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SECTION 12: PREFLIGHT CHECK & SAFETY
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Check the operation of the throttle. To do this, do the following:
A) Plug the flight battery into the ESC and turn on the radio system.
WARNING
Do not turn the receiver on unless the transmitter is turned on first. Always turn the transmitter on first.
Never allow hands or clothing to get in the way of the propeller when the radio is turned on. Sudden unwanted radio
signals, or turning the radio on with the throttle stick set at full throttle, can turn the motor on unintentionally. Always
make sure that the throttle control stick is set to idle before turning on the transmitter.
B) When the throttle control stick is at the idle position, the motor should be off. Moving the stick forward
should turn on the motor. Gradually moving the stick to the full forward position should result in the motor running at
full power.
☞
Some ESCs will give you more proportional control than others. Your ESC may also have a manual control
adjustment screw that must be adjusted prior to using the ESC. (Refer to your ESC's operating guide for further
information.)
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Cycle the flight battery three times. When NiMH or NiCD batteries are new they need to be used 2-3 times before
they will produce their top voltage and duration. To cycle them, simply charge the battery and then run the motor (at
low speed to prevent damaging it) until the motor stops. Allow the battery and motor to cool, then repeat this
procedure two more times.
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Check the condition of the transmitter batteries. They should be fully charged.
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Check every bolt and every glue joint in the airplane to ensure that everything is tight and well-bonded.
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Double-check that all of the control horns are tight.
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Double-check the balance of the airplane.
Do this with the flight battery installed.
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Check the control surfaces. They should all move in the correct direction and not bind.
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If your radio transmitter is equipped with dual rate switches, double-check that they are on the low-rate setting for
your first few flights.
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Check to ensure that all of the control surfaces are moving the proper amount in both low and high rate settings.
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Check the receiver antenna. It should be fully extended and not coiled up inside the fuselage. The only exception
to this is if the excess antenna is properly wound around an antenna bobbin.
The following are our general guidelines for your safety and the safety of others. Please read and understand these safety
guidelines before going out to the flying field for the first time.
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Do not test-fly your model for the first time without first having it safety-checked by an experienced modeler.
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Do not fly your model higher than approximately 400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without having an observer with you. The
observer should tell you about any full-size aircraft in your vicinity and you should always give the right-of-way to full-scale aircraft.
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When flying at a flying field with established rules, you should abide by those rules. You should not deliberately fly your model in
a reckless and/or dangerous manner.
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While flying, you should not deliberately fly behind the flight line. If your model should inadvertently fly behind the flight line, you
should change course immediately.
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You should complete a successful range check of your radio equipment prior to each new day of flying, or prior to the first flight of
a new or repaired model.
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You should perform your initial turn after take- off away from the flightline and/or spectator area.
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You should not knowingly operate your R/C radio system within 3 miles of a preexisting model club flying field without a
frequency sharing agreement with that club.
