Pre-Flight Checklist for a New Airplane
A. Hat
B. Sunglasses
C. [Optional] Sun Screen
. . . Chair . . . Beverages
D. Glow Driver (charged)
E. Glow Plug(s)
F. [Optional] Electric Starter
(charged)
G. Chicken Stick
H. Assorted wrenches and screwdrivers
required for engine and airframe
I. Nails, pegs, or other device
or devices to restrain the airplane when starting
J. [Recommended] First Aid kit
K. Cleanup materials (towel or rags
or Scott towels; Windex...)
2. Gas lines:
A. Not pinched or kinked
B. Connected properly (clunk line
to carb, breather line to muffler)
3. Engine:
A. Mounted securely (to mount and
to firewall)
B. All bolts tight (carb, head,
backplate, muffler, glow plug)
4. Propellor:
A. Tightened
B. Balanced
C. Tips painted (recommended for
safety)
D. Edges dulled
5. Batteries charged for 14 to 24 hours
A. TX--check voltmeter on unit
B. RX--check with loaded voltmeter
(above 4.8 volts under load)
C. Starter
D. Glow-driver
6. Check all flight structures:
A. Wing joint (kind of glue used
reinforced properly)
B. Stab joint
C. Fin joint
D. No warp in wing or stabilizer
E. Hinges glued in
F. Control horns securely fastened
G. Controls at proper neutral
position:
1)
Ailerons
2)
Elevator
3)
Rudder
4)
Throttle: idles with trim switch up, dies with trim switch down
H. Wheel collars tightened (preferably
with flat spots ground on axle)
7. Fresh or properly stored fuel
8. Foam rubber around:
A. Tank
B. Receiver
C. Batteries
9. Batteries and fuel tank held firmly in place
10. Antenna strung correctly
11. Pushrods:
A. All clevises snapped shut, preferably
with safety tubing
B. Sufficient threading inserted
at ends of nyrods
12. CHECK FOR CONFLICTING RADIO FREQUENCIES
BEFORE TURNING ON TRANSMITTER
A. Preliminary range check with
antenna collapsed. Extend antenna before flying!
B. Trim switches set to neutral
C. Correct direction for controls
when viewed from rear of plane:
1)
Aileron (left stick makes left aileron go UP; right stick, right UP)
2)
Elevator
3)
Rudder
4)
Nose Wheel
D. Correct range of throw on flight
surfaces
13. Servos:
A. No binding in servo linkages
or control horns
B. Examine servos for set screws
C. No slop in pushrods (supported
properly)
D. Capable of turning off engine
E. No interference between servo
arms and servo leads
F. No metal-to-metal connections
G. Servo tray securely fastened
or glued
14. Wing attachment:
A. Sufficient number of rubber
bands
B. Nylon bolts at correct torsion
(tight, not over-stressed)
C. No interference from bolts,
servos, pushrods, or wires when wing is installed
15. Center of Gravity within bounds
16. Range check with engine running and antenna collapsed. Extend antenna before flying!
Compiled by Marty Moleski, SJ
(716) 888-2383
moleski@canisius.edu
Plain text version of checklist.
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