Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone can help with this! I've got a .40 size late 90's era "raven" I'm putting together. It's made by Global Hobby. I've lost the manual. Found the CG in an article, but still need the recommended control throws for high and low rates. Does anybody have a manual for this bird?. It would be much appreciated if someone would post the measurements! Thanks

Alucard ... oh man ... that plane! I loved mine till I gave it away. So many here told me its lousy and it will snap on you on take off or on approach or executing a loop. It did not, not that she will not at all. She is nice to fly with a mere 46 2C, a real nippy plane. Make sure you use the wing fences ok! For your maiden make her slightly NOSE HEAVY, very slightly.

I can't find the manual anymore but try this, it is in the safe zone for the maiden:

Aileron - 1/2" max
Ele - 3/4" max
Rud - 1.25"

She will not float in on landing, so carry some speed, some not that it needs to be very hot, if not she will snap on you. As for the elevator, do not yank it hard, she will snap on you. I wish I had another.

tIANci, thanks for the meausrements. Sounds pretty close to me as well. I'll just dial in some extra expo to be on the safe side. I have to say I'm glad that you seemd to like the plane. Most of the posts I have read were pretty negative! I put an evolution .46 out of a recent crash and burn in it. I'm hoping it flies well! I think that it's a nice looking plane. We'll find out soon, I'll post after the maiden. Any suggestions on prop size? I was leaning towards a windsor 10X6. Thanks again for the info.

I have the Raven kit manual. As for the surface throws, it specifies +/- 3/4 inch on all surfaces as a starting point. Its probably not enough on the rudder to do a knife edge, but its a start.

The manual wasn't that great in some aspects: nothing on constructing and installing the ailerons. The manual refers to the plans for the CG which isn't there. There was a separate sheet showing the side view and a balance dimension which I lost. What dimension do you have? Please.

One mod I did to mine (have yet to cover and paint it) was to shorten the aileron by one bay at the wing tip and make that aileron stock for the tip bay a part of the wing. Can't remember where I read it but supposedly doing this will reduce the possibility of tip stall by eliminating the gap between the wing and a movable aileron which "disturbs" the air flow. Did this as supposedly this airframe has a tendency to snap roll if you give it too much elevator.

Alucard ... not a 10x6, try an 11x5, more prop wash and revs up nicely. Great all round prop. Also, if you are worried about tip stalling, raise both ailerons UP by say 1/8" to create some artificial wash out. I would not mind flying that plane again if I can get my hands on another. Unfortunately, I am all EP now, that plane would not make a great candidate for EP conversion.

The OK Models has a lovely ARC Raven of 68" ... but its really expensive.

TIGREJOHN, I found the CG in this article [link]http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3819/is_199801/ai_n8803505/pg_3/?tag=content;col1[/link] , they recommend 3 1/2 inches from the LE, although I'm not sure it would be the same for the kit version. I'll probably grab a few props to try when I take it out but I think you may be right tIANci about using the 11 in instead of a 10in. One thing I have left to do is fasten the wheel pants to the landing gear to keep them from moving around. If there was hardware for this I've lost it. I was thinking of punching a couple holes in each and using some wire to twist around the gear, any better ideas? Thanks again for the help fellas.

Thanks for the CG dimension.

Another thread in RCU about the Raven suggested the starting dimension on the elevator throw should be cut down to 1/2" to avoid the possibility of snap roll.

In re wheelpants attachment, plans call for Sullivan #888 hardware which was not included in the kit.

Well the raven had its maiden today, the rumors were correct in this case. Even slight inputs of elevator at low speeds around 1/8 to 1/2 thottle cause the plane roll right. I think I'll mix in some flaperons on the dial as suggested to raise the ailerons and try again. It flies great at high speeds though. Rough landing today, no major damage but bent the gear a little.

Great to see others still flying this plane (well, I guess it's been about a year since the last post so who knows). I bought my raven off craigslist a couple of years back and put about 15 flights on her until the engine quit during an intentional spin. I was about 200 feet up but for the life of me I could get it out of the spin. The CG was at 3.5 with an almost full tank of fuel so i know being tail heavy wasnt the cause. Well the good news was that in the last 20 or so feet I was able to break the spin and flatten it out a little so it "landed" pretty hard on the gear and nose. The crash broke the engine mount, the gear nount, ripped the nose cowl off, broke the pitts muffler and busted the prop but no real damage to the airframe other than a few small holes in the underside of the wing. Luckily I was able to JB Weld the muffler, reinforce the gear mount and apoxy the engine mount together again. There was much of a change on the CG to my suprise! if the weather gets a little better here I'm thinking about remaidening her this weekend!

A question for anone flying this kit....do you know if anyone sells a stronger gear for this plane? i have the flimsy wire gear that seems to bend on every landing.

Thanks!
Chris

I'm still flying my Raven from back in the day.. She's a snappy little ***** !! Oh, and yes her glide ratio isn't much of a ratio.. LOL !! Happy landings ...