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Model Airplane Secrets eBook - Great for Beginners

Flying Model Airplanes

Learn to fly with a pilot's help

Flying model airplanes can be a challenging task, but with my help it will be easier. First is first, before flying anywhere, know your local byelaws on flying model planes. You also want to try to fly at a proper flying field, one that is for flying RC airplanes. If you have a small electric airplane you can fly at a park or in your backyard if you like to.

I learned flying model airplanes on my own. I started out with the Firebird outlaw from HobbyZone, and taught myself. The outlaw is just a simple RTF electric airplane though. Gas powered rc airplanes, and some electric ones are more difficult and not that simple.



I don’t recommend you try to learn by yourself, but sometimes people do better learning on their own. If you really want to get good fast, then you should get a flying instructor. You local rc model airplane club will usually have an instructor you can hire for help.

Airplane Terminology

Below are some terms I tihnk you should know before starting to fly. Take a look at them.
  • Ailerons - Rolls the plane and/or provides directional control
  • Flaps - Decreases the speed of the aircraft without stalling
  • Landing gear - wheels on bottom of plane
  • Vertical fin - fin on back of plane
  • Rudder - moveable fin on vertical fin
  • Elevator - moveable fins below rudder

Technical Information - A load cell is typically an electronic device (transducer) that is used to convert a force into an electrical signal. The transistors are a semiconductor device, commonly used as an amplifier or an electrically controlled switch. The multimeters are electronic measuring instrument that combines several functions in one unit. The semiconductors are a solid material that has electrical conductivity in between that of a conductor and that of an insulator.

Tips on Flying Model Airplanes

  • Purchase 1 - 2 channel airplanes if you are a beginner
  • Make sure no other people operating on the same radio frequency are flying model airplanes around you
  • Before you fly, make sure your airplane is properly trimmed and balanced
  • Test glide airplane before you fly it
  • If flying a electric airplane, make sure battery is fully charged. If flying a gas airplane, make sure tank is full
  • Fully extend antenna before flying model airplanes
  • Don’t fly near people or objects

The Buddy System

Before we begin, I thought I should tell you about the buddy system. Many first time flyers choose to train with a buddy box. A buddy box is a device that connects the students and instructors radio transmitter, so the instructor can take over control of the airplane at anytime. For example, you are flying model airplanes and all of a sudden your plane gets hit by a down wind and is starting to crash. Your instructor can take control instantly and prevent the crash.

Pre Flight Checklist

Before you start flying model airplanes, make sure ...
  1. control surfaces have free movement
  2. all screws, bolts, etc. are tight
  3. radio equipment is securely fastened inside fuselage
  4. receiver is receiving transmitter commands
  5. fuel tubing is free of kinks
  6. batteries are fully charged
  7. airplane is properly fueled
  8. no wires interfere with servo motors
  9. antenna is properly strung
  10. servos respond correctly to control inputs
  11. wings are securely fastened
  12. rudder moves in correct direction
  13. on and off works for engine

*Some items on the checklist are for flying model airplanes that are gas powered only.

Taxi Tests

Now that you are ready to start flying model airplanes, you need to practice taxing. Start your RC airplane up, and then slowly taxi your plane up and down the runway. Get the feel for controlling your model plane this way. Taxing is also a great way for you to learn reverse steering. See, when your RC model airplane is flying towards you, left and right are reversed. So when you are taxing your plane, have the plane come towards you and practice your reverse steering.

Taking Off

Taking off is a lot easier then you would think. In fact, most RC planes will slowly takeoff by there selves if you just apply full throttle. You will still have to maintain heading and pitch though.

Okay, before you try to take off remember that it is easier to take off into the wind, not down wind. So with that in mind, get your radio controlled plane in the right direction and slowly give your engine full power. When your plane starts heading down the runway, you will notice it wants to pull to the left a little. To correct this, move the rudder a little to the right.

When the airplane starts to get light on the wheels, pull back on the elevator stick and let the nose rise. Keep the wings level, and fly the model at about a 20 to 25 degrees angle to the ground. If the model starts to climb at to steep of an angle, just ease off the elevator stick. Once the model is at 125 feet, it is time to turn it around.

Turning your Airplane

Once you plane is finally in the air and flying, you need to learn how to turn. As you probably already know, ailerons (flaps) make an airplane turn and roll. So, to start off with apply left or right ailerons and make the plane turn about 20 degrees from level, then add up elevator to bring the model around.

To increase or decrease radius of the turn, add more or less elevator. As you increase ailerons and elevator, you must also increase the throttle slightly.



