One more check is important. Turn on your motor and have a helper hold the model while you walk away with the transmitter. You should obtain roughly the same distance as when the motor is off. back to top

A marked reduction in range with the motor running indicates that the motor system is causing a form of interference that is getting to your radio. This must be investigated before your first flight.

When turning that motor on for the first time, make sure you verify that it is running in the proper direction. The wind that the propeller generates should be blowing toward the back end of the model. If it's not, your motor polarity is backward and must be corrected.

As an instructor I like to take the model up for its first flight. Our flying field is rough because it's part dirt and part cut-down weeds. Larger models can take off from the ground, but the smaller parking-lot and Speed 400 models (such as the Pogo) are best hand launched.

On the first flight you are never really sure what is going to happen. The model might be out of trim and could drop off to the left or the right. That requires fast reflexes on the instructor's part. So for those potential problems, it is best to let the instructor make the first flight. back to top

The Pogo literally flew right out of my hand, gaining altitude quickly and without any tendency to fall off to either side. Once it was up to roughly 50 feet of altitude, I began making a few routine turns and learned that the amount of control throw was perfect. No adjustment in control travel would be necessary.

I operated the motor speed control and found that it was possible to fly the Pogo with as little as half throttle. Doing that I was able to slow the flying speed considerably, which is what the student would want initially.

My student was my retired family internist Jay Federman. Jay has heard me talk about RC models for more than 35 years and got the idea that this would be a pleasant source of retirement relaxation.

With the Pogo at a reasonably high altitude, I let Jay have the transmitter for the first time as I talked him through a few gentle turns. We did this for a few minutes, and I realized that it certainly is a demanding experience the first time. I took over and landed the Pogo at a slow speed, to the pleasure of all who were present, and the first flight was finished.