Super Decathlon Instruction Manual
Contents
1. Installation of Landing Gear 1 Locate the landing gear within packaging 2 Slide one half of landing gear into allotted slot in fuse until it locks into place Slide the other half of the landing gear into fuse as you have done with the previous one Look into the fuselage to make sure the two gear halves are pressed in snug against the center of the landing gear support 3 Make sure both parts of the landing gear are secure and properly in place They should feel snug inside the fuse when attached properly S rep 4 Fix wing securely to fuselage Loss of wing will result in lack of control and crash Attaching the Wing Use 4 rubber bands 1 Locate wing to secure wing as 3 2 Locate wing strut screws 3 Place the wing on the top of the fuselage making certain it is centered properly Attach the wing with four rubber bands that are included Stretch two of the rubber bands from the front to the rear attach points Stretch the last two diagonally across the middle to the attach points 4 Once this is done it is time to attach the wing struts to the fuselage Locate the two washers and small Phillips screws and attach strut to fuselage as shown Once the screw is tightened into the fuse you can loosen it slightly to allow the slack of the strut to be adjusted as needed FAIA A 5 Make sure that prior to each flight the wing is am properly centered on the fuselage If the wing is not centered prope2. PKZ1415 I M ParkZone products are distributed exclusively by Horizon Hobby Inc 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign IL 61822 2004 Horizon Hobby Inc www parkzone com 7160 6 1 G parkzone G parkzone Super Decathlon Instruction Manual 9 m Radio Proportional 3 ch FM TM Overall Length 25 3 640mm Battery 8 4V 600mAh Ni MH Charge and Fly Park Flyer Weight 16 oz 450g Charger DC peak detect Motor 3 70 class with gear reduction Wingspan 35 4 900mm G parkzone Super Decathlon Instruction Manual Congratulations on your purchase of the ParkZone Super Decathlon Your Super Decathlon has come with everything to get you in the air all in one box You will only need to attach the wing and landing gear as well as charge the battery prior to flight We at ParkZone are committed to giving you the most enjoyable flight experience you can have In order to have a safe and successful flight we ask that you do not fly until you have read these instructions thoroughly Your Super Decathlon comes with a fully proportional 3 channel FM radio system with full control of throttle steering and pitch If you have not successfully flown one of HobbyZone s Zone 1 or 2 aircraft or any other radio controlled aircraft we recommend that you seek the help of an experienced radio control pilot during your beginning flights Crash damage is not covered under th
3. Wing is not centered over the fuselage Aircraft is difficult to control Aircraft will not climb 1 Battery is not fully charged 2 Elevator trim may be incorrect Aircraft keeps pitching up 1 Wind is too gusty or strong steeply 2 Elevator trim may have raised too much 2 Push connectors together until they click 3 Charge battery fully 4 Replace the fuselage or receiver 1 Adjust rudder and or rudder trim 2 Center wing prior to each flight 1 Wing or tail is damaged 1 Replace damaged part 1 Charge battery fully shortly before flying 2 Adjust elevator trim 1 Postpone flying until the wind calms down 2 Trim elevator down with the transmitter trim or threaded linkage Warranty and Follow up Procedures Due to the nature and operation of this product the warranty does not extend beyond initial preflight testing Carefully check the parts and operation BEFORE your first flight Damage incurred during flying landing crashing or modification is not covered under the warranty Warranty Horizon Hobby Inc guarantees this product to be free of defects in material and workmanship If you discover defects during the very first preflight testing Steps 1 6 amp 9 please call our Product Support staff toll free at 1 877 504 0233 If you are directed by them to return the product to our Service Center you will be provided with a RA Return Authorization number If in our opinion a
