Great Planes RV-4 Park Flyer Kit - GPMA0010 - Manual (Page 35)

For the longest flight duration, and to get the most from a new
battery, the battery should be cycled. “Cycling” a battery means
to fully charge (“peak” charge) the battery, then to discharge it.
Many battery chargers have peak charging and automatic
discharging capabilities. If you do not have a charger that is able
to discharge batteries, you can discharge the battery yourself by
running the motor with the propeller attached until the propeller
barely continues to turn. Charge and discharge the battery 3 or
4 more times on the ground before flying. Be sure to remove the
battery from the airplane between each cycle and allow it to cool
before recharging.
Lithium batteries do not need to be cycled.
Use fine sandpaper to remove imperfections along the
edges of the propeller. For the best performance, use a Top
Flite Precision Magnetic Prop Balancer
™ (TOPQ5700) to
balance the propellers.
1. Using multiple battery packs for successive flights may
cause the motor to become excessively hot, thus causing
damage. Allow the motor to cool for at least 10-20 minutes
between flights.
2. The ideal power source for the RV-4 Park Flyer system is
an 8-cell (9.6 volt) battery pack. The use of a higher voltage
battery may reduce motor life. The recommended motors
are very high performance and care must be taken to
prevent the motor from overheating. If a 3-cell Lithium
Polymer battery is used, full power must be minimized as
this will over-voltage the motor. For additional suggestions
on motor care and lifespan, see the
“Decisions You Must
Make” section at the front of this manual.
If taking off from the ground, the wheels must spin freely.
Check the wheels for binding when moved from side to side
and put a drop of oil on each axle.
Get help from an experienced pilot when learning to
operate motors.
Use safety glasses when running motors.
Do not run 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 path of the propeller as you start and run the motor.
Keep items such as these away from the prop: loose
clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects
(pencils, screwdrivers) that may fall out of shirt or jacket
pockets into the prop.
The electric motor and battery used in your RV-4 Park Flyer
are very powerful and the spinning propeller has a lot of
momentum; therefore, if you touch the propeller while it is
spinning it may inflict severe injury. Respect the motor and
propeller for the damage it is capable of and take whatever
precautions are necessary to avoid injury. Always
disconnect and remove the battery until you are ready to fly
again and always make sure the switches are turned off
before connecting the battery.
Read and abide by the following Academy of Model
Aeronautics Official Safety Code:
GENERAL
1. I will not fly my model aircraft in competition or in the
presence of spectators 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 within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the
airport operator. I will give right of way to and avoid flying in
the proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary an
observer shall be utilized to supervise flying to avoid having
models fly in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
3. Where established, I will abide by the safety rules for the
flying site I use and I will not willfully and deliberately fly my
models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.
7. I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my name
and address or AMA number, on or in the model.
AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpts)
Note: Failure to follow these safety precautions may
result in severe injury to yourself and others.
MOTOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Oil the Wheels
Motor Care
Examine the Propeller
Cycle the Batteries
PERFORMANCE TIPS
35