Pre-flight setup
Landing gear
The installation of the landing gear is optional, and is only required if you want to perform take-offs and landings from the ground.
We always recommend it for novice users.
Experienced operators can also launch the Flapper from hand, and catch it by hand at the end of the flight. Flying without the landing gear slightly reduces aerodynamic drag, and makes the Flapper a bit more agile in flight due to lower mass and inertia of this configuration.
1. Install the landing gear by pressing it onto the fuselage as indicated:
This step might require quite some force, especially when the Flapper is brand new. If pressing it on with only your hands is too hard, you can place the Flapper upside down and use a desk or another hard surface as a support for the top of the fuselage (indicated with the right arrow on the image above). Perform this carefully such the the flapper remains vertical and does not slip, otherwise you could damage the Flapper.
2. When storing the Flapper in the flight case, remove the landing gear by holding the flapper at the top and pulling the landing gear down.
Wings
The Flapper is stored in the flight case with the wings detached. To install the wings, follow the steps below:
1. Insert the leading edge rods into the wing arms. The exposed part of carbon rods should slide fully into the wing arms.
Pay attention to the wing orientation. The carbon rod taped in the middle of the wing should be on the inside of the fold.
2. Insert the wing root plug into the cylindrical hole at the bottom of the gearbox.
3. Slide the root rod into the slot in the servo arm.
4. Then pull the wing gently outwards such that the root rod seats itself at the end of the slot.
5. Repeat the process for the other wing and you are finished!
Wing de-installation
For storage, or when you need to replace a damaged wing, follow these steps to remove the wings:
1. Slide the root rod out of the slot in the bottom wing arm.
2. Pull the wing root rod plug out of the flapping mechanism gearbox.
3. Pull the leading edges out the wing arms.
This steps gets easier, if the wing is fully folded.
Should this step require too much force (which can be the case for older model years when the Flapper is new), remove them one by one, starting with the looser one, while paying extra care not to pull too hard, as otherwise you might tear the wing once the leading edge gets released from the wing arm.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the second wing and you are finished.
Battery
1. Install the battery by pushing it inside the flexible battery holder as indicated:
2. Verify that the battery is properly seated and that the bottom “lip” of the battery holder is providing support instead of being bent. Re-seat the battery if necessary.
Shells
In case you have purchased the Flapper with the optional shells, these are detached from the Flapper when stored in the flight case. The shells are only for aesthetic purposes and the Flapper can be operated without them, e.g. when larger payload capacity is desired or when performing tests which involve higher risk of crashing.
To install the shells, follow the steps below:
1. If you wish to use the landing gear install it first.
2. Remove the shells from the flight case and get them ready.
When handling the shells, proceed with care. They are designed as lightweight as possible such that the flight performance of the Flapper is not negatively affected. This, however, means they are quite delicate.
3. Take one of the body panels and orient it correctly.
4. Each body panel have 4 holes on its sides with slots into which the shell holder on the Flapper's body needs to slide in. Start with one side:
5. To seat the body panel properly also on the other side, squeeze it gently such that it bends slightly. This will allow you to seat the remaining two attachment points:
6. Release the pressure and the first body panel should be properly seated:
7. Now repeat the same steps and install the second body shell on the other side of the Flapper:
11. Finally, install the head. It is possible, that the top of the fuselage is protected with a cap. In that case, remove this cap first and store it e.g. in the flight case:
12. Now you can install the head by pressing it on the top of the fuselage. Pay attention to its correct orientation: the eyes of the head should face the front, the fuselage rod is at the back, as if it was a spine.
13. Pressing the head on the fuselage might require quite some force. To prevent damaging the head, press on the head right above the fuselage (so slightly towards its back) with one hand. When doing so, either place the Flapper on a hard surface and press against it, or use your second hand and hold the flapper by the bottom of the fuselage, where the landing gear is attached.
14. The shells are installed!
Shell removal
To remove the shells, follow the installation steps in reverse.
To remove the head without any damage, we recommend holding it on the sides and then pulling it up while holding the Flapper's fuselage next to the battery holder. If the fit of the head on the fuselage is tight, wiggling the head slightly while pulling on it should help release it.
