Top Flite TOPA0130 - Manual (Page 49)

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3. Lift the model at the balance point. If the
tail drops when you lift, the model is "tail heavy"
and you must add weight* to the nose to
balance. If the nose drops, it is "nose heavy"
and you must add weight* to the tail to balance.
NOTE: Nose weight may be easily installed by
using a Heavy Spinner Hub or gluing lead
weights into the engine compar tment. Tail
weight may be added by using Great Planes
(GPMQ4485) "stick-on" lead weights, and, later,
if the balance proves to be OK you can open the
fuse bottom and glue these in permanently.
*If possible, first attempt to balance the
model by changing the position of the receiver
battery and receiver. If you are unable to obtain
good balance by doing so, then it will be
necessary to add weight to the nose or tail to
achieve the proper balance point.
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 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.
GROUND CHECK THE MODEL
If you are not thoroughly familiar with the
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 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 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.
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 items such as these away from the
prop: loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs,
long hair or loose objects (pencils, screw
drivers) that may fall out of shir t 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 will not leak onto a
hot engine, causing a fire.
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