Firebird Phantom Manual
Contents
1. Products purchased from an authorized Horizon dealer Third party transactions are not covered by this warranty Proof of purchase is required for war ranty claims Further Horizon reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice and disclaims all other warranties express or implied b Limitations HORIZON MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION EXPRESS OR IMPLIED ABOUT NON INFRINGEMENT MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE PRODUCT THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEY ALONE HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE PRODUCT WILL SUITABLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PURCHASER S INTENDED USE c Purchaser Remedy Horizon s sole obligation hereunder shall be that Horizon will at its option i repair or ii replace any Product determined by Horizon to be defective In the event of a defect these are the Purchaser s exclusive remedies Horizon reserves the right to inspect any and all equipment involved in a warranty claim Repair or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon This warranty does not cover cosmetic damage or damage due to acts of God accident misuse abuse negligence commercial use or modification of or to any part of the Product This warranty does not cover damage due to improper installation operation maintenance or attempted repair by anyone other than Horizon Return of any goods by Purchaser must be approved in writing by Horizon before shipment Damage Li2. crashes and flyaways Choose the flying area carefully A grassy field or soft ground that is about 600 feet in diameter is optimum It s also best to fly in an area with very few or no trees ALWAYS fly the airplane UPWIND Never allow your Firebird Phantom to fly too far downwind as it will get farther and farther away from you If you find that the plane has gotten downwind reduce throttle and point the nose directly into the wind to bring it back closer to you Wear sunglasses on sunny days Avoid flying directly overhead Always make sure the flight battery is fully charged immediately prior to flying Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your abilities especially with the ACT program ming off To learn more about flying RC model airolanes locate your nearest AMA club learn the AMA safety code and frequency guidelines and much more we highly recommend that you contact The Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 East Memorial Drive Muncie IN 47302 Toll Free 800 435 9262 www modelaircraft org Warranty and Follow Up Procedures Horizon Hobby Inc guarantees this merchandise to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the date of purchase This warranty does not cover any component parts or damage by use or modification In no case shall Horizon Hobby s liability exceed the original purchase cost of this item Further Horizon Hobby reserves the right to change or modify
3. the ACT software Remember it is possible to turn ACT on and off in flight but make sure you have sufficient altitude and the plane is in level and controlled flight Do not let the airplane drift too far down wind from you as it can become very difficult to get it back Using Elevator Your Firebird Phantom is equipped with a third channel for pitch control elevator Pulling back on the right stick provides UP elevator that allows for better flares for landing a better climb rate and more effective turns However giving too much UP elevator pulling back to far on the right stick will cause the airplane to enter a stall especially at slower speeds Just after a stall occurs the nose of the airplane will go down and the airplane will begin to enter a dive To recover from a stall pull the right stick back slowly UP elevator once the nose of the airplane goes down and the plane has built up airspeed Pulling back slowly on the stick will put the nose up and cause the plane to exit the stall and return to straight and level flight Be care ful as pulling back too quickly or too far will once again cause the airplane to stall Taking Off 1 Make sure the battery is fully charged 2 While holding the transmitter in one hand push the throttle stick to full on up with thumb 3 Your Firebird Phantom will need to be hand launched On first flights have a second person adult recommended la
4. the instructions and warnings in the manual prior to assembly setup or use in order to operate correctly and avoid dam age or injury Questions Assistance and Repairs Your local hobby store and or place of purchase cannot provide warranty support or repair Once assembly setup or use of the Product has been started you must contact Horizon directly This will enable Horizon to better answer your questions and service you in the event that you may need any assistance For questions or assistance please direct your email to productsupport horizonhobby com or call 877 504 0233 toll free to speak to a service technician Inspection or Repairs If this Product needs to be inspected or repaired please call for a Return Merchandise Authorization RMA Pack the Product securely using a shipping carton Please note that original boxes may be included but are not designed to withstand the rigors of shipping without additional protection Ship via a carrier that provides tracking and insur ance for lost or damaged parcels as Horizon is not responsible for merchandise until it arrives and is accepted at our facility A Service Repair Request is available at www horizonhobby com on the Support tab If you do not have internet access please include a letter with your complete name street address email address and phone number where you can be reached during business days your RMA number a list of the included items m
