F
Manual - SZD-54
www.modster.at
21
Before flying the model
Find a suitable flying site
Performing a range check
Find a flying site clear of buildings, trees, power lines and other obstructions. Until you know
how much area will be required and have mastered flying your plane in confined spaces,
choose a site which is at least the size of two to three football fields - a flying field specifically
for R/C planes is best.
Never fly near people - especially children, who can wander unpredictably.
A radio range check should be performed prior to the first flight of the day. This test may as-
sist you in detecting electronic problems that may lead to a loss of control- problems such as
low transmitter batteries, defective or damaged radio components or radio interference. This
usually requires an assistant and should be done at the flying site.
Always turn your transmitter on first. Install a fully charged battery in the battery bay, then
connect it to the ESC. In this process, make sure that the throttle cut functionality is on, and
that the throttle stick is secured in its lowest position- otherwise, the propeller/fan will engage
and possibly cause bodily harm.
Note: Please refer to your transmitter manual that came with your radio control system to
perform a ground range check. If the controls are not working correctly or if anything seems
wrong, do not fly the model until you correct the problem. Make certain all the servo wires are
securely connected to the receiver and the transmitter batteries have a good connection.
Monitor your flight time
Monitor and limit your flight time using a timer (such as a stopwatch or on the transmitter, if
available). As modern Lithium Polymer batteries are not designed to discharge completely,
when the battery runs low, the ESC will lower then completely cut the power to the motors to
protect the battery. Often (but not always) power can be briefly restored after the motor
cuts off by holding the throttle stick all the way down for a few seconds.To avoid an unexpec-
ted dead-stick landing on your first flight,set your timer to a conservative 4 minutes. When
your alarm sounds you should land right away.
