Great Planes 1045 User Manual

WARRANTY

Great Planes

®

Model Manufacturing Co. guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date of
purchase. This warranty does not cover any component parts damaged by use or modification. In no case shall Great Planes’ liability
exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Further, Great Planes reserves the right to change or modify this warranty

without notice.

In that Great Planes has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor
accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using the
user-assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability.

If the buyer is not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of this product, the buyer is advised to return this
kit immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase.

While this kit has been flight tested to exceed normal use, if the plane will be used for extremely high stress flying, the modeler is
responsible for taking steps to reinforce the high stress points.

READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE
STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS
IMPORTANT WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF
THIS MODEL.

GPMZ0225 for GPMA1045 V1.0© Copyright 2000

P.O. Box 788 Urbana, IL 61803 [phone]

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Wing Span - 78.5 in
Wing Area - 676 sq in
Weight - 2 lbs
Wing Loading - 7 oz/sq ft
Fuse Length - 39 in

Important Safety Precaution ...........................................2

Introduction ......................................................................2

Precautions.......................................................................2

Preparations......................................................................3

Required Accessories ..................................................3

Building Supplies and Tools.........................................3

Optional Supplies and Tools ........................................3

General Inspection.......................................................3

Building Notes..............................................................3

Metric/Inch Ruler..........................................................3

Parts List ...........................................................................4

Wing Assembly.................................................................5

Tail Assembly....................................................................5

Radio Installation .............................................................7

Canopy Installation ..........................................................9

Final Hookups & Checks ...............................................10

Optional Spoilers........................................................11

Radio Settings ................................................................12

Balance The Model.........................................................12

Checking For Warps ......................................................12

Preflight...........................................................................13

Charge the Batteries..................................................13

Find a Safe Place to Fly ............................................13

Range Check Your Radio ..........................................13

AMA Safety Code (excerpt) ...........................................13

General ......................................................................13

Radio Control.............................................................13

Flying...............................................................................13

Trim Flights ................................................................13

Your First Hi-Start Launch..........................................14

First Flights ................................................................14

Thermal Flying ...........................................................14

Facts About Thermals ................................................14

Thermal Soaring ........................................................15

Pointers For Contest Flying ..........................................15

Slope Soaring .................................................................16

Flying .........................................................................16

Slope Landings ..........................................................16

Ballasting ...................................................................16

Your Spirit ARF is not a toy, but rather a sophisticated,
working model that functions very much like a full-size
sailplane. Because of its realistic performance, the Spirit
ARF, if not assembled and operated correctly, could possibly
cause injury to yourself or spectators and damage property.

We recommend you get experienced, knowledgeable help
from an instructor with assembly and during your first flights.
You’ll learn faster and avoid risking your model before you’re
ready to solo. Your local hobby shop has information about
flying clubs in your area whose membership includes
qualified instructors.

You can also contact the national Academy of Model
Aeronautics (AMA), which has more than 2,500 chartered
clubs across the country. Through any one of them,
instructor training programs and insured newcomer training
are available. Contact the AMA at the address or toll-free
phone number below:

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie, IN 47302-9252

Tele. [phone]

Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at: http://www.modelaircraft.org

The Spirit ARF is a very stable and predictable aircraft,
allowing pilots of differing skill levels to enjoy it.

The Spirit ARF is easy to build, flies great, and would be a
great selection as your first R/C airplane.

1. You must assemble the model according to the
instructions. Do not alter or modify the model, as doing so
may result in an unsafe or unflyable model. In a few cases
the instructions may differ slightly from the photos. In those
instances the written instructions should be considered
correct.

2. Take time to build straight, true and strong.

3. You must properly install the R/C radio system and other
components so that the model operates properly on the
ground and in the air.

4. You must test the operation of the model before every
flight to insure that all equipment is operating and you must
make certain that the model has remained structurally
sound. Be sure to check clevises or other connectors often
and replace them if they show signs of wear or fatigue.

Remember: Take your time and follow directions to end
up with a well-built model that is straight and true.
Please inspect all parts carefully before starting to build!

YOU CAN CONTACT US...

If any parts are missing, broken or defective, or if you
have any questions about building or flying this

Note: We, as the kit manufacturer, provide you with a top

quality kit and great instructions, but ultimately the quality of
your finished model depends on how you build it; therefore,
we cannot in any way guarantee the performance of your
completed model, and no representations are expressed or
implied as to the performance or safety of your completed
model.

PRECAUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

PROTECT YOUR MODEL,YOURSELF

& OTHERS...FOLLOW THIS

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

airplane, please call us at [phone]. You can also
check our web site at www.greatplanes.com for the
latest Spirit ARF updates, or e-mail your questions to:

[e-mail].

If you are calling for replacement parts, please
reference the part numbers and the kit identification
number (stamped on the end of the carton) and have
them ready when calling.

