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Improve the flight of your AirVista with the Great Planes C.G.
Machine’s exact balancing. The C.G. Machine’s stable,
“hands-off” operation eliminates the potential for error. It works
with all airplanes weighing up to 40 pounds–regardless of size or
wingspan.
GPMR2400
.
If you are a novice, there is one thing that you will need to fly
your AirVista safely that is not furnished with the kit: You will
need a
qualified
instructor to teach you how to fly. No model
ever made will let you teach yourself to fly safely. It can be
done, but you would be seriously risking more than just the
airplane. To find an instructor, you should join an R/C flying
club. If there is not a club nearby, then you should find an
experienced model pilot who is willing to help you. The chosen
instructor should fly well enough to allow you to concentrate on
your own flying. If you are worried about your instructor
crashing your model, you will not be able to concentrate on
learning to fly. After you have found an instructor, you should
spend some time just
talking
about what you will be trying to
learn. They should inspect the model to be certain that it is
ready to fly. Listen to them and learn from their experience.
Now that you have a good model and an instructor that you
can trust, you can go out and start learning to fly. You can
expect to be very nervous at first, and will make some
mistakes. There will be several instances where the instructor
will prevent you from crashing. This will be unsettling, but the
thing to do is jump right back into flying the model (after your
knees stop shaking, of course). This is one of the most
important things about learning to fly model airplanes...
you
have to fly!
Fly as often as you can. Be sure to make several
flights each time you go to the flying field, but give yourself
time after each flight to calm down and discuss the flight with
your instructor. Spending some time after each flight talking
about what happened and what you need to work on to
improve your skills will pay off with greater confidence in your
own growing abilities.
CHARGE THE BATTERIES
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 THE PROPELLER
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 may
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.
FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY
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 is
listed on page 3 of this instruction book).
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.
GROUND CHECK THE MODEL
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.
PREPARING TO FLY YOUR AIRVISTA