4. Reduced Me Saget N Throttle Throttle KZ Full Throttle ETA Using Elevator Your Super Decathlon is equipped with a third channel for elevator pitch control Pulling back on the stick provides up elevator This allows for shorter takeoffs better flares for landing better climb rates and more effective turns However pulling too far back on the elevator to climb too quickly will cause the airplane to enter a stall make the nose of the plane come down To avoid crashing from a stall always maintain enough altitude to recover Just after a stall has occurred the nose of the airplane will fall and the plane will look like it is diving To pull out of a stall simply pull back slowly on the stick partial up elevator once your Super Decathlon has built up airspeed Remember pulling back too quickly or for too long will once again cause the airplane to enter a stall Effectively avoiding and recovering from stalls requires experience Always seek the help of an experienced radio control pilot if you are not familiar with pitch control Failure to do so could result in a crash and significant damage to your airplane 11 Step 18 18 Landing Your Super Decathlon When you begin to notice that your Super Decathlon no longer climbs well under full power normally after approximately 12 15 minutes the battery is getting low and it is time to land Bring in your Super Decathlon directly into the wind and toward the desire
5. level Use medium force do not throw it up or down Point it level parallel with the ground when releasing 6 Keep steering into the wind and hold at full throttle in a slight climb until you have reached an altitude of at least 50 feet 7 When you have reached this altitude it is safe to steer in the desired direction as well as adjust the throttle input to help control altitude and speed Gop Receiver ESC Your Super Decathlon comes with a specially designed receiver ESC unit that allows you great flexibility There are three jumpers that are located in the receiver that can be changed added removed that allow you make changes if you so choose from the stock configuration that your Super Decathlon comes in Jumper 1 Mix of Elevator and Rudder You can add the jumper to utilize software that will allow a slight mix of elevator and rudder In this mode when rudder input is given a slight amount of up elevator is added By doing this the nose of the airplane will be more likely to stay up when rudder input is given This can be of great help to pilots that are transitioning from 2 to 3 channel aircraft and are not used to pitch control Jumper 2 V Tail Standard Tail Tail control Your Super Decathlon comes with the plane set for conventional T tail control If you remove the jumper you will switch the control to V tail function This would allow you to transfer the radio system to a V taile
6. Trickle charge the battery is warm to the touch e Uses automobile 12V power outlet e Charges 4 7 cell Ni Cd and Ni MH Note Damage to the charger and battery will occur if battery packs you exceed the maximum charge rate recommended e LED charge indicator Note Do not leave the charger and battery unattended during the charge process While Charging the Aircraft Battery charging place the battery on a heat resistant 1 Using the dial on the side of the charger select the surface and constantly monitor the temperature of charge rate to 9 amps the battery pack If the battery becomes hot at any Battery Capacity 8 4V 600mAh Ni MH time during the charge process discontinue charging Max Charge Rate 0 9 amps immediately Do not allow children to charge battery Typical Charge Time 40 minutes packs without adult supervision 2 Connect the battery pack to the charger using the included adapter 3 Connect the charger to the 12V power outlet in your automobile The LED will continually blink while the battery charges Transmitter 1 Insert 8 new AA batteries supplied into the transmitter observing proper polarity 2 Turn switch on to ensure the batteries have been installed correctly Once this is confirmed turn radio off Az Te la INI ek LAS NS 8 4V 600mAh Don t connect until Ni MH Battery E just before flight
7. Z1426 PKZ1451 PKZ1452 PKZ1453 PKZ1454 PKZ1455 PKZ1456 PKZ1461 PKZ1462 PKZ1463 PKZ1464 PKZ1465 PKZ1466 PKZ1467 Note Some replacement parts are also HobbyZone replacement parts and they may reflect that in packaging DESCRIPTION DC Peak Charger Tx Antenna Tx Battery Cover All HBZ PKZ 3 CH Aircraft Prop w Spinner J 3 Super Decathlon Battery 8 4V 600mAh Ni MH J 3 Super Decathlon Prop Shaft w Hardware J 3 Super Decathlon 370 Motor w Pinion J 3 Super Decathlon Complete Gearbox J 3 Super Decathlon Mini Servo 5 Wire w Arms Servo Gear Set w Accessories TX CH 1 26 995 F 27 Slo V Super Decathlon TX CH 2 27 045 F 27 Slo V Super Decathlon TX CH 3 27 095 F 27 Slo V Super Decathlon TX CH 4 27 145 F 27 Slo V Super Decathlon TX CH 5 27 195 F 27 Slo V Super Decathlon TX CH 6 27 255 F 27 Slo V Super Decathlon Decal Sheet Super Decathlon Landing Gear w Tires Super Decathlon Wing Hold Down Rods w Caps 2 Super Decathlon Rubber Bands 5 Super Decathlon Battery Door w Latch Super Decathlon Firewall w Screws Super Decathlon Manual Super Decathlon Standard Wing Super Decathlon Wing Struts w Screws Super Decathlon Complete Tail w Accessories Super Decathlon Cowl Super Decathlon RX SR 327LS CH 1 26 995 Super Decathlon CH 2 27 045 Super Decathlon CH 3 27 095 Super Decathlon RX SR 327L5 CH 4 27 145 Super Decathlon CH 5 27 195 Super Decathlo
