Thunder Tiger Soaring Star User Manual

Warranty:This kit is guaranteed to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the date of
purchase. It does not cover any damage caused by use or modification. The warranty does not extend beyond the product itself and is limited only to the original cost of the kit. By the act of building this user­assembled kit, the user accepts all resulting liability for damage caused by the final product. If the buyer is not prepared to accept this liability, it can be returned new and unused to the place of purchase for a refund.
Notice: Adult Supervision Required:This is not a toy. Assembly and flying of this
product requires adult supervision. Read through this book completely and become familiar with the assembly and flight of this airplane. Inspect all parts for completeness and damage. Customers in North America please call 1-949-833-7498 for help if you encounter any problems.
No.4313 Soaring Star
Wing Span: 78.75"(2000mm)
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Length: 41.25” (1047mm)
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Wing Area: 532.5 sq.in.(34.36dm2)
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Weight: 50~52oz.(1400~1500g)
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Wing Loading: 13.8oz./sq.ft.(42g/dm2)
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Motor: 540 Motor included
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Prop: 8 x 4.5 Folding Prop included
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ESC-50 req’d
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Radio: 4 channel, 4 mini servo req’d
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Battery: 7.2V req’d
Almost Ready To Fly
2M Electric Powered R/C Sailplane
Table of Contents
Introduction
Pre-Assembly Notes...............................1
Other Items Required..............................1
Tools and Supplies Needed ...................1
Part Drawings.........................................2
Assembly
Wing........................................................3
Fuselage.................................................5
Tail...........................................................8
Motor & Prop...........................................9
Servo, RX, ESC & Battery.....................10
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION
INTRODUCTION
All of us at Thunder Tiger want to thank you for choosing the
Soaring Star
.This Kit has been engineered to go together quickly and easily while still providing you with great looks and exceptional flying performance. The world of electric powered sailplanes can be an extremely challenging and rewarding experience. Your skill along with the design capabilities of your model will combine to defy the laws of gravity and produce flights of unbelievable distance or duration. Under proper conditions your
Soaring Star
can stay aloft for hours from a single battery charge! As you
gain experience with your model you will be able to
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feel
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the wing and lift conditions that affect it enabling you to
greatly extend your flight times.
The
Soaring Star
is an electric powered 2-meter sailplane which is intended for use in light to medium wind and lift conditions. Its airfoil, motor package and design planform are intended to maximize performance under those flying conditions and will provide great results for pilots of all skill levels.
We suggest that before beginning to assemble this kit you thoroughly read this assembly instruction manual to familiarize yourself with the complete assembly procedure. This will insure that your assembly process will be as smooth and uneventful as possible.
We are confident that you will enjoy flying your
Soaring Star
and that it will provide many hours of challenging and
rewarding flight.
Final Assembly
Canopy Installation..............................11
Control Throws....................................12
Balancing Your
Soaring Star
.................12
First Flights
Checks You Should Make...................12
Flying Your
Soaring Star
.......................12
Safety Precautions..............................14
PRE-ASSEMBLY NOTES
1. If you are not an experienced R/C pilot plan to have a fully competent pilot help you to learn to fly your Soaring Star. This will help you to be successful much faster and also avoid potential damage to your model.
2. Please assemble your model exactly according to these instructions. Do not attempt to modify or change the Soaring Star in any way as doing so may adversely change its flying characteristics.
3. Before you begin please check the entire contents of this kit against the parts list and par t drawings to be sure that no parts are missing or damaged. This will also help you to become familiar with each component of your Soaring Star. If you find that any of the parts are either missing or damaged please contact your dealer immediately for replacement. Note: Your dealer cannot accept kits for return if construction has begun.
For customers in the US and Canada please call or write to ACE Hobby Distributors, Inc. for replacement of missing or damaged parts.
ACE Hobby Distributors, Inc. 2055 Main Street, Irvine, CA 92614 Tel: 949.833.0088 Fax: 949.833.0003 E-Mail: service@acehobby.com
Remember. We have worked very hard to make this model
as easy to assemble as possible while still maintaining our high standards of quality. Your assembly of this model is very impor tant and will determine the final flight capabilities of your Soaring Star, so use extra care and follow the assembly procedure exactly.
