Hangar 9 VRTF Easy 2 Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

WE GET PEOPLE FLYING

TM

TM

• Assembles in two easy hours

• Only requir es one tool to build — and it’ s included!

• No glue is required to assemble (no smell, no mess)

• Modular construction allows for easily r eplaced parts if crash damaged

• Can be disassembled in appro ximately 15 minutes f or easy storage/transportation

• Pre-covered and trimmed in genuine UltraCote

™

• All balsa plywood craftsmanship constructed

2

Table of Contents

Introduction 3
Additional Parts Needed 3
Radio System Set-Up 4
Easy 2 Parts Layout 4
Airplane Orientation 4
Stage 1 — Assembling the Wing 5
Stage 2 — Installing the Radio 9
Stage 3 — Installing the Linkages 13
Stage 4 — Installing the Tail 16
Stage 5 — Installing the Landing Gear 19
Stage 6 — Installing the Engine 21
Installing the Propeller 23
Installing the Antenna 23
Balancing the Easy 2 24
Pre-Flight Check 25
Flight Instructions 26
Pre-Flight at the Field 27
AMA Safety Code 28
Glossary 29

3

Congratulations on your purchase of Hangar 9’s Easy 2™, the first in Hangar 9’s VRTF™series of airplanes.
VRTF, Virtually Ready-to-Fly, is a concept that Hangar 9 pioneered. Unlike standard ARF (Almost Ready-to-Fly)
airplanes that typically take up to 20 hours to build, the Easy 2 can be assembled in just two easy hours.
Furthermore, the Easy 2 doesn’t require glue, and only one tool is needed for the complete assembly
process—and that tool, a Phillips screwdriver, is even included.

For first-time fliers, the Easy 2 is the perfect trainer with positive self-righting flight characteristics and
exceptional slow flight performance. More experienced flyers will find the Easy 2 to be a quick way to get in the
air fast with a high-quality, all-wood UltraCote™covered airplane that even the most discriminating pilot would
be proud to show off.

The Easy 2 includes both a written instruction manual and a Real-Time™instruction video. If feasible, we highly
recommend using the video instructions and keeping the written instructions handy for reference or for
clarifying any questions you may have regarding any of the assembly steps.

While the Easy 2 can easily be built in two hours using the video instructions, there’s certainly no rush. If you’d
prefer to spend a couple of evenings assembling a stage, or perhaps doing two stages per night, please feel
free to do so. On the average for most, the actual assembly time using the video instructions takes just under
two hours, while assembling using only the written instructions may take slightly longer.

There is a glossary located at the back of this manual should you encounter any unfamiliar terms.

Additional Parts Needed to Assemble the Easy 2:

• .40 –.46 2-cycle engine with muffler

• 4-channel or greater radio system with four standard servos (JR F400 with four 507 servos recommended)

• Aileron extension (Part JRPA112)

Helpful Additional Items (Optional):

• Masking tape

• Pen

Additional Items Needed to Get the Easy 2 in the Air:

• Propeller (10 x 6 if using a .40 size engine)

• Hangar 9 field kit, which includes: glow plugs, fuel pump, 4-way wrench, glow plug igniter with charger,
chicken stick and tote box (Part HANSTART)

• Fuel (Omega or Cool Power 10% – 15% nitro content recommended)

Introduction

Radio System Set-Up

4

It’s a good idea to begin charging the radio system first, so that later, in Stage 3, you’re able to center the
servos. Locate your charger and plug your battery pack and transmitter into your charger. Plug the charger into
an outlet to begin charging.

Easy 2 Parts Layout

Airplane Orientation

The left and right of the airplane refers to the left and right side as if you were stationed in the cockpit.

Antenna Tube

Fuselage (HAN1801)

Rubber Bands

Wing Joiner Rods (HAN1806)

Spinner

Wing
Dowels

Aileron
Linkages

Nose Wheel
Assembly

Pushrods

Nose Wheel
Control Horn

Phillips
Screwdriver

Main Gear
(HAN1804)

Wing Kit
(HAN1802)

Shock Loc™
Radio Tray
(HAN1807)

Tail Assembly
(HAN1803)

5

Stage 1 — Assembling the Wing

• Wing halves (left and right)

• Steel wing rods (2)

• One servo with mounting hardware (4 rubber grommets,

4 eyelets and 4 long servo screws — included with the
radio system)

• Aileron linkages with clevis attached (2) — these are the

shortest two linkages in the kit

• Small self-tapping screws (2)

• Small rubber bands (3)

• Aileron connectors (2) Note: On some Easy 2 kits,
these may already to attached to the aileron torque rods.

Parts Needed

Steel Wing
Rods

Aileron
Linkages

Left Wing
Half

Right Wing
Half

Mounting
Hardware

Servo

Aileron
Connectors

Small
Self-Tapping
Screws

Small
Rubberbands

Note: After completion of the instructional video and

manual, the white clevises were substituted with the
high-quality Dubro #669 Black Clevises.

6

Step 1. From your radio system box, remove one servo and the
servo mounting hardware — four rubber grommets, four brass
eyelets and four servo screws. Prepare the servo by installing
the four rubber grommets and eyelets in one servo as shown in
the photo. The grommets insert onto the servo tabs and then the
eyelets are inserted from the bottom through the grommets.

The grommet installation is fairly simple. However, if you need
any additional help for this installation, please refer to your
radio system instruction manual.

Step 2. Note there is a rectangular shaped cut-out on the
bottom of the right wing panel (the panel with the Easy 2 decal).
Install the servo prepared in Step One into the cut-out in the
wing, as shown, with the servo arm nearest the front (leading
edge) of the wing.

