RC Model Flying Beginners Guide; Hints, Tips, Advice, Getting Started, Learning to Fly.
Radio Control Model Aeroplane Guidelines
Help for the Novice R C Flyer.
Bentley Flyers Model Aircraft Flying Club.
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Typical trainer model. A more advanced model.
THE PLANE ENGINES RADIO SETS AT THE FLYING FIELD
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Radio control model aircraft beginners page..
If you want to learn to fly a radio controlled model aircraft, this short article will give you some basic information to help you when getting started.
We are a fixed wing only model aeroplane club so this advice is mostly aimed at the prospective fixed wing pilot. Though the basic advice is relevant to helicopters flyers also, as far as engines, radio and starting kit is concerned.
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THE PLANE
. The best route for the beginner to model flying is to buy a suitable trainer model with a suitable engine and radio as a package deal. Most model shops will give a worthwhile discount if you buy all at once; indeed the modelling magazines are full of such offers.
Many trainers today are almost ready to fly requiring only the minimum amount of construction time. The box containing almost ready to fly models is usually marked with the legend ARTF and usually only require the gluing together of the wings, attaching the tail plane and fitting the radio and engine.
However, having said that, you can also buy totally ready to fly models with engine and radio fitted, or at the other end of the scale you can buy kits of parts and build the model from scratch. It all depends on the depth of your pocket and the time available.
A word of warning at this point, do not let your enthusiasm get the better of you when you enter the model shop and your eyes alight upon that scale Spitfire or Lancaster bomber. These models are for the more experienced, you are looking for a purpose designed trainer model for the moment so be patient, the time will soon come when you are capable of flying the more advanced models.
A typical power trainer will be a high wing arrangement, like the typical Cessna type light aircraft seen at your local airport. The model must have sufficient stability to fly by itself while the beginner thinks about what to do next, and to be able to fly slowly enough not to disappear into the distance while the student sorts himself out.
The popular trainer is usually around 50 to 60 inches in wingspan and weighs around 5lb - 6lb, please forgive the imperial measurements, I'm getting old and can't get my head around this metric regime.
There are larger trainer models available, typically 6 to 7 feet wingspan which have the advantage of being easier to see, and can also have an advantage of being smoother in flight, due to the bigger wingspan being more able too cope with turbulent conditions.
On the down side, they cost more, use more fuel, need a bigger car too transport them, and cost more to repair, if you should have the misfortune to crash.
Power models have at least 3 functions: throttle, rudder and elevator, aileron is the forth control and most trainers can be set up to fly on three controls at first then move on to four controls when some experience has been gained.
If you are learning too fly with an experienced instructor, it is best to start with all four controls.
Most trainers will usually have a tricycle undercarriage, i.e. a nose wheel and two main wheels rather than tail-dragger, i.e., two main wheels and a tail wheel. This makes ground handling easier, but there is no reason why a tail-dragger should not be used if preferred.
The engine should preferably be mounted upright or sideways and be easily accessible. Beginners should keep away from inverted engines until they are experienced in starting and running model engines.
Mounting inverted may be useful when trying to hide your engine in scale model aeroplanes for instance, but this can make starting more difficult due to flooding of the engine and various other problems best left too the more experienced.
Please note; when you move on to a more advanced aeroplane, you can simply transfer the engine and radio to the new model.
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ENGINES
. Model Engines are either 2 strokes, as in small motorbikes, or 4 strokes, as in most motorcars.
Two stroke engines are simple mechanically, easy to operate, require little maintenance, are cheap to buy and give a good power to weight ratio, on the downside they are high revving and noisy and need effective silencing.
Four stroke engines are more difficult to operate, more expensive, and give a poorer power to weight ratio, on the upside they are very quiet, long lasting, will drive a much bigger, quieter, prop and give a superior scale sound.
Both types run on a mixture of methanol and oil, sometimes with other additives to give better combustion and flexibility.
Both are fitted with glow plugs with a platinum element, the platinum reacts with the methanol and causes combustion.
The engines are started on the ground by connecting a 1.1 volt electricity supply to the glow plug. Once the engine is running the power supply is disconnected and the engine continues to run on its own, the hot glow plug igniting each fresh fuel charge.
The engines can be started with an electric starter or by flicking the propeller, but this can be hard on the fingers.
The model you have picked largely determines the size of engine, but there are literally thousands out there to choose from.
There are also diesel and petrol engines available, but these are best left until experience of handling model aircraft engines is gained.
There is a growing tide of electrically powered models appearing on flying fields up and down the country. When I started in electric flying nearly 20 years ago, the batteries then available had barely enough power to keep the plane in the air.
Now, thanks to the needs of the portable power tool industry, modern batteries are available which give out immense power. These coupled to the admittedly expensive but awesome brushless motors, mean that electric flight is now capable of matching the internal combustion engine in performance.
