KAVAN Pilatus PC-6 Porter - Instruction manual

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the semi-scale model of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter STOL utility aircraft. You are about to start the assembly of a model manufactured from virtually unbreakable EPO (expanded polyolefin) foam, powered by a mighty brushless motor and lightweight LiPo battery. Everybody who has already mastered flying a "full-house" trainer - with aileron, elevator, rudder, and throttle control - will enjoy this beautiful semi-scale model.

Pilatus PC-6 Porter/Turbo-Porter


Specification (PC-6/B2-H4)
Wingspan	15.87 m
Length	10.90 m
Basic operating weight	1 250 kg
Max. take-off weight	2 800 kg
Max. cruise speed	232 km/h (125 KTAS)
Take-off distance over 50 ft (15 m) obstacle (STOL)	440 m
Landing distance over 50 ft (15 m) obstacle (STOL)	315 m
Engine:	Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27
Visit https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com for more information.

The single-engine Swiss STOL utility aircraft Pilatus PC-6 Porter, originally powered by the Lycoming flat six-cylinder engine, made its maiden flight in 1959. Soon an improved Turbo-Porter powered by a turboprop engine followed. Over the years Turbomeca Astazou II, Garret Air Research TPE 331 and ultimately Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A (about 70 % of all PC-6 ever produced) turboprops have been taking this beautiful plane to the sky.

Incredible, almost helicopter-like short takeoff and landing capabilities have quickly gained the attention of military as well as commercial operators. Fitted with wheeled undercarriage, skis or floats, Porters have been serving reliably and relentlessly all over the world - flying over deserts, jungles, lakes, mountains, snow and ice - simply everywhere. No wonder the PC-6 holds the world record for the highest landing by a fixed-wing aircraft, at 18.865 feet (5.750 m), on the Dhaulagiri glacier in Nepal.

After 604 deliveries in 63 years, Pilatus ended production in 2022…

Before you start

If you are not an experienced RC pilot, plan to have a fully competent pilot check your completed model and help you with your first flights. Even though we have tried to provide you with a thorough instruction manual, RC models are rather complicated and an experienced modeller can quickly check over your model to make sure your first flights are successful.
Please assemble your model exactly according to these instructions. Do not attempt to modify or change your model in any way as doing so may adversely change its flying characteristics.
Before you begin, please check the entire contents of this kit to make sure that no parts are missing or damaged. This will also help you to become familiar with each component of your plane. If you find that any of the parts are either missing or damaged, please contact your dealer immediately for replacement.
Note: Your dealer cannot accept kits for return if construction has begun.
Trial fit each part before glueing it in place. Make sure you are using the correct part and that it fits well before assembling. No amount of glue can make up for a poorly-fitting part.
The manual contains a drawing showing the default position of the Centre of Gravity (CG) and recommended control surface throws. Please note it is essential to keep the recommended CG position for the first flight otherwise the model could be unstable, hard to control or even unable to fly at all! Later you can fine-tune the CG position to suit your flying style and skills.

Safety precautions and warnings

An RC aeroplane is not a toy! If misused, it can cause serious bodily harm and damage to property. Fly only in a safe place, following all instructions and recommendations in this manual. Beware of the propeller! Keep loose items that can get entangled in the propeller away from the spinning propeller, including loose clothing or other objects such as pencils and screwdrivers. Ensure that your and other people’s hands and faces are kept away from the rotating propeller.

As the user of this product, you are solely responsible for operating it in a manner that does not endanger yourself and others or result in damage to the product or the property of others. This model is controlled by a radio signal that is subject to interference from many sources outside your control. This interference can cause momentary loss of control, so it is advisable to always keep a safe distance in all directions around your model, as this margin will help to avoid collisions or injury.

Never operate your model with low transmitter batteries.

Always operate your model in an open area away from power lines, cars, traffic, or people. Avoid operating your model in populated areas where injury or damage can occur.

Carefully follow the directions and warnings for this and any optional support equipment (chargers, rechargeable batteries, etc.) which you use.

Keep all chemicals, small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children.

Moisture causes damage to electronics. Avoid water exposure to all equipment not specifically designed and protected for this purpose.

