Great Planes GPMA1152 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 assemb ly, 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 immediatel y 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 eva luated as quickly as possible.

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

GPMZ0230 for GPMA1152 V1.0 Entire Contents © Copyright 2004

Champaign, IL

[phone], Ext. 5

[e-mail]

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Wingspan: 40.1 in [1020mm]
Wing Area: 253 sq in [16.3 dm

2

]

Weight: 12.4 oz [350g]
Wing Loading: 7.1 oz/sq ft [21.7 g/dm

2

]

Length: 25.5 in [650mm]
Radio: 3-channel with 2 micro servos
Motor: T-280-size with 3.5:1 gear box
Motor Battery: 9.6V, 150 – 350 mAh

ELECTRIC PARK FLYER

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

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

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

Flight Equipment .........................................................................3

Building Supplies.........................................................................3

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES .......................................................3

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS ...............................................4

METRIC/INCH RULER.......................................................................4

KIT CONTENTS .................................................................................5

ASSEMBLY ........................................................................................6

Assemble the Tail Surfaces.........................................................6

Assemble the Fuselage...............................................................7

Landing Gear Assembly ..............................................................7

Wing Construction.....................................................................10

Attach the Tail ............................................................................12

Radio Installation.......................................................................13

Motor Installation.......................................................................14

PREPARE FOR FLYING..................................................................15

Set the Control Throws..............................................................15

Balance the Model (C.G.)..........................................................16

Identify Y our Model....................................................................16

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

Ground Inspection.....................................................................16

Range Check.............................................................................16

Perf ormance Tips......................................................................17

Motor Safety Precautions ..........................................................17

AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpt).......................................................17

General......................................................................................17

Radio Control ............................................................................17

FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY.........................................................17

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

Takeoff.......................................................................................18

Flight..........................................................................................18

Landing......................................................................................18

ROG Takeoff..............................................................................18

Thank you for purchasing the Great Planes Spirit of St.
Louis ARF.The Spirit of St.Louis ARF is a lightweight, slow­flying

Park Flyer

that can be flown just about anywhere there
is an open area clear of obstacles. Since the Spir it of St.
Louis ARF is constructed mostly of molded plastic foam, it
is durable and does not require the application of film
coverings used on wood models.And, the Spirit of St. Louis
landing gear makes ROG (rise off ground) takeoffs from
smooth surfaces a snap.

1. Although the Spirit of St. Louis is a slow-flying electric
powered model, just the same as any R/C plane, it should
still be flown with care.Even while gliding with the motor off
the Spirit of St. Louis could possibly cause injury to yourself
or spectators and damage property.

2. You must assemble the Spirit of St. Louis according to
the instructions.Modifications may reduce performance.In
cases where the instructions differ from the photos, the
written instructions are correct.

3.You must use an R/C radio system that is reliable and in good
condition.You must properly install all components so that the
model operates correctly on the ground and in the air.

4.You must check the operation of the model before every
flight to insure that all equipment is operating and that the
model has remained structurally sound.

Remember:Take your time and follow the instructions to
end up with a well-built model that is straight and true.

Before starting to build,compare the parts in this kit with
the Kit Contents, and note any missing parts. Also
inspect all parts to make sure they are of acceptable
quality. If any parts are missing, broken or defective,or if
you have any questions about building or flying this
airplane, please call us at [phone], or e-mail us at:

pr

[e-mail].

If you are contacting us for replacement parts, please
be sure to provide the full kit name (Great Planes Spirit
of St. Louis ARF) and the part numbers as listed in the
Kit Contents.

You can also check our web site for the latest Spirit of
St. Louis ARF updates.

www

.greatplanes.com

To make your R/C modeling experience totally enjoyable, if
this is your first R/C model, we recommend that you get the
assistance of an experienced pilot. If you’re not currently a
member of an R/C club, your local hobby shop has
information about clubs in your area whose membership
includes experienced pilots.