8. be sure the airplane s motor and tail controls operate smoothly Warning The person holding the plane should hold it in such a way that the propeller does not come into contact with any part of their clothing or body 1 One person holds the transmitter while the other person walks 100 paces away with the airplane s 2 Be sure the throttle slider is in the Off position A e 3 Extend the transmitter antenna completely and turn the transmitter on 4 Plug the airplane battery into the fuselage EIOD ESE Seek Assistance from an Experienced Radio Important Initial flights should always be done with Control Pilot the airplane in Low Rate Mode A In this mode there is some limitation to the travel allowed helping to VERY IMPORTANT prevent you from over control After you have made The 3 channel control system is designed for the several safe flights in Mode A you can move on to experienced radio control pilot and is not intended for the Mode B which will no longer limit the travel of the firsttime flyer If you have successfully flown the Zone 2 control surfaces See next step HobbyZone airplanes then you should be ready for the ParkZone Super Decathlon However first time pilots of the ParkZone Super Decathlon should seek the assistance of an experienced RC flyer until the additional third channel pitch control has been competently mastered Crash damage is not covered under the warranty Note It i
9. d aircraft such as the ParkZone Slo V or elevon equipped aircraft such as the ParkZone F 27 Stryker Jumper 3 Auto Cutoff Auto Cut Off Your Super Decathlon comes with the jumper included in the third port This sets the auto cut off to function with 6 8 cell Ni MH battery packs If you remove the jumper the auto cut off will function with a 9 cell Ni MH battery pack or a 3S LiPo battery pack When your Super Decathlon goes into auto cut off prepare to land immediately You will maintain control of steering and pitch but not have access to throttle at this time You can blip the throttle to try to re arm but only attempt this once as you are preparing to land Jumper 3 Jumper 1 gt pi Jumper 2 Functions of RX Jumpers Jumper Present Jumper 1 Flight Trak On Jumper 2 T tail control Decathlon Jumper 3 6 8 cell Ni MH SR327L 20040930 Jumper Absent Flight Trak Off V tail control 9 cell Ni MH 3S LiPo Flight Trak gives some up elevator when directional input rudder is given This helps hold the nose up during turns for those pilots that are transitioning to using a 3 channel radio system Note Default positions of jumpers of Super Decathlon are shown above in bold italics 9 Gp 10 Runway Take off Runway ROG take offs are recommended only for advanced pilots All initial flight should be done by hand launch Note You must have a long and smooth surface
10. d landing spot Gradually reduce throttle as well as giving a small amount of down elevator if you choose to reach an altitude of approximately 10 feet At this point reduce even more thottle and your Super Decathlon should glide in softly for a landing Note Your Super Decathlon should be landed on a smooth surface such as asphalt or concrete so that the landing gear can work effectively You can land in short grass but it is less ideal If you land on grass that s too tall the tail will want to flip over as the landing gear catches on the grass This could cause damage to the prop or propshaft Expert Tip As you get better and more experienced at flying try adding a bit of up elevator just prior to landing to flare the plane With some practice your landings should become smooth and on target WARNING Do not attempt to catch the airplane or injury may occur Remember there is a spinning propeller on the front of the plane that can cause injury Also remember to cut power to the motor right before landing to prevent damage to the propeller Reduce power at 10 feet Gp Aerobatic Flight Your Super Decathlon comes out of the box with the controls set for softer responses and at the outer holes of the control surfaces However once you get used to the flight characteristics and want to perform more aerobatic maneuvers you can change the amount of throw that is permitted by moving to the inner holes of th
11. ded for pilots ages 14 and under Battery charging Only use a battery charger intended for use with the flight battery Never leave charger unattended while charging This will help prevent overcharging While charging place the battery on a heat resistant surface Do not lay it on carpet or upholstery while charging 6 Never cut into the battery charger or airplane wires or serious injury can occur Causing the battery to short out crossing negative and positive bare wires can cause fire serious injury and damage Hold the plane securely and keep all body parts away from the propeller when the flight battery is plugged in When you finish flying the Super Decathlon always unplug the battery before you turn off the transmitter Never fly on the same frequency as another RC vehicle in your area The frequency of the Super Decathlon is shown on stickers on the back of the transmitter Success Tips Don t fly in winds over 10 mph First time pilots should get help from an experienced radio control pilot during first flights Choose your flying field carefully grass and soft ground with 600 foot diameter of open space is optimal for flying and will lengthen the life of the Super Decathlon Make sure there are no obstacles that will get in your way when flying such as trees or buildings Make sure you do not fly where there are pedestrians who could be hurt by the airplane Remember that holding the st
