| You might want to check out the AMA website (or previous issues of MA) for | the right up by the prez about problems some have encountered with the | airlines. IIRC there was some issues with the "sniffers" going off possibly | relating to the fuel vapors...but they weren't sure. They were working on a | solution at the time of the article.
You should also talk to the airline itself. For example, Delta Airlines considers model airplanes to be fragile and don't want to take responsibility for them --
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but since they do explicitly mention them, obviously they've dealt with them before.
Some people have had luck with Zagis and similar planes, not checking them at all but instead bringing them in the cabin with them and putting them where the baby strollers go. I'd definately ask the airline about that in advance, but I doubt your Spad could be so lucky.
Whatever you do, drain that fuel tank entirely. You may want to remove it entirely so they don't have to open the plane to get to it. And you can't ship fuel, so you'll have to buy some at your destination. I wonder if a lead acid battery would upset them ... Better call the airline ...
You might also want to send Maynard an email and ask him. I hear he's got a plane he needs to get back over here from Ireland, and he might have some advice :)