The best place to fly your ElectriCub is at an AMA chartered
club field. Ask the AMA or your local hobby shop dealer if
there is a club in your area and join. Club fields are set up for
R/C flying and that makes your outing safer and more
enjoyable. The AMA also can tell you the name of a club in
your area. We recommend that you join AMA and a local club
so you can have a safe place to fly and have insurance to
cover you in case of a flying accident. The AMA address and
telephone number are in the front of this manual.
If a club and flying site are not available, find a large, grassy
area at least 6 miles away from houses, buildings and
streets and any other R/C radio operation like R/C boats
and R/C cars. A schoolyard may look inviting but is too close
to people, power lines and possible radio interference.
Inspect your radio installation and confirm that all the control
surfaces respond correctly to the transmitter inputs. The
motor operation must also be checked by confirming that
the motor reaches full power and the prop is rotating in the
correct direction. Make sure all screws remain tight, that the
hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
Whenever you go to the flying field, check the operational
range of the radio before the first flight of the day. First,
make sure no one else is on your frequency (channel). With
your transmitter on, you should be able to walk at least 100
feet away from the model and still have control. While you
work the controls, have a helper stand by your model and
tell you what the control surfaces are doing. Repeat this test
with the motor running at various speeds with a helper
holding the model. If the control surfaces are not always
responding correctly, do not fly! Find and correct the
problem first. Look for loose servo connections or corrosion,
loose bolts that may cause vibration, a defective on/off
switch, low battery voltage or a defective receiver battery, a
damaged receiver antenna, or a receiver crystal that may
have been damaged from a previous crash. If the radio
appears to only be affected when the motor is running, try
moving your receiver and receiver antenna farther away
from the motor battery and motor. Also, installing a couple
more capacitors on the motor may help. The capacitors
should be soldered from the terminals to the motor case
and from one terminal to the other.
Read and abide by the following Academy of Model
Aeronautics Official Safety Code:
General
1. I will not fly my model aircraft in sanctioned events, air
shows, or model flying demonstrations until it has been
proven to be airworthy by having been previously
successfully flight tested.
2. I will not fly my model aircraft higher than approximately
400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the
airport operator. I will give right of way to and avoid flying
in the proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary an
observer shall be used to supervise flying to avoid having
models fly in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
3. Where established, I will abide by the safely rules for the
flying site I use and I will not willfully and deliberately fly my
models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.
7. I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my name
and address or AMA number, on or in the model.
9. I will not operate models with pyrotechnics (any device
that explodes, burns, or propels a projectile or any kind).
Radio Control
1. I will have completed a successful radio equipment ground
check before the first flight of a new or repaired model
2. I will not fly my model aircraft in the presence of
spectators until I become a qualified flier, unless assisted
by an experienced helper.
3. I will perform my initial turn after takeoff away from the pit
or spectator areas and I will not thereafter fly over pit or
spectator areas, unless beyond my control.
4. I will operate my model using only radio control
frequencies currently allowed by the Federal
Communications Commission.
Caution (THIS APPLIES TO ALL R/C AIRPLANES): If, while
flying, you notice any unusual sounds, such as a low-pitched
“buzz,” this may indicate control surface “flutter.” Because flutter
can quickly destroy components or your airplane, any time you
detect flutter you must immediately cut the throttle and land the
airplane! Check all servo grommets for deterioration (this may
indicate which surface fluttered) and make sure all pushrod
linkages are slop-free. If it fluttered once, it will probably flutter
again under similar circumstances unless you can eliminate the
slop or flexing in the linkages. Here are some things which can
result in flutter: Excessive hinge gap; Not mounting control horns
solidly; Sloppy fit of clevis pin in horn; elasticity present in flexible
plastic pushrods; Side-play of pushrod in guide tube caused by
tight bends; Sloppy fit of control rods in servo horns; Insufficient
glue used when gluing in torque rods; Excessive flexing of
aileron, caused by using too soft balsa; Excessive “play” or
“backlash” in servo gears; and insecure servo mounting.
FLYING
AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts)
Range Check Your Radio
Ground Check the Model
Find a Safe Place to Fly
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