Items in parentheses such as (GPMQ4243) are suggested
part numbers recognized by distributors and hobby shops
and are listed for your ordering convenience. GPM is the
Great Planes brand, TOP is the Top Flite®brand, and HCA
is the Hobbico®brand.

❏ Minimum Two-Channel Radio With Two Servos
❏ Square Receiver Battery Pack (500 mAh)

These are the building tools that are required. We
recommend Great Planes Pro™CA and Epoxy glue.

❏ 2 oz. Pro CA (Thin, GPMR6003)
❏ 2 oz. Pro CA+ (Medium, GPMR6009)
❏ 6-Minute Pro Epoxy (GPMR6045)
❏ Epoxy Brushes (GPMR8060)
❏ Pro Thread Locking Compound (GPMR6060)
❏ Plastic Wrap or Waxed Paper
❏ Isopropyl Alcohol (70%)
❏ Mixing Sticks (GPMR8055)
❏ Round Toothpicks
❏ Hobby Knife, #11 Blades
❏ Small Hobby Clamps
❏ Clothes Pins
❏ String
❏ Builders Triangle Set (HCAR0480)

❏ Masking Tape (TOPR8018)
❏ 1/2" [13mm] Latex Foam Rubber Padding

(HCAQ1050)

❏ Paper Towels
❏ Felt-Tip Marker
❏ Wire Cutter
❏ Drill Bits: 5/64" [2mm], 3/32" [2.5mm]

❏ CA Applicator Tips (HCAR3780)
❏ CA Debonder (GPMR6039)
❏ Sealing Iron (TOPR2100)
❏ Single-Edge Razor Blades (HCAR0312)
❏ Curved Tip Canopy Scissors For Trimming Plastic

Parts (HCAR0667)

Remove the fuselage, wing panels, rudder assembly and
stabilizer assembly from their bags. Inspect all items closely
to check for any damage. If any damage is found, contact
the place where your Spirit ARF was purchased, or Hobby
Services, to obtain a replacement for your damaged items.
If any of the control surfaces are attached, simply pull them
apart and store the hinges in a safe place until it is time to
re-attach them.

Your Spirit ARF is covered using Top Flite MonoKote

®

covering. Eliminate any wrinkles you find in the covering by
shrinking them away with a heat gun. Then, apply pressure
to the area with a covering iron and a hot sock. This will
securely bond the covering to the wood so the wrinkles will
be less likely to reappear in the future.

Several times during construction we refer to the “top” or
“bottom” of the model or a part of the model. It is understood
that the “top” or “bottom” of the model is as it would be when
the airplane is right side up and will be referred to as the
“top” even if the model is being worked on upside-down.

Building Notes

General Inspection

Optional Supplies & Tools

Building Supplies & Tools

Required Accessories

PREPARATIONS

3

Inch Scale

0" 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 7"

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180

Metric Scale

4

Key# Description Qty

1 Fuselage 1
2 Left Wing Panel 1
3 Right Wing Panel 1
4 Canopy 1
5 Cockpit 1
6 Front Canopy Brace 1
7 Bottom Canopy Brace 1
8 Rear Canopy Brace 1
9 Heat Shrink Tubing 4
10 Trailing Edge Brace 1
11 Servo Rails 2
12 Wing Dowels 2
13 Metal Hardware 1 Bag
14 Nylon Hardware 1 Bag
15 Pushrod Wires 2
16 Hardwood Pushrod Dowels 2
17 Wing Joiners 3
18 Fin 1
19 Stabilizer 1

Replacement Parts

If needed, replacement parts for your Spirit

ARF

are

available

through your hobby supplier.

Wing Kit .............................................................GPMA2176

Fuselage Kit ......................................................GPMA2177

Tail Set...............................................................GPMA2178

Canopy Set........................................................GPMA2179

Parts List

2

3

1

7

19

18

4

5

10

14

12

8

6

9

13

11

16

15

17

❏ 1. Use either epoxy or thick CA to glue one of the 1/16"

[1.5mm] aluminum joiners to the 1/8" [3mm] balsa joiner.
Apply as much pressure (clamps, clothes pins, weights,
etc.) as possible while the glue is curing and be sure to line
up the two pieces accurately. Glue the other 1/16" [1.5mm]
aluminum joiner to the other side of the 1/8" [3mm] balsa
joiner using the same procedure.

❏ 2. Check the fit of the wing joiner in the wing panels.

Remove
any excess material from the joiner to allow the panels to fit
together. The joiner does not have to be glued into the wing.
This will allow the wing panels to be separated for easier
transportation.

❏ 3. Mark and remove a small area of the covering on both

wings for the 1/8" x 1" x 1-5/8" [3mm x 25mm x 41mm]
plywood trailing edge plates. Glue the plates onto the wing
with thick CA.

❏ 1. Find and open the holes in the stabilizer covering for

the attachment screws. Attach the stabilizer to the fuselage
using two 2mm x 15mm screws, two 2mm nuts and four
2mm washers. Use thread lock on the nuts to prevent
loosening.

TAIL ASSEMBLY

WING ASSEMBLY

5