Great Planes GPMA1129 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

SPECIFICATIONS

Wingspan:

32.5 in
[825mm]

Wing Area: 267 in

2

[17.2 dm2]

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

Weight:

Wing

Loading:

6.2 –6.8 oz
[175–195 g]

3.4–3.7 oz/ft
[10–11 g/dm2]

Length: 35 in [890 mm]

Radio: 4-channel

2

Motor: RimFire

™

250

outrunner brushless motor

this kit immediately in new and unused condition to the
place of purchase.

To make a warranty claim send the defective part or item to
Hobby Services at the address below:

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Dr. Suite 1

Champaign IL 61822 USA

Include a letter stating your name, return shipping address, as
much contact information as possible (daytime telephone
number, fax number, e-mail address), a detailed description of
the problem and a photocopy of the purchase receipt. Upon
receipt of the package the problem will be evaluated as quickly
as possible.

READ THROUGH THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT

INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY AND USE OF THIS MODEL.

Champaign, Illinois

[phone], Ext 5

[e-mail]

Entire Contents © Copyright 2009 GPMA1129 Mnl V1.0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMA

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

AMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Indoor Motor and Battery Recommendations . . . . . . .3

Radio Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Adhesives and Building Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Optional Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

KIT INSPECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

KIT CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

BUILD THE FUSELAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

RADIO INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

PUSHROD LENGTH ADJUSTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

INST ALL THE MOTOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Balance the Model (C.G.). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

PRO TIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

GET THE MODEL READY TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Check the Control Directions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Set the Control Throws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

PREFLIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Identify Your Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Charge the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Balance Propellers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Ground Check and Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

MOTOR AND BATTERY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . . . . 17

LITHIUM BATTERY HANDLING AND USAGE. . . . . . . . 17

AMA SAFETY CODE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Radio Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

CHECK LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

FLYING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Takeoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

If you are not already a member of the AMA, please join!

The AMA is the governing body of model aviation and

membership provides liability insurance coverage, protects
modelers’ rights and interests and is required to fl y at
most R/C sites. The AMA has two classes of membership
available: Open membership or their Park Pilot Program,
which this aircraft qualifi es for. The Park Pilot Program is for
people fl ying electr ic aircraft and gliders under two pounds
and which fl y slower than 60mph. This will enable you to
enjoy most AMA benefi ts and organize clubs and fl ying sites
in more congested areas.

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302-9252

Ph. [phone]
Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at:
http://www.modelaircraft.org
http://www.modelaircr aft.org/parkfl yer.aspx

IMPORTANT!!! Two of the most important things you
can do to preserve the radio controlled aircraft hobby are to
avoid fl ying near full-scale aircraft and avoid fl ying near or
over groups of people.

PROTECT YOUR MODEL, YOURSELF

& OTHERS… FOLLOW THESE

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. Your Extra 330SC Indoor Foam Plane should not be
considered a toy, but rather a sophisticated, working model
that functions very much like a full-size airplane. Because
of its performance capabilities, the Extra 330SC Indoor
Foam Plane, if not assembled and operated correctly, could
possibly cause injury to yourself or spectators and damage
to property.

INTRODUCTION

The indoor 3D fl ying craze started with fl at foamies, which

helped get many modelers started in indoor fl ying. The

planes were heavy and sometimes diffi cult to assemble. The
Extra 330SC Indoor Foam Plane is the new generation of
fl at foamies, light, easy and quick to build. The Extra 330SC
Indoor Foam Plane is capable of slow, mild 3D to all out wild

3D maneuvers. If your indoor fl ying area is small, you will be

pleased with what you can do with the Extra 330SC Indoor
Foam Plane.

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to the
Extra 330SC Indoor Foam Plane visit the Great Planes web

site at www.g reatplanes.com. Open the “Airplanes” link, then

select the Extra 330SC Indoor Foam Plane. If there is new

technical information or changes to this model a “tech notice”

box will appear in the upper left corner of the page.

2. 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 unfl yable model. In a few
cases the instructions may differ slightly from the photos.
In those instances the written instructions should be
considered as correct.

3. You must take time to build straight, true and strong.

4. You must use an R/C radio system that is in good condition,
a correctly sized engine, and other components as specifi ed
in this instruction manual. All components must be correctly
installed so that the model operates correctly on the ground
and in the air. You must check the operation of the model and
all components before every fl ight.

