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How to Connect RC Sailplane Spoilers

Radio-control hobbyists who fly RC sailplanes practice slightly different skills than those needed for flying a powered aircraft. Because sailplanes have no engines, flying one requires a keen sense of how to harness natural air movements such as thermal updrafts and headwinds. It also takes skill to properly control the air flow over the plane's body by using the aircraft's built-in control surfaces. One tool that gives added control to a sailplane is a set of wing-mounted spoilers.

Things You'll Need

Sailplane
Balsa wood sheet
Craft knife
Hinge tape
Epoxy glue
RC servos
Plastic wiring sleeve

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a rectangular hole with the craft knife on top of each wing between two of the wing "bays" --- the space between the inner wing supports. The rectangle size varies depending on the model plane you are modifying but should be two to three times as wide as it is high, and parallel with the leading and trailing edges of the wing. The rectangle should be closer to the fuselage than the wingtips.
- 2
  Cut two pieces of balsa wood the same size as the cuts on the wing. These will be the spoilers and should fit smoothly over the holes in the top of each wing.
- 3
  Apply two or three pieces of hinge tape on the forward edge of each spoiler where it touches the top of each wing. The spoilers should open easily along their back edges.
- 4
  Mount a servo inside each wing bay underneath the spoilers by using epoxy to attach the servo base to the wing's interior supports. Run the servo wires through a plastic wiring sleeve if they are not already insulated. Push the wires with sleeves through the sailplane's internal supports to the micro controller.
- 5
  Attach a servo "horn," or arm, to each spoiler so the servo's movement opens and closes the spoiler when you use your radio control.

Aviation