Pre-flight setup
Landing gear
The installation of the landing gear is optional. The landing gear, when installed, will provide greater stability and also absorb energy during harder landings.
We always recommend it for novice users.
Flying without the landing gear slightly reduces aerodynamic drag, and makes the Triple a bit more agile in flight due to lower mass and inertia of this configuration.
1. Install the landing gear by pressing the three leg extensions into the leg mounts:
This step might require quite some force, especially when the Triple is brand new.
2. When storing the Flapper in the flight case, remove the landing gear legs by pulling them out of their mounts.
Wings
The Flapper is stored in the flight case with the wings detached. To install/remove the wings, the procedure is analogous to the wing installation on the Flapper Nimble+.
Battery
1. Install the battery by placing it inside the bottom part of the airframe and secure it with the flexible strap:
2. Verify that the battery cables are oriented as shown, otherwise they may interfere with the wings. Reorient the battery if necessary.
Shells
In case you have purchased the Triple with the optional shells, these are detached from the Triple when stored in the flight case. The shells are only for aesthetic purposes and the Triple 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. Get the body panels and top cover 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. First install the top cover. It is connected to the Triple with a bayonet-style mechanism. Place the cover over the top part of the airframe and keep it centered. Rotate the cover clockwise (when viewed from the top) to lock it in place, you should feel a slight click.
4. Next, install the body panels. One of the panels is marked with a logo, use it to indicate the Triple's front face.
Alternatively, we provide blue-colored panels which can be placed e.g. on the back for higher contrast.
5. First, orient the panel correctly and slide its top end under the top cover.
Each body panel has 6 holes with slots into which the shell holder on the Triple's body needs to slide in. Start with one of the top holes. To seat the body panel properly also on the other side, squeeze it gently such that it bends slightly.
6. Repeat the same for the other two pairs of holes.
7. Now repeat the same steps and install the remaining body shells on the remaining two sides of the Triple:
8. The shells are installed!
Shell removal
To remove the shells, follow the installation steps in reverse.