E-flite SU-26m User Manual
Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF
Assembly Manual
Specifications
Wingspan: 43 in (1090mm)
Length: 39 in (990mm)
Wing Area: 365 sq in (23.5 sq dm)
Weight w/o Battery: 24–26 oz (680–740 g)
Weight w/Battery: 30–32 oz (850–910 g)
Table of Contents
Introduction
Contents of Kit/Parts Layout
Introduction ............................................................... 2
Important Information Regarding
Warranty Information ............................................ 2
Using the Manual ....................................................... 2
Contents of Kit/Parts Layout ........................................ 2
Covering Colors ......................................................... 2
Recommended Radio Equipment ................................. 3
Optional Accessories .................................................. 3
Brushless Outrunner Setup .......................................... 3
Required Tools and Adhesives ..................................... 3
Note on Lithium Polymer Batteries ............................... 3
Warning .................................................................... 3
Landing Gear Installation ............................................ 4
Optional Wheel Pants Installation ................................ 5
Outrunner Motor Installation ....................................... 5
Cowling Installation .................................................... 7
Aileron Hinging ......................................................... 8
Aileron Servos and Linkages ....................................... 9
Wing Installation ...................................................... 12
Stabilizer and Elevator ............................................. 12
Rudder and Fin ........................................................ 16
Rudder and Elevator Servos ...................................... 18
Final Assembly ......................................................... 21
Control Throws......................................................... 22
Center of Gravity ..................................................... 22
Preflight ................................................................... 23
Range Test Your Radio .............................................. 23
Flying Your Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ............................... 23
Safety Do’s and Don’ts for Pilots ................................ 24
Safety Precautions .................................................... 24
Age Requirements .................................................... 24
Warranty Information ............................................... 24
CE Compliance Information for the
European Union.................................................. 26
2008 Official Academy of
Model Aeronautics Safety Code ........................... 26
In the world of competition aerobatic airplanes, the
Russian Sukhoi SU-26m is the equivalent of a top fuel
dragster that can turn on a dime. Its combination of
absurd amounts of horsepower, light weight, rugged
construction and amazing agility allows aggressive
pilots to perform to the limits of their physical
endurance.
E-flite perfectly captures the essence of this aerial hot
rod with its Sukhoi SU-26m – a scaled-down version of
the Hangar 9 Sukhoi SU-26m designed by world-class
IMAC competitor Mike McConville. The E-flite SU-26m
features an exceptionally lightweight airframe that was
designed around the powerful Park 480 BL outrunner
motor (sold separately). As with the full-scale Sukhoi,
this combination of lightweight construction and
prodigious power gives the E-flite SU-26m unlimited
performance that is ideally suited for 3D aerobatics.
Important Information
Regarding Warranty Information
Please read our Warranty and Liability Limitations
section on Page 24 before building this product. If you
as the Purchaser or user are not prepared to accept the
liability associated with the use of this Product, you are
advised to return this Product immediately in new and
unused condition to the place of purchase.
Using the Manual
This manual is divided into sections to help make
assembly easier to understand, and to provide breaks
between each major section. In addition, check boxes
have been placed next to each step to keep track
of its completion. Steps with a single circle () are
performed once, while steps with two circles ( )
indicate that the step will require repeating, such as for
a right or left wing panel, two servos, etc.
Replacement Parts
EFL2851 Wing Set
EFL2852 Fuselage w/Hatch
EFL2853 Tail Set
EFL2854 Wing Tube
EFL2855 Landing Gear Set
EFL2857 Pushrod Set
EFL2858 Canopy Hatch
EFL2859 Cowling
EFL2860 Canopy
EFL2862 Hardware Pack
EFLA222 Foam Park Wheels,
13/4-inch (45mm)
Covering Colors
HANU973 Lite Scale White
HANU877 Orange
HANU847 Pearl Purple
Remember to take your time and follow the directions.
2 E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
Recommended Radio Equipment
Brushless Outrunner Setup
Warning
You will need a minimum of a 6-channel transmitter,
receiver and four servos. You can choose to purchase
a complete radio system. If you are using an
existing transmitter, just purchase the other required
equipment separately. We recommend the crystalfree, interference-free Spektrum™ DX6i 2.4GHz DSM®
6-channel system. If using your own transmitter, we
recommend the E-flite S75 Sub-Micro servos.
If you own a Spektrum radio, just add a DSM2
receiver and four E-flite S75 Sub-Micro servos. We
show the installation of the AR6200 receiver in the
manual.
