Balance The Propeller; Find A Safe Place To Fly; Ground Check The Model; Range Check The Radio - GREAT PLANES EXTRA 300S Instruction Manual

Balance the Propeller

Carefully balance your propellers before flying. An
unbalanced prop is the single most significant cause of
vibration. Not only may engine mounting screws vibrate out,
possibly with disastrous effect, but vibration may 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.

Find a Safe Place to Fly

Since you have chosen the Extra 300 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 is
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.

Ground Check the Model

Inspect your radio installation and confirm that all the control
surfaces respond correctly to transmitter inputs. The engine
operation must also be checked by confirming that the engine
idles reliably and 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.
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 you 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, screw drivers 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 rotating
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.
43