T E A M
Tips for Flying
Top Tips to Keep Your Park Flyer Flying
Park flyer models weigh 2 pounds or less and must be incapable of reaching speeds greater than 60 mph. They must be electric or rubber powered, or of any similar quiet means of propulsion. Models should be remotely controlled or flown with a control line, remain within the pilot’s line of sight at all times, and always be flown safely by the operator.
A Park Flying Site can be either an outdoor or an indoor venue. When flying at sites specifically designed for park flyers, the pilot will keep the model within the field’s established flight boundaries. Members need to consider several factors, including piloting ability and the park flyer’s weight, size, and speed, to determine whether or not a Park Flying Site is an appropriate venue at which to operate a particular aircraft. The test should be, “Can I fly this model safely and quietly at this flying site?”
Preflight Tips:
Preflight before every flight! Check for broken parts, loose control horns, and loose motors; make sure that the servo linkages are locked into place (especially the servo screws); etc. Do an extensive inspection prior to the first flight of the day and a quick once-over on each subsequent flight.
Learn all you can about the radio range of your model aircraft before launching. A range check will determine your signal strength and alert you of a potential problem.
Never launch your model unless everything is just right. If it’s not right on the ground, it will only be worse in the air. Don’t “hope” that it will get better while flying.
Check to ensure that all control surfaces move in the proper direction. If the control surfaces are off-center, that could be a sign of a bigger problem.
Carefully inspect and locate the flight battery to ensure that the airplane has the correct center of gravity (CG). Puffed or distorted batteries are dangerous to use and should be properly recycled.
Beware of the shakes. Especially with helicopters, any vibration will wear on the model’s joints and quickly turn a screw loose. Spinning parts should be balanced per the manufacturer’s recommendations before flying.
Is it too windy to fly? The red flag on the transmitter is a good tool for identifying the takeoff direction. If the flag is blowing at a right angle to the antenna, the flight conditions are poor. Most park flyers become difficult to fly in winds that are 10 mph or stronger.
Safety Tips:
Never fly alone. Even if you’re using a low-powered electric model, things happen, and half the fun is sharing the joy of flight. Having a spotter’s extra eyes is smart, in case something happens on the field.
Never lose sight of your model at any time. Flying the model through the sunlight will temporarily blind you. Wearing sunglasses helps.
Look right, look left, and then look right again. Public parks are always active with people coming and going. Be aware of what’s around you at all times.
Point the airplane away from the flightline. In case an incident occurs and the model has to be put down hard, never fly toward people or property.
Flying areas lined with trees are sometimes protected from the prevailing wind. But more often, the air current rolls over the treetops, creating a downwash that can cause an airplane to drastically lose lift.
Be prepared to treat cuts or wounds (the kind that propellers make). Have a first-aid kit with bandages and antibiotics, etc.
Store batteries in a safe container and travel with them that way. Keep this container within reach, especially when flying indoors. Also take precautions to prevent loose power leads from touching each other.
Transmitter/Battery Tips:
Turn the transmitter on first, after the frequency is clear. Then turn the model on to prevent erratic control-surface behavior and accidental motor starts.
What radio frequency are you using? Choose a flying area that is at least 3 miles from a known AMA sanctioned flying site.
Seek information from magazines and on the Web about 2.4 GHz, 72 MHz, and 27 MHz frequencies—what they are, where they can be used, and why.
Check all of your batteries. The average transmitter is typically good for approximately six to 10 flights after a full overnight charge. Don’t use the transmitter if the voltage is below 9.6.
To prevent exposing the bare wires of a powerful battery pack, disconnect the battery by pulling on the plugs—not the wires.
To prevent damage or shortened battery life, avoid keeping them in a hot or cold car. Li-Poly batteries should be stored at roughly 70° F.
Let the batteries cool between charging. This will greatly extend their life and extend their running time.
Avoid charging batteries unattended. Should a battery pack or charger overheat, that heat can cause permanent damage to valuable property.
Avoid mixing and matching battery chargers. Improperly charging and overusing a battery pack is dangerous. Keep in mind that every battery has specific charge needs and usage capabilities.
Flying Field Tips:
What did the weather forecaster say the day would be like? The early mornings and evenings are optimal for lightweight model aircraft, because the winds are typically light.
Be aware of other activities in the area. Don’t fly over sporting events such as soccer games, baseball games, etc. Don’t make landing approaches over children’s playgrounds.
Be aware of your surroundings; make sure there is enough space (free of obstacles) to safely fly the type of aircraft you have chosen.
