My Glider

06/11/03

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Russia AC4b 030

This is my baby and I have had many fun flights with her.  She is nimble and fun, and has taken me to places I never thought I'd go in a glider.  I've been to 16,000 feet and up and down the mountain ranges of San Diego's back country.

Modifications

The spar box (which is not structural) was damaged during the factory demonstration flight.  It was repaired by an FAA approved shop that beefed it up with a couple of extra layers of glass.  The battery box is now  attached to it in a very nice arrangement.

A Microair radio was added along with the electrical system which powers the vario.

A oxygen bottle holder and oxygen bottle were added.

The front and rear tires had American tubes added to them.

The main gear has been 'slimed' and no longer leaks.

A mounting bracket for a Garmin GPS was added.

Take Off

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Altimeter set to field.

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Belts secure.

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Controls free and correct.

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Spoilers closed and locked.

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Trim forward.

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Canopy closed and latched.

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Check time.

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Wind Direction.

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Traffic Clear.

The ailerons become effective very quickly as the glider rolls out on the nose wheel.  There is very little weight on the nose wheel and the glider tracks behind the tow plane with minimal effort.  The controls are sensitive (like a 1-26) in pitch and roll.  The first flight requires the normal precautions to avoid PIOs; relax.  I use a two-finger grip below the brake with my arm resting on my leg.   As the plane gains speed make sure to lower the up-wind wing and raise the nose slightly off the ground.  Do not let the tail wheel touch the ground, if it does, lower the nose immediately, relax, and bring the nose up slowly.  With the nose slightly raised and the up-wind wing lowered, the plane will leave the ground smoothly when flying speed has been achieved and you will look like a pro.

 

Landing

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Gear down and locked.

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Flaps set to landing.

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Wind direction and speed.

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Airspeed at 47 kts + ½ wind.

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Trim forward.

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Traffic pattern and ground.

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Spoilers

I use the rule of 45 for my pattern.  The touchdown spot is 45 degrees down when I am abeam it.  When I can look back at the touchdown with 45 degrees, I turn base.  My most common pattern speed is 60kts with half-spoilers during base and final.

 

When the spoilers are pulled you need to lower the nose slightly.   As you approach the touchdown spot begin the round out.  Align with the runway using rudder, correct the drift with ailerons.  I usually touch down with extra speed to keep the glider parallel with the ground (wheel landing).  A low energy landing results in a tail-first touch down followed by the main, and is a required skill for off-field landings.  You can maintain aileron authority until you stop.

 

bulletAssembly - Checklist for AC4b 030 (various sources)

Open
bulletUnlock front and rear doors of trailer
bulletOpen front and remove wing stand and dolly
bulletMake sure nothing is touching wing
bulletMake sure wing spar is unscrewed from trailer
bulletGet a rag for your rear pocket
bulletGet tape and scissors for rear pocket
bulletRemove wood panels and bring to rear doors
bulletOpen rear doors and position wood panels
bulletRemove wing wheel and position it to the right
bulletPosition wing stand to the left
bulletRemove ground pad and set aside
bulletMake sure that fuselage strap is undone
bulletMake sure that wingtip straps are undone

Remove Fuselage
bulletPush down on tail and pull fuselage out until it clears the little door
bulletIMPORTANT: Lift up on tail and make sure the canopy does not strike the trailer as you roll the fuselage the rest of the way out.
bulletPosition dolly by the rudder on the left side
bulletPosition dolly so that carpet attachment is AWAY from fuselage so that wing can rotate in the proper direction for insertion.
bulletOpen canopy and prepare main spar pin with grease
bulletCheck control cross-tubes and grease if necessary
bulletMake sure that cross tubes are positioned such that they won’t catch on their guides.
bulletRemove washer and pin on left side of fuselage dolly and place inside of trailer (Do not place in dolly, you will lose it.)
bulletFold the left dolly stand down to the ground and clean wing pin with rag.
bulletApply grease if necessary to wing pin

Attach Left Wing
bulletPull left wing out being careful not to touch sides of trailer or fuselage
bulletSet left wing tip on the dolly and secure with bungee cords
bulletGo to wing root and position the wing root dolly on the door.  You will have to lift and tilt dolly to get it out of the rails.
bulletGo to wing tip and roll the dolly to position the wing
bulletGo to wing root and remove spar from wing root dolly
bulletRotate the wing and position it so that it is resting in the spar channel
bulletMake sure wing stand is readily available near wing tip
bulletGo to wing tip and slide the wing into the fuselage being careful to line it up with the channel (The channel is NOT structural, it is for guidance and setup only!)  Do not let the weight of the wing rest on a partially inserted wing, the channel will break.
bulletGive the wing tip a firm shake as you press it in the final 2 inches.
bulletSet the wing onto the wing stand.
bulletGo to the cockpit and insert the main spar pin with the offset tong to the right.  Use your finger to make sure that the pin does not extend past the left spare.

