MAIDED FLIGHT CHECKLIST (Pg. 1)
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THIS CHECKLIST IS MAINLY FOR THE NEW, INEXPERIENCED MEMBER OF THE CLUB, BUT MAY HELP EVERYONE. 
THIS CHECKLIST SHOULD BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO BRINGING YOU AIRPLANE TO THE FIELD. 
ENGINE 
  1. SECURED WITH PROPER FASTENERS- BLIND AND TEE NUTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED FOR MOUNTING ENGINES. "NYLOCK" STYLE NUTS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

  2. PROPELLER FASTENER (NUT/HUB) AND SPINNER INSTALLED AND TIGHTENED. THE PROPELLER SHOULD BE INSTALLED SO THAT IT IS IN ABOUT THE 1 OR 2 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE COMPRESSION STROKE (NEAR "TOP DEAD CENTER") 

  3. THROTTLE ADJUSTED-SEE FIGURE #1 

  4. TO PREVENT ENGINE VIBRATION FROM BEING TRANSMITTED TO THE THROTTLE SERVO, A PLASTIC CLEVIS, BALL JOINT OR SOME OTHER NON- VIBRATION TRANSMITTING DEVICE SHOULD BE USED. 

  5. MUFFLER INSTALLED AND FASTENERS TIGHT.

  6. PROPELLER SHOULD BE BALANCED FOR OPTIMUM ENGINE PERFORMANCE. 

  7. REMOVE SHARP EDGES FROM GLASS FILLED PROPELLERS (MASTER AIRSCREW), THIS WILL PREVENT BLOODY FINGERS, 

  8. PAINT PROPELLER TIPS (OPTIONAL). 

  9. CHECK PROPELLER FOR CRACKS, NICKS, OR OTHER DAMAGE. (REPLACE IF ANY DAMAGE IS VISABLE) 

  10. THROTTLE CABLE SHOULD BE "FREE" IN OPERATION (NO BINDING), THE THROTTLE CABLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FLEX PREVENTING FULL SERVO THROW. THE THROTTLE CABLE SHOULD BE ADJUSTED SO THAT THE MAXIMUM THROW OF THE SERVO IS COMPLETED JUST PRIOR TO THE THROTTLE BEING FULLY OPEN OR CLOSED. (YOU DO NOT WANT THE THROTTLE IN ITS STOPS BEFORE THE SERVO IS AT MAXIMUM THROW OR SERVO DAMAGE AND LIFE WILL BE REDUCED, ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE BATTERY CONSUMPTION), 

  11. FIREWALL AREA FUELPROOFED AND ALL HOLES AND PENETRATIONS (THROTTLE CABLE, STEERING CABLE,ETC) IN FIREWALL SHOULD BE FILLED TO PREVENT FUEL FROM ENTERING THE INSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BATTERIES, SERVO'S, ETC. 

  12. ENSURE THAT YOUR ENGINE HAS THE CORRECT THRUST INSTALLED AS RECOMMENDED ON THE PLANS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR AIRPLANE. INCORRECT THRUST WILL CAUSE HAVOC ON YOUR MAIDEN VOYAGE. 

  13. NEW ENGINES- ENSURE THAT YOU FOLLOW YOUR MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS ON BREAKING IN NEW ENGINES. SOME ENGINES SUCH AS THE "ABC" (ALUMINUM, BRONZE, CHROME) DESIGNS, REQUIRE A DIFFERENT BREAK-IN THEN A RINGED ENGINE. 

  14. WHEN AT THE FIELD, STARTING OF ENGINES IS ONLY PERMITTED IN THE "TEST BOX" AND IN THE FLIGHT BOX (ENGINE FACING AWAY FROM PIT AREA). 
STEERING
  1. 1/4" THROW, LEFT AND RIGHT, ON THE STEERING ARM IS SUFFICIENT FOR GROUND HANDLING.

  2. LANDING GEAR FASTENERS TIGHTENED.

  3. LITTLE TO NO SLOP IN NOSE GEAR BLOCKS.

  4. STEERING CABLE SHOULD NOT FLEX OR BIND. 

  5. CENTER NOSE WHEEL TO TRACK STRAIGHT. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PUSHING YOUR PLANE ON THE FLOOR, DRIVEWAY ETC. ADJUST YOUR STEERING ARM AS REQUIRED SO THAT THE PLANE TRACKS STRAIGHT. 
WING
  1. PROPER INCIDENCE AND ALIGNMENT: 
    A.   A INCIDENCE METER IS REQUIRED TO CHECK AND ADJUST YOUR WING INCIDENCE. ADJUST TO MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE PLANS. 

    B. ALIGNMENT OF THE WING IS ACCOMPLISHED BY MEASURING FROM THE REAR OF THE WING TIPS TO THE     REAR CENTERLINE OF THE FUSELAGE 

  2. ATTACH THE WING TO THE FUSELAGE WITH A MINIMUM OF SEVEN #64 RUBBER BANDS ON EACH SIDE OF THE WING.

  3. WING SADDLE TAPE OR SEAL IS OPTIONAL.

  4. THE CENTER SECTION OF THE WING MUST BE REINFORCED WITH FIBERGLASS CLOTH AS RECOMMENDED ON THE PLANS.

  5. CHECK OPERATION OF THE AILERONS: 

    A. PUSH THE AILERON STICK ON THE TRANSMITTER TO THE RIGHT, THE LEFT AILERON SHOULD GO DOWN AND     THE RIGHT AILERON SHOULD GO UP. TRAVEL SHOULD BE ABOUT 20 DEGREES MIN. UP AND DOWN. IF THIS DOES NOT OCCUR, REPOSITION YOUR AILERON SERVO REVERSING SWITCH AND TRY IT AGAIN. ADJUST YOUR LIKAGES AS NECESSARY. 

    B. PUSH THE AILERON STICK ON THE TRANSMITTER TO THE LEFT, THE LEFT AILERON SHOULD GO UP AND THE     RIGHT AILERON SHOULD GO DOWN. TRAVEL SHOULD BE ABOUT 20 DEGREES MIN. UP AND DOWN. ADJUST YOUR LINKAGE AS NECESSARY.

    C. WITH THE AILERON STICK ON THE TRANSMITTER IN NEUTRAL, BOTH AILERONS SHOULD BE AT ZERO DEGREES     ON THE WING. THIS CAN EASILY BE CHECKED BY USING A RULER ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE WING (FLAT BOTTOM WING) AND ADJUST THE AILERON LINKAGES AS NECESSARY UNTIL BOTH AILERONS ARE EVEN WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE WING. 

  6. CHECK YOUR WING FOR WARPS, TWISTS, ETC. DO NOT FLY WITH A DISTORTED WING. 

  7. ENSURE THAT YOUR WING SERVO IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND IS SECURE, 

  8. ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO WIDE GAPS BETWEEN THE AIRLEON AND THE WING. 
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