OTHER ITEMS REQUIRED
Radio: You will need at least a
3 channel radio control system with 4 mini servos on an aircraft frequency for use in your Soaring Star. However, if you are really looking for every bit of extra performance then you should consider using one of the miniature radio systems available which would lower the weight and increase the performance of your Soaring Star.
Electronic motor controller: We recommend the ACE8014 ESC-50 with BEC for controlling the power of your Soaring Star as well as eliminating the need for a separate radio battery. The BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuitr y) in this controller will automatically turn off the power to the motor when the battery reaches a factory present discharge level leaving about 20-25 minutes of flight time for the radio system. Note: Some radio manufacturers offer a lightweight radio system with a built-in motor controller with BEC especially for this type of model.
Flight Battery: We recommend the use of a 6 cell 7.2V 2000 mAh battery pack for maximum performance.
Charger: You will need a quick charger to charge your power battery. We recommend our ACE2529 EDC-01 simple charge or TTR2685 7.2V DC Quick Charger for 6-cell battery pack.
Note: When charging your flight battery be sure to very carefully follow the instructions provided with the charger.
Extension Wire: 2 servo extensions plus Y harness are required. If you are going to use Flaperon then it will require 2 servo extensions which are 15" in length minimum.
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED
1. 5 Minute Epoxy
2. Thin CA Glue
3. Thick CA Glue
4. 1/2
Masking Tape
5. Mixing Stick for Epoxy
6. Medium Grit Sandpaper
7. Rubbing Alcohol
8. Paper Towels
9. Hobby Knife
10. 1/16
Drill
11. 5/64
Drill
12. 1/8
Drill
13. 3/16
Drill
14. Ruler
15. Pen, Pencil or Marker
16. Small Screw Drivers
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION
Open the box and check that you have all the parts as shown below. If anything is missing please contact your dealer
AS6317 FRP Fuselage
AS6318 Main Wing
Two-Sided Tape (2)Wing Protector (L/1, R/1) Plastics Servo Bed (2)
AS6319 Horizontal Tail
Zip Tie (1)
FRP Fuselage (1)
Main Wing ( L/1, R/1)
Plastic Sink Washer (2)
Blind Nut (4)
CA Hinge (2)
Hatch Cover (L/1, R/1)
Carbon Wing Joiner (2)
2 x 5mm Wood Screw (8)Wing Bolt (L/2, S/2)
AS6189 Motor
Horizontal Tail / Elevator (1)
AS6321 Pushrod Set
Z-Bend Pushrod (2)
AS6322 Decal
AS6324 Plywood Parts
Plywood Parts (1)
Long Threaded End (1)
Decal (1)
3 x 20mm Sink Wood Screw (2)
Aileron Pushrod (2)
Clevis (4)
Short Threaded End (1)
PE0565 Folding Prop Set
Spinner (1) Blade (2)
2 x 8mm Sink Screw (1)2 x 12mm Screw (2) 5mm Nut (1)
AS6243 Control Horn
Backplate (3) Control Horn Base (3)
2 x 22mm Screw (3) Nylon Horn Link (3)
3x8mm Sink Screw (2)
540 Motor (1)
AS6320 Canopy
Simulated Carbon Canopy (1)
2 x 5 mm Wood Screw (5)
Drive Shaft (1)
(Sold in Pair) AS6049 Control Horn (typical)
2 x 12mm Screw (2)
Backplate (1)
Backplate (1)
Drive Nut (1)Washer (1)
(Sold in Pair)
Control Horn (1)
3. Use heat iron to tack down the covering at the opening. Do’nt move the leading string away until step 6.
4. Sand the glue area of the plastic square piece (servo bed) then CA it on the wing planking.
5. Connect the extension wire and tape the connector to prevent from disconnecting during flight.
1. Before you install the aileron servo you have to decide your Soaring Star have Flaperon (FLPN) or regular Aileron control surface.
If Flaperon function is applied, then it will require 2
Servo Extensions which are 16" long minimum.
If Aileron control surface is your choice, then 2 Servo Extensions(8") plus a Y harness are required.
FLPN 40cm
20cm
2. Cut away the covering at servo hatch, the hole near the wing root where extension wire to go through and mounting holes.