Radio System
SPM6600 DX6i DSM2 6CH system
Or Purchase Separately
SPMAR6200 AR6200 DSM2 6-Channel Full
Range Receiver (for DX5e, DX6i,
or DX7)
And
EFLREX6L 6-inch Extension,
Lightweight (2)
EFLREX12L 12-inch Extension,
Lightweight (2)
™
Optional Accessories
EFLA110 Power Meter
EFLC3005 Celectra™ 1- to 3-Cell
Li-Po Charger
EFLC505 Intelligent 1- to 5-Cell
Balancing Charger
EFL2856 Dummy Motor
EFLA152 1/9-scale Aerobatic Pilot
EFL2863 Wheel Pants
EFLSP175 13/4-inch (45mm) Aluminum
Spinner w/4mm & 5mm Collets
EFLM1505 Park 480 Brushless Outrunner
Motor, 1020Kv
APC12060E 12x6 Electric Propeller
EFLA1040L 40-Amp Lite Pro Switch-Mode
BEC Brushless
THP21003SPL2 2100mAh 3S 11.1V 20C Li-Po,
13AWG
Required Tools and Adhesives
Tools & Equipment
Felt-tipped pen Hobby knife (#11 blade)
Mixing sticks Nut driver: 5mm
Paper towels Pin drill
Ruler (EFLA264) Square
String/dental floss T-pins
Low tack tape Side cutters
Sand paper Petroleum jelly
Waxed paper Rubbing alcohol
Epoxy brush
Phillips screwdriver: #0, #1, #2 (EFLA257 and
EFLA258)
Hex wrench or ball driver: 3/32-inch (EFLA251)
Drill bit: 1/16-inch (1.5mm)
Adhesives
Threadlock Canopy glue
Thin CA Medium CA
Tie wrap
6-Minute Epoxy (HAN8000)
30-minute epoxy (HAN8002)
Note on Lithium Polymer Batteries
Lithium Polymer batteries are significantly
more volatile than alkaline or Ni-Cd/
Ni-MH batteries used in RC applications.
All manufacturer’s instructions and warnings
must be followed closely. Mishandling of
Li-Po batteries can result in fire. Always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions when
disposing of Lithium Polymer batteries.
An RC aircraft is not a toy! If misused, it can cause
serious bodily harm and damage to property. Fly
only in open areas, preferably at AMA (Academy of
Model Aeronautics) approved flying sites, following all
instructions included with your radio.
Keep loose items that can get entangled in the
propeller away from the prop, including loose clothing,
or other objects such as pencils and screwdrivers.
Especially keep your hands away from the propeller.
During the course of building your Sukhoi SU-26m,
we suggest that you use a soft base for the building
surface. Such things as a foam stand, large piece of
bedding foam or a thick bath towel will work well and
help protect the model from damage during assembly.
The Spektrum trademark is used with permission
of Bachmann Industries, Inc.
3E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
Landing Gear Installation
Required Parts
Fuselage
Main landing gear (2)
13/4-inch (45mm) wheel (2)
3mm x 25mm machine screws (2)
#4 washers (4)
3mm nylon lock nut (4)
4-40 x 1/2-inch socket head screw (4)
Required Tools and Adhesives
Phillips screwdriver: #2
Nut driver: 5mm
Hex wrench: 3/32-inch
Threadlock
You may consider using a larger diameter
wheel, such as 21/4-inch (58mm) (EFLA224),
if your flying site has rough terrain.
1. Remove the hatch from the fuselage by lifting it
up at the rear and sliding it back to disengage the
pins at the front.
3. Slide a 3mm x 25mm machine screw through
one of the 13/4-inch wheels. Thread a 3mm nylon
lock nut on the screw as shown.
2. Slide the landing gear in the slot in the side of
the fuselage. Secure the landing gear using two
4-40 x 1/2-inch socket head screws and two #4
washers. Use threadlock on the screws before
tightening them with a 3/32-inch hex wrench or
ball driver.
4. Attach the wheel to the landing gear using a
3mm lock nut. Use a #2 Phillips screwdriver and
5mm nut driver to tighten the nut.
4 E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
Optional Wheel Pants Installation
Outrunner Motor Installation
Make sure the wheel can rotate freely. If not, loosen
the 3mm lock nut so the 3mm nut can be backed
away from the wheel. Retighten the assembly
and check that the wheel can rotate freely.
5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 for the remaining wheel.
Required Parts
Fuselage assembly
Wheel pant (left and right) (EFL2863)
2mm x 4mm wood screw (4)
Required Tools and Adhesives
Phillips screwdriver: #1
1. Slide the wheel pant over the wheel. Use two
2mm x 4mm sheet metal screws to secure the
wheel pant to the landing gear. Use a #1 Phillips
screwdriver to tighten the screws. Repeat for
opposite side.
Required Parts
Fuselage Radio system
3S Li-Po battery
Plywood X-mount spacers (2)
Brushless motor with mounting hardware
Electronic speed control
4-40 x 5/8-inch socket head screw (4)
#4 washer (4)
Required Tools and Adhesives
Threadlock Tie wrap
Hex wrench: 3/32-inch
Phillips screwdriver: #2
This section covers the installation of the recommended
Park 480 Outrunner motor. The holes in the firewall
match the mounting pattern of the X-mount.
1. Attach the supplied aluminum motor X-mount to
the motor using the screws provided with the motor.
Make sure to use threadlock on the screws before
tightening them with a #2 Phillips screwdriver.
5E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
2. Attach the Outrunner motor to the front of the
firewall using two plywood X-mount spacers, four
#4 washers and four 4-40 x 5/8-inch socket head
screws. Tighten the screws using a 3/32-inch ball
driver or hex wrench.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
YOUR BRUSHLESS ESC
Make sure your ESC brake is programmed to Off.
