11
Balance the Model Laterally
❏
1. With the wing level, have an assistant help you lift the
model by the motor propeller shaft and the bottom of the fuse
under the tail skid. Do this several times.
❏
2. If one wing always drops when you lift the model, it means
that side is heavy. Balance the airplane by adding weight to the
other wing tip.
An airplane that has been laterally balanced
will track better in loops and other maneuvers.
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 12 and place it on or inside your model.
Charge the Transmitter Batteries
Follow the battery charging instructions that came with your
radio control system to charge the batteries in your transmitter.
You should always charge your transmitter batteries the night
before you go fl ying, and at other times as recommended by the
radio manufacturer. If your transmitter uses non-rechargeable,
dry-cell batteries, make sure they are in good condition.
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.
Charge the LiPo Battery
If you haven’t yet done so, charge your LiPo battery. If uncertain
of the state-of-charge of your battery, you can either reconnect
it to your charger, or use a battery checker (GPMM3205) to
check the condition of the battery. A battery checker is the
best way to check the condition of your batteries at the fl ying
fi eld to make sure you don’t inadvertently try to fl y your plane
with a discharged battery.
Note:
LiPo batteries require special care and handling. Be
certain to follow the instructions that came with your LiPo
battery and charger to charge and handle them correctly. If
using the
Smart Charger
, refer to Smart Charger instructions
for charging. Note that the Smart Charger has an internal timer
that automatically discontinues the charge after 160 minutes
(2 hours, 40 minutes). Some larger batteries in the 2100mAh
range that are deeply discharged may require longer than 160
minutes to charge, prompting the Smart Charger to shut off. If
this happens, simply disconnect the battery from the charger,
wait for the GREEN LED to illuminate, and then reconnect
the battery to the charger to continue charging.
Range Check
Most radio systems have a procedure for ground-checking
the operational range. This usually involves something such
as the pilot walking a distance away from the model while
operating the controls with an assistant holding the model
confi rming that everything is operating correctly. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions that came with your radio to perform
this check with the motor off and with the motor running at
various speeds. If the radio does not pass the range check
do not fl y!
Find and correct the problem fi rst.
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.
2) I will not fl y my model aircraft higher than approximately
400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the
airport operator. I will give right-of-way and avoid fl ying in the
proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary, an observer
shall be utilized to supervise fl ying to avoid having models fl y
in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
3) Where established, I will abide by the safety rules for the
fl ying site I use, and I will not willfully and deliberately fl y my
models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.
5) I will not fl y my model unless it is identifi ed with my name
and address or AMA number, on or in the model. Note: This
does not apply to models while being fl own indoors.
7) I will not operate models with pyrotechnics (any device that
explodes, burns, or propels a projectile of any kind).