ASSEMBLY / WING
Wing Assembly
9. Locate the Hatch Cover and trim it along the molded line. Cut a hole as an exit for pushrod and
drill holes at each corner with
1/16"(1.5mm)
drill bit.
1.5mm
10.Cut the servo horn as shown. Connect the servo to your receiver and set up your radio to make sure the direction is correct. Do not secure the
servo at this moment.
11.Locate the clevis and the pushrod. Thread the clevis onto the pushrod at least 1/4" (6mm). Cut small piece of silicone tube about 1/8" (3mm) and
slide it onto the clevis.
6mm
3mm
6. Use the leading string to make a knot on the servo extension.
7. As the holes in the ribs are very small, it will be easier to pull the string if you tape the extension cord end to the leading string in a tapered fashion as shown.
8. Pull the string out from the hole slowly, using needle-nose pliers or tweezers.
ASSEMBLY / WING
14.Next secure the Hatch Cover in place with furnished 2x5 mm wood screws. Snap on the clevis on control horn. Thread a small piece of silicone tube and slide it on the clevis to prevent it from loose.
Do the same procedure on the other wing half.
2x5 mm
15.Locate the front and rear wing mounts as well as the doublers. Glue the doublers as shown.
12.Install the pushrod on servo horn when servo is at neutral position. Next snap the clevis onto the control horn link. Before using two-sided tape to secure the servo in place, use the hatch cover as a guide to position the servo. Make sure the servo horn does not contact the fairing when attached.
Also make mark for the control horn hole.
13.Drill 5/64" (2mm) hole at the mark then install the control horn and link with 2x22mm machine screw. Make sure the control horn base does not go over
the leading edge of aileron.
2mm
ASSEMBLY / FUSELAGE
Fuselage
16.Trial fit the wing mount in the fuselage, sand the contact area with 200 grit sandpaper. This will
provide a better glue bond.
17.Glue the front and rear wing mount in place either by thick instant glue or epoxy. The wing mounts
are flush with the opening of fuselage.
18.Locate the wing protectors, place the wing protector where is even with the edges. Make
marks along the wing protector on the wing.
19.Remove the covering inside the mark about 1/8" (3mm) by using hobby knife.
3mm
20.Do the same procedure on the other wing halves, next locate the carbon rod and join the two wing
halves.
1/8" 3mm
21.Draw a center line on fuselage then place the main wing on the fuselage. You may use masking tape to tape two wing halves to hold them together. Use four mounting holes as the guide to
make drill mark on the fuselage.
ASSEMBLY / FUSELAGE
22.Next drill 3/16" (5mm) holes where you marked. Hint: It will be easier if you drill 1/8” ( 3mm) hole first then use the 3/16” (5mm) bit to drill the hole
again.
5mm 3mm
5mm
23.Install the blind nut in place. Secure the wing bolt all the way in with the blind nut underneath the
wing mount.
24.Install the main wing on fuselage as shown, it should be secured perfectly.
25.Remove the wing, insert the guide tube from the fuselage tail. Apply a drop of CA to glue the guide
tube in place.
26.Locate the guide tube bulkhead then insert the guide tube through the bulkhead.
Push bulkhead into the fuselage just tight then apply CA to secure bulkhead and guide tube in place. Never push it in too hard or it may hurt the
fuselage.
ASSEMBLY / FUSELAGE
30.Drill 2mm holes and install the control horn on the tail, note it has to be in line with the tail mounting holes and the control horn is even with the
elevator leading edge.
31.Place horizontal tail on the T-tail mount , use two holes as the guide and make drill marks. Make sure the drill marks are on the center line of the Tail mount. Drill 3/32”(2mm) hole at the marks
vertically.
T T
T
2mm
32.Locate the plastic washer and 3x20mm Wood Screw then secure the tail on the T-tail mount. Make sure the horizontal tail is perpendicular to the vertical tail and has same angle to the main
wing if you see from the nose.
27.Locate the plywood servo tray and supports. Glue those supports in place with thick CA or Epoxy.
