Simon RF,

Alfat provides some extremely good tips. The fighterbird does not have an elevator, it is a two channel plane, however you do use the throttle to climb so the tip fits.


Also, I gave you my first flight suggestions above. Perhaps I should have given you my test flight tips instead. I think this will work better for you.

TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR PARKFLYERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums

PURPOSE - Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your
parkflyer for flight. If you have an instructor or coach, follow their
recommendations. This list is primarily for someone learning on their own who
would like some tips, guides and check lists to help them with their early
test flights. Skip a step and you open yourself to problems.

If you are REALLY new to RC flying, before you put your plane up you may wish
to read this series of articles aimed at new flyers of all types.

Beginners Bootcamp:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=17

Too many people think flying an RC plane is like driving an RC car. ITS NOT!
Read the column, see why, and understand how this is going to be so much
better than cars.


BALANCE THE PLANE - For the Fighter bird you should not have to do this. It comes prebalanced as long as you are using the standard battery pack. However for your next plane this will be an important step. Read the manual to see if you need to balance the plane.
Be sure to balance the plane to the suggested CG point. If you don't know how
to balance a plane, this is the time to ask. Don't try to fly it until you do.

An improperly balanced plane is not likely to fly well and is very likely to
crash! Even SOME Ready to Fly planes have to be balanced, so check the manual
for the manufacturers suggestions. In general it is better to be a "little"
nose heavy rather than tail heavy. A nose heavy plane is more stable so you
have a better chance of a smooth first flight session.

WIND - Read the recommendations in the manual. Some planes must only be flown
in dead calm or indoors. You plane will not be able to come back against the wind very well so keep it under 5 MPH until you are VERY VERY good with it.

For new pilots, dead calm to 3 MPH is perfect. No more than 5 MPH for your
first test flights and early/training flights or you will be fighting the
wind, not flying the plane. (guess how I know)


AT THE FIELD

1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio. Remember the Fighterbird is on 27 mhz radio system so if you see some kid with a car near you, he could be on the same channel. Go over and ask. If there is another flyer anywhere in sight, go and talk to them BEFORE you turn on your radio.

If someone is flying on your channel and you turn on your radio, they will
crash! Check first! At our field if you cause someone to crash, you have to
buy them a new plane. That can cost thousands. Check first!

2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day - If you don't know how
to do a range check, ASK!

3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3 days
ago. Not last week. Last night or today!

4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before
you launch. Check the instructions.

Make sure right rudder goes right and up elevator goes up (no elevator on the Fighterbird), etc. Also make sure your wing is straight!

5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the stick(s).
They should be in the center. Be sure you have not bumped one out of position.
A bumped trim can cause the plane to crash. (guess how I know). I do this a
lot throughout the day, so check just before EVERY launch.

6) Always launch and land into the wind - ALWAYS!

7) For hand launches - good firm LEVEL throw - NOT UP! Never throw the plane
upward on a test flight as it will most likely stall, go nose down and crash.
After a few launches you will know how THIS plane flies.

TEST FLIGHTS

The following is a suggested test flight process for flyers learning on their
own, primarily in an open field area. If you are at a highly disciplined
runway based site, they may not allow you to follow this procedure. In this
case, you probably have an instructor, follow their guidance. If you are alone
in a field, follow this process.


LAUNCH - FLY STRAIGHT - LAND - Don't go for a real flight, this is a test to
see if it goes straight and level. I like to fly straight out and then land
for the fist few tries. I send it out 100-300 feet. This way I get a feel of
how the plane will launch and how it will land.

Does it glide in nicely?

Do I need power on as I land?

Launching and landing are the two most important things you have to do, so
make sure you know how the plane behaves before you attempt anything more. You
will do some walking but that is better than gathering up pieces or watching
your plane fly off into the distance.

On these test flights, try to use the controls as little as possible. If it is
balanced correctly, and your surfaces are trimmed it should fly straight and
true. If you have to work the sticks to keep it going straight and level, you
may have some trim adjustments to do, or your plane is not well balanced. Make
those adjustments now. If it flies with the nose sticking up, you are too tail
heavy. If the wind is blowing it around a lot, put it away for a calmer day.

The first time I bring a plane to the field I might do 1-5 test flights as
straight out launches and landings. After each I adjust and do it again. Only
when I am happy that the plane goes straight and flat will I take to the
skies. I may add or remove some balance weight if the plane needs balance
improvement.

I like to adjust my planes at the surfaces so that my normal flight trim
settings on my radio are normally neutral trims. This way I don't have to
worry about setting trims before I fly. It takes time, but it saves problems
later.

Many kits tell you to set your control throws for lower amounts for early
flights. Follow this recommendation. Too much surface movement on an
unfamiliar plane can cause you to over control it. You can always "crank it
up" later.

Once I have done all these things, which might take 10 minutes or it may take
an hour, then and only then would I go for altitude and go around the field.
After these few test flights I also get a feel for how much stick movement
will give me how much plane movement.

I get to know the plane is right before I send it up. Finding I have a problem
when I am 200 feet up and climbing and
can't control a turn is not a good thing because now I have to get it down and
land it.

I hope this is helpful. Clear Skies and Safe Flying!