Also, be sure to use an ESC with the proper 9V cutoff
when using 3-cell Li-Po packs, or 6V cutoff when using
2-cell Li-Po packs.
3. Solder any connectors to the speed control to
connect to the motor battery and motor if necessary.
Use hook and loop tape to secure the speed control
inside the fuselage as shown. Make sure to guide
the leads for the motor through the fuselage.
4. Connect the leads from the ESC to the leads
from the motor. Use a tie wrap (not included) to
secure the motor leads so they will not interfere
with the operation of the motor.
5. Connect the speed control to the radio system and
motor battery. Check that the motor is rotating in
the correct direction. It will rotate counterclockwise
when viewed from the front of the aircraft. Use the
instructions with your speed control to correct a
motor that is operating in the wrong direction.
6 E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
Cowling Installation
Required Parts
Fuselage w/motor installed
2mm x 8mm wood screw (4)
Cowling Propeller
Prop adapter (for outrunner motor)
Dummy motor (optional)
E-flite 13/4-inch aluminum spinner (optional)
Required Tools and Adhesives
Thin CA T-pin
Phillips screwdriver: #1
Optional Tools and Adhesives
30-minute epoxy Mixing stick
Epoxy brush Rubbing alcohol
Paper towel
2. Use thin CA to harden the holes in the
hardwood cowl mounts. This will help to prevent
the screws from vibrating loose in flight.
IF INSTALLING DUMMY MOTOR
4. Slide the cowling onto the fuselage. Use a #1
Phillips screwdriver to secure the cowl using four
2mm x 8mm sheet metal screws.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROPELLER
1. Use a T-pin to poke a hole through the fuselage
side to locate the center of the hardwood cowl
mounts inside the fuselage.
3. After painting the dummy motor, use 30-minute
epoxy to glue it into the cowling as shown.
Make sure to allow the epoxy to fully cure before
proceeding to mount the cowl to the fuselage.
It is very important to check to be sure the propeller
is balanced before installing onto the shaft. An
unbalanced propeller may strip the gears or cause
poor flight characteristics.
Make sure to check the balance of the propeller
after enlarging the hole in the propeller.
5. Install the propeller assembly onto the motor
shaft. Tighten the propeller nut using a hex wrench
slipped through the hole in the propeller nut.
7E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
6. An optional 13/4-inch spinner is also available
for your model. It can be installed at this time.
Aileron Hinging
Required Parts
Wing (left and right)
Aileron (left and right)
CA hinges (8)
Required Tools and Adhesives
T-pins Thin CA
Pin drill Paper towel
Hobby knife with #11 blade
Drill bit: 1/16-inch (1.5mm)
1. Locate the positions for the hinges. Drill a 1/16-
inch (1.5mm) hole in the center of each slot of both
the wing and aileron. This creates a tunnel for the
CA, allowing the CA to penetrate into the hinge
better, bonding the hinges more securely.
2. Slide four hinges into the slits in the aileron.
Center the slot in the hinge with the hole drilled in
Step 1. Place a T-pin in each hinge to prevent it
from being pushed into the wing when installing
the aileron.
Do not use CA accelerator during the hinging
process. The CA must be allowed to soak into the
hinge to provide the best bond. Using accelerator
will not provide enough time for this process.
3. Slide the aileron into position. Check to make
sure it can move without interference at the wing
root and wing tip. Remove the T-pins and apply
Thin CA to each hinge. Make sure the hinge is fully
saturated with CA. Use a paper towel to clean up
any excess CA from the wing and aileron. Make
sure to apply CA to both sides of the hinge.
8 E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
Placing a #11 hobby blade between the aileron
leading edge and wing trailing edge to position
the aileron will result in a nice free-moving
hinge for 3D throws without any binding.
4. Firmly grasp the wing and aileron and gently
pull on the aileron to ensure the hinges are secure
and cannot be pulled apart. Use caution when
gripping the wing and aileron to avoid crushing
the structure.
5. Work the aileron up and down several times to
work in the hinges and check for proper movement.
Aileron Servos and Linkages
Required Parts
Radio system
Wing panel (right and left)
Micro control connector (2)
2mm x 4mm machine screw (2)
31/2-inch (89mm) pushrod (2)
Control horn (2)
Servo (2)
6-inch (150mm) servo extension (2)
Required Tools and Adhesives
Hobby knife Pin drill
6-minute epoxy Thin CA
Side cutters
Phillips screwdriver: #0, #1
Drill bit: 1/16-inch (1.5mm)
String or dental floss
We suggest using the long 3D servo arms for the
Sukhoi SU-26m 480. Replace all existing arms
before installing the servos as shown in Step 8.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 for the remaining aileron.
1. Attach a 6-inch (150mm) servo extension. Use
string or dental floss to secure the servo lead and
extension to prevent them from unplugging in flight.
9E-flite Sukhoi SU-26m 480 ARF Assembly Manual
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