5. this warranty without notice This warranty covers only those products purchased from an authorized Horizon Hobby dealer Third party transactions are not covered by this warranty Proof of purchase is required for warranty claims Due to the nature and operation of this product the warranty does not extend beyond the initial pre use testing Carefully check the parts and operation BEFORE your first use If you discover defects during pre use testing please call our Product Support Team toll free at 877 504 0233 for technical support In that Horizon Hobby 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 use by the user of the final user assembled product By the act of using the user assembled product the user accepts all result ing liability Please note that once assembly has been started you must contact Horizon Hobby Inc directly regarding any warranty questions Please do not contact your local hobby shop regarding warranty issues This will enable Horizon to better answer your questions and service you in the event you need warranty assistance Horizon Hobby Inc reserves the right to inspect any and all equipment involved in a warranty claim Repair or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon Hobby Inc Collateral damage is not covered under this warranty If you as the buyer or owner are not prep
6. CT software will help prevent you from crashing into the ground If you enter a severe dive while flying with ACT engaged you will notice the following take place e You will hear the motor speed reduce as the ACT programming overrides your input This slows the descent of the aircraft to help prevent a crash The ACT software will give up elevator input to the aircraft s electronics to help pull the plane out of a dive There will be a noticeable change in the movement of the aircraft and the diameter of turns will be larger The nose of the airplane will only be allowed to reach a limited angle and then will rise up in order to prevent too much speed from being generated Once the ACT software has taken over you will not be able to give control input until you have released the steering stick allowing it to return to neutral Remember the purpose of ACT is to help you learn to fly properly and smoothly When ACT is engaged and overrides your input it means that you have placed your aircraft in jeopardy Keeping the stick more in the middle and less in the corners will allow you to fly more smoothly and prevent ACT from engaging ACT should be the backup for you The key is to learn to make minor movements on the controls because the transmitter is proportional and is sensi tive to movements of the control stick Once you have gained more experience and feel more comfortable flying you can turn the ACT software off to
7. HobbyZone products are distributed exclusively by Horizon Hobby Inc 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign IL 61822 2007 Horizon Hobby Inc 9804 hobbyzane The Place to Start hobbyzonerc com HBZ4715 AGT ANTI CRASH TECHNOLOGY 4121 6 WL 4 5 READY TO FLY Congratulations on your purchase of the HobbyZone Firebird Phantom RTF electric airplane Your Firebird Phantom comes complete with everything you need all in one box to get you in the air and flying A video compact disk VCD is also included to give you some helpful hints before you take to the sky Your Firebird Phantom uses advanced Anti Crash Technology ACT that allows you to safely train with a fully proportional 3 channel aircraft and radio system The Firebird Phantom has built in sensors that look for the sky and horizon and thanks to the specially programmed software it can temporarily take over in the event that your aircraft is put in danger from incorrect transmitter input This will help to prevent a crash and keep you in the air M Welcome to the World of Once you are more experienced and no longer need the training soft ware you can simply turn off ACT with the push of a button When this is done you will have full control at all times allowing you to perform exciting maneuvers such as loops and spirals Please read this instruction manual thoroughly a
