The adrenaline rush that comes with every flight of remote controlled planes is definitely something enthusiasts look forward to every time a chance to do so comes their way. However, a lot of beginners tend to make the mistake of rushing out into the field with their newly-bought models and start conquering open space without any real deal knowledge about how RC planes are supposed to be flown. The results include a large amount of the one’s investment on this hobby going to waste.
It is a must for first-timers in this hobby to take some time and learn about it before actually doing it. To start out with the most basic, one has to know the different parts of the plane, what each one can do and what their limitations are. The basic plane model comes with a number of parts that play a part in its flight. A plane’s body is referred to as the fuselage, and it is where the engine, tail and wings of the plane are attached to. The wing is the plane’s horizontal airfoil where the lift is. It is also where the flaps and ailerons are attached to. The ailerons are surfaces located on the outside of the wing.
They swing up and down in such a way that when the right aileron is up, the left one is down. It is these surfaces that have control over the airplane’s roll. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers make up the back portion of the plane. It is the horizontal stabilizer where the elevator is hinged to and the vertical one where the rudder is hinged to. The elevator includes the surfaces of the horizontal part of the tail, which takes control of the plane’s pitch while the rudder is the surface on the vertical part of the tail and has control of the plane’s yaw. All kinds of plane come with an engine, which is responsible for the power that turns the propeller. The propeller, on the other hand, is the twisted airfoil or a turning blade that is powered by the engine to produce thrust for continuous flight. Covering the propeller’s hub is the nose cone called spinner. It helps in making the airflow smoother. The cockpit is where the pilot sits and the controls and instrumentation are strategically located.
After knowing the RC planes’ parts, it is easier to move on with the steps on how to get it airborne. It starts with the preflight preparations by turning the transmitter and the plane on. One should check the flight surface’s direction as well as the antenna’s range and see if the control surfaces are able to respond at 50 to 100 feet away without creating any unwanted movements. To make sure that the wind speed is appropriate, one can tie a ribbon to the end of the remote’s antenna and hold the controller parallel to the ground. The ribbon should not be parallel to the ground. To check on the wind’s direction, one can throw light materials into the air to see how the wind’s movement is.
Once all these are ready, it is time to advance the remote controlled planes’ power and have it gain speed on the ground. After gaining ample speed, one can set the power to full speed and give it a firm toss into the air then get back to the controls. At this part, it is best to have an experienced flyer around for some assistance and advice. To move the plane to the right or left, one can move the right control stick to the right or the left. The plane should be leveled. Raising its nose too much can cause a stall.
These are just the most basic things a beginner should learn first and foremost about flying remote controlled planes. There are different techniques about flying and maintaining flight one should learn about along the way.