12. e control horns After making any adjustments always turn on the transmitter and center the transmitter trim levers making sure the control surfaces are adjusted evenly Note By making these changes the controls will be much more responsive This makes the airplane much less forgiving and easier to stall Remember crash damage is not covered under the warranty Ge 12 Repairing Minor Damage lf you happen to crash and part of the tail or wing breaks it can be repaired by using packing tape to cover the missing pieces However if the damage is severe or if the wings and or tail are bent replace the damaged parts prior to flying again See this manual for a complete list of replacement parts for your Super Decathlon Warnings and Safety Read and follow this manual completely observing all instructions and safety directions Otherwise serious injury and damage can occur Think safety first Keep propeller away from body parts even when it isn t spinning as it could be turned on by accident Beware of hair becoming entangled in the propeller especially while launching your plane Do not fly when it s too windy or you may lose control and crash causing injury or damage Never fly near people vehicles train tracks buildings power lines water hard surfaces or trees Never allow anyone to attempt to catch the airplane while it s in flight or serious injury can result Adult supervision is recommen
13. e warranty Your Super Decathlon comes with 2 modes that are selectable on the transmitter Mode A limits the travel of the control surfaces for your first several flights Mode B no longer limits the control so you can perform more aerobatic maneuvers such as loops Your receiver also allows you to add or remove jumper to better customize your flight or re use this radio equipment in another aircraft if you so choose EZD gt Charging the Aircraft Battery This charger uses unique peak detection circuitry that ensures an accurate charge every time and protects your Ni Cd and Ni MH batteries from the dangers of over charging This charger continually monitors the battery s charge curve and automatically stops charging when the peak charge is detected The peak detection charger will help avoid damaging Ni Cd and Ni MH cells Important The battery should be charged shortly before flying If you charge the battery 12 to 24 hours prior to flying you will need to re peak the battery before you fly BATTERY CAPACITY MAX CHARGE RATE 600mAh 8 4V Ni MH 0 9 amp 40 minutes Note Charge time is an estimate only of fully discharged battery pack Actual charge times may vary CHARGE TIME Step 1 continued p 1 continued DC Peak Detection Charger Features 4 Charging is finished when the LED indicator glows e Variable charge rate from 0 3 1 2 amps steadily You should also notice at this time that e
14. fter inspecting the product we determine it to be defective we will repair or replace it at our discretion If you are directed by our Product Support staff to return the airplane please follow these instructions 1 Unplug the battery from the airplane 2 Pack the complete ParkZone Super Decathlon all components in the original box and put into a sturdy shipping carton for protection 14 3 Include your complete name and address information inside the carton as well as clearly writing it on the outer label return address area Include detailed information explaining the nature of the problem s encountered 4 Please date your correspondence and be sure your complete name address and daytime phone number appear on this enclosure Please include your original dated sales receipt Mail to the address below Horizon Service Center Attn ParkZone Dept 4105 Fieldstone Rd Champaign IL 61822 Replacement Parts Make sure that you keep your Super Decathlon in the air Replacement parts are available at your local hobby shop or from Horizon Hobby www horizonhobby com Please try your local retailer first By supporting your local hobby shop they will be there when you need them ITEM HBZ1026 HBZ1058 HBZ6057 PKZ1001 PKZ1021 PKZ1104 PKZ1116 PKZ1128 PKZ1130 PKZ1131 PKZ1241 PKZ1242 PKZ1243 PKZ1244 PKZ1245 PKZ1246 PKZ1402 PKZ1406 PKZ1408 PKZ1410 PKZ1412 PKZ1414 PKZ1415 PKZ1420 PKZ1422 PKZ1424 PK
