17
Improve the flight of your SkyVista with the Great Planes C.G.
Machine’s exact balancing. The C.G. Machine’s stable,
“hands-off” operation eliminates the potential for error. It works
with all airplanes weighing up to 40 pounds–regardless of size or
wingspan.
GPMR2400
.
CHARGE THE BATTERIES
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.
BALANCE THE PROPELLER
Balance your propellers carefully before flying. An unbalanced
prop is the single most significant cause of damaging
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 rough 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.
FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY
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 the AMA and a local
club so you can have a safe 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 book).
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.
GROUND CHECK THE MODEL
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the operation of R/C
models, ask an experienced modeler to check to see that you
have the radio installed correctly and that all the control
surfaces do what they are supposed to. The engine operation
also must be checked and the engine “broken-in” on the
ground by running the engine for at least two tanks of fuel.
Follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations for break-
in. Check to make sure all screws remain tight, that the hinges
are secure and that the prop is on tight.
RANGE CHECK YOUR RADIO
Check the operation of the radio before each time you fly. First,
make sure no one else is on your frequency (channel). With
the 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. Have someone
help you. Have them stand by your model and, while you work
the controls, tell you what the models various control surfaces
are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at various speeds with
an assistant holding the model. If the control surfaces are not
always acting correctly, do not fly! Find and correct the
problem first.
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
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. Therefore do
not run the engine in a closed room or garage.
Get help from an experienced pilot when learning to operate
engines.
Check the engine bolts occasionally and retighten.
PREPARING TO FLY YOUR SKYVISTA