How often should I range check when I'm not having any problems? Do it with the engine running or not?
If I do it with the engine running I have to have the plane tied down.

I range check every day, for each plane. Also do this with the engine running as the vibration alone can cause your interference by vibrating to metal push rods crossed in the fuse or something else. As for holding your plane, you can use a buddy or take a look at my gallery and you will see a somewhat goofy picture of me with my Piper Cub. Notice the padded stakes in the ground retaining the wing.

G'day Mate,
This is a question that you will get a number of varied answers to.
I personally range check a new plane, with engine off & engine running as well, then I don't range check again, UNLESS I have changed something to do with the radio gear, eg, moved the aerial, or moved the receiver or battery to adjust balance point. But there are guys in our club that range check every day, before they fly, that particular plane.
So it is a personal preference, if you are happy to Range check every flying day, then do it, if you are happy that nothing has changed, then don't do it. It's up to you!

That's fine and dandy but let me run this one by you. Lets say the 70 year old guy in the farm house at the end of the feild where you fly was feeling nostalgic and picked up some high power ham radio and decided to start talking to Tokio on a frequency that bounces your RX. No prob when your withing 2 meters of your plane with the antena up but you get 100 m out and and your pretty plane looks like Roo-Poo. Unlikely but radio frequencies are bounsing around everywhere and they change. I will err on the side of caution myself.

G'day Mate,
And how is that range check gunna help ya, if he turns that same radio on, while you are in the air.
I stand by what I typed.

As was said above, you're going to get a lot of different answer. I of course range check a new plane, or when I've done any work on one. Then I will check them every other trip to the field. Range checks should be done with the engine running, both idle and full speed. Yes, you need to secure the plane before range checking it with the engine running. I use a piece of rope and a tent stake, or you can get a buddy to hold the plane while you do your range check.

Ken

I range check my planes in between each flight and also check the control surfaces for a bad or loose clevis. My first range check is the recommended distance and then just 30 feet or so. Only takes a couple minutes and I'm usually alone at the field anyway. The reason I do this is because all my planes are kit built scale ones from .20 size to 30% giant, glow and gas. They all have great meaning to me. I at least want to know that I did what I could to prevent a crash. I haven't lost a plane "YET". An old-timer told me it's better to be safe then sorry. I would feel horrible if my plane went out of control and hurt someone.

Gibbs

I am with Alan on this one: I range check a new plane, after I replace anything, or move anything. Again if I ever repair anything. Knock on wood I havent lost a Plane to radio interference yet. When i lose one its either dumb thumbs or I was flying beyond the aircraft's capabilities. If someone turns on an outlaw radio a range check won't help ya.

I do a range check of sorts every flight. Let me explain:
After I taxi to the end of the runway I test all control surfaces prior to takeoff.It only takes a second and gives you a last chance to find problems before it is too late. That is the way I was taught and a habit I stick to.
Full range check on a new model or after a real hard landing or crash.

I range check at the beginning of every day at the field. Then if I have made a bunch of flights I may re range check later in the day just for good measure.

I would say at LEAST every day when you begin... There are too many things that can go wrong on the way to/from the field.

Yeah, I call this the N.C. method as when I 1st did this here, I got the strangest look. I just don't trust the weakest part of the plane holding it back at full throttle......

P.S., I used to fly near Fayetteville at Stedman,N.C. and Piedmont A.M. clubs

[sm=thumbs_up.gif] Me, too... I try to instill some full-scale methods in my noobs and me. We have an airport approx. 10 mins.

from me w/ student pilots in trng and I tell them to go observe and maybe you learn somthing.... Rob

RANGE CHECK?? We're supposed to RANGE CHECK!?

All kidding aside, for my glow planes I range check once prior to maiden and then again if I do any repairs or mods of any kind.

For larger planes with gas engines..., (in addition to above), I check at every new field and any time I have removed the cowl for any reason, just in case the shielded iggy wires spring a leak. I always check with the engine running and about double the mfg. recommended distance.

The biggest radio threat you face is being 'shot-down' by a fellow flyer, and you can't do anything about that. I have been 'shot-down' twice in the last month, but luckily was able to yell loudly and quickly enough to save my plane. (I'm sure I was not polite about it).

at the start of evey day at the field with the antana down..... the at the end of the runway every flight antana up...visualy inspect after evey flight.....that should catch any glitch or hardware troubles .....only trouble is when i crash im the only one to blame

Pilots are getting to nonchalant about getting there frequency pin and putting it on their radio. I see so many times when there are only three or four guys at the field and they just exchange frequencies verbally. Then all of a sudden another pilot shows up and get his pin from the box. No one is using it so he does a range check and down comes baby cradle and all. The guy that crashed gets angry and says a few choice words but the guy with the pin is in the right in my opinion. Pilots need to read their club rules. I don't know of any club that doesn't have frequency pins and rules for using them. I am a private pilot and when I go flying I have to do a walk around of the plane and check the fuel for water. I then climb inside and go through a long checklist before I even close the door and start the engine. Then after I taxi into position I have to do a magneto check. Pilots just take this as routine and do it. RC pilots need to have the same attitude about flying. Your not in the plane to get hurt if it crashes, but your on the ground and if the plane goes out of control and hits you or someone else they could be injured or even killed if the plane were big enough.

Gibbs