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that your wing may have a twist due to uneven
shrinking of the covering material. You must check
for this condition and correct it before the first
flight.
If you do not own a wing incidence meter,
we recommend that you purchase one or borrow one
from another modeler. With the wing mounted to
the fuselage, use the incidence meter to check the
angle of your wing at the tips and at the root
(alongside the fuselage). If the incidence meter reve-
als a wing twist of more than 1/2 degree, you must
grasp the wing at the tip and twist it slightly, while
reheating the covering material. Keep checking,
twisting and reheating until the wing twist is re-
moved.
PRE-FLIGHT
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 recom-
mended by the radio manufacturer.
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 and join. Club fields are set up for R/C
flying which usually makes your outing more enjoy-
able. The AMA can also tell you the name of a club
in your area. We recommend that you join AMA and
a local club so you can have a safe place to fly and
also have insurance to cover you in case of a flying
accident.
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 forms of radio operation like
R/C boats and R/C cars and also 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 must also
be checked and the engine "broken in" on the ground
by running the engine for at least two tanks of fuel.
Check to make sure all screws remain tight, that
the hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
RANGE CHECK YOUR RADIO
Wherever you do fly, you need to check the
operation of the radio before every time you fly. This
means with the transmitter antenna down, 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 con-
trols, tell you what the 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 a-e not acting correctly at all
times, do not fly! Find and correct the problem first.
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
NOTE: Failure to follow these safety precau-
tions 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 flamma-
ble. Do not smoke near the engine or fuel; 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 learn-
ing 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 spec-
tators away from the path of the propeller as you
start and run the engine.
Keep items such as these away from the prop:
loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or
loose objects (pencils, screw drivers) that may fall
out of shirt or jacket pockets into the prop.
Use a "chicken stick" device 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 is not leaked onto a hot engine caus-
ing a fire.
To stop the engine, cut off the fuel supply by
closing off the fuel line or follow the engine manufac-
turer's recommendations. Do not use hands, fingers
or any body part to try to stop the engine. Do not
throw anything into the prop of a running engine.
AMA SAFETY CODE
Read and abide by the following Academy of Model
Aeronautics Official Safety Code:
39
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