15. ick full over for too long can cause the airplane to spiral dive and crash At the very first sign of the plane beginning to spiral down immediately release the stick and give the opposite turn control to the spiral then pull back on the elevator gently to level flight and level the wings Don t attempt to fly or do maneuvers beyond your flying abilities without seeking the assistance of an experienced pilot 5 6 If you re gliding with the motor off allow the Super Decathlon more area for turns Position yourself at your flying field to keep the sun at your back and out of your eyes Wear sunglasses on bright days Keep the Super Decathlon upwind especially on windier days to prevent it from flying away The wind is normally stronger at higher altitudes than it is on the ground Keep your plane in front of you so you don t have to turn in circles as you fly Try to avoid flying directly overhead 13 Troubleshooting PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE Unit does not operate 1 Transmitter AA batteries are depleted or installed incorrectly indicated by a SOLUTION 1 Check polarity installation or replace with fresh AA batteries dim or unlit LED on transmitter or the low battery alarm 2 No electrical connection 3 Flight battery not charged 4 Crash has damaged the radio inside 1 Rudder or rudder trim is not Aircraft keeps turning in adjusted correctly one direction 2
16. in order to successfully take off by way of runway If you do not have a long or smooth enough runway you will likely cause damage to your aircraft 1 Prior to attempting a runway takeoff you should have had several successful flights of hand launching the Super Decathlon 2 Make certain the aircraft battery is fully charged 3 Turn on transmitter 4 Plug in aircraft battery Flying 1 After launching your Super Decathlon will climb at full throttle Keep the throttle full on until you have reached an altitude of about 50 feet At this same time make sure that you continue to keep the airplane directed into the wind 2 Make right and left adjustments as necessary to keep the plane headed directly into the wind After you have reached 50 feet of altitude you can begin to make directional changes that you desire 3 Remember control range is 2 500 feet Do not allow the plane to get too far away from you When the plane is farther away it is harder to see and the winds are stronger as well 4 Always keep the plane upwind from you This way the airplane will not be carried away from you by the wind 5 Flying in too much wind is by far the number one reason for those who are inexperienced to crash or have fly aways 6 Avoid holding the stick full right or left for more than two seconds as this will cause the plane to enter a spiral and could threaten your plane 7 Do not try to climb too fast by pulling all the wa
17. n RX SR 327LS CH 6 27 255 Super Decathlon Fuselage w Electronics CH 1 Super Decathlon Fuselage w Electronics CH 2 Super Decathlon Fuselage w Electronics CH 3 Super Decathlon Fuselage w Electronics CH 4 Super Decathlon Fuselage w Electronics CH 5 Super Decathlon Fuselage w Electronics CH 6 Super Decathlon Bare Fuselage Super Decathlon RETAIL 14 99 15
18. r Super Decathlon The Super Decathlon flies about 15 20 mph so it covers ground fast The bigger the field the better e It is essential to have a minimum of 300 feet of clear space in all directions from the pilot If you ignore this direction you will regret it e Make certain that you do not fly near trees buildings or other areas that can restrict your view or interfere with your flying e Always keep the Super Decathlon upwind from you to avoid fly aways Choose a Calm Day You want to fly However you need to make sure that you fly in the conditions that will allow you to have the best success This is when there is little to no wind less than 7 mph To check wind conditions 1 Tie the included red ribbon to the transmitter antenna 2 Hold the transmitter antenna so that it is parallel to the ground and note how much the ribbon moves in the wind If the ribbon hangs down conditions are right to fly However if the angle between the antenna and the ribbon is less than 20 degrees it is too windy to fly Fly in this area upwind of pilot N aN yo TAN SEO A ea gt a Af CZD 8 Grp Range Test 5 As soon as the throttle slider is advanced the You will need two people to perform the range test one propeller should spin quickly to hold the plane and the other to give the transmitter 6 As the first person moves the transmitter controls input the other person watches to