The model is made mostly of plastics - it is not fireproof. It may not be exposed to higher temperatures, otherwise severe distortion of the foam airframe or other damage may occur.

Technical specifications


Wingspan	1500 mm
Length	1112 mm
All-up weight	700–770 g
Wing Area	27.9 dm²
All-up weight	1650–1700 g
Motor	C3548-750
ESC	KAVAN R-40SB SBEC
Propeller	10×6” 3-blade

Set contents

Almost ready to fly model o with the brushless motor, speed controller and servos installed, instruction manual.

You will also need

At least 6-channel RC set, 14.8 V 2600–3300 mAh LiPo flight pack.
Regular modeller’s tools: modeller’s knife, screwdrivers, pliers, No. 10 spanner, 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm Allen keys or screwdrivers, sandpaper etc.
Glue: medium or thick cyano, silicone or MS polymer glue.

Model assembly

Push the undercarriage into slots in the bottom of the fuselage until you hear a "Click!", slide in the plastic inserts and secure by rotating the latches.
Secure the upper undercarriage struts using M2×12 mm screws to the fuselage (do not tighten completely).
Secure the struts to the undercarriage using M3×10 mm screws. Apply a drop of blue threadlocker to the screws but do not tighten completely.
Slide the wing halves onto the wing tube joiner.
Connect the wing multi connectors to the corresponding sockets in the wing halves.
Hook up your receiver, servos and ESC following the wiring diagram (Fig. 6). The receiver is to be secured with a strip of double-sided foam tape or hook-and-loop tape to the rear part of the cockpit. Deploy the antennas so their active parts are square to each other (if you are using a receiver featuring diversity aerials).
Note: The kit is supplied with the connection board for ailerons, flaps, rudder and LED lights so you can use even the most basic 6-channel radios to control your PC-6 Porter. If you intend to use independent control of aileron and flap servos and an advanced computer radio, you have to bypass the connection board accordingly.

The LED lights are only powered via the connection board; they are not remote-controlled in any way.
Attach the wing to the fuselage and secure by the wing joiner plate and two M6×40 mm plastic bolts.
Attach the wing struts and secure them with two clips each.
Trial the fit of the horizontal and vertical tailplane and the fuselage - no glue yet. Double check the parts fit tight and the fin is vertical to the horizontal stabilizer. If necessary sand the parts to fit. Once satisfied, apply medium or rather thick cyano (or clear silicone or MS polymer glue) to the contact area of the fin and attach the fin to the fuselage.
Insert the horizontal tailplane in place and secure it with the M6×40 mm plastic bolt.
Install the tail wheel and the rudder/tail wheel linkage. Do not forget to apply a drop of blue threadlocker to the setting screws.
Attach the propeller to the prop driver and secure it with the propeller nut with a washer; tighten the nut using No. 10 spanner. (For your safety, you should better leave the propeller installation after your radio is all connected and set and the correct direction of rotation of your motor had been tested.) Secure the spinner using M2.5×20 mm bolt in place.
Use medium cyano to glue the dummy antennas in place.
Open the battery compartment hatch, put you flight pack inside. With your radio on, set the servos to the neutral position (sticks and trims centred) and fasten the setting screws of the pushrod connectors on the elevator and rudder servo arms. Perform the throttle range calibration of the ESC as described in the attachment of this manual.

RC kit installation and pre-flight check

Referring to the instruction manual of your radio, carefully hook up the on-board electronics.
Once everything has been correctly connected, turn on your transmitter and plug in the flight pack. Check the neutral positions and throws of all control surfaces. If you need to make the control surface throws smaller, simply move the pushrod closer to the centre on the servo arm or move it far from the control surface on the control horn. And vice versa.


Recommended throws	*Low Rate		High Rate
Recommended throws	Rate	Expo	Rate	Expo
Ailerons	±11 mm	30 %	±15 mm	30 %
Elevator	±11 mm	30 %	±20 mm	30 %
Rudder	±16 mm	20 %	±25 mm	20 %
Flaps	Take-off: -10 mm down / Landing: -22 mm down