Top Flite TOPA0405 - Manual (Page 55)

PREFLIGHT
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
recommended by the radio manufacturer.
BALANCE THE PROPELLER
Carefully balance your propellers before flying. An
unbalanced prop is the single most significant
cause of vibration. Not only may engine mounting
screws vibrate out, possibly with disastrous effect,
but vibration may also damage your radio receiver
and battery. Vibration may cause your fuel to
foam, which will, in turn, cause your engine to run
lean or quit.
We use a Top Flite Precision Magnetic Prop
Balancer (TOPQ5700) in the workshop and keep a
Great Planes Fingertip Balancer (GPMQ5000) in
our flight box.
FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY
Since you have chosen the Giant P-51B, we
assume that you are an experienced modeler.
Therefore, you should already know about AMA
chartered club flying fields and other safe places to
fly. If for some reason you are a relatively
inexperienced modeler and have not been
informed, we strongly suggest that the best place
to fly is an AMA chartered club field. Ask the AMA
or your local hobby shop dealer if there is a club in
your area and join. Club fields are set up for R/C
flying and that makes your outing safer and more
enjoyable. The AMA address and telephone
number is in the front of this manual. If a club and
flying site are not available, find a large, grassy
area at least 6 miles away from houses, buildings
and streets and any other R/C radio operation like
R/C boats and R/C cars. A schoolyard may look
inviting but is too close to people, power lines and
possible radio interference.
GROUND CHECK THE MODEL
Inspect your radio installation and confirm that all
the control surfaces respond correctly to the
transmitter inputs. The engine operation must also
be checked by confirming that the engine idles
reliably, transitions smoothly and rapidly to full
power and maintains full power, indefinitely. The
engine must be “broken-in” on the ground by
running it for at least two tanks of fuel. Follow the
engine manufacturer’s recommendations for
break-in. Make sure all screws remain tight, that
the hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
Cycle and fully charge the batteries before going
to the flying field.
RANGE CHECK YOUR RADIO
Whenever you go to the flying field, check the
operational range of the radio before the first flight
of the day. First, make sure no one else is on your
frequency (channel). With your transmitter on, you
should be able to walk at least 100 feet away from
the model and still have control. While you work
the controls, have a helper stand by your model
and tell you what the control surfaces are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at various
speeds while a helper holds the model. If the
control surfaces are not always responding
correctly, do not fly! Find and correct the problem
first. Look for loose servo connections or
corrosion, loose bolts that may cause vibration, a
defective on/off switch, low battery voltage or a
defective receiver battery, a damaged receiver
antenna, or a receiver crystal that may have been
damaged from a previous crash.
ENGINE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Note: 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 the engine exhaust gives off a
great deal of deadly carbon monoxide. Do not run
the engine in a closed room or garage.
Get help from an experienced pilot when learning
to operate engines.
Be sure to 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, ties, scarfs, long hair or
At this time check all connections including
servo horn screws, clevises, servo cords and
extensions. Make sure you have installed the
nylon retainer on the Screw-Lock Pushrod
Connector and the silicone retainers on all
the clevises.
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