Make yourself visible and be alert at all times. If other fliers show up at the field, you’ll want to share the air and make sure none of you are flying on the same frequency.
Keep in mind that it usually takes more area to land an airplane than it does to hand launch an airplane.
Have some adhesive with you. Low-temperature glue guns and a piece of packing tape are handy, and they can make that quick lunch-break flight successful—not tragic.
Piloting Tips:
Try it on the simulator first. Aerobatic maneuvers are thrilling to do and watch. A public park is potentially an embarrassing place to experiment with new tricks.
Reversing the throttle control by mistake will instantaneously launch the model. It’s safer to have a helper hold the model, to keep it from taking off by accident.
Noises from the model or from the field around you will alert a pilot of change, and he or she should land the model immediately to make sure that the aircraft and flying area are still safe to use.
Fly with the thought that the motor could quit at any moment. Be sure that no matter what attitude the model is in at the time, you can land it safely if motor power is lost.
Fly at 80% of your ability. The right time to push the envelope is at a safe altitude and in a safe area. Make a good impression at a new field and fly safely.
Recheck your airplane after a flight. Even the smallest bumps can knock things out of alignment or balance. The “trimmed model” that flew so well can be a handful on the next flight because of the smallest movement in control surfaces.
Model Care/Repair Tips:
Keep the model airplane clean. It’s not that the airplane gets dirty frequently, but the process of going over the entire aircraft every 10 or so flights is good practice and may turn up problems that are otherwise unseen.
Propellers or helicopter blades with nicks are accidents looking for a place to happen. Even the smallest nicks can cause imbalance. Save your model and replace that damaged part before it tries to replace you.
Warped wings will make the model unstable. Leaving a model in a hot car all day could distort an airframe. Carefully bending it in the opposite direction will take out minor twists.
Even solid wheels can go flat. The weight of the model compresses light foam wheels and creates a flat spot. This is normal, and they will bounce back. Rotate the wheels regularly to prevent the flat from getting too big.
Does your three-channel model like to roll? It may have a heavy wingtip. Slide a penny along the wing until the model balances, and then glue or tape the coin in place.
Some glue can eat foam. Before building or making a repair, test the adhesive on a hidden area to confirm its compatibility.
Top Tips to Keep Your Park Flyer Flying
Park flyer models weigh 2 pounds or less and must be incapable of reaching speeds greater than 60 mph. They must be electric or rubber powered, or of any similar quiet means of propulsion. Models should be remotely controlled or flown with a control line, remain within the pilot’s line of sight at all times, and always be flown safely by the operator.
A Park Flying Site can be either an outdoor or an indoor venue. When flying at sites specifically designed for park flyers, the pilot will keep the model within the field’s established flight boundaries. Members need to consider several factors, including piloting ability and the park flyer’s weight, size, and speed, to determine whether or not a Park Flying Site is an appropriate venue at which to operate a particular aircraft. The test should be, “Can I fly this model safely and quietly at this flying site?”
Preflight Tips:
Preflight before every flight! Check for broken parts, loose control horns, and loose motors; make sure that the servo linkages are locked into place (especially the servo screws); etc. Do an extensive inspection prior to the first flight of the day and a quick once-over on each subsequent flight.
Learn all you can about the radio range of your model aircraft before launching. A range check will determine your signal strength and alert you of a potential problem.
Never launch your model unless everything is just right. If it’s not right on the ground, it will only be worse in the air. Don’t “hope” that it will get better while flying.
Check to ensure that all control surfaces move in the proper direction. If the control surfaces are off-center, that could be a sign of a bigger problem.
Carefully inspect and locate the flight battery to ensure that the airplane has the correct center of gravity (CG). Puffed or distorted batteries are dangerous to use and should be properly recycled.
Beware of the shakes. Especially with helicopters, any vibration will wear on the model’s joints and quickly turn a screw loose. Spinning parts should be balanced per the manufacturer’s recommendations before flying.
Is it too windy to fly? The red flag on the transmitter is a good tool for identifying the takeoff direction. If the flag is blowing at a right angle to the antenna, the flight conditions are poor. Most park flyers become difficult to fly in winds that are 10 mph or stronger.
Safety Tips:
Never fly alone. Even if you’re using a low-powered electric model, things happen, and half the fun is sharing the joy of flight. Having a spotter’s extra eyes is smart, in case something happens on the field.
Never lose sight of your model at any time. Flying the model through the sunlight will temporarily blind you. Wearing sunglasses helps.
