Flying an RC aeroplane is one of the most relaxing, enjoyable pastimes for adults and children alike. There are a lot of companies that sell planes that are ready to fly right out of the box. The other option is to assemble your own plane from a kit. The assembly process can be just as enjoyable and satisfying as flying the finished plane. This article provides some important pointers to keep in mind when assembling your own RC plane.
There are different kinds of light wood materials available that you can use for building an RC aircraft. Some of commonly used woods are balsa, craftswood and pine. Spruce may also be used when a more rigid design is called for.
Fasteners, bolts, nuts, epoxy and glue used in the RC plane must be as lightweight as possible. Make sure to use surely strong fasteners to bolt the horizontal wings to the fuselage. Using the proper materials for the specific design is critical when constructing any RC aircraft.
The exact center of gravity of your RC aeroplane must be located before the electrical parts are installed. Your plane needs to be as perfectly balanced as possible for optimal flight; so mounting the motor in exact proper location is critical.
Once you install the electrical parts of your RC plane, make sure you check the balance. If your plane fails the balance test, remove and re-position the motor as appropriate.
Another important aspect of RC aircraft construction is to make sure that the front and rear landing gear assemblies are appropriate size for the overall size and weight of the aircraft.
If your plane's landing gear is too large the plane will fly sluggishly; if your plane's landing gear is too small it will collapse during landing and you will end up with a smashed up plane.
Before taking your new RC aeroplane for its first flight, it's a good idea to perform some basic ground tests first. Hold onto the plane and make sure the motor is operating properly and any propellers are spinning correctly.
Finally, practice maneuvering your RC plane on the ground. This will give you a good feel for the sensitivity level of the throttle and also a good feel for how the plane will steer when you land it.