vibration. Not only will engine mounting screws and bolts
vibrate out, possibly with disastrous effect, but vibration will
also damage your radio receiver and battery. Vibration may
cause your fuel to foam, which will, in turn, cause your
engine to run lean or quit.
We use a Top Flite
®
Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer
™
(TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a Great Planes
Fingertip Balancer (GPMQ5000) in our flight box.
Since you have chosen the Great Planes SpaceWalker
ARF, we assume that you are an experienced modeler.
Therefore, you should already know about AMA chartered
flying fields and other safe places to fly. If for some reason
you are a relatively inexperienced modeler and have not
been informed, we strongly suggest that the best place to
fly is an AMA chartered club field. Ask the AMA or your local
hobby shop dealer if there is 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 address and
telephone number are in the front of this manual. If a club
and flying site are not available, find a large, grassy area at
least 6 miles away from houses, buildings and streets and
any other R/C radio operation like R/C boats and R/C cars.
A schoolyard may look inviting but 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 the transmitter inputs.
The engine operation must also be checked by confirming
that the engine idles reliably, 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 on, you should be able to walk at
least 100 feet [30 meters] 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 receiver battery, 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 or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the prop.
Use a “chicken stick” or electric starter to start the engine.
Do not use your fingers to flip the propeller. 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 rotating
propeller.
The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or right after
operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good condition so
fuel will not leak onto a hot engine, causing a fire.
To stop a glow engine, cut off the fuel supply by closing off
the fuel line or following the engine manufacturer ’s
recommendations. Do not use hands, fingers or any other
body part to try to stop the engine. Do not throw anything
Engine Safety Precautions
Range Check Your Radio
Ground Check the Model
Find a Safe Place to Fly
19
