Great Planes GPMA1180 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. Fur ther, 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 buyers are not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of this product,they are advised
to return this kit immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase.

READ THROUGH THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL
FIRST. IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
AND WARNINGS CONCERNING THE ASSEMBLY
AND USE OF THIS MODEL.

GPMZ0283 for GPMA1180 V1.0Entire Contents © Copyright 2003

1610 Interstate Drive Champaign, IL 61822

[phone], Ext. 2

[e-mail]

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Speed 400 Electric Fun Fly ARF

™

Wing Span: 47-3/8” [1203mm]

Wing Area: 462.8 sq in [29.85 sq dm]

Weight: 27 oz [765 g]

Radio: 3-channel with 2 servos, mixer and ESC

Wing Loading: 8.4 oz/sq ft [25.6 g/sq dm]

Motor: Speed 400 size electric

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASSEMBLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Assemble the Center Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Install the Servos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Install the Ailevators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Join the Wings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Install the Center Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Install the Wing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Final Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PREPARE THE MODEL FOR FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Set the Control Throws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Balance the Model (C.G.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Identify Your Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Charge the Transmitter Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Ground Inspection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Range Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Performance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Motor Safety Precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

AMA SAFETY CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

FLYING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Thank you for purchasing the Great Planes Slinger ARF.
The Slinger is a lightweight, high performance model that
can be flown just about anywhere there is an open area
clear of obstacles. Ultimately, it is the modelers
responsibility to select a suitable, safe flying area.Since the
Slinger is constructed mostly of molded plastic foam, it is
durable and can be easily repaired.The performance of the
Slinger is excellent with the included motor.

For the latest technical updates or manual corrections to
the Slinger, visit the web site listed below and select the
Great Planes Slinger ARF. 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.

http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/index.html

1.Your Slinger should not be considered a toy, but rather a
sophisticated, working model that functions very much like
a full-size airplane. Although the Slinger is a light-weight
model, just the same as any R/C plane, it should still be
flown with care. Even while gliding at slow speeds, the
Slinger could possibly cause injury to yourself or spectators
and damage property.

2. You must assemble the Slinger 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
as correct.

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

4.Y ou must use an R/C radio system that is in excellent condition.

5.You must correctly install all R/C and other components
so that the model operates correctly on the ground and in
the air.

6.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. Be sure to check
clevises or other connections often and replace them if they
show signs of wear or fatigue.

7. If you are not already an experienced R/C pilot, you
should fly the model only with the help of a competent,
experienced R/C pilot.

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

If you have not flown this type of model before, we
recommend that you get the assistance of an experienced
pilot in your R/C club for your first flights. If you’re not a
member of an R/C club, your local hobby shop has
information about clubs in your area whose membership
includes experienced pilots.

In addition to joining an R/C club, we strongly recommend y ou
join the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics). AMA

NOTE:W e, as the kit manuf acturer , pro vide you with a top quality
kit and great instructions, but ultimately the quality of your
finished model depends on how you build it;therefore, w e 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,Y OURSELF

& OTHERS...FOLLOW THESE

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

membership is required to fly at AMA sanctioned clubs.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 help you get started the right way. 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 Slinger requires a three-channel radio with two servos,
a receiver, mixer and a speed control.A small receiver and
mini servos are required, and smaller radio equipment
designed for park flyer models can be used. The servos
must have a minimum of 15 oz-in torque.

Servos:

(HCAM0110) CS-12, 35 oz in torque
(FUTM0033) S3101, 34.7 oz in torque
(HCAM0090) CS-5, 16.7 oz in torque
(FUTM0041) S3106, 16.7 oz in torque

Receivers:

(GPML0044) 4-channel FM, low band
(GPML0045) 4-channel FM, high band
(GPML0056) 5-channel FM, low band

(includes 30 amp ESC)

(GPML0057) 5-channel FM, high band

(includes 30 amp ESC)

(FUTL0442) 4-channel FM, low band

(FUTL0443) 4-channel FM, high band

low band - channels 11-35
high band - channels 36-60

Receiver crystal:

(FUTL62**) for GPM or FUT low band
(FUTL63**) for GPM or FUT high band

** desired channel

Speed Control:

(GPMM2010) C-10, 12 amp
(GPMM2020) C-20, 20 amp
(GPMM2429) Slinger speed control

Mixer:
A mixer (GPMM2428) is required that gives “elevon” or
“ailevator” mixing. Most computer transmitters include this
type of mixer. There are also several mixers available that
plug into the receiver and servos.

