Great Planes SPAD XIII EP WWI Parkflyer ARF - GPMA1143 - Manual (Page 21)

21
PREFLIGHT
Identify Your Model
No matter if you fl y at an AMA sanctioned R/C club site or if
you fl y 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 fl ying sites
and AMA sanctioned fl ying events. Fill out the identifi cation tag
on the back cover and place it on or inside your model.
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 batteries the night before
you go fl ying, and at other times as recommended by the
radio manufacturer.
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
fl ying with batteries that are only partially charged.
Balance Propellers
Carefully balance your propeller and spare propellers before
you fl y. An unbalanced prop can be the single most signifi cant
cause of vibration that can damage your model. Not only
will motor mounting screws and bolts loosen, possibly with
disastrous effect, but vibration may also damage your radio
receiver and radio gear.
We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer™
(TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a Great Planes
Fingertip Prop Balancer (GPMQ5000) in our fl ight box.
Range Check
When you get to your fl ying site ground check the operational
range of the radio before the fi rst fl ight 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 motor 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 fl y! Find and correct
the problem fi rst. Look for loose servo or battery connections,
damaged wires or a damaged receiver crystal from a previous
crash in another model. One other possible source of radio
“noise” that could cause interference is the arrangement and
relative location of the receiver, receiver antenna and motor
wires. If possible, remount the receiver in a different location or
reroute some of the wires. Then try the range check again.
MOTOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Failure to follow these safety precautions may result
in severe injury to yourself and others.
• Get help from an experienced pilot when learning to operate
electric motors.
• Use safety glasses when operating electric motors.
• Do not operate the motor 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 operate the motor.
• Keep these items away from the prop: loose clothing, shirt
sleeves, ties, scarves, long hair or loose objects such as
pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the prop.
• Always use a charger designed to charge LiPo batteries for
charging the LiPo fl ight battery.
• Never leave the LiPo battery unattended while charging. If
the battery becomes hot, discontinue charging.
AMA SAFETY CODE (
EXCERPTS
)
Read and abide by the following excerpts from the Academy
of Model Aeronautics Safety Code. For the complete Safety
Code refer to Model Aviation magazine, the AMA web site or
the Code that came with your AMA license.
General
1) I will not fl y my model aircraft in sanctioned events, air
shows, or model fl ying demonstrations until it has been
proven to be airworthy by having been previously,
successfully fl ight tested.
2) I will not fl y my model aircraft higher than approximately
400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the
airport operator. I will give right-of-way and avoid fl ying