Beginner RC Planes - Your Pre-Flight Check

As a beginner RC plane pilot you want to doproperly. This is usually done with rubber bands, but
everything you can to avoid crashing your plane. Anmake sure to check your planes instruction manual.
important part of flying that you should do every time- Make sure that all the control surfaces move in the
before you fly is the pre-flight check of your airplane.correct direction. For example: if you move the rudder
A pre-flight check is important because it helps you tostick to the right, the rudder moves to the right. Getting
ensure that everything on your plane is in order andthese mixed up can cause the plane to react in the
working before you try to start flying. So let's take aopposite direction you are thinking. This is something
look at some of the most important things you shouldthat a lot of beginner RC plan pilots don't look for
check before you fly.(because they don't know they should) so make sure
- Make sure that all the servos and their linkages toit is set up correctly.
the different control surfaces are secure. If the servo- Make sure that all the control surface hinges are
or the linkage is not secure, when you try to fly thesecure. Example: you can't pull the control surface
plane it will not react correctly.from the flying surface, ie. the plane's body or wing.
- Make sure that all the connections to the receiver,- Make sure the motor power works correctly, ie it
the battery pack, and ESC (Electronic Speedstarts and stops when you want it to.
Controller) are secure and correct.- Make sure to check the range of your plane's radio
- Make sure that the receiver and battery pack aresignal. This is important because you need to know the
secure and will not move during flight. You do not wantdistance you can safely fly within radio range. Losing
to lose power during flight, and a loose battery packthe radio signal to your plane will cause you to lose
could also change the balance of the plane.control of your plane and it will be left up to the winds,
- Make sure the propeller nut is tight and the spinner istrees, and ground to decide your plane's fate.
secure. You don't want your propeller coming offPerforming a pre-flight check before every flight can
during flight.help to ensure your success as a beginner RC pilot
- Make sure the tail and wing of the plane are securedand long life of your plane.