Here's the checklist we include in our Pilot Training Manual, which we adopted from Mike Lynch and Tom Rhodes of the Crystal River R/C Club in Beverly Hills, FL

Appendix C
Mechanics Check List


POWER PLANT

1. PROPELLER
 Propeller nut tight
 Spinner on tight
 Propeller balanced

2. ENGINE
 Hold down bolts tight
 Head bolts tight
 Carburetor secure
 Glow plug tight
 Note: carburetor will be "stroked" during the CONTROL operation.

3. FUEL SYSTEM
 Lines connected properly
 Line routing , bends, kinks
 Tank mounting
 Clunk free


FUSELAGE

1. CONTROLS
 Throttle control free
 Servos mounted securely and tight
 Servo hardware tight
 Servo pushrods clear of mechanical interference

2. LANDING GEAR
 Main Gear and Nose Gear Hardware tight
 Wheels free and collars tight

3. RECEIVER
 Check all receiver plugs for proper seating
 Check antenna routing
 Check receiver overall crash protection

4. BATTERY AND SWITCH
 Check switch mounting (opposite muffler side of fuse.
 Check wire leads for routing and binding and proper hook-up
 Check battery crash protection
 Check battery voltage


EMPENNAGE

1. VERTICAL STAB
 Check all glue joints for rigidity where joined to fuse
 Check rudder hinges
 Check rudder control horn
 Rudder throw will be checked and set under CONTROL OPERATION

2. HORIZONTAL STAB
 Check all glue joints for rigidity where joined to fuse
 Check elevator hinges
 Check elevator control horn
 Elevator throw will be checked and set under CONTROL OPERATION


WING


1. CONTROL SURFACES
 Check aileron hinges
 Check aileron control horns
 Aileron operation will be checked and set under CONTROL OPERATION 2


2. WING ALIGNMENT
 Check wings center section joint
 Check wings for warp


CONTROL OPERATION


1. TRANSMITTER
 Check for card in frequency slot on transmitter impound before operating transmitter
 Check transmitter voltage meter for proper operating voltage
 Check for proper flags on transmitter
 Set all trim controls on center

2. RUDDER AND NOSE GEAR
 Check rudder for correct direction ( check also nose gear if tricycle gear) (change transmitter switch if necessary)
 Check for proper throw
 Check all hardware for tightness ( especially nose gear control horn on shaft)

3. ELEVATOR
 Check for correct direction (change transmitter switch if necessary)
 Check for proper throw
 Check all hardware for tightness


4. AILERON
 Check for correct direction (change transmitter switch if necessary)
 Check for proper throw
 Check all hardware for tightness and check aileron control shaft from pushrod connection through trailing edge bearings to connection on aileron. There should be no "slop" in the system.
 Check for symmetry in neutral position.
 Check all hardware for tightness

5. THROTTLE
 Check for correct direction (change transmitter switch if necessary)
 Check for proper throw. Trim down-carb barrel closed. Trim up-carb open to fast idle. Throttle control off for these checks. Throttle full up-carb barrel full open.
 Check all hardware for tightness


BUDDY BOX OPERATION


1. TRIM
 Set all transmitter and buddy box trim to neutral or center position.
 Ensure that the buddy box power switch is OFF.

2. OPERATION
 Check buddy box for proper tracking with main transmitter for Rudder, Elevator, Aileron, and Throttle. Correct buddy box as necessary to track with main transmitter.

3. RANGE CHECK
 Range check transmitter with antenna collapsed and distance of 200 feet.
 Check also operation of buddy box through transmitter at the range check.