Every summer, several people from the Montezuma area come to the SIG factory looking for help in learning to fly R/C. Helping these newcomers enter the hobby has given the SIG Factory Fliers a firsthand understanding of the problems facing the average beginner. The following pages are intended to help a novice avoid the most common problems by providing a basic understanding of radio systems, model engines, and learning to fly. Although written primarily for beginning modelers, this booklet may also provide some valuable tips for more advanced modelers.

Please keep in mind that the information in this booklet is general in nature and not all of it will apply word-for-word to every airplane, every radio, or every engine. There may be minor differences in the exact layout and operation of the component parts you are going to install. However, after reading this material you should have a good general understanding of the basics of radio control, and you should be able to handle most common situations.

THE GOLDEN RULE OF SUCCESS IN R/C. There is one point in this booklet that we would like you to remember above all others:

"A MODEL, ENGINE, OR RADIO THAT IS NOT PREPARED AND WORKING PROPERLY ON THE GROUND BEFORE TAKEOFF WILL NOT IMPROVE IN THE AIR — IT WILL GET WORSE! THERE IS NO POINT IN ATTEMPTING TO FLY UNTIL EVERYTHING IS 100% CORRECT."