Don’t take your new bird to the sky without going through this checklist first. Yes, I know how hard it’s going to be to postpone your maiden voyage by another 30 minutes. But trust me, it will be well worth your time when the aircraft returns home in one piece. So lets get checking:

Fuel:

Are your batteries fully charged? Gas tank full? This should include a check of your radio controller as well.

Weight:

Is your bird too heavy for flight?

Equilibrium:

Is your airplane balanced correctly. The weight of the aircraft should be in the center. A little to the left or right is no good for safe flight.

Check landing gear/wings/rudder:

Make sure all are secure and undamaged.

Radio Control:

- batteries
- confirm that all channels are working properly
- receiver antenna extended
- complete a full-range check

Known problem areas:

If some aspect of your remote control airplane has caused a problem in the past, be sure to check on that as well.

Follow these simple steps every time to protect your investment.


Is there anything we missed? What steps do you take to ensure the safety of your RC plane pre-flight?