Balance The Propeller; Ground Check Your Model; Range Check Your Radio; Engine Safety Precautions - Top Flite Contender User Manual

Balance the propeller

Carefully balance your propeller before you fly. An
unbalanced prop is 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 the fuel to foam, which will,
in turn, cause the engine to run hot or quit.
We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop
Balancer™ (TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a
Great Planes Fingertip Prop Balancer (GPMQ5000)
in our flight box.

Ground check your model

If you are not thoroughly familiar with the operation
of R/C models, ask an experienced modeler to
inspect your radio installation and control surface
set-up. Follow the engine
instructions to break-in your engine. After you run
the engine on your model, inspect your model
closely to make sure all screws remain tight and
your pushrods and connectors are secure.

Range check your radio

Ground check the 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 engine 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 in your battery pack,
or a damaged receiver crystal from a previous crash.

ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

NOTE: Failure to follow these safety precautions
may result in severe injury to yourself and others.
Store model fuel in a safe place away from high
heat, sparks or flames. Do not smoke near the
engine or fuel as it is very flammable. Engine
exhaust gives off a great deal of deadly carbon
monoxide so do not run the engine in a closed room
or garage.
Get help from an experienced pilot when you are
learning to operate engines.
Always use safety glasses when you operating
model engines.
Do not run the engine near loose gravel or sand; the
manufacturer's
propeller may throw loose material in your face
or eyes.
When you start and run the engine, keep your face
and body as well as all spectators away from the
plane of rotation of the propeller.
Always be aware and very conscious of hand
movements and be deliberate in your reach for the
needle valve, glow plug clip, or other items near a
spinning propeller.
Keep loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long
hair or loose objects away from the prop. Be
conscious of pencils, screw drivers or other objects
that may fall out of your shirt or jacket pockets.
Use a chicken stick or electric starter and follow the
instructions to start your engine.
Make certain the glow plug clip or connector is
secure so that it will not pop off or get into the
running propeller.
Ask an assistant to hold the model from the rear
while you start the engines and operate the controls.
Make all engine adjustments from behind the
rotating propeller.
The engine gets hot! Do not touch the engine during
or immediately after you operate it. Make sure fuel
lines are in good condition so fuel will not leak onto
a hot engine and cause a fire.
To stop the engine, close the carburetor barrel (rotor)
or pinch the fuel line to discontinue the fuel flow. Do
not use your hands, fingers or any body part to stop
the engine. Never throw anything into the prop of a
running engine.
AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts)
Read and abide by the following Academy of Model
Aeronautics Official Safety Code:
GENERAL
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 [120m] within 3 miles [4.8km]
of an airport without notifying the airport operator. I will
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