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How to Build an RC Piper Cherokee

If you're new to the hobby of radio-controlled flying, one of the best aircraft to learn on is also a favorite among real-life pilots: the Piper Cherokee. Introduced in 1960, the Cherokee has been flying reliably up to the present day with only minor modifications. The Cherokee is a low-wing aircraft, but its design still provides a stability that makes it ideal for RC learners. Your first Piper Cherokee will most likely come as an almost-ready-to-fly kit that still requires some assembly.

Things You'll Need

ARF Piper Cherokee
Craft knife
1/2-inch nylon tape
Epoxy
Wood sealer
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Examine all the glued joints on your almost-ready-to-fly, or ARF, Piper Cherokee. All the joints should feel solid when you twist and tug them a little bit.
- 2
  Inspect the aircraft covering. Most ARF kits include a "skin" covering on at least part of the airplane. Make sure there are no loose or lifting edges. If there are, glue them down with epoxy.
- 3
  Reinforce the wing joint. The Piper Cherokee has a wing attached to the bottom of the fuselage, so it absorbs a lot of force, but for packaging purposes, manufacturers may split the wing. When you join the wing halves, carefully peel back the wing covering with the craft knife and use epoxy on the wood joint, then reinforce it with a strip of nylon tape on top and bottom. Add more epoxy on the tape's leading edges, let dry for an hour, then put the covering back in place.
- 4
  Apply wood sealant with a small brush to the engine mount if you are using a glow plug engine. Otherwise, fuel may soak the wood and destabilize your engine in flight. Also, because the nose gear is directly under the engine, a fuel-soaked engine mount could cause problems with landing.
- 5
  Check all control surfaces to make sure they are firmly attached. If an aileron or other control surface falls off in flight, it could be fatal to your RC plane.

Aviation