If you’re not already an Academy of Model Aeronautics
(AMA) member, we strongly urge you to join. There are over
2,500 AMA chartered clubs across the country. Among
other benefits, the AMA provides insurance to its members
who fly at sanctioned sites and events. Additionally, training
programs and instructors are available at AMA club sites to

Note: We, as the kit manufacturer , provide you with a top
quality, thoroughly tested kit and instructions, but
ultimately the quality and flyability 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.

PRO TECT YOUR MODEL,YOURSELF

& OTHERS...FOLLOW THESE

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

help you get started the right way. Contact the AMA at the
address or toll-free phone number below:

The Spirit of St. Louis ARF requires a three-channel radio
with two micro servos, a mini/micro receiver and a speed
control. Hobbico

®

CS-5

Nano

™

servos (HCAM0090), the

Great Planes

ElectriFly

™

receiver (GPML0040 Hi Band,
GPML0041 Low Band) and the Great Planes C-5
(GPMM2000) or C-10 (GPMM2010) speed control are
recommended.The receiver comes without a crystal, which
must be purchased separately. The order number for the
crystal is FUTL63** (Hi Band) or FUTL62** (Low Band).
Substitute the “**” with the channel number you require. For
example, if the transmitter you plan to fly The Spirit of St.
Louis ARF with is on channel 44, order receiver crystal
FUTL6344. Hi Band receivers are tuned for channels
36 – 60.Low Band receivers are tuned for channels 11 – 35.

Additionally, an 8-cell (9.6 volt) 150 to 350 mAh battery pack
(GPMP0050 – 150 mAh, shown in photo, GPMP0060 – 270
mAh, GPMP0070 – 350 mAh) is required. For charging the
battery, the Great Planes ElectriFly Peak Charger
(GPMM3000) is recommended.

In addition to common household tools, here is the list of
items used to build The Spirit of St. Louis ARF.

❏ 6-minute Epoxy (GPMR6042)
❏ 1/2 oz. Medium CA+ (GPMR6007)
❏ Hobby knife (HCAR0105)
❏ #11 Blades (HCAR0211)
❏ Builder’s triangle (HCAR0480)
❏ Drill and 1/16" drill bit
❏ Double-sided foam tape (GPMQ4440) for mounting

receiver and speed control

❏ Sandpaper and sanding block
❏ Small Phillips screwdriver (#1)
❏ Small T-pins (HCAR5100) or craft pins

·

Since The Spirit of St. Louis ARF is made mostly of foam,
and since CA adhesives commonly used to build R/C model
airplanes dissolve foam, CA should not be used when gluing
foam parts.Therefore, 6-minute epoxy, which is compatible
with foam, is used for most of the construction. Unless
otherwise specified in the instructions, 6-minute epoxy is to
be used for gluing all parts of the model together.There are
a few instances where CA may be used for gluing wood to
wood.You can also use aliphatic resin glue instead of epoxy
if desired.

·

For the strongest bond apply epoxy to bothparts being joined.

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

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

Building Supplies

Flight Equipment

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5151 East Memorial Drive

Muncie, IN 47302

Tele: [phone]

Fax [phone]

Or via the Internet at:

http://www.modelaircraft.org

3

4

Replacement parts for the Great Planes Spirit of St. Louis ARF are available using the order numbers in the Replacement Parts

List that follows. The fastest, most economical service can be provided by your hobby dealer or mail-order company. Parts may also

be ordered directly from Hobby Services, but full retail prices and shipping and handling charges will apply. Illinois and Nevada residents
will also be charged sales tax.