When the plane is on the heading you want, release up on the elevator, and apply a little opposite ailerons to make plane level. Then bring the throttle back to desired speed to resume level flight. Now that the airplane is turned towards you, left and right are now opposite.

So, when you want the plane to go to your left, turn it right. A simple way to guide your model when it is flying towards you is to move the aileron stick in the direction of the lower wing panel on the airplane.

Leveling your Airplane

Sometimes it can be very difficult flying model airplanes when it is at a high altitude and/or far away. If that occurs, the best thing to do is to follow the flight path of your plane. You must be able to turn left and right, and maintain a constant altitude before you can start landing. If you want to raise your plane when it is flying towards you, and controls are reversed, move your aileron stick towards the direction of your lower wing.

Setting Up for the Landing

The four basic parts of the landing pattern are:
  • downwind leg
  • base leg
  • final approach
  • flare

You always want to land with the nose into the wind to keep the planes airspeed as high as possible while minimizing its ground speed. When the plane is at the far side of the runway and in front of you, pull the throttle back to about half, and pull back on the elevator stick a little too slow the model down. Remember, throttle controls descent and elevator controls airspeed. Don’t stall model by pulling all the way back on elevator.

Just before your plane touches the ground, flare the nose up gradually and let it gently glide down. This will eliminate excess speed and prevents the model airplane from bouncing back into the air. Now that the model is on the runway, just keep on the rudder and let the model go straight ahead until it comes to a stop. That’s it!! Not so hard huh. Now that you have made your perfect landing, you can spend the rest of your life perfecting your craft. Over time, you will be able to land with ease.

Landing

Landing your plane is a very important part of flying model airplanes. In fact it’s the most important thing to be good at if you want to fly your airplane more then once! The best way to get good at landing your plane is to practice.

Before you try to land, make sure you are at a safe altitude and at a low throttle setting. If you don’t slow your model down, you will not make a successful landing. Next you want to bring the throttle back and pull the nose up slightly to prevent your rc airplane from descending.

The primary factor in landing is your throttle. You want to have the throttle just a little above the stall speed. Before you try to land you should practice flying model airplanes in and out of the stalled condition. When you are experimenting with your stall speeds, it could fall forward or one of the wings will drop. Just keep at it and you will learn how to recover.

Hand Launching

Another great way to get your model in the air is to hand launch it. This is ideal for little rc airplanes and flying fields with only grass and no runways. Electric gliders usually don’t have landing gears, so they definitely need to be hand launched. You do have to be careful though when hand launching airplanes with propellers.

To hand launch your plane, you need to grab hold to the center of gravity on the plane (the middle of the airplane) with one hand. With your other hand, support the nose of the model. Then hold the model overhead with the nose and wings level, and after taking a few steps, throw the plane javelin style. Do not launch it in a steep climbing altitude, as this will quickly slow it down and often leads to a stall and then a crash.



So, the proper technique is to launch the rc airplane level and pointed at or just above the horizon. You must be careful not to get struck by the tail, and stay clear of the propeller! If your rc model airplane does not have a landing gear, then your plane will land with the engine off and it will just slowly glide down and slide on its belly. If your plane does have a landing gear, look at my landing part to land your airplane.

Flying Clubs & Fields near You

Joining a flying club is a great idea if you are really enthusiastic about flying model airplanes. In a club you will learn much quicker, have good guidance, and usually will be able to get a flying instructor to help you. A model airplane club also has a flying field where they fly at. So you won’t have to worry about where your next flight is going to be.

RC Flight Simulators

RC flight simulators are a great way to learn how to fly model airplanes. They provide a realistic flight experience along with the tools you need to learn your basic flight maneuvers. Plus, since you are just flying model airplanes on the computer, no real damage can be done if you crash.

Books on Flying Model Airplanes

If you are really serious about learning to fly, I suggest you buy a book to guide you. You can read it at your own pace, and best of all you will save money on an instructor while providing you with almost just as good of help. Below are some good books I recommend you buy if you are learning to fly.

Model Airplane Secrets eBook Flying model airplanes secrets contains all the insider tips, techniques and secrets you need to know to go from beginning model airplane enthusiast to expert in no time! You will learn about the history of model airplanes, how to get started in the hobby, what accessories you need, how to avoid crashes, tips on all other aspects and much more.

RC Pilot's Handbook In the RC Pilot's Handbook, over 30 knowledgeable RC pilots share their contest-winning flying techniques! Go hangar flying with these guys and listen-in as they discuss pylon racing, thermal soaring, operating twin-engine aircraft, flying aerobatics, how to win flying contests, flying tail-draggers, avoiding crashes and a whole lot more.

For more books on flying model airplanes, check out my RC airplane book's section.


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