8. ally shut off the motor and save enough battery power to maintain control of the tail so you can land correctly and safely If the motor cuts off prepare to land immediately WARNING Do not attempt to catch the airplane or injury may result Turn the motor off prior to touchdown in order to prevent damage to the wing and or propeller D i a gt gt 10 FT Sag ann Reduce power at 10 feet EXPERT TIP As you get more experienced at flying try adding a bit of UP elevator pull back on right stick just before touchdown to flare the plane With some practice your landings will be smooth and on target Making Adjustments Plane Turns to the Left or Right Making Adjustments Plane Turns to the Left or Right If you notice that your airplane wants to turn If you are certain the control surfaces are at If the plane still wanders to the right to either the left or right when the control neutral and the plane still wanders to the 1 Adjust the tail so that the right tail control stick is centered some adjustments are left surface is 1 16 above the rest of the tail needed as the control surfaces may not be 1 Adjust the tail see below so that the left This can be done by pushing the digital at neutral To make in flight adjustments tail control surface is 1 16 above the trim button located to the lower left of simple and accurate there are digital trim rest of the tail This c
9. an be done by push the right hand control stick buttons located to the bottom and side of ing the digital trim button located to the 2 Test fly the control sticks In most cases a few clicks lower right of the right hand control stick 3 If it is still flying on its own to the right in the needed direction right or left on 2 Test fly repeat the above procedure until it flies the digital trim buttons below the right hand 3 If it is still flying on its own to the left straight control stick will correct the problem Always repeat the above procedure until it flies make sure the control sticks are centered at straight neutral prior to making any adjustments 1 With the transmitter on the flight battery plugged in and both sticks at neutral wae loosen the spool on the control surface Sa m 2 Move the control surface back to neutral A t 9 X v Ss 26 P P or even with the rest of the tail and re tighten the spool er IMPORTANT If there is a bend even a small one in the tail or wing or a tear near the flap Control surfaces neutral after correction areas it will be impossible to have correct flight control Replace the damaged part immediately Adjusting the Climb Rate Aerobatic Flight If your Firebird Phantom does not climb If your Firebird Phantom climbs too fast at full Your Firebird Phantom comes out of the fast enough when at full throttle and with a throttle by climbing at a steep angle stalli
10. ared to accept the liability associated with the use of this product you are advised to return this product immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase If you have any questions concerning your HobbyZone product please contact our Product Support staff toll free at 1 877 504 0233 If your merchandise requires inspection please follow these steps in order to return it to us 1 Call our Product Support team for return authorization 2 Use the Service and Repair Checklist from www horizonhobby com under the support tab or write a detailed letter that includes e Your name address home phone number and daytime phone number e A list of the products being shipped for inspection or repair e A detailed account of the type of problems you are incurring and e The payment method you wish to use for any purchases or charges including credit card type number expiration date and your name as it appears on the card 3 Submit proof of purchase including purchase date and retailer information 4 Make sure that the batteries are unplugged and removed Please use packing material to sepa rate them from the main HobbyZone product 5 Pack the entire product including all compo nents and accessories in the original box and pack it in a sturdy box with packing materials for safe shipping 6 For inspection and or repair please ship your product to Horizon Service Center Attn HobbyZone Dep
11. artment 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign IL 61822 We suggest you ship your product via a carrier that provides package tracking and or requires a signature Horizon Hobby Inc is only responsible for product once it arrives and is accepted at our facility Most carriers require optional insurance to cover damage or loss in transit so please consider this when shipping merchandise Warranty and Follow Up Procedures continued Warranty Service Providing all warranty conditions have been met defective parts will be repaired or replaced with out charge and shipped to you via ground freight prepaid Again crash or other collateral damage or expense is not covered under warranty Proof of purchase date and location is required for all warranty service Non Warranty Service If upon our inspection we find that the repair cost exceeds 50 or more than 50 of the value of your product we will contact you with a repair estimate and advise you of the available options Warranty Period Exclusive Warranty Horizon Hobby Inc Horizon warranties that the Products purchased the Product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship at the date of purchase by the Purchaser Limited Warranty a This warranty is limited to the original Purchaser Purchaser and is not transferable REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE PURCHASER This warranty covers only those
