Flying Safety - HITEC ECLIPSE 7 Owner's Manual

Flying Safety

To ensure your own safety and the safety of
others, please observe the following
precautions:
Charge the Batteries!
Be sure to recharge the batteries before
each flying session. A battery low in charge
will soon die, causing loss of control and a
crash. Plug in the charger that comes in this
system and hook up the transmitter and
airborne batteries the day before a planned
flying session. When you begin your flying
session, reset the transmitter's timer to keep
track of how long the system's been used, and
monitor the transmitter's voltage display. Quit
flying long before your batteries become low.
Beware of on-field charging of your
batteries with a field charger. A fast-charger
may overcharge the Ni-Cd batteries, causing
overheating and a premature failure. Never
charge your transmitter or receiver battery at a
rate higher than 2 amps.
Flying field
We recommend that you fly at a
recognized model airplane flying field. You
can find model clubs and fields by asking your
nearest hobby dealer, or contacting the
Academy of Model Aeronautics. Always pay
particular attention to the flying field's rules,
as well as the presence and location of
spectators, the wind direction, and any
obstacles on the field. Be very careful flying
in areas near power lines, tall buildings, or
communication facilities as there may be radio
interference in their vicinity. If you must fly
at a site that is not a club field, be sure there
are no other modelers flying within a two-
mile range, or you may lose control of your
aircraft.
Once you arrive at the flying field...
Before flying, be sure that the frequency
you intend to fly with is not in use, and secure
any frequency control device (pin, tag, etc.)
for that frequency before turning on your
transmitter. Never believe that it's possible to
fly two or more models on the same frequency
at the same time. Even though there are
different types of modulation (AM, PPM or
FM, and PCM), only one model may be flown
on a single frequency.
When you are ready to fly your model,
position the throttle stick to its low speed
position, or do whatever is necessary to
command your motor NOT to run. Then, you
may turn on the transmitter power followed by
the receiver power. When you have finished
flying, begin by turning off the receiver power,
then turn off the transmitter power. If you do
not follow these procedures, you may damage
your servos or control surfaces, flood your
motor, or in the case of electric-powered
models, the motor may unexpectedly turn on
and cause a severe injury.
Before starting the engine, fully retract the
transmitter antenna, power up the transmitter
and receiver, and check to be sure that the
servos follow the movement of the sticks. If a
servo operates abnormally, don't attempt to
fly until you determine the cause of the
problem. We recommend that you range-
check your system before each flying session.
Have an observer verify that the system works
with the transmitter about 30 paces away with
the transmitter antenna collapsed. Finally,
before starting the engine, be sure to check
that the transmitter model memory is correct
for the chosen model.
While you're getting ready to fly, if you
place your transmitter on the ground, be sure
that the wind won't tip it over. If it is knocked
over, the throttle stick may accidentally get
moved causing the engine to race
unexpectedly.
Before taxiing, be sure to extend the
transmitter antenna to its full length. A
collapsed antenna will reduce your flying
range and may cause a loss of control. It is a
good idea to avoid pointing the transmitter
antenna directly at the model at all times,
since the signal is weakest in that direction.
Finally, don't fly in the rain! Water or
moisture may enter the transmitter through the
antenna or stick openings and cause erratic
operation or loss of control. If you must fly in
wet weather during a contest, be sure to
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