28.After it cured, slightly sand the inside of fuselage at glue area with 200 grit sandpaper. Next slide the servo tray in the fuselage from the front opening, it might need to rotate the servo tray to get in. Set the servo tray in level and make sure its front end is 2 3/4” (70mm) away the leading edge. Apply thick CA to glue it in place.
70mm
29.Locate the control horn and cut the control horn as indicated.
ASSEMBLY / TAIL
Tail Installation
2 3/4" (70mm)
35.Locate the control horn base, backplate, link and 2x 22mm screw then install the control horn on the
rudder.
36.Locate the CA hinges then insert the CA hinges in the slots of the vertical tail then glue the rudder and CA hinge in place with thin CA.
Do the same procedure of elevator pushrod on the
rudder pushrod.
37.Locate the motor, and 3x8mm countersunk screws. Secure the motor in the fuselage.
3x20mm T
33.Locate the short/ long threaded end, clevis and plastic tube. Thread the long threaded end to plastic tube first abut 1/4” (6mm) in length then insert the plastic tube through the guide tube from the bulkhead end. Get the plastic tube at the rear of T-Tail mount then install the short threaded end and clevis.
6mm
34.Snap the clevis onto the control horn as shown. It may need to file the T-Tail portion to make sure the
movement is free.
ASSEMBLY / MOTOR & PROP
Motor / Prop Installation
A
A=A'
A'
40.What we used here are mini servos. You may use standard servo but need to enlarge the servo tray. The upper one is elevator servo and lower one is
rudder servo.
41.Insert the Z-Bend end to the ser vo control horn then secure the servo horn onto the servo. It may need to adjust the threaded rod and plastic tube to
get rudder and elevator at the neutral position.
Z
38.Locate the prop, spinner and screws as shown. Assemble the folding prop first. Make sure the two blades move freely. Inser t the drive nut to the backplate then the drive shaft. The hole of drive nut is tapered to accommodate the drive shaft. Secure the whole set onto motor shaft with the nut. Do not over-tighten the nut as it might break the aluminum drive shaft but make sure it will not
spin out when it in high rotation.
39.Make sure there is about 2~3mm(5/64"~1/8") gap between spinner backplate and fuselage.
2~3mm
ASSEMBLY / SERVO
Servo Installation
Use furnished zip-tie to fix the battery pack in
place. Insert zip-tie through the laser cut slot and go around the plywood bar then come out from the other slot.
45.Use switch plate as a template, drill holes then install the switch as shown.
46.Locate the canopy. Cut 1/16"(1.5mm) outside the molded line with curved scissors. Trial fit and tr im
it until it fits on the fuselage.
1.5mm
42.Refer to the manual of Electronic Speed Control Unit (ESC-50 Shown P/N:ACE8014), link to motor, battery and receiver. You may wrap the receiver with sponge or thin foam pad. It will protect the receiver and reduce the vibration from motor.
3.The attached picture is the example for using ESC-50.
44.Apply furnished foam tap on battery mount, it will help retaining the battery pack in place.
ASSEMBLY / CANOPY
Canopy Installation
RX, ESC & Battery Installation
ACE R/C
TR-402A
BATT
4CHAM RECEIVER
CH.1 CH.2
MHZ
72
CH.3
NARROWBAND
CH.4
Sw
ACE
Rx
Batt
0N
OFF
ESC-50
Motor
7.2-8.4V Battery
47.With the canopy in place on the fuselage, drill 5 holes with 1/16" (1.5mm) bit. One in the front of canopy, two at both sides of the canopy. Next
secure the canopy with 2x5mm wood screws.
1.5mm
2x5mm
These control throws are merely a starting point for your radio setup and can be tailored to fit your flying
style.
48.Balancing your model is very important and must not be overlooked. The center of gravity (CG) is 2 3/8" behind the leading edge of the wing near the wing root, parallel with the fuselage. You can adjust the battery pack forward or backward to reach the right CG.
2 3/8"
60mm
FIRST FLIGHTS
Checks You Should Make
Before you attempt to fly your model you should perform some final checks:
1. Fully charge your radio and flight batteries following the manufacturers instructions.
2.Check the direction of travel of your control surfaces and the operation of the motor controller per the manufacturers instructions.
3.Range check your radio system per the manufacturers instructions.
