Preflight; Identify Your Model; Charge The Batteries; Range Check - GREAT PLANES Zero Instruction Manual

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2. With all parts of the model installed (ready to fly), place
the model upside-down on a Great Planes CG Machine, or
lift it upside-down at the balance point you marked .
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3. If the tail drops, the model is "tail heavy" and the battery
pack must be shifted forward to balance. If the nose drops, the
model is "nose heavy" and the battery pack must be shifted
back to balance. This model is very weight sensitive. Do not
add any weight to achieve the suggested balance point.
Instead, shift the battery pack forward or aft to alter the C.G.

PREFLIGHT

Identify Your Model

No matter if you fly at an AMA sanctioned R/C club site or if you
fly somewhere on your own, you should always have your name,
address, telephone number and AMA number on or inside your
model. It is required at all AMA R/C club flying sites and AMA
sanctioned flying events. Fill out the identification tag on page 14
and place it on or inside your model.

Charge the Batteries

Follow the battery charging instructions that came with your
radio control system to charge the batteries. You should
always charge your transmitter and motor batteries the night
before you go flying, and at other times as recommended by
the manufacturer.
CAUTION: Unless the instructions that came with your
radio system state differently, the initial charge on new
transmitter batteries should be done for 15 hours using
the slow-charger that came with the radio system. This
will "condition" the batteries so that the next charge may
be done using the fast-charger of your choice. If the initial
charge is done with a fast-charger, the batteries may not
reach their full capacity and you may be flying with
batteries that are only partially charged.

Range Check

Ground check the operational range of your radio before the first
flight of the day. 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 an
assistant stand by your model and, while you work the controls,
tell you what the control surfaces are doing. Repeat this test with
the motor running at various speeds with an assistant holding
the model, using hand signals to show you what is happening. If
the control surfaces do not respond correctly, do not fly! Find
and correct the problem first. Look for loose servo connections
or broken wires, corroded wires on old servo connectors, poor
solder joints in your battery pack or a defective cell, or a
damaged receiver crystal from a previous crash.

AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts)

Read and abide by the following excerpts from the Academy
of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the complete Safety
Code refer to Model Aviation magazine, the AMA web site or
the Code that came with your AMA license.
1) I will not fly my model aircraft in sanctioned events, air
shows, or model flying demonstrations until it has been
proven to be airworthy by having been previously,
successfully flight tested.
2) I will not fly my model aircraft higher than approximately
400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the
airport operator. I will give right-of-way and avoid flying in the
proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary, an observer
shall be utilized to supervise flying to avoid having models
fly in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
3) Where established, I will abide by the safety rules for the
flying site I use, and I will not willfully and deliberately fly my
models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.
5) I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my name
and address or AMA number, on or in the model. Note: This
does not apply to models while being flown indoors.
7) I will not operate models with pyrotechnics (any device
that explodes, burns, or propels a projectile of any kind).
Radio Control
1) I will have completed a successful radio equipment ground
check before the first flight of a new or repaired model.
2) I will not fly my model aircraft in the presence of
spectators until I become a qualified flier, unless assisted by
an experienced helper.
12
General