Note: The wire (servo lead) should exit on the side as shown.

To fasten the servo in place, use the four self-tapping servo
screws included with your radio and the screwdriver included in
the Easy 2 kit. Tighten just until they compress the rubber
grommets slightly.

Note: Do not “smash” down the rubber grommets; tighten

just until the grommets compress slightly.

Step 3. Insert the two steel wing rods into the right wing half as
shown in the photo. Push them in as far as they will go.

CONTINUED

Stage 1 — Assembling the Wing

Slide the left and right wing halves together, making sure the
alignment pin near the trailing edge correctly engages in the hole.

Step 4. Two screws will be installed on the bottom of the wing,
one in each wing panel, with the heads slightly raised. Three
rubber bands will then be looped around the screws to hold the
wing halves together.

To install the screws, make sure they thread into the narrow
hardwood strip inside the wing by measuring with the 79/

16

"

template provided at right on this page. Approximately 1/2

"

(about a finger’s width) from the center joint of the wing, screw
in the small self-tapping screws (one on each wing half) about
half way.

Note: The screws will start to thread in easily, then become

more difficult to turn as the screw enters the hardwood
wing spar.

Now loop the three small rubber bands several times around the
screws to hold the wing halves together. Note: The package
contains more rubber bands; however only three are used here.

Note: The pattern of the looping of these rubber bands

makes no difference. Some use a figure 8 shape,
others just use an oval shape. What is important is
that the rubber bands are securely attached to hold
the wing halves together.

Step 5. For your convenience, the aileron torque rod
connectors are already installed on the torque rods of the wing.
If the connectors are not installed, screw the aileron connectors
onto the threaded rods (called aileron torque rods), which are
protruding from the wing. Screw the connector until the rod is
flush with the top of the aileron connector.

7

CONTINUED

Stage 1 — Assembling the Wing

Screw

location

Trailing
edge of

wing

7-9/16"

Step 6. Install the Z-bend of one of the aileron linkages into the
outermost hole in the aileron servo arm as shown.

Note: It may fit tightly and be necessary to work the Z-bend

back and forth until it inserts freely.

Helpful Hint: To make it easer to insert the Z-bend into the

servo horn,loc­ate one of the
screws that later
will be used to
secure the
Shock-Loc

™

radio tray. Screw
it into the hole in
the servo horn
three turns,
where the pushrod wire Z-bend will be inserted, and
then back it out. This will make installing the Z-bend
much easier.

Now install the other aileron linkage on the opposite side using
the same procedure as above. Once installed, move the linkages
back and forth a few times until they move freely.

When both aileron linkages are attached, center the servo so the
servo arm is parallel to the wing’s leading and trailing edge.

Step 7. We will now be fitting the clevis into the aileron
connectors on the torque rods. At this point, it may be necessary
to adjust the length of the aileron linkage so the ailerons are
aligned with the trailing edge of the wing surface. To adjust the
length of the aileron linkage, simply turn the plastic clevis in or
out until, when connected, the aileron is level with the wing.

Note: If the aileron is lower than the trailing edge, the

linkage needs to be shortened and vice versa.

Congratulations — you have just completed the wing!

8

Stage 1 — Assembling the Wing

CONTINUED

9

Step 8. Prepare your servos by installing the rubber grommets
on the three remaining servos, four on each.

Note: Do not install the brass eyelets. The Shock-Loc radio

tray is designed to capture the servos by the rubber
grommets and the eyelets are not needed.

Hint: It’s helpful to mark the servo wires so they can easily be

identified when it’s time to install them in the receiver. A
piece of masking tape near the connector with the
appropriate letter (T=throttle, E=elevator, R=rudder)
written on it will save time later during the radio hook up.

• Fuselage with pushrods and tank pre-installed

• Shock-Loc radio tray with six self-tapping screws

•

Three servos with rubber grommets (12). Note: The eyelets
and servo screws included with the radio will not be used

• Receiver (included with the radio system)

• Battery pack (included with the radio system)

• Switch harness (included with the radio system)

• Aileron extension (additional part required)

• Medium rubber bands (2)

• Double-sided servo tape (2 pieces)

• Masking tape (optional)

• Pen (optional)

Stage 2 — Installing the Radio

Parts Needed

Rubber
Bands

Shock-Loc
Radio Tray

Receiver

Battery
Pack

Double-Sided
Servo Tape

Switch
Harness

Rubber
Grommets

Aileron
Extension

10

Step 9. Install the servos in the fuselage as shown. First install
the elevator and rudder servos and then the throttle servo,
feeding the servo leads in first toward the front of the airplane,
and then placing in the servo.

Important: Refer to the photo to note which servo goes in

which position.

Important: Note the position of the servo arms.

Step 10. Peel back one side of a piece of double-sided tape and

attach the tape to the bottom of the receiver. Attach the other piece
of the double-sided tape to the battery pack. Now peel off the
opposite sides of the double-sided tape and stick the battery and
receiver centered on opposite sides of the Shock-Loc radio tray in
the position shown. (The receiver goes centered on one side of
the tray while the battery pack goes centered on the other.)

Note: The receiver servo slots need to be positioned such

that they’re on the end of the tray, facing away from
the servo openings.

Now, using the two medium rubber bands, wrap the bands
around the receiver and battery pack to secure them in place.
Each rubber band makes a complete revolution around the two
and attaches to the side notches on the Shock-Loc radio tray.

Elevator

Throttle

Rudder

Stage 2 — Installing the Radio

CONTINUED

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