#Preflight hobby how to

Do not practice on a flight simulator.Ĭomputer based radio control flight simulators have revolutionized RC flight. Always clear your flight path to avoid causing a midair crash. But many times a pilot will neglect to check for conflicting traffic on the runway or in the landing pattern, and inadvertently takeoff and run into another airplane. Some in-flight collisions cannot be avoided. Do not check for aircraft traffic.Īll RC pilots strive to avoid a midair collision with other model planes. Remember that if the on-board battery fails, you will lose radio contact and control of your model plane. Ensure the battery is fully charged before flight and check the remaining energy level between flights.

Simple devices exist to monitor the level of charge. Do not check your battery’s charge state.Īll radio control model planes have an on-board battery to provide electrical power for the receiver and servos. You will discover your personal wind limits over time as you gain experience. Larger and heavier RC models can fly in higher winds. Wind is the biggest weather consideration for model aircraft aviation. An RC pilot needs to ensure there is adequate visibility as you must maintain sight of your plane during the entire flight. Having suitable weather is an important factor for a safe flight. It is very difficult for any pilot to catch and correct for this during takeoff. Should this error not be caught during the flight control check, the model will bank away from the transmitter’s aileron control stick input. It is surprisingly easy to inadvertently set up the ailerons to move opposite of the control input. Standing safely behind your model with the engine running, ensure that all the flight controls move freely and in the proper direction. This simple check is accomplished before taxing out from the pits. Do not check the flight controls before takeoff. Check that everything on the aircraft is securely fastened, that there is no fuel system leakage and the wing is properly mounted. Develop and follow a simple checklist to ensure you cover all items. A preflight check of any aircraft is mandatory before taking to the skies. The number one cause of model aircraft crashes is skipping the all important preflight check. If you want your model to avoid this sad fate, learn from the mistakes of others! 1.

#Preflight hobby how to

Following are eight sure fire tips on how to “re-kit” (i.e. RC pilots earn a tremendous amount of satisfaction through designing, building and flying a wide range of radio control model planes. Flying radio control model aircraft is a hobby enjoyed by thousands of enthusiasts.