The Mother of All Checklists

There ain't no such thing as a model which is ready to fly. This is an attempt to write down all the things which can go wrong on your first flight and how to stop them.

Maintenance

Check these items whenever you disassemble the airplane, and when you first finish building or take posession of a new model.

Wings

• Both halves anchored and attached with tape
• Ailerons attached and secure
• Ailerons at neutral.
• Aileron servo attached with all 4 screws present and properly tensioned
• Aileron servo actuator cam attached and screw at proper tension
• Aileron servo wires present and properly terminated
• Aileron control horns present and secured to ailerons
• Aileron control rods not binding
• Wing undesides flat
• Wing not warped

Empennage

• Rudder securely attached to elevator
• Elevator securely attached to fuselage
• Empennage straight on fuselage and rudder centered
• Control horn on rudder attached and secure
• Control rod attached to rudder and clevis keeper properly positioned (rod above elevator)
• Control horn on elevator attached and secure
• Control rod attached to elevator and clevis keeper properly positioned (rod below elevator)
• Hinges secure and working on rudder control surface
• Hinges secure and working on elevator control surface
• No holes in rudder or elevator

Fuselage

• Fuselage straight lengthwise and crosswise
• Empennage control rods not binding
• Throttle control rod not binding
• No holes in fuselage

Servo and receiver packages

• Rudder/nosewheel servo installed and all 4 screws properly tensioned
• Rudder/nosewheel servo actuator arm secure
• Rudder/nosewheel control rods properly installed with screws/clevis keepers
• Rudder/nosewheel servo cushions properly installed on screws

• Elevator servo installed and all 4 screws properly tensioned
• Elevator servo actuator arm secure
• Elevator control rod properly installed with clevis keeper installed
• Elevator servo cushions properly installed on screws

• Throttle servo installed and all 4 screws properly tensioned
• Throttle servo actuator arm secure
• Throttle control rod properly installed with clevis keeper installed
• Throttle servo cushions properly installed on screws

• Receiver installed and properly wired
• Battery installed and connected to switch
• Antenna installed down fuselage -- no knots

Landing Gear

• Main gear installed and secure to fuselage
• Nose/tail wheel installed and secure
• Nose/tail wheel control rod installed with clevis keeper in position
• Wheels secure and rotate freely
• Tires ok with no flat spots

Engine

• Firewall mounting screws secure
• Gas tank secure
• Gas tank no leaks (blow test)
• Glow plug secure
• Cylinder top secure
• Fuel tank tubing correctly installed and no leaks
• Idle screws present
• Throttle closed at extreme of servo
• Throttle open at extreme of servo
• Muffler secure
• Exhaust pipe pointed away from airplane
• Compression present when prop turned
• Throttle control rod attached with clevis keeper in position

Prop/nose cone

• Prop smooth and balanced
• Prop washer properly installed
• Prop nut tight
• Nose cone centered
• Nose cone secure

Center of Gravity

• Install wings and check that model balances within documented specifications

Payload bench check

Field

Things to check before a day of flying

Field Box

• 12V Battery charged
• Starter ok
• Glow plug heater ok
• Fuel pump ok
• Fuel tubing & filters ok
• Fuel bottle & cap fittings ok
• Transmitter ok

Consumables

• Extra glow plug
• Rubber bands
• Cellophane tape
• Paper towels
• Extra servo hold-down screws
• Extra fuel tubing

Flight and Function

• Model charged -- test with voltmeter
• Transmitter charged -- check charge lights
• Aileron servo connected
• Wings attached properly -- 10 bands
• Control inversion test
• Control 50-foot test
• Engine idle test and adjust
• Engine full throttle test and adjust

Payload function check

-- CharlesShapiro - 08 May 2003