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 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 that you have installed the radio
correctly and 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.
Range Check Your Radio
Whenever you go to the flying field, you need to
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
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 a friend
stand by your model and, while you work the
controls, tell you what the control surfaces are
doing. Repeat this test with the engine running at
various speeds with a helper holding the model. If
the control surfaces are not always acting 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 cell, a
damaged receiver antenna, or a receiver crystal that
may have been damaged from a previous crash.
Engine Safety Precautions
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. 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
and make all engine adjustments from behind the
rotating propeller.
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 items such as these away from the prop:
loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair
or loose objects such as pencils, screw drivers that
may fall out of shirt or jacket pockets into the prop.
Use a "chicken stick" device or electric starter;
follow 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.
The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or after
operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good
condition so fuel will not leak onto a hot engine
causing a fire.
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