12. d long vertical dives with power on or off as it can cause a lot of stress on the airplane Left digital trim is for throttle Trim buttons located directly under right stick are for adjust ing rudder trim Trim buttons to the immediate left of right stick are for adjusting elevator trim Flying continued NOTE Digital trims can be used for making quick in flight adjustments Trims will auto matically re center each time the radio is powered on It is recommended that you first make manual corrections by adjusting the control linkages See page 22 ACT On Off Sharp Turns Move the stick in the direction you want to turn and add a bit of UP elevator at the same time pull back on stick The plane will make a sharper banking turn Rudder Trim If the Firebird Phantom seems to drift in one direction when the control stick is in the neutral centered position press the rudder trim buttons below the control stick in the OPPOSITE direction of the drift Adjust until the plane flies straight with the control stick at neutral Elevator Trim If the model always hunts up or down use the trim buttons to the left of the stick to correct this problem If it hunts up push the upper trim button until it flies level If it hunts down push the lower trim button until it flies level The model should fly straight with the stick at neutral Your Firebird Phantom should have a steady climb at full throttl
13. ded video CD completely observing all instructions and safety directions Otherwise serious injury and damage can occur Think safety first Keep propeller away from all body parts at all times Beware of loose clothing or hair becoming entangled in the propeller Never fly when it is too windy or you may lose control of the airplane Never fly near people vehicles train tracks buildings power lines water hard surfaces or trees and never attempt to catch the Firebird Phantom Adult supervision is recommended for ages 12 and under Only use a battery charger intended for use with the Firebird Phantom battery We recommend using the charger that comes with your airplane Never leave the charger unattended while charging During charging place the battery and charger on a heat resistant surface Do not place them on carpet or upholstery 6 Never cut into the battery charger or airplane wires as serious injury can occur Causing the battery to short out cross ing negative and positive bare wires can cause a fire serious injury and damage Hold the plane securely and keep all body parts away from the propeller at all times After you have finished flying or at any time you have the radio system on ALWAYS unplug the battery prior to turn ing the transmitter off ALWAYS turn on the transmitter prior to plugging flight battery in Never fly on the same frequency as another RC veh
14. e when it is trimmed properly Throttle Adjustment 1 When launching the throttle should be full on 2 Once you have achieved the altitude where you want to fly you can reduce throttle to about 50 for cruising This will also allow for longer flights 3 If you want to reduce altitude reduce throttle to less than 50 4 To increase altitude again increase throttle to more than 50 Note If you fly with the motor off or at a low speed allow the Firebird Phantom a bit more area for turns tq es CED i aag I NS eZ EBB BEBE EE EBBEEE ee ee 2 50 Throttle Pi Full Throttle SUCCESS TIP Your Firebird Phantom s transmitter has a throttle stick that gives power to the motor It has proportional control meaning you can advance the motor as much or little as needed in flight In order to have the most success it is important to operate the throttle stick smoothly as well as the steering and elevator stick RK Landing When you notice that your Firebird Phantom no longer climbs well under full power nor mally after 6 8 minutes the battery is getting low and it is time to land Line the airplane up directly into the wind toward the desired landing spot At about 10 15 feet of altitude reduce the throttle gradually until it is com pletely shut off Your Firebird Phantom will glide in for a landing Auto Cutoff When the battery gets low enough this feature will automatic
15. ems coming in for a landing Remember your Firebird Phantom flies approximately 15 20 mph so it covers ground fast The bigger the field the better Fly in this area af u Prga pilot Important Do not fly over or near people buildings power lines highways train tracks vehicles trees water pavement gravel any hard surface or any object you don t want to crash into Please take this warning seriously to keep people property and the Firebird Phantom safe Crash damage is not covered by the warranty Choose a Calm Day We know you want to have fun and fly your Firebird Phantom However flying in too much wind can place your airplane in jeopardy On your first flight make sure the winds are no stronger than 5 mph To check wind conditions 1 Tie the included red ribbon to the end of the transmitter antenna 2 Hold the transmitter so that the antenna is parallel to the ground If the flag hangs down you re good to fly If the angle between the antenna and the flag is less than 25 degrees it s too windy for begin ning pilots to fly Always position yourself so that when you are flying the airplane is UPWIND of you Never let the airplane come too far downwind where it can be carried farther and farther away from you and be lost Additionally the winds are stronger at high er altitudes Do not climb too high or you could lose control of your airplane It is ok to fly higher just make su
