Top Flite FW 190, Instruction Manual

Page: 31 / 36

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before every fl ight. With computer radios it is easy to
mistakenly change the model.
❏
11. Make sure there are silicone retainers on all the
clevises and that all servo arms are secured to the
servos with the screws included with your radio.
❏
12. Secure connections between servo wires and
Y-connectors or servo extensions, and the connection
between your battery pack and the on/off switch with
vinyl tape, heat shrink tubing or special clips suitable
for that purpose.
❏
13. Make sure any servo extension cords and air lines
you may have used do not interfere with other systems
(servo arms, pushrods, etc.).
❏
14. Make sure the fuel lines are connected and are
not kinked.
❏
15. Balance your propeller (and spare propellers).
❏
16. Check that the spinner bolt is tight.
❏
17. Place your name, address, AMA number and
telephone number on or inside your model. This is an
AMA rule.
❏
18. Cycle your receiver and ignition battery pack (if
necessary) and make sure it is fully charged.
❏
19. If you wish to photograph your model, do so
before your fi rst fl ight.
❏
20. Range check your radio when you get to the
fl ying fi eld.
PREFLIGHT
IDENTIFY YOUR MODEL
No matter if you fl y at an AMA sanctioned R/C club site
or if you fl y somewhere on your own, 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 35 and
place it on or inside your model.
CHARGE THE BATTERIES
Follow the battery charging instructions that came with
your radio control system to charge the batteries. You
should 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
Run the engine for a few minutes to make sure it idles
reliably, transitions smoothly and maintains full power
indefi nitely. Afterward, shut the engine off and inspect
the model closely, making sure all fasteners, pushrods
and connections have remained tight and the hinges
are secure. Always ground check the operational range
of your radio before the fi rst fl ight of the day following
the manufacturer’s instructions that came with your
radio. 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 cell, or a damaged receiver crystal
from a previous crash.
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 welders 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.
AMA SAFETY CODE
Read and abide by the following excerpts from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the
complete Safety Code refer to Model Aviation magazine,
the AMA web site or the Code that came with your
AMA license.
GENERAL
1) I will not fl y my model aircraft in sanctioned events,
air shows, or model fl ying demonstrations until it has
been proven to be airworthy by having been previously,
successfully fl ight tested.