport) receiver in the fuselage using double-sided

servo tape.

The outstanding control agility delivers an ultra smooth, locked-in feel that obeys your every command with performance that’s natural feeling. It’s so gratifying, in fact, that it’s as though you’re the RC pilot of an expertly tuned, giant-scale aircraft. Welcome to AS3X, your parkﬂ yer will never be the same! To see what we mean, go to www.E-ﬂ iteRC.com/AS3X.

3. Attach the elevator and rudder servo connectors to the appropriate chan-

nels of the receiver.

4. Attach the aileron Y-harness to the aileron channel of the receiver.

5. Attach the Flaps Y-harness to the AUX1.

6. Attach the ESC connector to the throttle channel of the receiver.

Transmitter and Receiver Binding

WARNING AGAINST COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS: If you ever need to replace your Spektrum receiver found in a Horizon Hobby product, always purchase

from Horizon Hobby, Inc. or a Horizon Hobby authorized dealer to ensure authentic high-quality Spektrum product. Horizon Hobby, Inc. disclaims all support and warranty with regards, but not limited to, compatibility and performance of counterfeit products or products claiming compatibility with DSM or Spektrum.

Binding is the process of programming the receiver to recognize the GUID (Globally Unique Identiﬁ er) code of a single speciﬁ c transmitter. You need to ‘bind’ your chosen Spektrum™ DSM2®/DSMX® technology equipped aircraft transmitter to the receiver for proper operation.

Please visit www.bindnﬂ y.com for a complete list of compatible transmitters.

CAUTION: When using a Futaba® transmitter with a Spektrum DSM module, you must reverse the throttle channel and rebind. Refer to your Spektrum

module manual for binding and failsafe instructions. Refer to your Futaba transmitter manual for instructions on reversing the throttle channel.

Read the transmitter instructions for binding to a receiver (location of transmitter’s Bind control).

1. Make sure the transmitter is powered off.

2. Move the transmitter controls to neutral (ﬂ ight controls: rudder, elevators and ailerons) or to low positions (throttle, throttle trim).**

3. Install a bind plug in the receiver bind port.

4. Connect the ﬂ ight battery to the ESC, then power on the ESC switch. The ESC will produce a series of sounds. One long tone, then 6 short tones conﬁ rm that the LVC is set correctly for the ESC. The orange bind LED on the receiver will begin to ﬂ ash rapidly.

5. Power on the transmitter while holding the transmitter bind button or switch. Refer to your transmitter’s manual for binding button or switch instructions.

6. When the receiver binds to the transmitter, the orange bind light on the receiver will turn solid and the ESC will produce a series of three ascending tones. The tones indicate the ESC is armed, provided the throttle stick and throttle trim are low enough to trigger arming.

7. After binding, the 3 LEDs (blue, yellow and red) on the receiver will ﬂ ash. The ﬂ ashing indicates the gain setting for each axis. The quicker the ﬂ ash, the higher the gain setting. For more information, refer to the “Initializing the AR635” section in the receiver manual.

8. Remove the bind plug from the bind port.

9. Safely store the bind plug (some owners attach the bind plug to their transmitter using two-part loops and clips).

Bind Plug Installation

** The throttle will not arm if the transmitter’s throttle control is not put at the lowest position. If you encounter problems, follow the binding instructions and refer to the transmitter Troubleshooting Guide for other instructions. If needed, contact the appropriate Horizon Product Support ofﬁ ce.

10. The receiver should retain the binding instructions received from the transmitter until another binding is done.

Battery Installation

Battery Selection

• We recommend the E-ﬂ ite 3200mAh 22.2V 6S Li-Po battery (EFLB32006S30). Refer to the Optional Parts List for other E-ﬂ ite batteries. If using a battery other than those listed, the battery should be within the range of capacity, dimensions and weight of the E-ﬂ ite Li-Po battery packs to ﬁ t in the fuselage without changing the center of gravity a large amount.

1. Press the latch button (A) to lift the rear edge of the canopy hatch, then pull

the hatch up and back from the fuselage.

2. Apply the included strip of hook and loop tape to the bottom of your

battery(s).

3. For the recommended CG, install the battery(s) in the middle of the com-

partment, then press the battery(s) onto the hook and loop strip. Close the 2 hook and loop straps around the battery(s). See the Adjusting the Center

of Gravity instructions for more information.

4. Connect a fully charged battery(s) to the ESC. See the Arming the ESC

instructions for correct connection of the battery to the ESC.

5. Reinstall the canopy hatch.

Tip: The ESC switch in the front left corner of the battery compart-

ment must be powered on for Arming the ESC.

Dual Battery Setup

An optional Y-harness (EFLAEC308 sold separately), is available to connect (2) 3S Li-Po batteries in series to the ESC instead of (1) 6S Li-Po battery.