16. enter Expert Mode It is possible to change flight modes in the air but sufficient altitude is required To turn ACT off Push down on the right stick and the red LED will flash indicating that you have disabled ACT To turn ACT back on push down on the right stick again The red LED will be solid when ACT is on see page 19 for photo e You must be at an altitude of at least 150 feet for the software to be able to help prevent crashes due to incorrect transmitter input If you fly at too low an altitude ACT will not have enough time to recover your Firebird Phantom e Even when flying with ACT on if you feel that your airplane is beginning to enter a steep dive release both sticks immedi ately This should slow the descent and help to level the wings e Because the Phantom s ACT uses sensors to activate the protective software there could be times when the sensors could be fooled This may be especially true when flying in very bright sunshine and or when the sun is close to the horizon e Don t fly with ACT on over water light sand snow ice asphalt or anything else that can reflect light and temporarily fool the sensors Anti Crash Technology ACT Flying Tips e Don t fly in too small of an area as the ACT technology will not help to prevent crashes into trees buildings or other obstacles Make several successful flights including soft landings prior to attempting to fly without the aid of
17. ethod of payment for any non warranty expenses and a brief summary of the problem Your original sales receipt must also be included for warranty consideration Be sure your name address and RMA number are clearly written on the outside of the shipping carton Warranty Inspection and Repairs To receive warranty service you must include your original sales receipt verifying the proof of purchase date Provided warranty conditions have been met your Product will be repaired or replaced free of charge Repair or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon Hobby Non Warranty Repairs Should your repair not be covered by warranty the repair will be completed and payment will be required without notification or estimate of the expense unless the expense exceeds 50 of the retail purchase cost By submitting the item for repair you are agreeing to payment of the repair without notification Repair estimates are available upon request You must include this request with your repair Non warranty repair estimates will be billed a minimum of v2 hour of labor In addition you will be billed for return freight Please advise us of your preferred method of payment Horizon accepts money orders and cashiers checks as well as Visa MasterCard American Express and Discover cards If you choose to pay by credit card please include your credit card number and expira tion date Any repair left unpaid or unclaimed after 90 days w
18. icle in your area Doing so will cause you or the other person to lose control of the plane Troubleshooting PROBLEM Unit does not operate Aircraft keeps turning in one direction Aircraft is difficult to control Aircraft keeps pitching up steeply Aircraft won t climb m oss 5 al OY NO Transmitter AA batteries are depleted or installed incorrectly as indicated by a dim or unlit LED on the transmitter or the low battery alarm No electrical connection Aircraft battery is not charged Crash has damaged the radio inside the fuselage Tail flaps need adjustment Tail flaps aren t adjusted properly Wing or tail is damaged Tail incidence needs adjustment Wind is too gusty or strong Battery isn t fully charged Tail needs adjustment SOLUTION Check polarity installation or replace with fresh AA batteries Push connectors together until they click Fully charge the battery Replace the fuselage Adjust stick trim lever see page 19 or adjust tail flap position see pages 22 23 Adjust tail flaps see pages 22 23 Repair or replace tail Adjust tail screw see page 24 Postpone flying until wind is more calm Charge battery shortly before flying Adjust tail screws see page 24 Success Tips 1 U1 Do not fly in winds over 7 mph especially during first flights Flying in too much wind is by far the number one reason for
19. ill be considered abandoned and will be disposed of accordingly Please note non warranty repair is only available on electronics and model engines Electronics and engines requiring inspection or repair should be shipped to the following address Horizon Service Center 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign Illinois 61822 All other Products requiring warranty inspection or repair should be shipped to the following address Horizon Product Support 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign Illinois 61822 Please call 877 504 0233 with any questions or concerns regarding this product or warranty Replacement and Optional Parts Keep your Firebird Phantom in the air Spare parts are available from your dealer or from Horizon Hobby direct www horizonhobby com Please check with your dealer first by supporting your dealer they ll be there when you need them To locate your local dealer go to www hobbyzonerc com PART HBZ4700 HBZ4707 HBZ4710 HBZ4715 HBZ7416 HBZ4717 HBZ4718 HBZ4720 HBZ4727 HBZ4731 HBZ4735 HBZ4739 HBZ4740 HBZ4745 HBZ4747 HBZ4761 HBZ4762 HBZ4763 HBZ4764 HBZ4765 HBZ4766 DESCRIPTION MSRP Firebird Phantom RTF Electric 169 99 Propeller FBP 1 49 Decal Sheet FBP 2 99 Instruction Manual FBP 0 99 Instructional Video CD FBP 2 99 Canopy Cover w HDWR FBP 1 49 Black Nose Piece FBP 1 49 White Wing FBP 10 99 White Rubber Bands 6 FBP 0 99 Tail w Accessories FBP 6 99 Tail Hor