19. rly it is impossible to have correct flight Parallel io Motor Test 7 When finished with the motor test be sure to 1 Make sure the throttle slider is in the disconnect the battery first then turn off the off position transmitter This step should be followed each time 2 Turn on transmitter you need to turn the airplane off 3 Remove battery cap from bottom of the fuselage 4 Plug the flight battery into the black lead inside the fuselage 5 Secure battery inside fuselage cavity and replace battery cap 6 Your Super Decathlon has a built in throttle arming feature that needs to see the throttle slider in the off position before it will spin the propeller CAUTION Make sure that you as well as loose clothing and hair are away from propeller at all times Advance the throttle forward and the propeller should spin at a high speed The throttle arming Adult Supervision Required feature will need to be activated each time the battery is plugged into the airplane serc Tail Control Test Warning Keep everything clear of the propeller before starting the control test in the event that you accidentally turn on the motor 1 Be certain that the throttle slider is in the Off position Make certain both trim levers are centered 2 Switch on the transmitter check to make sure the LED is lit indicating the TX has power Make cer
20. s possible to change flight modes in flight However it is important that you have enough altitude prior to attempting to change the flight mode GUD Mode Change Flight Control System Your Super Decathlon comes with the ability to change flight modes as you gain more experience and become more familiar with it There are two modes that are selectable from Mode Switch the transmitter switch that you can choose from e Mode A Low Rate Mode A is recommended for all first flights The control travel will be limited in this mode allowing you to become more familiar with your plane The switch on the back of the transmitter will be back when you are in this mode Mode B High Rate Mode B no longer limits your control surface travel allowing more aggressive flying and aerobatics However your Super Decathlon will also be more prone to crashes due to over control if you are not careful The switch on the transmitter will be toward the pilot when in this mode HENNI Digite e E G parkzone rel JNO re Gp Hand Launching the Super Decathlon 1 Make certain that the aircraft battery is fully charged 2 Turn on transmitter 3 Plug in aircraft battery 4 While holding the transmitter in one hand push throttle Slider to full on up with thumb 5 Take a couple of steps back and launch directly into the wind Keep the wings
21. tain that both trim levers are centered 3 The flight battery should already be installed in the fuse Plug the battery to the connector 4 Move the stick from side to side The rudder should move per your transmitter input 5 Pull the stick back and the elevator control surface should move upward as shown 6 Move the stick full forward When this is done the elevator control surface should move down as shown RUDDER MODE A t A gt on Left H approx approx 3 8 in 10mm 3 8 in 10mm If rudder or elevator do not move per E control stick do not fly Call Product Support at 1 877 504 0233 If your airplane is not responding correctly to the transmitter input do not fly Some correction is needed Call the Horizon Product Support Group at 1 877 504 0233 7 When the test is complete be sure to disconnect the flight battery first then turn off the transmitter This should be done each time you turn off the airplane Note It is very important to make sure that the control surfaces rudder and elevator are at O degrees when the transmitter control stick and trim levers are centered ELEVATOR MODE A Trim A approx 1 4 in approx 1 4in AN 6mm Se 6mm J Down All throws l measured in Mode A Choose a Large Open Grassy Field e A large open grassy field is required to fly you
22. y back on the stick up elevator or your plane may stall Instead climb by giving small amounts of elevator 8 Damage bends to the wings or tail can greatly affect flight control Replace damaged parts immediately 5 Stand behind the Super Decathlon and take note of the wind so that you can take off directly into it Make certain you are on smooth asphalt or concrete Apply full throttle and adjust the stick so that you keep your Super Decathlon headed directly into the wind If the battery is fully charged you should be able to lift off the ground in approximately 15 20 feet As you notice the back of the plane beginning to lift a bit off the ground apply some up elevator by pulling back on the stick Do not give too much up elevator or you can cause the airplane to stall EZIB epee ua n uasenannnnannun a Throttle Lever Ster 16 Throttle Adjustment 1 Climb to an altitude of 100 feet or more with full throttle 2 To achieve and maintain a level cruising altitude reduce the power by moving the throttle slider down to approximately 50 of full on The thottle slider is proportional so you can add or reduce throttle in small increments as needed to maintain the altitude that you desire 3 To reduce altitude reduce throttle 4 To increase altitude increase throttle l ae nz ge osttnneeenennnapennnnnnnnnnn e N 7 W ek T pt Approx 50 Throttle J X on on Full
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