If (2) 3S Li-Po batteries are used, join them in a stack using hook and loop strips. Secure the battery stack in place using the instructions described in steps 2 and 3 above.

Low Voltage Cutoff (LVC)

When a Li-Po battery is discharged below 3V per cell, it will not hold a charge. The ESC protects the ﬂ ight battery from over-discharge using Low Voltage Cutoff (LVC). Before the battery charge decreases too much, LVC removes power supplied to the motor. Power to the motor pulses, showing that some battery power is reserved for ﬂ ight control and safe landing. When the motor pulses, land the aircraft immediately and recharge the ﬂ ight battery.

Disconnect and remove the Li-Po battery from the aircraft after use to prevent trickle discharge. Charge your Li-Po battery to about half capacity before storage. During storage, make sure the battery charge does not fall below 3V per cell.

TIP: Monitor your aircraft battery’s voltage before and after ﬂ ying by

using a Li-Po Cell Voltage Checker (EFLA111, sold separately).

Arming the ESC and Receiver

Arming the ESC also occurs after binding as previously described, but subsequent connection of a ﬂ ight battery requires the steps below.

AS3X

The AS3X system will not activate until the throttle stick or trim is increased for the ﬁ rst time. Once the AS3X is active, the control surfaces may move rapidly on the aircraft. This is normal. AS3X will remain active until the battery is disconnected.

NOTICE: Due to increased servo power demands, only use the 60-Amp Pro Switch-Mode BEC Brushless ESC (EFLA1060B V2) with the AR635 receiver. Use of any other ESC presently available may result in damage to the aircraft.

DO NOT connect the battery while the throttle stick is at full or the ESC will go into programming mode. If a musical tone sounds after 5 seconds, immediately disconnect the battery, then lower the throttle. Refer to the ESC manual (available separately) for more information.

CAUTION: Always keep hands away from the propeller. When armed,

the motor will turn the propeller in response to any throttle movement.

CAUTION: Always disconnect the Li-Po battery from the aircraft receiver when not ﬂ ying to avoid over-discharging the battery. Batteries discharged to a voltage lower than the lowest approved voltage may become damaged, resulting in loss of performance and potential ﬁ re when batteries are charged.

1. Lower the throttle and throttle trim to lowest settings. Power on the

Transmitter, then wait 5 seconds.

2. Remove the battery hatch and install the flight battery to the hook and

loop strip, then connect the battery to the ESC, noting proper polarity.

3. Power ON the ESC switch (A) on the left side of the battery compartment.

Keep the aircraft immobile on its wheels away from wind for 5 seconds.

• The ESC will sound a series of tones (refer to step 4 of the

binding instructions for more information).

• An LED will light on the receiver (the red, blue and green gain

LEDs will also ﬂ ash).

If the ESC sounds a continuous double beep after the flight battery is

connected, recharge or replace the battery.

For further explanation of the gain lights, refer to the “Initializing the AR635” section of the AR635 receiver manual.

TIP: The ESC switch enables you to easily disarm the propeller while you are not ﬂ ying, but will still draw current from the battery.

Landing Gear Installation

Required Adhesives:

Thread Lock

Assembly

1. Install 2 tundra tires (A) on the main strut (B) using 4 wheel collars (C) as shown. Ensure the set screws (D) are aligned with the ﬂ at spots on the strut. Apply threadlock and tighten.

2. Compress the legs of the strut assembly and insert the top of the assembly into the slot (E) in the bottom of the fuselage. The strut is fully installed when the L-bend (F) is completely recessed in the fuselage.

3. Push the legs of the fairing strut (G) together and install it in the rear slot (H) in the fuselage as was done with the main gear strut.

4. Install the left and right strut brackets (I) (marked L and R) in the respective slots on the bottom of the fuselage using 4 screws (J).

5. Install the left (K) and right (L) fairings on the respective sides of the fairing strut, then install the fairings on the main gear strut.

Where needed, disassemble in reverse order.

Rudder Installation

Required Adhesives:

Thin CA

Assembly

1. Slide the rudder’s CA hinges (A) in the hinge slots (B) of the vertical tail.

2. Install the screw (C) in the rudder mount.

3. Rest the aircraft on its nose, holding the tail up so the thin CA

(cyanoacrylate adhesive) will flow into the slots.

4. Bend the hinges by turning the rudder left, then carefully apply thin CA to

each hinge in the right side of each slot.

5. When the CA is dry, turn the rudder to the right and apply CA in the left

side of each slot.

6. Connect the ball link (D) to the rudder control horn’s outermost

hole (E) using a screw (F) and nut (G). Ensure the rudder servo arm is in the correct position, then adjust the ball link on the linkage to center the rudder.

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