20. ld self center when you turn the transmitter on If you find that the control surface flap is not level with the rest of the tail surface you can correct this with a few pushes of the appropriate trim buttons Move the right stick side to side while observing that the tail flaps are moving as shown Move the right stick up and down while observing that the tail flaps are moving as shown The transmitter included with your Firebird Phantom includes new digital trim buttons WARNING Keep everything clear of the propeller when you conduct the tail control test in the event that you acciden tally turn on the motor Tail Control Test continued ACT On Right Rudder 4 NE Y i Moves Up ACT Off Right Rudder View from Rear Elevator controls Down Elevator C yo 4 Moves Down Up Elevator a t x y t 4 Moves Up Choosing a Flying Field In order to have the most success and to protect property and your Firebird Phantom from any damage it is very important to select a place to fly that is very open The site should e Have a minimum of 300 feet of clear space in all directions e Be clear of pedestrians e Be free of trees or buildings that could interfere with your sightline or power lines that could entangle your airplane e Be clear of automobiles and other prop erty that could be damaged by your plane if you have probl
21. mits HORIZON SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES LOSS OF PROFITS OR PRODUCTION OR COMMERCIAL LOSS IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE PRODUCT WHETHER SUCH CLAIM IS BASED IN CONTRACT WARRANTY NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY Further in no event shall the liability of Horizon exceed the individual price of the Product on which liability is asserted As Horizon has no control over use setup final assembly modification or misuse no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any resulting damage or injury By the act of use setup or assembly the user accepts all resulting liability If you as the Purchaser or user are not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of this Product you are advised to return this Product immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase Law These Terms are governed by Illinois law without regard to conflict of law principals Safety Precautions This is a sophisticated hobby Product and not a toy It must be operated with caution and common sense and requires some basic mechanical ability Failure to operate this Product in a safe and respon sible manner could result in injury or damage to the Product or other property This Product is not intended for use by children without direct adult supervision The Product manual contains instruc tions for safety operation and maintenance It is essential to read and follow all
22. n and Keeper 2 FBP 0 99 Tail V Brace FBP 0 99 Tail Screws 2 FBP 0 99 4 7 Cell DC Variable Charger 15 99 12V 500mA AC Power Adapter 9 99 Phantom Fuselage CH1 26 995 39 99 Phantom Fuselage CH2 27 045 39 99 Phantom Fuselage CH3 27 095 39 99 Phantom Fuselage CH4 27 145 39 99 Phantom Fuselage CH5 27 195 39 99 Phantom Fuselage CH6 27 255 39 99 PART HBZ4771 HBZ4772 HBZ4773 HBZ4774 HBZ4775 HBZ4776 HBZ1014 HBZ4541 DESCRIPTION MSRP Phantom Trans CH1 26 995 29 99 Phantom Trans CH2 27 045 29 99 Phantom Trans CH3 27 095 29 99 Phantom Trans CH4 27 145 29 99 Phantom Trans CH5 27 195 29 99 Phantom Trans CH6 27 255 29 99 8 4V 300mAh Battery Pack FBP 11 99 Landing Gear FBS FBP 2 99 Future RC Flight Once you ve mastered flying your Firebird Phantom we recommend that you try another 3 channel plane from HobbyZone for the most successful transition to using larger and faster 3 channel airplanes The HobbyZone Super Cub is a great semi scale airplane that is perfect for both beginner and intermediate pilots The Aerobird Swift is also an excellent airplane if you are look ing to advance to aileron controls Both of these aircraft are X Port equipped so you can add exciting Plug N Play accessories if you so choose If you choose to go from flying the Firebird Phantom to flying the Aerobird Swift we recommend that you have a very experienced RC pilot with you for your fi
23. n the fuselage Motor Test and Battery Discharging Adult Supervision Required WARNING Keep everything clear of the propeller AT ALL TIMES and hold the plane securely A moving propeller can cause severe injury 1 Turn on transmitter 2 Install the flight battery into the fuselage and plug it into the connector 3 Move the transmitter s left stick all the way down and hold for one second This will arm the motor 4 Move the transmitter s left stick up Since most batteries come partially charged the prop should spin at high speed If the motor does not run proceed to charging the battery 5 In order to fully discharge the battery run the motor at high speed until it shuts off If there is not enough charge in the battery to power the propeller then proceed to step 4 6 When finished with the motor test be sure to disconnect the battery first then turn off the transmitter Charging the Battery Note Never charge a hot battery that is still very warm and has just been discharged For longer battery life wait until the battery has cooled prior to recharging it See Warnings and Safety on page 27 1 The charger supplied with the Firebird Phantom is a peak detection charger that can be powered by the included AC power adapter First plug the battery into the charger Nex
