Engine Safety Precautions; Flying; Takeoff - GREAT PLANES Easy Sport 40 Instruction Manual

Range Check Your Radio
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.

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.
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.
The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or after
operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good condition so fuel
will not leak onto a hot engine causing a fire.
To stop the engine, cut off the fuel supply by closing off the
fuel line or follow 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
into the propeller of a running engine.
The Great Planes Easy Spor t is a great flying spor t
airplane that flies smoothly and predictably, yet is highly
maneuverable. It does not, however, have the self-recovery
characteristics of a primary R/C trainer; therefore, you must
either have mastered the basics of R/C flying or obtained
the assistance of a competent R/C pilot to help you with
your first flights.
If you have dual rates on your transmitter, set the switches
to "high rate" for takeoff, especially when taking off in a
cross wind. Although the Easy Sport has great low speed
characteristics, you should always build up as much speed
as your runway will permit before lifting off, as this will give
you a safety margin in case of a "flame-out." When the
plane has sufficient flying speed, lift off by smoothly
applying a little up elevator and climb out gradually.
CAUTION (THIS APPLIES TO ALL R/C AIRPLANES): If,
while flying, you notice any unusual sounds, such as a
low-pitched "buzz", this may indicate control surface
"flutter". Because flutter can quickly destroy components
of your airplane, any time you detect flutter you must
immediately cut the throttle and land the airplane!
Check all servo grommets for deterioration (this may
indicate which surface fluttered) and make sure all
pushrod linkages are slop-free. If it fluttered once, it will
probably flutter again under similar circumstances unless
you can eliminate the slop or flexing in the linkages. Here
are some things which can result in flutter: Excessive
hinge gap; Not mounting control horns solidly; Sloppy fit
of clevis pin in horn; Elasticity present in flexible plastic
pushrods; Side-play of pushrod in guide tube caused by
tight bends; Sloppy fit of Z-bend in servo arm; Insufficient
glue used when gluing in the elevator joiner wire or
aileron torque rod; Excessive flexing of aileron, caused
by using too soft balsa; Excessive "play" or "backlash" in
servo gears; and Insecure servo mounting.
21

FLYING

Takeoff