Top Flite TOPA0110 - Manual (Page 56)

PRE-FLIGHT
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.
FIND A SAFE PLACE TO FLY
1. 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
y o u t h e n a m e o f a c l u b i n y o u r a r e a . W e
recommend that you join the AMA and a local
club so you can have a safe place to fly and have
i n s u r a n c e t o c o v e r y o u i n c a s e o f a f l y i n g
accident. The AMA address is listed on page 3.
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.
GROUND CHECK THE MODEL
I f y o u a r e n o t t h o r o u g h l y f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e
operation of R/C models, ask an experienced
modeler to check to see that you have the radio
installed correctly and that 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 that all screws remain tight,
that the hinges are secure and that the prop is on
tight.
RANGE CHECK YOUR RADIO
Wherever you do fly, you need to check the
operation of the radio before every time you fly.
This means that, 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
someone help you. Have them stand by your
model and, while you work the controls, tell you
what the various control surfaces are doing.
Repeat this test with the engine running at
various speeds with an assistant holding the
model. If the control surfaces are not always
acting correctly, do not fly! Find and correct the
problem first.
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.
Therefore, do not run the engine in a closed
room or garage.
Get help from an experienced pilot when
learning to operate engines.
Use safety glasses when starting or running
engines.
Do not run the engine in an area of loose
gravel or sand, as the propeller may throw such
material in your face or eyes.
K e e p y o u r f a c e a n d b o d y a s w e l l a s a l l
spectators away from the plane of rotation of the
propeller as you start and run the engine.
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.
Use a “chicken stick” device or electric starter;
follow instructions supplied with the starter or
stick. Make certain the glow plug clip or connector
is secure so that it will not pop off or otherwise
get into the running propeller.
Make all engine adjustments from behind the
rotating propeller.
The engine gets hot! Do not touch it during or
after operation. Make sure fuel lines are in good
condition so fuel is not leaked onto a hot engine,
causing a fire.
To stop the engine, cut off the fuel supply by
closing off the fuel line or following the engine
manufacturer’s recommendations. Do not use
hands, fingers or any body part to try to stop the
engine. Do not throw anything into the prop of a
running engine.
AMA SAFETY CODE
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 used to supervise flying to avoid
having models fly in the proximity of full scale
aircraft.
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