24. nd watch the VCD prior to flying for the first time This will greatly add to your flight experience and help to ensure success on your first flight Crash damage is not covered under the warranty Be sure to read the warranty on page 30 and Warnings and Safety on page 27 before you proceed to Step 1 Transmitter 1 Remove the transmitter back cover 2 Install the included AA batteries Use four fresh 1 5V AA batteries only 3 Be sure to observe proper polarity when installing the batteries and then replace the cover 4 To test switch on the transmitter The LED should glow brightly 5 Replace the batteries when you hear the low battery alarm beeping sound Note You may notice a small switch immediately below the LED and the power switch This small switch deter mines the controls for the transmitter with default position to the left It is not recommended to change it Wing Attachment Needed for Step 2 Rubber Bands x4 1 Center the wing on the fuselage by aligning the center dot on the wing with the fuselage top seam and by centering the half circle on the wing s trailing edge over the fuselage center 2 Secure the wing in place by attaching two rubber bands across the middle and one on each side as shown Locate the rubber bands on the peg hooks as close as possible to the fuselage sides 3 Before each flight make sure the front and trailing edges of the wing are exactly centered o
25. ng box with the controls set for beginning full charged battery pack you can adjust the and keeps repeating climbing sharply and PP pilots with the control linkages attached climb rate by stalling do the following in the outer holes of the control surfaces 1 Tightening the front screw one full turn 1 Loosen the front tail screw one full turn By adjusting the control linkages so they and loosening the back screw one full and tighten the back tail screw one full are attached in the holes on the tail that turn turn are closer to the control surfaces you will 2 Test flying 2 Test fly give your Firebird Phantom more control 3 Repeat the above procedure until your 3 Repeat the above procedure if necessary response for more aerobatic maneuvers plane climbs adequately under full power until your Firebird Phantom climbs at a such as loops and tail slides steady rate CAUTION Do not attempt aerobatic maneuvers until you have gained sufficient t Saeul Sron saenba Sorowin flying experience with the ACT software turned off If a Crash Occurs If you happen to crash and part of the foam wing or tail breaks it can be repaired using packing tape to cover missing pieces If damage is severe or if the wing or tail is bent replace damaged parts See page 36 for a complete replacement parts list Replace wing immediately Warnings and Safety Checklist 1 Read and follow this manual and inclu
26. r plane should hold it so that the propeller does not come near any part of their body Anti Crash Technology ACT Your Firebird Phantom comes equipped with exclusive Anti Crash Technology This software helps prevent crashes due to over control by the pilot The sensors included in the fuselage see the horizon One sensor is above the canopy and faces forward The other is at the bottom of the fuselage and faces backward Top Sensor Bottom sensor The electronic system connected to them knows the airplane should not be allowed to enter a steep dive or aggressive bank If you give transmitter input that causes the plane to enter into a spiral dive that may threaten your aircraft the ACT software will override your input to help prevent the aircraft from oO amp r gt L ACT Turned ON ACT Turned OFF crashing to the ground providing you have sufficient altitude The ACT will intervene for you when the aircraft is in jeopardy by reducing throttle and adding some up elevator as well This causes the nose of the airplane to pull up thereby helping to prevent your Firebird Phantom from crash ing provided there is enough altitude for recovery The ACT software will only inter rupt flight in extreme situations allowing you to enjoy as much control of the airplane as you need Anti Crash Technology ACT The Firebird Phantom s A
27. re you are watching carefully to see how the aircraft is reacting Generally a good altitude to fly is approx 300 feet If the flag hangs down _ it s good to fly lt If the angle between the antenna and the flag is less than 20 degrees it is too windy and you need to postpone your flight ni Va D i 1 a HINT In many places you will find that the winds are the most calm in the mornings shortly after sunrise and evenings about an hour prior to sunset You may want to prepare and fly your first flights during those times Flying in too much wind is by far the number one reason for crashes lost planes Range Test You will need two people to do the range test one to hold the transmitter and one to hold the airplane 1 One person holds the transmitter the other person walks 100 paces away with the airplane 2 Extend the transmitter antenna complete ly and turn the transmitter on 3 Plug in the airplane battery and close the hatch cover 4 Pull the throttle stick back to arm the motor 5 As the first person moves both of the transmitter controls at the same time the other person watches to be sure the airplane s motor and tail controls operate smoothly If model does not range test correctly do not fly Call the Horizon Hobby Product Support staff toll free at 1 877 504 0233 for directions on how to proceed WARNING The person holding the ai
