DIY Network

Learning to Fly: Basics of RC Trainer Planes From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-205

Radio Control Hobbies host Chris Chianelli with the Nitro Airstrike, an excellent trainer plane for the novice RC pilot.

In this episode of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, host Chris Chianelli provides a flying lesson for beginner RC pilots. He goes over some of the basics of RC trainer planes, demonstrates the use of a computer-based RC flight-simulation program, shows how to prep your plane at the flight field and, finally, takes us for a maiden voyage with a newly assembled RC trainer plane -- the Nitro Airstrike (TM ) from Megatech (TM ).

In this first segment, Chris introduces some RC trainer planes and talks about the fundamentals of flight operation and control.

Important: This demonstration provides basic information for assembly and operation of these particular model airplanes or kits. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with yours, whether it is one of these particular models or another. Additional information about assembly as well as running, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can be found in the manufacturer's instructions.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Basics of RC Trainer Planes

Perhaps the most frequently asked question that RC hobby expert Chris Chianelli hears is "How hard is it to fly one of those radio-controlled airplanes?" In fact, if you've never flown a RC model plane, it's probably a lot easier than you think. By following a few simple rules, and with a basic understanding of a few principles of aerodynamics, just about anyone can learn to fly one of these scale-model aircraft. Hear are a few fundamental things you need to know.

• The trainer plane shown in our demonstration is a Nitro Airstrike from Megatech. This 62-inch wingspan balsa-body plane is an ideal trainer in that it comes essentially already built and easy to operate and fly. It features what Megatech calls the "simple 7 system" -- referring to the fact that the plane is made ready to fly simply by attaching the parts with seven easy-to-install wing-nuts. Two nuts hold the dihedral brace and wing, three secure the main gear (figure A), and two which tie in the tail assembly.

  Every airplane basically has three axes of control:
  

  • Yaw
    
  • Pitch
    
  • Roll
  
  In RC planes, these are typically controlled by two separate sticks on a radio transmitter.
  • The left-hand stick on the transmitter controls the throttle and the rudder. The up-and-down motion of the stick controls the throttle (i.e., engine speed). As the plane flies, operating the vertical rudder on the tail (figure B) with the right-and-left motion of the stick controls right and left yaw of the plane (i.e., the plane's horizontal orientation in space.)

    The right-hand stick on the transmitter controls the elevator and aileron. The up-and-down motion of the right-hand stick controls the elevator (figure C). As the plane flies, operating the elevator with the up-and-down motion of the stick controls the up-and-down pitch of the plane (i.e., nose pointing upward or downward). Right-and-left motion on the right-hand stick controls right-and-lift aileron, which in turn determines the left or right roll of the plane (e.g., left wing or right wing tilted up.)

    The Airstrike comes with a high-quality radio and with the engine already installed. This M-46 engine (figure D) feature ball-bearings and a chrome cylinder-sleeve for long operating life.

    The Airstrike is a good plane for novices, but as your flying improves you may want to move on to some more advanced trainer planes that will enable you to learn more technical flying moves and begin moving into aerobatics. The Tiger II (TM ) represents the intermediate step in your RC-flight learning curve (figure E). Although this low-wing intermediate trainer is still a "gentle" flyer, it's capable of basic and semi-advanced aerobatics.

    Your next step might take the form of something like the Bell-39 Air Cobra (TM ) from World Model Manufacturing (figure F). This scale-replica plane is lightweight and maneuverable. Both the Cobra and the Tiger II use the same motor that's installed in the Airstrike used in our demonstration.
    

  Megatech Nitro Airstrike

  Length... 47 inches
  Wingspan... 62 inches
  Weight... 5 pounds
  Engine... M-46 Nitro
  Street price... $350
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Learning to Fly: Basics of RC Trainer Planes
  	Learning to Fly: Virtual Flying Lessons
  	Learning to Fly: RC Flight Prep
  	Learning to Fly: RC Flying Lesson