29
PREFLIGHT
Identify Your Model
You should always have your name, address, telephone
number and AMA number on or inside your model. It is
required
at all AMA R/C club fl ying sites and AMA sanctioned
fl ying events. Fill out the identifi cation tag on page 32 and
place it on or inside your model. You must also have your
FAA number on your plane and accessible without any tools.
Charge the Batteries
Always charge your transmitter and receiver batteries the night
before you go fl ying, and at other times as recommended by
the radio manufacturer.
CAUTION:
Unless the instructions that came with your
radio system state differently, the
initial
charge on
new
transmitter and receiver batteries should be done for 15
hours
using the slow-charger that came with the radio
system
. This will “condition” the batteries so that the next
charge may be done using the fast-charger of your choice.
If the initial charge is done with a fast-charger the batteries
may not reach their full capacity and you may be fl ying with
batteries that are only partially charged.
Ground Check and Range Check
Make sure the engine idles reliably, transitions smoothly and
maintains full power indefi nitely. Shut the engine off and
inspect the model closely, making sure all fasteners, pushrods
and connections have remained tight and the hinges are
secure. Following the radio manufacturer’s instructions to
ground check the operational range of your radio, before
the fi rst fl ight of the day. This should be done once with
the engine off and once with the engine running at various
speeds. If the control surfaces do not respond correctly,
do
not fl y!
Find and correct the problem fi rst. Look for loose
servo connections or broken wires, corroded wires on old
servo connectors, poor solder joints in your battery pack or
a defective battery cell.
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in
severe injury to yourself and others.
●
Keep all engine fuel in a safe place, away from high heat,
sparks or fl ames, as fuel is very fl ammable. Do not smoke
near the engine or fuel; and remember that engine exhaust
gives off a great deal of deadly carbon monoxide. Therefore
do not run the engine in a closed room or garage
.
●
Get help from an experienced pilot when learning to operate
engines.
●
Use safety glasses when starting or running engines.
●
Use a “chicken stick” or electric starter to start the engine.
If you do fl ip the propeller with your fi ngers, wear a heavy
leather glove, such as a welder's glove. When hand starting
gas engines, if the engine should backfi re, the large prop
can cause severe injury to your hand and fi ngers.
●
Do not run the engine in an area of loose gravel or sand;
the propeller may throw such material in your face or eyes.
●
Keep your face and body as well as all spectators away
from the plane of rotation of the propeller as you start and
run the engine.
●
Keep these items away from the prop: loose clothing, shirt
sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects such as
pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the prop.
●
Stop the engine before making any engine adjustments.
●
The engine and muffl er get hot! Do not touch them during
or right after operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good
condition so fuel will not leak onto a hot engine, causing a fi re.
●
To stop a gasoline powered engine an on/off switch must
be connected to the engine ignition. Do not throw anything
into the propeller of a running engine.
ELECTRIC MOTOR
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
●
The motor gets HOT! Do not touch it during or right after
operation.
●
When working on your plane, remove the propeller if the
motor batteries will be connected.
●
Always remove the motor batteries when charging.
●
Follow the charging instructions included with your charger
for charging LiPo batteries. LiPo batteries can cause serious
damage if misused.
●
Once the motor batteries are connected the electric motor
can start at any time. Make sure the fail safe is set on your
radio to prevent the motor from starting if the signal is lost.
●
ALWAYS
unplug the motor batteries fi rst.
●
NEVER
switch off the transmitter with the motor batteries
plugged in.
WARNING:
Read the entire instruction sheet included with
your motor batteries. Failure to follow the instructions could
cause permanent damage to the battery and its surroundings
and cause bodily harm!
●
ONLY
use a LiPo approved charger.
●
NEVER
use a NiCd/NiMH peak charger to charge a LiPo
battery.
●
NEVER
charge in excess of 4.20v per cell unless the battery
is rated for a higher voltage.
●
ONLY
charge through the “charge” lead.
●
NEVER
charge through the “discharge” lead.
●
NEVER
charge at currents greater than 1C unless the
battery is rated for a higher charge rate.
●
ALWAYS
set the charger’s output volts to match the
battery volts.
●
ALWAYS
charge a LiPo battery in a fi reproof location.
●
NEVER
trickle charge a LiPo battery.
●
NEVER
allow the battery temperature to exceed 150° F (65° C).
