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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 .
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 receiver batteries the night
before you go flying, and at other times as recommended by
the radio manufacturer . Get in the habit of also checking your
receiver and ignition battery voltage before each flight before
you gas up your plane . Sometimes battery packs may "false
peak" before they take a full charge . A battery you think is
topped off and ready for a whole day's worth of flying may
only last 1 flight . Don't risk your valuable airplane for a few
simple checks .
CAUTION:
Unless the instructions that came with your
radio system state differently, the initial charge on new
transmitter and receiver 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 .
Balance Propellers
Carefully balance your propeller and spare propellers before
you fly . An unbalanced prop can be the single most significant
cause of vibration that can damage your model . Not only
will engine mounting screws and bolts loosen, possibly with
disastrous effect, but vibration may also damage your radio
receiver and battery . Vibration can also cause your fuel to
foam, which will, in turn, cause your engine to run hot or quit .
Ground Check
If the engine is new, follow the engine manufacturer's
instructions to break-in the engine. After break-in,
confirm that the engine idles reliably, transitions smoothly
and rapidly to full power and maintains full power—
indefinitely . After you run the engine on the model, inspect
the model closely to make sure all screws remained tight,
the hinges are secure, the prop is secure and all pushrods
and connectors are secure .
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 [30m] feet away from the model and still
have control . If you are using a 2 .4GHz radio system, follow
the manufacturer's recommendations for range checking
your model (a low-power transmitting mode may have to be
entered) . 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 engine running at various
speeds with an assistant holding the model, using hand
signals to show you what is happening (usually thumbs up
or thumbs down for pass or fail) . 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 .
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
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 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 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, sweater strings, ties, scarves, long hair or loose
objects such as pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of
shirt or jacket pockets into the prop .
Make all engine adjustments from behind the rotating prop .
The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or right after
operation . Make sure fuel lines are in good condition so fuel
will not leak onto a hot engine, causing a fire .
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