Follow the battery charging procedures in your radio
instruction manual. You should
always
charge your transmitter
and receiver batteries the night before you go flying and at
other times as recommended by the radio manufacturer.
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 have a safer place to fly
and have insurance to cover you in case of a flying
accident. The AMA address is listed on page 2 of this
instruction manual.
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.
Inspect your radio installation and confirm that all the control
surfaces respond correctly to transmitter inputs. The engine
operation must also be checked by confirming that the engine
idles reliably and transitions smoothly and rapidly to full power
and maintains full power indefinitely. The engine must
be “broken-in” on the ground by running it for at least
two tanks of fuel.
Follow the engine manufacturer's
recommendations for break-in.
Make sure all screws
remain tight, that the hinges are secure and that the prop is
on tight.
Whenever you go to the flying field, 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. While you work
the controls, have a helper stand by your model and 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 responding
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.
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.
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 and screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the prop.
Use a “chicken stick” 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.
Make all engine adjustments from
behind
the propeller.
Engine Safety Precautions
Range Check Your Radio
Ground Check the Model
Find a Safe Place to Fly
Charge the Batteries
At this time check all connections including servo arm
screws, FasLinks, clevises and servo cords. Make sure
you have installed the
nylon retainer
on the Screw-Lock
Pushrod Connector on the throttle pushrod at the servo
arm and the
silicone retainers
on all the clevises.
PREFLIGHT
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