Attach Right Wing
bulletPosition wing tip dolly on the right side of the rudder so that the carpet attachment is AWAY from fuselage so that wing can rotate in the proper direction for insertion.
bulletRemove the washer and pin from the fuselage dolly and place in trailer.
bulletFold the fuselage stand down being sure that wing stand is in proper position.
bulletPush control cross-tubes towards the left wing until they stop.
bulletPull right wing out being careful not to touch sides of trailer or fuselage
bulletSet right wing tip on the dolly and secure with bungee cords
bulletGo to wing root and position the wing root dolly on the door.
bulletGo to wing tip and roll the dolly to position the wing
bulletGo to wing root and remove spar from wing root dolly
bulletRotate the wing and position it so that it is resting in the spar channel
bulletMake sure tow-out wheel is readily available near wing tip
bulletGo to wing tip and slide the wing into the fuselage being careful to line it up with the channel.  Give the wing tip a firm shake as you press it in the final 2 inches.
bulletPut the tow-out wheel on the wing tip and let it rest on the ground.
bulletGo to the cockpit and push the main spar pin into the right wing spare and rotate 180 degrees which should pull the wings together.
bulletLook straight down and push the pin in until the cotter holds line up.
bulletSecure with the large cotter.

Horizontal Stabilizer
bulletRemove the horizontal stabilizer pin and attach the cotter pin to it.  Hold it by a finger.
bulletRemove the horizontal stabilizer from the holder and position the front pin into its hole.
bulletLower the horizontal stabilizer onto the rudder and push the pin in.
bulletAttach the cotter to the pin.
bulletRemove the wooden holder and place it in the trailer.

 Critical Assembly Checklist
bulletMain pin secure with cotter
bulletCross tubes secure and not binding
bulletTire Pressures
bulletHorizontal stabilizer secure with cotter
bulletWooden holder removed.
bulletWing roots taped

Pre-flight Checklist

Hatch
bulletMain wing pin secure and safety pinned in-place
bulletCheck aileron bell crank bracket is secure
bulletCheck cross tubes for proper tightness and adjustment
bulletCamelback secure and tube out
bulletBattery connected and secure
bulletOxygen secure and tube out
bulletCheck for loose items in control hookup area
bulletTape hatch securely

Canopy
bulletFront fuselage, check for damage
bulletFront canopy secured and taped
bulletCanopy hinges okay.
bulletCanopy lock okay.
bulletCanopy vent okay.

Controls
bulletControl stick has free movement
bulletSpoiler handle has free movement
bulletBrakes are working
bulletRudders adjusted and secure
bulletRudder cables okay
bulletAntenna cable secure
bulletTow hook mechanism ok
bulletPositive Control Check
bulletSpoilers shut and locked
bulletTrim forward

Paperwork
bulletAirworthiness Certificate
bulletRegistration
bulletOperation Limitations
bulletWeight and Balance
bulletTow number in place
bulletMaps in place
bulletWeather report / NOTAMS
bulletSeat
bulletSeatbelts secure and adjusted out
bulletSeat back secure
bulletSeat cushions in-place

Instruments
bulletInstrument panel and instruments secure
bulletAltimeter set to field
bulletVariometer set to EXT battery
bulletRadio on
bulletGPS in-place with fresh batteries

Wheels
bulletNose wheel inflated to 15 psi
bulletCheck main wheel inflated to 25 psi.
bulletCheck cotter pin
bulletCheck brake cable and position

Left Wing
bulletInspect left wing skin for damage
bulletCheck left wing has been taped properly
bulletCheck left wing’s aileron controls
bulletCheck left wing’s spoiler controls
bulletInspect right wing’s tip skid

Left fuselage
bulletCheck aft fuselage for damage
bulletInspect tail wheel housing
bulletCheck tail wheel inflated to 15 psi
bulletCheck tailwheel pinned in-place
bulletStatic port

Tail
bulletCheck vertical stabilizer for damage.
bulletCheck rudder for proper mounting
bulletCheck rudder for excessive play and proper control connection
bulletCheck TE probe secure
bulletPitot tube in-place and secure
bulletCheck horizontal stabilizer for damage
bulletCheck horizontal stabilizer is pinned at front
bulletCheck horizontal stabilizer’s main pin
bulletCheck elevator moves freely and is properly connected
bulletCheck tape

Right Fuselage
bulletCheck aft fuselage for damage
bulletStatic port

Right Wing
bulletInspect right wing for damage
bulletCheck right wing has been taped properly
bulletInspect right wing’s tip skid
bulletCheck right wing’s aileron controls
bulletCheck right wing’s spoiler controls

 

 

 

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This site was last updated 06/11/03