Pre-flight and log book
 

I was wondering if anyone has developed a simple pre-flight check and a log book for their RC airplanes. Yes- I am mildly OCD. I have several airplanes that have literally hundreds of flights on them and I was thinking that maybe I need to start thinking about routine maintenance based on the number of flights. I have seen a few examples of both pre-flight checklists and logs but didn't know if there might be some out there that are really well thought out that could be shared. I am sure there are glow/gas/electric variations. Right now I go through the checklist by habit- batteries, bolts, correct throws, etc. But I sometimes teach new RC pilots to fly and I think it would be nice to provide something they could see so nothing would be forgotten. I am interested too.

Or.......I may just be OCD.

jim

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Jim:

I have seen several in the past and I even had my own but they tend to be personalized. I think it's a great idea and maybe we could all contribute. Personally, I feel it should be: 1) about the size of a playing card and 2) two sided with one side for leaving the house to fly and one side for prior to the first flight of the day.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Excellent idea as some newbies really don't know what to check for, though I suspect that most others do have a check list of sorts of their own.

Karol

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

I am pretty sure there are great examples out there already- kind of surprised that there are no commercial examples or web-based examples. I like ti 2-sided idea and yes- the newbies are the main reason I brought the topic up. i know what I do-  but teaching it consistently can be a problem.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Have done preflights on all my planes over the last 30 years. just exactlly as we do in full size.
Also have logs books and I can tell you every thing about all my 13 A/C. all maintenance ,battery times,battery life and hours that are flown
My last entry shows over 600 hours. on glow and quite a few on e power.
It is very handy having a good record of history.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Do you have a separate log book for each model? Are you using pc software to keep the log or is it handwritten? I've been wanting to do the same thing; i.e., keep a record of what I've done on the model, what repairs were done/when, how the engine ran last, when the batteries were cycled and the readings.

I keep a separate log for batteries and would like something similar for the models, engines and electronics.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

www.bluemaxrc.com offers a pre-flight checklist.


Daily Aircraft Check

The following items should be checked regularly, at least before the first flight every flight date. It is recommended that most items be checked after each flight date, at home, so there will be no sunprises at the field next time out. Do not fly aircraft that does not pass all of these criteria.

Propeller & spinner secure - propeller properly balanced & undamaged -
Do not use a damaged propeller.
Engine bolts secure to mount - Mount secure to firewall.
Fuel tank secure, preferably in foam rubber - Tank clunk free.
Receiver, battery, all servos secure - Receiver in rubber -
Wires clear of all moving control horns & pushrods - Antenna clear of servos.
Minimal free play in servo horns & pushrods - Control horns secure -
Clevis' secure with safety retainers.
All control surface hinges secure (especially ARFs) with minimal gap -
Free movement (no binds) all control surfaces - Rudder, elevator, ailerons
Throttle travel, idle to full - Shut off travel OK - No servo bind at full throttle
(nothing drains a battery more than a servo bind.)
Nose wheel straight, at least sensitive position - Roll test on pavement
Aileron servo connected - Retainer or baffle to keep aileron wire
from entangling in aileron rods.
Rubber band quantity & installation - Do not use old or used rubber bands.
Recommended installation: 2 criss-cross, 6 straight (3 each side), 4 criss-cross
Balance empty (no fuel) - Do not fly a tail heavy aircraft. Remember, a nose
heavy plane flies sluggish; a tail heavy plane usually only flies once.
AMA number & proper identification - Name and address inside
Receiver battery voltage - Do not operate below 4.9 volts.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Since day one I've been using a small spiral bound notebook with tabs to ID the different aircraft. If its a new plane, I'll add a tab for it, then enter some of the specs, such as where/when it was purchased, engine, wingspan and so forth, and date completed. From there, I'll enter any flight info. For example, if I flew 2x that day, the entry would read something like;

June 17, 2011
2 10 minute flights. Weather was mild with slight breeze from southwest. Plane flew well with no problems noted.

If there are any problems I'll give a brief description. Any repairs or modifications made later are also entered when completed. And last I enter anything unusual or different about the flying day.. a new manuver tried or such. Its pretty cool to go back over 8 yrs. of info. and look at the different planes flight times and so forth. Started with the 30.00 HobbyZone Outlaw, and just maidened a 1/3 Paulistinha. What a hoot! But seriously, however you do it, just do it. It'll be good reading when you get a few years down the road.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

With my cars:

Verify glow starter function
Pull the starter cord a couple times to verify the engine still turns properly
Transmitter on
Receiver on
Verify throttle and steering function
Verify failsafe function
Fuel and prime it
Verify radio and failsafe again.
Verify antenna is up(I still run AM on my cars!!! [X(])
Trim in about 10% throttle, a fast idle just a schmidge above the clutch engagement point for my NTC3
Attach ignitor
Start engine
Remove ignitor, attach shell, trim idle back, have fun.


When I start the plane:

Verify ignitor function
Transmitter on
Receiver on
Verify each surface moves properly
Wiggle all channels at once, max deflection, high rates.
Verify each surface moves properly on high and low rates
Add fuel
Move throttle to WOT, plug carb with thumb, flip prop to prime engine
Reset throttle to about 15%, attach ignitor, flip it till it starts
Lower throttle to 0%, with throttle trim at it's highest. Engine should be idling smoothly. Remove ignitor.
Verify the motor runs right, then it's time to fly.

Shutdown procedure for the car:

Ahead of schedule shutdown:

Bring it into the pits
Remove shell
Let it idle for about 20 seconds or so
Remove pressure line from tank, then remove the fuel line from the tank. Hold the line up above the chassis.
Trim in some brakes, then wait for it to burn up what's in the line and shut off
Turn everything off, reattach the lines, and bring it in.
Once inside, drain tank back into fuel bottle, pop it on my lego car stand, and that's that.

On schedule shutdown:

Bring it into the pits
Remove shell
Trim in some brake
Let it run itself dry at idle, this normally takes less than 30 seconds since I watch the tank level like a hawk
Turn everything off, head inside, pop it on it's stand, and that's that.

Shutdown procedure for the plane:

Land, obviously. :p
Restrain aircraft, raise throttle to 10% or so
Throttle trim to minimum
Close throttle rapidly to kill the engine.
Empty the tank
Raise throttle back up to 10%
Restart it, let it burn what's left in the lines
Pack it up and head home.

As for a log book, I only feel the need to log whatever negative happens, and even then only until it has been corrected.

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Hi guys...so after reading this thread I went searching for some type of log book.  And there are certainly a number of tools to be found online, which I guess is kind of expected.  <div>
</div><div>However, I was pretty excited when I saw one available for android-based smartphones.  If you have an android smartphone, this may be worth checking out.  In the market, do a search for "rc flight log" and it will come up.  The app is called "T3chDad RC Flight Log."  Currently its $2.99, which is definitely fair.  It seems to be an excellent flight log, however I was a little disappointed that you couldn't track maintenance/inspections on it.  I contacted the developer and he was very friendly and receptive to my feedback and indicated that he will keep it in mind for future updates.  Besides that, the flight log seems very convenient and easy to use at the field.  I purchased it and will be trying it out for the next few months to see how I like it.</div><div>
</div><div>Hope this helps....</div>

RE: Pre-flight and log book
 

Good find. Thanks.