Additionally, an 8-cell (9.6 volt) 1100 mAh or larger battery
pack is required.The battery compartment is sized for a 4/5
AA size battery. (GPMP0310) – 1100 mAh Nicd

For charging the battery at the flying field, the Great Planes
ElectriFly™Peak Charger (GPMM3000) is recommended.
The Great Planes ElectriFly Triton™Computerized Charger
(GPMM3150) is recommended for shop and field charging
and discharging.

In addition to common household tools, here is the list of
items used to build the Slinger.

❏ 6-minute epoxy (GPMR6042)
❏ Hobby knife (HCAR0105)
❏ #11 blades (HCAR0211)
❏ 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
❏ 5/64” drill bit

Since the Slinger 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 construction.Unless otherwise specified in
the instructions, 6-minute epoxy is to be used for gluing all
parts of the model together.

For the strongest bond apply epoxy to both parts being joined.
Photos and sketches are placed before the step they refer

to.Frequently you can study photos in f ollowing steps to get
another view of the same parts.

IMPORTANT BUILDING NOTES

Building Supplies

Flight Equipment

ADDITIONAL ITEMS REQUIRED

3

4

Before starting to build, use the Kit Contents list to take an inventory of this kit to make sure it is complete, and inspect
parts to make sure they are of acceptable quality. If any par ts are missing or are not of acceptable quality, or if you need
assistance with assembly, contact Great Planes Product Support. When reporting 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]

Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

You can also check our web site at www.greatplanes.com for the latest Slinger updates.

KIT CONTENTS

ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS

To order replacement parts for the Great Planes Slinger ARF, use the order numbers shown below.Replacement parts are
available only as listed.Not all par ts are available separately. Replacement par ts are not available from Product Support,
but can be purchased from hobby shops or mail order/Internet order firms. Hardware items (screws, nuts, bolts) are also
available from these outlets. If you need assistance locating a dealer to purchase parts, visit and click on “Where to Buy”.
If this kit is missing parts, contact Great Planes Product Support.

Part # Description How to Purchase

GPMA2423 ......WING SET ....................Contact Your Hobby Dealer

GPMA2424 ......Center wing cover......Contact Your Hobby Dealer

GPMA2425 ......W

ING TIPS....................Contact Your Hobby Dealer

GPMA2426 ......W

ING JOINERS (2) ........Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

GPMA2427 ......380

MOTOR ..................Contact Your Hobby Dealer

GPMA2428 ......F

LAPERON MIXER ..........Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

GPMA2429 ......S

PEED CONTROL...........Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

Part # Description How to Purchase

GPMA2430 ......DECAL SET...................Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

GPMA2431 ......B

ATTERY PACK ..............Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

GPMA2432 ......C

ANOPY.......................Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

GPMA2433 ......P

ROPELLER ..................Contact Y our Hobby Dealer

Missing pieces ...........Contact Product Suppor t

Instruction manual .....Contact Product Support

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

Kit Contents (Photographed)

1. Left Wing Panel 6.Wing Joiner Tubes

2. Right Wing Panel 7. Motor

3.Wing Tips (2) 8. Propellers

4. Plastic Center Section 9.Tape

5. Plastic Canopy 10. Ailevators

Kit Contents (Not Photographed)

Nylon Control Horns (2) 2-56 x 1/2” Machine Screw (4)
12” Pushrods (2) Nylon Clevis (2)
Nylon Tie Strap (1) Silicone Retainer (2)
Hook and Loop Tape (1)