Great Planes PT-40 MkII Kit - GPMA0118 - Manual (Page 54)

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3. When everything is aligned and the model is sitting
correctly, tighten the screw on the steering arm tight
enough to leave a mark on the nose gear wire. Remove the
nose gear from the engine mount and file the flat spot.
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4. Reassemble the nose gear and install it into the
engine mount. Tighten the steering arm screw directly over
the flat.
It is a good practice to periodically check the ground stance
of your PT – especially after a hard landing. The wire
landing gear is designed to absorb shock from rough
landings but occasionally may need to be bent back
into position.
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 your propellers carefully before flying. An
unbalanced prop is the single most significant cause of
vibration. Not only will engine mounting screws and bolts
vibrate out, possibly with disastrous effect, but vibration will
also damage your radio receiver and battery. Vibration will
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.
The best place to fly your R/C model is an AMA (Academy
of Model Aeronautics) chartered club field. Ask your hobby
shop dealer if there is such 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 also can tell you
the name of a club in your area. We recommend that you
join AMA and a local club so you can have a safe place to
fly and have insurance to cover you in case of a flying
accident (The AMA address is listed on page 3 of this
instruction book).
If a club and its flying site are not available, you need to find
a large, grassy area at least 6 miles away from any other
R/C radio operation like R/C boats and R/C cars and away
from houses, buildings and streets. A schoolyard may look
inviting but it is too close to people, power lines and
possible radio interference.
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the operation of R/C
models, ask an experienced modeler to check that you
have installed the radio correctly and all the control
surfaces do what they are supposed to. The engine
operation also must be checked and the engine “broken-in”
on the ground by running the engine for at least two tanks of
fuel. Follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations
for break-in. Check to make sure all screws remain tight,
that the hinges are secure and that the prop is on tight.
Whenever you go to the flying field, you need to 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 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 a friend 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 a helper holding the model. If the control surfaces are
not always acting 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 cell, a damaged
receiver antenna or a receiver crystal that may have been
damaged from a previous crash.
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.
Engine Safety Precautions
Range Check Your Radio
Ground Check the Model
Find a Safe Place to Fly
Balance the Propeller
Charge the Batteries
PREFLIGHT
54