28. rst flights until you get comfortable flying a larger faster airplane We hope you enjoy flying your new Firebird Phantom and thank you for supporting HobbyZone Please let us know how we can help you in the future We hope your flights with this plane are just the beginning of a long and positive RC experience Best wishes in the hobby Sincerely The HobbyZone Team
29. rter distance Remember only a small amount of UP is needed Too much will result in a stall after the plane has left the ground Flying 1 After launching your Firebird Phantom it will begin climbing at full throttle With the throttle all the way on your Firebird Phantom should climb without any elevator input Make right and left hand adjustments to keep your airplane heading directly into the wind Do not attempt a turn until you have reached a minimum of 50 100 feet of altitude That s about as tall as a 4 to 8 story building It is hard to determine altitude when you re in a wide and open space outside so the best rule is to err on the side of caution and allow yourself sufficient altitude when flying Control range is 1300 feet Don t let the airplane get too far away Keep the aircraft UPWIND from you Failure to do this could result in a flyaway Remember the wind is stronger as your plane gets higher in the air It s OK to fly higher just be cautious and watch how your plane reacts to the wind Most of the time you can fly at higher altitudes at half throttle This is great for smooth easy flying when you re first learning to fly and conserves battery power 4 When you have reached higher altitudes and want to practice using the elevator begin with small and smooth inputs to the transmitter as very little input is required to get the plane to turn climb or descend 5 Avoi
30. t plug the charger into a 12V DC power supply such as the cigarette lighter of a car You can also choose to use the included AC adapter to power the DC Peak charger Simply plug the charger into the AC power supply and plug the power supply into a standard 110 120V wall outlet The LED on the charger will begin to blink and will turn to solid red when charging is complete Note The included variable rate peak charger allows for charging up to 500mA 1 2A We suggest charging your pack at a 1C charge rate 300mA especially on the first several charges Important Charge the battery shortly before flying While charging place the battery on a heat resistant surface Do not lay it on carpet or upholstery while charging Note If the weather is cold keep the battery in a warm place until you are ready to fly A cold battery will have dramatically reduced performance and the throttle will shut off early Tail Control Test 1 Switch on the transmitter Check the LED Do not touch the sticks for 2 seconds while the transmitter automatically calibrates the controls Install the battery in the fuselage slot and plug in the connector Do not arm the motor The small buttons under and to the side of the sticks are the digital trim buttons and are used to adjust the neutral point of your control stick Each time the transmit ter is powered up it should reset the trim automatically These shou
31. unch your Firebird Phantom while the pilot controls with the transmitter Adult assistance is always recommended for pilots 12 years of age or younger 4 Take a couple of steps and launch the model directly into the wind Keep the wings level Use medium force Do not throw it up or down Point it level parallel with the ground when releasing Think of it as a javelin that you are throw ing 20 feet away Watch out Keep the spinning propeller away from your hair head and hands or injury may occur Wind direction for hand launch Important Before launching determine the wind direction by watching which way the red transmitter ribbon is blowing Wind direction for runway takeoff Runway Takeoff ROG Recommended for experienced pilots only 1 If you are an experienced pilot and have a smooth and long surface you can take off from the ground Make sure your landing gear is properly installed and is securely in the slot on the fuselage before you attempt takeoff 2 Stand behind the Firebird Phantom and point it directly into the wind on smooth asphalt or concrete 3 Apply full power and adjust the right control stick as necessary to keep the Firebird Phantom headed directly into the wind 4 Ifthe battery is fully charged the Firebird Phantom should lift off the ground in approximately 40 feet Apply some UP elevator by pulling the stick back and the plane will lift off of the ground in a sho
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