
airplane should receive at least the same consideration.
While still at the flying field, and after you've finished flying for the
day, empty the fuel tank completely with your fuel pump. After
draining the tank, start the engine and let it run the fuel lines totally
dry. This is the best way to take your airplane home.
After each flying session, take the time to completely clean your
model, removing all spent fuel, dirt, and debris from the finish. We
use and suggest fresh, good quality paper towels and a silicon-
free cleaner for degreasing and polishing. SIG makes one of the
best cleaners for this purpose - Pure Magic Model Airplane
Cleaner.
This product is great for cleaning, degreasing, and
polishing virtually any model aircraft covering material. Clean the
model thoroughly, paying special attention to any and all areas that
were sprayed by engine exhaust. Clean the airplane until it shines,
including the engine, prop, and spinner.
At home, take a little time to completely inspect the airplane,
looking for any loose bolts, screws, covering seams, etc. Anything
that you find wrong - immediately fix! Inspect the fuselage radio
compartment carefully. Check each servo, looking for any loose
linkages. Make sure that each R/C link is secured to the servo
output arms with short lengths of medium fuel tubing. Then, check
each nylon control horn on the flying surfaces for the same thing.
Tighten and secure anything that is not supposed be loose.
Inspect the engine, looking for any loose bolts or nuts and get
them securely back in place right away. Loose engine bolts can
almost be totally remedied by removing them, cleaning them with
alcohol and using non-permanent thread lock compound, such as
Loctite
®
blue.
After applying a little thread lock liquid to the
threads, re-install the bolt or nut and tighten it firmly. Also, inspect
the propeller. Immediately replace any propeller that is cracked or
nicked in any way!
Finally, if you plan to fly the airplane again on the following day,
place the radio system - transmitter and airborne batteries - on
charge.
If you're finished for the week, leave the batteries
uncharged. Place them on charge the night before you intend to
fly again.
It will surprise you how easy it becomes to perform these few
routine maintenance and inspection procedures.
It should not
surprise you how doing this prolongs the life of your model!
Good luck and good flying!
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