RE: New plane - pre-flight check before first flight - share your knowledge!
Okay, I will start off by saying that I am a newbe to flying R/C. Back in the early 70's I got the chance to actually solo in a real plane. I am going to dust off the old brain cells and attempt to remember the pre-flight that I used to have to do.
Starting at the left door,
1) Check engine. Check oil levels, make sure all visible hoses are connected and secure. Make sure inspection cover is secured in place.
2) Firmly grasp prop and pull to make sure it is secure. Inspect prop for damage.
3) Check nose wheel.
4) Inspect leading edge of right wing.
5) Check cover on right wing tip light.
6) Grasp right aileron. Make sure it is secured. Check for free movement stop to stop.
7) Check right flap. Make sure it is secured and has no movement.
8) Check right side of fuse. Loose, missing or damage.
9) Check leading edge of right horz. stab. Looking for damage.
10) Check leading edge vert. stab. Looking for damage.
11) Grasp elevator. Make sure it is secured and has free movement stop to stop and that the entire elevator moves together.
12) Grasp rudder. Make sure it is secured and has free movement stop to stop.
13) Move elevator and rudder stop to stop together to make sure they do not interfer with each others travel.
14) Check leading edge left horz. stab.
15) Check left side fuse.
16) Check left flap.
17) Check left aileron.
18) Check left aircraft light cover.
19) Check leading edge, left wing.
Whala, your done with the preflight.
After that we would taxi out to the end of the runway, point the nose into the wind and check things like the engine to full power, magnetos (make sure that both were functioning and the engine would work on one at a time), ailerons, rudder and elevator. The instructor told me to remember CIGARETTE, but for the life of me I can't remember what each letter was supposed to stand for.
I really don't know how much of this applies to R/C flying, but some of it might. I left out checking the fuel because these aircraft don't have wing tanks that I know of.
Hope this helps you.
Larry