4. Double check that you have installed the screws in the servo control arms and that the clevis are snapped tightly on the control horns.
We strongly recommend that you get help from an experienced R/C pilot to learn to fly if you are just beginning. You should be able to find help at your local dealer or club field.
Flying Your Soaring Star
First of all, if you are flying with other flyers, check to make sure they are not operating on the same frequency as you. If they are, do not turn on your radio until they have safely landed and have turned their radios off.
Secondly, even though the Soaring Star is very easy to fly, if you are a novice modeler/pilot, we highly recommend that you seek the help of an experienced modeler for your first few flights. He can save you a lot time and possible disappointment by helping you get your model in the air safely and getting it trimmed out for you.
Important: The radio control system is set up to operate the control surfaces just like a real airplanes as if the pilot (you) are sitting in cockpit controlling the airplane. When you want the plane to dive, you push the elevator stick forward (up), to climb you pull the stick back (down), to turn right, you move the aileron stick to right with elevator up and visa versa. When
FINAL ASSEMBLY / CONTROL THROWS
& BALANCING
Control Throws
Balance
3/8"
Aileron-Low Rate
3/8"
Aileron-High Rate
Elevator-Low Rate
Elevator-High Rate
Rudder
1/2"
1/2"
5/32"
5/32"
3/8"
3/8"
5/8"
5/8"
stick forward and when you want to turn the motor off you pull the stick back. It is the turning that causes the most problems with novice pilots because when the plane is flying towards you a right turn command on the transmitter cause the plane to turn to your left (which is the planes right). Get the picture? For tunately the up and down commands do not change. The easiest way to conquer this problem is to try and always face your body near the direction the planes is flying. This means that you will have to look over your shoulder at times, but many modelers find this an easy way to learn.
THE FIRST FLIGHTS
You should always use the first few flights to get accustomed to your new airplane and its flying characteristics. Keep the model upwind and climb to a good comfortable altitude to cut off the motor and trim your Soaring Star for a glide. At altitude cut the motor and start your glide. Have an experienced modeler adjust the trims of the transmitter for you until the plane will glide straight and level without any other control input. Once the trims are set practice making smooth turns in both directions while losing as little altitude as possible. When the Soaring Star starts to get too low for comfort turn the motor back on and climb back up to altitude. Practice this climbing and gliding until you are comfortable with the airplane.
Depending on the battery you use the Soaring Star will make 2 to 3 good climbs up to a nice thermal searching altitude from single battery charge. Once the ESC shuts off the power to the motor you will need to set up for your landing. Continue to make smooth gently turns while lining up the Soaring Star with your landing strip. Once you are set up to land keep the wings level and let the model settle in for an nice gentle landing while adding up elevator to keep the nose up slightly as the plane slows down. Make several flights like this to really familiarize yourself with the characteristics of your model and to learn the glide and distance covering abilities of the Soaring Star. Once you have mastered a good “comfort level” you are ready to start searching for thermals which will really increase your flight times.
THERMALS
Thermal soaring is one of the most interesting and challenging types of flying there is. Believe it or not, your Soaring Star is capable of flights thousands of feet high, lasting for several hours, and covering dozens of miles. The following paragraphs will help
explain how to take advantage of natures energy sources called thermals.
“Thermal” is the term applied to columns of rising air. This air is rising because it is warmer than the surrounding air. A dust devil is simply a thermal which ahs picked up some dust. Even a tornado is very similar to a thermal, but of course much stronger.
Thermals occur when the sun, or other heat source, heat the air in one location faster and/or warmer than the surrounding air. Darker surfaces (plowed fields, asphalt parking lots, etc.) absorb the sun’s energy faster than lighter colored and are generally good thermal generators. This warmer air is lighter (less dense) than the cooler air and thus rises. The rising air naturally starts to rotate, much like water going down a drain, and forms an inverted funnel shaped column that usually gets larger with altitude. This warmer air often contains water vapor which condenses as it reaches the cooler air high above the earth forming big puffy Cumulus clouds that experienced sailplane flyers will watch to determine where the thermals are forming. Thermals vary in strength, but often contain air that is rising at speeds over 1200 feet per minute. Some thermals are so strong they can even rip a sailplane apart, especially if the plane is flying fast when it passes through the thermal.