To locate a hobby dealer, visit the Hobbico web site at

www.hobbico.com

. Choose “Where to Buy” at the bottom of the menu on
the left side of the page.Follow the instructions provided on the page to locate a U .S., Canadian or International dealer.If a hobby shop
is not available, replacement parts may also be ordered from Tower Hobbies at

www.towerhobbies.com

, or by calling toll free
[phone], or from Hobby Services by calling [phone], or via facsimile at [phone]. If order ing via fax, include a
Visa

®

or MasterCard®number and expiration date for payment.
Mail parts orders and payments by personal check or money order to:Hobby Services, 3002 N.Apollo Drive, Suite 1, Champaign, IL, 61822
Be certain to specify the order number exactly as listed in the Replacement Parts List. Payment by credit card or personal check

only; no C.O.D.

If additional assistance is required for any reason, contact Product Support by e-mail at

productsupport@g

reatplanes.com

, or by

telephone at [phone].

Replacement Parts List

Or

der Number Description How to Purchase

Missing pieces.......................Contact Product Support

Instruction manual.................Contact Product Support

Full-size plans........................Not available

GPMA2710 Wing Set
GPMA2711 Fuselage
GPMA2712 Tail Set
GPMA2713 Cowl
GPMA2714 Landing Gear
GPMG0260 Gear Drive
GPMM1981 Speed Control
GPMG0294 Motor
GPMA2715 Propeller

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS

................

Contact Your Hobby
Supplier to Purchase
These Items

To convert inches to millimeters, multiply inches by 25.4

5

1. Fuselage

2. Vertical Fin

3. Horizontal Stabilizer

4. Decal Sheet

5. Wing Halves (2)

6. Wing Struts (2)

7. Propeller

8. Wheels (2)

9. Main Landing Gear

10. Motor/Gear Box

11. Gear Braces (2)

12. Secondary Str ut Wires (2)

13. Shock Support Wires (2)

14. Cylinders

15. Cowl

16. Spinner

17. Wheel Covers

18. Top Wing Joiner

19. Bottom Wing Joiner

20. Landing Gear Strut Cover (2)

21. Wing Reinforcement Strip (2)

22. Secondary Str ut (2)

23. Tail Str uts (2)

Kit Contents (not photographed)

Kit Contents

(2) Control Horn
(2) Silicone Retainer
(2) Pushrod Connector
(2) Micro FasLinks
(1) 3 x 20mm Wood Screw
(3) 2 x 10mm Wood Screw
(12) 2.4 x 15mm Machine Screw
(2) Axle Screw
(4) 2.4mm Knurled Nuts

(2) Pushrods
(2) Pushrod Guide Tubes
(1) Propeller Adapter
(1) Propeller Spacer

Before starting to build, take an inventory of this kit to make sure it is complete, and inspect the parts to make sure they are of
acceptable quality. If any parts are missing or are not of acceptable quality, or if you need assistance with assembly, contact
Great Planes Product Support. When repor ting defective or missing parts, use the part names exactly as they are written in
the Kit Contents list on this page.

Great Planes Product Support:

Telephone: [phone], ext. 5

Fax: [phone]

E-mail:

[e-mail]

KIT CONTENTS

1

2

4

5

5

7

8

8

3

11

10

13

15

21

22

23

16

17

20

18

19

14

6

9

12

❏ 1. Cut a slot in the stabilizer, using the molded indentation

as a guide.

❏ ❏ 2. Cut a 1/4" [6mm] long slot in the rudder in the

location shown.

❏ ❏ 3. Cut a 1/4" [6mm] long slot in the elevator in the

location shown.

❏ ❏ 4.Glue a control horn into the slot you made in the fin

with a small amount of 6-minute epoxy. When viewed from

the rear, the rudder control horn should be on the left side
of the rudder.

❏ ❏ 5. Glue a plastic control horn retainer onto the back

side of the control horn with 6-minute epoxy.

❏ 6. Repeat this process with the elevator control horn.

When viewed from behind, the control horn should protrude
down from the left side of the elevator joiner.

❏ 7. Use epoxy to glue the fin to the stab. Use a small

builder’ s square to get the fin perpendicular to the stab, then
use tape or small T-pins to hold them together until the
epoxy hardens.

Assemble the Tail Surfaces

ASSEMBLY

6