Follow the battery charging procedures in your radio
instruction manual. You should always charge your
transmitter and receiver batteries the night before you go
flying, and at other times as recommended by the radio
manufacturer.
Balance your propellers carefully before flying. An
unbalanced prop is the single most significant cause of
damaging vibration. Not only will engine mounting screws
and bolts vibrate out, possibly with disastrous effect, but
vibration will also damage your radio receiver and battery.
Vibration will cause your fuel to foam, which will, in turn,
cause your engine to run rough or quit.
We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer
™
(#TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a Great Planes
Fingertip Balancer
™
(#GPMQ5000) in our flight box.
The best place to fly your R/C model is an AMA (Academy
of Model Aeronautics) chartered club field. Ask your hobby
shop dealer if there is such 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
the 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 phone numbers are listed on page 2
of this instruction manual).
If a club and its flying site are not available, you need to find
a large, grassy area at least 6 miles away from any other
R/C radio operation like R/C boats and R/C cars and away
from houses, buildings and streets. A schoolyard may look
inviting but it is too close to people, power lines and possible
radio interference.
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the operation of R/C
models, ask an experienced modeler to check to see that
you have the radio installed correctly and that all the control
surfaces do what they are supposed to. The engine
operation also must be checked and the engine “broken-in”
on the ground by running the engine for at least two tanks of
fuel. Follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations for
break-in. Check to make sure all screws remain tight, that
the hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
Wherever you do fly, you need to check the operation of the
radio before every time you fly. First, make sure no one else
is on your frequency (channel). With the transmitter antenna
collapsed and the receiver and transmitter on, you should
be able to walk at least 100 feet away from the model and
still have control. Have someone help you. Have them stand
by your model and, while you work the controls, tell you
what the various control surfaces are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at various speeds
with an assistant holding the model. If the control surfaces
are not always acting correctly, do not fly! Find and correct
the problem first.
Note:
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 flames, as fuel is very flammable.
Do not
smoke
near the engine or fuel; and remember that the 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.
Do not
run the engine in an area of loose gravel or sand, as
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 items such as these away from the prop: loose
clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects
(pencils, screwdrivers) that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the prop.
Use a “chicken stick” device or electric starter; follow the
instructions supplied with the starter or stick. Make certain
the glow plug clip or connector is secure so that it will not
pop off or otherwise get into the running propeller.
Engine Safety Precautions
Range Check Your Radio
Ground Check the Model
Find a Safe Place to Fly
Balance the Propeller
Charge the Batteries
PREPARING TO FLY YOUR
SUPER SPORTSTER ARF
18
