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How to Start a Gas Nitro RC Plane

In nitro-powered RC airplane engines, the engine itself is usually a rather simple two-stroke design. Like all other internal combustion engines, it requires three things to work: fuel, spark and air. Nitro methane is the fuel, a glow plug provides the spark and air is mixed in at the carburetor.

Things You'll Need

Glow plug lighter
Cheater stick or electric starter
Fresh nitro methane fuel
Fuel pump

Instructions

- 1
  Fill the fuel tank with fresh nitro methane fuel. The compounds that give the fuel its power are highly volatile and evaporate quickly. Improperly stored nitro may have deteriorated to the point it cannot power the engine.
- 2
  Prime the engine by placing your finger over the carburetor. Move the throttle to the full-open position and turn the prop a few times. You should see fuel fill the line from the tank to the engine.
- 3
  Attach the glow lighter to the glow plug. Make sure there is nothing in the way of the propeller. Move the throttle to idle position and then advance it two clicks with the throttle control on the transmitter.
- 4
  Use the cheater stick or the electric starter to turn the engine counterclockwise. The engine should try to run if all is working well. Leave the glow lighter attached until the engine is running smoothly.
- 5
  Remove the glow lighter from the glow plug. The engine can be fine-tuned at this point by adjusting the needle valve on the side of the engine.

Aviation