FAQ's
How does PREDATOR take-off and land?
What is the range of control?
How will I know when to land?
If my friend gets an PREDATOR can we both fly together?
Where can I fly PREDATOR?
Am I supposed to remove the packing material inside the fuselage?
Is the PREDATOR available in stores?
Technical Support
Questions
What could cause the motor to stop working?
How do I replace a damaged fuselage housing?
I hear the servo motor but the flaps don't move?
I'm having trouble launching the PREDATOR, it drops to the
ground within 10 feet?
The throttle trim control doesn't turn the motor on or won't
power the motor enough for a successful launch?
What can I do to prevent the battery from ejecting in a crash?
Can I use NiCd or NiMH batteries in the transmitter?
Can I use flight battery paks from other planes in the PREDATOR?
The motor or servo stopped working after a crash?
Answers
How does PREDATOR takeoff and land?
The PREDATOR can fly with or without the supplied landing gear. Ground take
offs with the landing gear requires a freshly charged battery and a smooth runway
surface into the wind. Otherwise, remove the landing gear if hand launching
for best performance. The tough poly fuselage is made to take skid landings.
FAQ
list
What is the range of control?
The range is at least 2000', which is far more distance than needed for
good visual range of small planes. As long as the green indicator on the transmitter
is bright and you maintain good visual discernment of the PREDATOR orientation
you will be within range. Replace the transmitter batteries when the red transmitter
light shines bright and the green light is dim.
FAQ list
How will I know when to land?
Use the Throttle power as a guide. When the power falls off to the point
where climbing becomes difficult, it's time to land.
FAQ list
If my friend gets an PREDATOR can we both fly together?
The PREDATOR is available in frequency channels numbered 1-6. Check the
sticker on your PREDATOR and tell your friend to request a different frequency
and then you can both fly together.
FAQ list
Where can I fly PREDATOR?
Choose an open flat area away from traffic, tall buildings, power lines, water
and trees. Never fly over or near people. If you are a new pilot, try to find
a high spot to launch from, like a hilltop or mound.
FAQ list
Am I supposed to remove the
packing material inside the fuselage?
Do not remove the foam inserts or the bubble wrap inside the fuselage.
These materials are needed to protect the electronic components from damage.
FAQ list
Is the PREDATOR available in stores?
The PREDATOR is not available in stores at this time, but you may purchase it
online from our catalog.
FAQ list
Technical Support
Answers
What could cause the motor to stop working? The
motor wires may have become disconnected or may be loose. Carefully remove the
receiver (covered in bubblewrap) from the fuselage opening beneath the wing.
Be careful not to pull hard on the black antenna wire otherwise it may break.
If this wire appears stuck, temporarily remove the screw from the tail boom
- fuselage joint and check to make sure the wire is not caught at the tail boom
exit. With the receiver out, you will see the red and black motor wires with
black insulation wrap marking the connection point. Separate and then firmly
press back together each wire at this point. Match red to red and black to black,
otherwise the motor will turn the wrong way.
FAQ list
How do I replace a damaged fuselage?
There's an easy way to do this without disassembly of the servo/tail boom
system.. See service
tip 1 for instructions with photos.
FAQ list
I hear the servo motor but the flaps don't move?
Open the canopy and temporarily remove the foam divider. Look carefully for
a broken or disconnected white plastic servo arm. Also check to see if the servo
has come free from it's mounting screws.
FAQ list
I'm having trouble launching the PREDATOR, it drops to
the ground within 10 feet?
First be certain you are always launching into the wind, i.e. the wind
strikes your face and the red flag flowing toward at you. Any wind coming from
behind subtracts from your air speed, and will cause the PREDATOR to drop fast.
If you are launching correctly, tighten the forward screw on the tail and loosen
the rear screw. This is essentially an elevator adjustment to increase climb.
If you find the PREDATOR climbs too much, back off on this adjustment a little.
FAQ list
The throttle trim control doesn't turn the motor on or
won't power the motor enough for a successful launch?
The trim controls are meant to provide only small corrections and does
not necessarily provide enough output to fix the throttle at a desired speed.
Consider using a piece of tape to fix the throttle stick if you don't want to
hold it in position.
FAQ list
What can I do to prevent the battery from ejecting in
a crash?
After inserting and connecting the battery, secure the canopy down with
the rubberband around the fuselage as suggested in the instructions. Keeping
the battery in place is a good idea because if it ejects in a crash, the connecting
wires may pull excessively on the internal fuselage electronics and cause damage.
FAQ list
Can I use NiCd or NiMH batteries in the transmitter?
Yes, but only in our FM Single Stick Transmitter. Be sure to keep them
fully charged before use.
FAQ list
Can I use flight battery paks from other planes
in the PREDATOR?
Substitutions are possible, but you should not attempt this unless you
are an experienced electric flight hobbyist and understand the importance of
matching electrical charging, discharging and weight characteristics. Also don't
attempt to use the charger supplied with the PREDATOR with other batteries and
vise versa.
FAQ list
The motor and/or servo stopped working after a crash?
Check the transmitter battery connections. The green light should be bright
when on. Try the using the other battery after a full charging. If still no
response, remove the receiver and check all the electrical connections. If still
no response, replace the receiver.
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