5. If you are not an experienced pilot or have not fl own
this type of model before, we recommend that you get
the assistance of an experienced pilot in your R/C club for

2

your fi rst fl ights. If you’re not a member of a club, your local

hobby shop has information about clubs in your area whose

membership includes experienced pilots.

6. Carefully read and follow all the instructions included with

your LiPo battery and battery charger. LiPo batteries are

not forgiving like NiCd or NiMH batteries. Overcharging or

charging the LiPo battery at too high a current will damage

the battery and could damage property.

We, as the kit manuf acturer, provide you with a top quality ,
thoroughly tested kit and instructions, but ultimately the
quality and fl yability of your fi nished 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.

Remember: Take your time and follow the instructions to

end up with a well-built model that is straight and true.

DECISIONS YOU MUST MAKE

This is a partial list of items required to fi nish the Extra 330SC

Indoor Foam Plane that may require planning or decision

making before starting to build. Order n umbers are pro vided

in parentheses.

Indoor Motor and Battery

Recommendations

For best indoor fl ight performance, a lightweight battery is

recommended. W e recommend:

(1) Great Planes

❍

20C LiPo battery (GPMP0700)

(1) FlightPower

❍

LiPo battery (FPWP4014)

(1) RimFire

❍

(1) 8amp Brushless ESC is recommended

❍

(GPMM1800)

(1) 8x4 GWS Propeller (GWSQ2009)

❍

Outdoor Motor and Battery Recommendations:

(1) Great Planes Competition Series 11.1 volt 300mAh

❍

20C LiPo battery (GPMP0701)

(1) FlightPower EON-X Lite 11.1 volt 350mAh 25C

❍

LiPo battery (FPWP4015)

(1) RimFire 300 (GPMG4505)

❍

(1) 8amp Brushless ESC is recommended

❍

(GPMM1800)

(1) 8x4 GWS Propeller (GWSQ2009)

❍

®

Competition Series 7.4 volt 300mAh

™

EON-X™ Lite 7.4 volt 350mAh 25C

™

250 (GPMG4502)

Radio Recommendations

A 4-channel radio system is required.

(3) Futaba

❍

(FUTM0414)

(1) Futaba R6004FF Mini Receiver (FUTL7624)

❍

®

S3114 Micro High Torque servos

Charger

A LiPo compatable charger is required to charge LiPo
batteries. The Great Planes ElectriFly™ PolyCharge4™ is
designed for LiPo packs only; however, it is able to charge
four LiPo packs simultaneously. The ElectriFly Triton2™
charger will only charge one pack at a time, but is capable
of charging NiCd, NiMH, Pb acid and LiPo batteries. Order
numbers for both are provided below.

Great Planes PolyCharger4 DC Only 4 Output LiPo

❍

Charger (GPMM3015)

OR

Great Planes ElectriFly Triton2 DC Comp Peak

❍

Charger (GPMM3153)

Throughout the life of a LiPo battery, the individual cells

located inside the battery may become unbalanced. These
unbalanced cells can shorten the life of the battery or cause
it to malfunction. For this reason, it is always recommended
that a cell balancer be used when charging LiPo batteries.

The Electrifl y Equinox™ is a cell balancer that may be used

with any LiPo charger and is capable of maintaining the cell
balance of the battery.

Great Planes ElectriFly Equinox LiPo Cell Balancer

❍

(GPMM3160)

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

Adhesives and Building Supplies

This is the list of Adhesives and Building Supplies that are

required to fi nish the Extra 330SC Indoor Foam Plane

(1) UFO Foam Safe Thin CA 1oz. (HOTR1040)

❍

(1) CA Activator Foam Safe 2oz. pump (GPMR6035)

❍

(1) Hobby Knife with 5 blades (XACR3511)

❍

(1) Phillips head screwdriver

❍

Hobbico

❍

Straightedge

❍

®

Soldering Iron 30 Watt (HCAR0775)

3

Optional Supplies

KIT INSPECTION

Here are optional tools that will help you build the Extra

330SC.

CA applicator tips (HCAR3780)

❍

CA debonder (GPMR6039)

❍

Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer (TOPQ5700)

❍

Waxed Paper

❍

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

• Photos and sketches are placed before the step they
refer to. Frequently you can study photos in following steps
to get another view of the same parts.