THERMAL SOARING
It takes lots of practice and concentration to thermal soar like the Hawks and Eagles. Since the pilot is not sitting inside an model sailplane, he cannot feel the thermal, he can only see his sailplanes reaction to the thermal. Therefore, the majority of the time, unless the pilot is paying careful attention to the plane, he may not even realize that plane is near a thermal. Since most thermals are relatively small, less than a hundred feet in diameter near the ground, the sailplane will rarely fly directly into the thermal and start rising. More likely, it will fly near a thermal and the wing closest to the thermal will rise turning the plane away from the thermal. So as you can see, an inexperienced pilot may bounce around between the thermals with ever knowing that he is encountering rising air.
In order to take advantage of thermals, you need to fly smoothly with as few control inputs as possible. Watch the sailplane carefully and it will tell you what the air around it is doing.
either start rising or stop sinking at its nor mal rate. Either case is reason enough to explore further. Continue flying straight ahead until you have obviously passed through the area of strongest lift. Now start circling in fairly tight, but smooth circles. Because of the thermals inverted funnel shape, the lower the planes altitude, the tighter the circles need to be. As the plane gains altitude, the diameter of the circles can be increased. If you see the plane falling off on one side of the turn, move the circle over into the stronger lift. Thermals are swept along by the wind so allow your circle to drift downwind with the thermal. Be careful when following a thermal downwind though as you still have to be able to make it back to the field!
If the sailplane is flying along and all of a sudden turns by itself, it has probably flown near a thermal. Keep in mind that thermal will have tendency to turn the plane away, so make a 180 degree turn and fly back towards the thermal. If you don’t quickly encounter lift start searching around that area. If you find the thermal, follow the procedure outlined above to take advantage of it.
Thermals can be generated at any time of the day, but the strangest thermals are usually produced when the sun is directly overhead 10:00am to 2:00pm seems to be the best time to find the strongest thermals.
If you find yourself getting too high or you’re having trouble getting out of a strong thermal. DO NOT dive the plane to lose altitude. This will very quickly over­stress the airframe and blow the wings off the plane. The easiest and safest way to quickly lose altitude is to apply full rudder (either right or left) and full up elevator. This will put the plane into a tight spin that will normally not over-stress the airframe. This is especially useful if the sailplane gets sucked into a cloud or gets too high to see. The spinning action will give the sun a better chance of reflecting off of the wing and catching your attention.
As you might expect, with all this rising air, there must also be some sinking air. This sinking air is the sailplane pilots enemy and one of the factors that really make soaring challenging. “Sink” as it is referred to, is usually not as strong as the nearby thermals, but is can quickly put a sailplane on the ground. Sink in one of the reasons, you have to be very careful when chasing a thermal downwind. If you encounter sink, immediately turn and fly 90 degrees to the direction of the wind. Apply a little down elevator to pick up some speed and get out of the bad air as
Safety Precautions
You as the pilot of this radio controlled model are responsible for any accidents that may occur during its use. We recommend that you fly your model at a model club field which is specially set up for model flying. But always be sure that you operate the model in a safe and careful manner and observe the
Following Suggestions:
1. Do not fly your model close to buildings, power lines, roads, or other obstacles.
2. Do not fly in congested areas such as parks or occupied playing fields. Select wide, flat and open area to fly with no obstructions and plenty of room for learning to fly.
3. Do not fly without help from an experienced model pilot until you have learned how to fly. Your local model club or hobby shop can recommend an instructor if you do not already know one.
4. Always check for other modelers in the area and be sure that your frequency is not in use by someone else which might cause you model to crash. Always observe frequency control systems at flying fields and wait your turn to fly.
5. Never fly your model directly toward spectators, autos, other modelers or their models.
6. Always abide by the rules for model flying provided by your club and the governing agency for model aircraft in your country.
Congratulations
Now that you have completed the assembly of your Soaring Star model we feel that have a very capable and good looking 2-meter electric sailplane. We hope that you will enjoy this model and get many hours of flying pleasure from its use. Thank you for purchasing this Soaring Star from Thunder Tiger and we look forward to providing you with other great R/C products in the future.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
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