Look right, look left, and then look right again. Public parks are always active with people coming and going. Be aware of what’s around you at all times.
Point the airplane away from the flightline. In case an incident occurs and the model has to be put down hard, never fly toward people or property.
Flying areas lined with trees are sometimes protected from the prevailing wind. But more often, the air current rolls over the treetops, creating a downwash that can cause an airplane to drastically lose lift.
Be prepared to treat cuts or wounds (the kind that propellers make). Have a first-aid kit with bandages and antibiotics, etc.
Store batteries in a safe container and travel with them that way. Keep this container within reach, especially when flying indoors. Also take precautions to prevent loose power leads from touching each other.
Transmitter/Battery Tips:
Turn the transmitter on first, after the frequency is clear. Then turn the model on to prevent erratic control-surface behavior and accidental motor starts.
What radio frequency are you using? Choose a flying area that is at least 3 miles from a known AMA sanctioned flying site.
Seek information from magazines and on the Web about 2.4 GHz, 72 MHz, and 27 MHz frequencies—what they are, where they can be used, and why.
Check all of your batteries. The average transmitter is typically good for approximately six to 10 flights after a full overnight charge. Don’t use the transmitter if the voltage is below 9.6.
To prevent exposing the bare wires of a powerful battery pack, disconnect the battery by pulling on the plugs—not the wires.
To prevent damage or shortened battery life, avoid keeping them in a hot or cold car. Li-Poly batteries should be stored at roughly 70° F.
Let the batteries cool between charging. This will greatly extend their life and extend their running time.
Avoid charging batteries unattended. Should a battery pack or charger overheat, that heat can cause permanent damage to valuable property.
Avoid mixing and matching battery chargers. Improperly charging and overusing a battery pack is dangerous. Keep in mind that every battery has specific charge needs and usage capabilities.
Flying Field Tips:
What did the weather forecaster say the day would be like? The early mornings and evenings are optimal for lightweight model aircraft, because the winds are typically light.
Be aware of other activities in the area. Don’t fly over sporting events such as soccer games, baseball games, etc. Don’t make landing approaches over children’s playgrounds.
Be aware of your surroundings; make sure there is enough space (free of obstacles) to safely fly the type of aircraft you have chosen.
Make yourself visible and be alert at all times. If other fliers show up at the field, you’ll want to share the air and make sure none of you are flying on the same frequency.
Keep in mind that it usually takes more area to land an airplane than it does to hand launch an airplane.
Have some adhesive with you. Low-temperature glue guns and a piece of packing tape are handy, and they can make that quick lunch-break flight successful—not tragic.
Piloting Tips:
Try it on the simulator first. Aerobatic maneuvers are thrilling to do and watch. A public park is potentially an embarrassing place to experiment with new tricks.
Reversing the throttle control by mistake will instantaneously launch the model. It’s safer to have a helper hold the model, to keep it from taking off by accident.
Noises from the model or from the field around you will alert a pilot of change, and he or she should land the model immediately to make sure that the aircraft and flying area are still safe to use.
Fly with the thought that the motor could quit at any moment. Be sure that no matter what attitude the model is in at the time, you can land it safely if motor power is lost.
Fly at 80% of your ability. The right time to push the envelope is at a safe altitude and in a safe area. Make a good impression at a new field and fly safely.
Recheck your airplane after a flight. Even the smallest bumps can knock things out of alignment or balance. The “trimmed model” that flew so well can be a handful on the next flight because of the smallest movement in control surfaces.
Model Care/Repair Tips:
Keep the model airplane clean. It’s not that the airplane gets dirty frequently, but the process of going over the entire aircraft every 10 or so flights is good practice and may turn up problems that are otherwise unseen.
Propellers or helicopter blades with nicks are accidents looking for a place to happen. Even the smallest nicks can cause imbalance. Save your model and replace that damaged part before it tries to replace you.
Warped wings will make the model unstable. Leaving a model in a hot car all day could distort an airframe. Carefully bending it in the opposite direction will take out minor twists.
Even solid wheels can go flat. The weight of the model compresses light foam wheels and creates a flat spot. This is normal, and they will bounce back. Rotate the wheels regularly to prevent the flat from getting too big.
Does your three-channel model like to roll? It may have a heavy wingtip. Slide a penny along the wing until the model balances, and then glue or tape the coin in place.
Some glue can eat foam. Before building or making a repair, test the adhesive on a hidden area to confirm its compatibility.
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