KIT CONTENTS

Carefull remove the major parts from the kit. T ake an inv entory
to make sure it is complete, and inspect the parts to make
sure they are of acceptable quality. If any parts are damaged
or missing or are not of acceptable quality, or if you need
assistance with assembly, contact Product Support. When
reporting defective or missing parts, use the part names
exactly as they are written in the Kit Contents list.

Great Planes Product Support

3002 N Apollo Drive, Suite 1
Champaign, IL 61822

Ph: [phone], ext. 5
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

1

4

7

6

5

3

2

Kit Contents

1. Vertical Fuselage

2. Aft Horizontal Fuselage

3. Forward Horizontal Fuselage

4. Fuselage Stringers

5. Landing Gear

6. Vertical Fuselage Doubler

7. Upper Motor Doubler

4

BUILD THE FUSELAGE

1. Locate the two ABS landing gear supports. Glue a

❏

landing gear support to each side of the fuselage in the
location shown.

parts came in, on your table. Use foam safe CA to glue the
six alignment crutch feet to the alignment crutches. Make
sure the crutches and feet are fl at against the building table
and that the crutches are perpendicular to the table.

4. Glue the forward horizontal fuselage (wings) to the

❏

aft horizontal fuselage (stabilizer). Make sure the joint
between the two parts is tight. Lay a straightedge along
the center slots to make sure the parts are straight before
gluing. Note: It only requires a small amount of thin CA to
glue the parts together. Excessive amounts of CA will only
wick through the joint and harden on the bottom surface of
the parts.

2. Remove the ten fuselage alignment crutches from

❏

the surrounding foam. Note: Use a sharp hobby knife to cut
the crutch pieces from the surrounding foam, trimming the
tabs fl ush with the edges of the crutches.

3. To prevent the parts from adhering to your building table ,

❏

place a piece of waxed paper, or the clear plastic bag the

5. Inser t the aft end of the horizontal fuselage into the

❏

front end of the vertical fuselage. Key the horizontal and
vertical fuselages together.

6. On your building table, place the four crutches with

❏

the feet on them underneath the fuselage in the locations
shown. Note that the plane is positioned upside down and
the vertical fi n is hanging over the edge of the table. Cr utch
#1 is positioned in front of the radius at the front of the wing.
#2 is positioned under the carbon fi ber strip in the wing. #3 is
positioned at the third hole in the side of the fuselage and #4
is positioned under the carbon fi ber strip in the stabilizer.

5

7. Test fi t the #1 and #3 bottom crutches over their

❏

corresponding top crutches. Install the ABS motor mount
onto the front of the fi rewall, but DO NOT glue it in place
at this time. Check that all the crutches are seated against
the fuselage and the horizontal and vertical fuselages are
keyed together. Then, glue the top and bottom of crutches

#1 and #3 together by applying a small amount of foam safe
CA to the tabs of the crutches. Be careful to not glue the

crutches to the fuselage.

8. Position the tw o wing tip crutches under the wing tips at

❏

the counter balance joint and the bottom crutches #2 and #4
over the carbon fi ber strip in the wing and stabilizer.

9. Make sure the horizontal and vertical fuselages are

❏

keyed together and the crutches are fl at on your building
table. Glue the hor izontal and vertical fuselages together by
applying thin foam safe CA along the joint on the bottom
of the horizontal and vertical fuselages. Be careful when
gluing around the crutches. DO NOT glue the cr utches to
the fuselage. Allow the CA to cure for a few minutes before
moving the plane. The use of foam safe accelerator will
quicken the curing of the CA, but use it sparingly. Excessive
amounts of accelerator can cause the CA to cure quickly,
causing it to get hot and melt the foam.

10. Carefully tur n the Extra 330SC over and position the

❏

bottom crutches #2 and #4 under the carbon fi ber strips in
the wing and stabilizer. Check that the crutches are fl at on
the building table and the horizontal and vertical fuselages
are keyed together. Use thin foam safe CA to glue the top of
the horizontal and vertical fuselages together.

11. Tur n the plane back over so that it is sitting upside

❏

down. Locate the two ABS brace supports. There is a slot
located in the center of each wing. Glue the ABS brace
supports into the slots, perpendicular to the underside of the
wing. It is possible that, during manufacturing, some glue
may hav e gotten into the slot. If this has happened, DO NOT
FORCE the supports into the slot. Use a sharp hobby knife
to remove any excess glue.

6