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RADIO SETS
. There is a massive range of radio control equipment available. There are basic 2, 4, and 6-channel sets with no ancillary controls for the beginner and for the more experienced there are (rather expensive) multi-channel, (10 to 12 channel) and multi-memory computer based sets.
These computer sets enable infinate variations of control input and also save all your settings to a seperate memory for each model.
If you can afford it I would advise you to buy a six-channel set with mixing on the basic functions, rate switches and other facilities.
Once you become a competent flyer you will soon want too add retracting undercarriage, flaps, or other options. It is possible too upgrade some transmitters, but is far better to have the extra facilities available when you are ready rather than having the cost and inconvenience of upgrading.
Please Note; Since I wrote the above 3 years ago, the major radio manufacturers have introduced buget computer radios at prices which make the purchase of anything but a computer radio rather pointless, for all but a few applications.
Most radio control sets come with four servos and you can buy more, as you require them.
By the way, Servo's are small electro-mechanical devices, which convert the electrical output from the radio receiver into a mechanical action.
Do not buy a radio control set with dry batteries, dry batteries are not consistent enough for aircraft use, you must always buy a set with rechargeable batteries. Radio control sets fitted with rechargeable batteries, usually come with a matching battery charger.
Model aircraft radio sets operate on the 35MHz band and must not be used for land or water based models.
Please Note; The 35MHz band is dedicated to aircraft use.
There are 36 channels available, numbered from 55, which is 34.950MHz, to 90, which is 35.300MHz, with 10KHz spacing. When you buy your radio control set, it will come with a set of crystals, and you can specify which channel you want your crystals to be on.
Please note; Two models cannot be flown on the same frequency at the same time.
To avoid this potentially dangerous situation model clubs operate a peg board system, whereby only the peg holder is allowed to fly. Anyone else on the same frequency waiting until the peg becomes available at the end of that flite.
See FIELD PAGE SEVEN for graphic of a peg board and an explanation of how its done.
If you have joined a club, the club may have specified which channel you should use in order to spread users evenly over the 36-channel spectrum.
Please Note;
To further complicate matters (as of Spring 2007) a new radio system operating on the 2.4 GHz waveband has been introduced. This new system is claimed to be interference free and, due to a new system of channel hopping to find a vacant frequency, no peg board is required.
RC sets operating on this new frequency are in limited supply at the moment, but a beginner would be well advised to consider investing in this new frequency.
As of now, (November 2007) reports on the new system seem to be positive and the system will work alongside the existing 35 Mhz transmissions. Which will still be using a frequency peg system.
Stocks are now commensurate with demand.
Futaba and Spektrum are the brands at present marketing the new frequency but others are set to follow their lead in the near future.
The Transmitter;
The transmitter is equipped with two twin axis sticks, which control the basic four functions of flight. To make matters more complicated there are two popular modes of control functions, each have their devotees and long and loud are the arguments as to which is best.
Some Clubs fly Mode One (RIGHT THROTTLE) only, some Mode Two (LEFT THROTTLE) only, and some Clubs operate both modes.
Unless you are teaching yourself, which mode you fly will depend on club and instructor circumstances.
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Stick Actions.
Rudder yaws the plane to left or right.
Aileron rolls the airplane to left or right.
Elevator pitches the planes nose up or down.
Throttle controls the engine speed.
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AT THE FLYING FIELD. LEARNING TO FLY.
. First of all, you will need insurance. This is mandatory and the best is available from the British Model Flying Association. B.M.F.A. This is available direct or through your local Club.
One of the best ways of learning to fly is with an instructor. You can teach yourself but this is a route fraught with difficulty and disappointment, but it is not impossible.
An instructor's guidance and experience will be invaluable in reducing the time required to reach solo standard.
An instructor will also check over your model to make sure that everything is correct in the construction department and that all controls are functioning correctly.
Usually the instructor will get the model airborne and trimmed to fly correctly, and then hand the transmitter to the student. Then he will talk the student through the flight, only taking back the transmitter to land, or if the student gets into difficulty.
There is also a system called the "Buddy-Box" system where the instructor and trainee each have their own transmitter linked together by an umbilical cord. The instructor's transmitter always has ultimate control.
At most clubs there are often experienced flyers that are willing to help teach beginners. But please remember, they come to the field to fly their own models and have often had to negotiate with their significant others to be there at all.
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YOU WILL NEED
12 volt Starter Motor.
12 volt battery, motor cycle battery or similar,
fully charged.
Glow plug power source, leads to above 12 volt
battery. Or self contained unit,
fully charged.
Bottle of suitable fuel.
Hand cranked or electric fuel pump.
A pack of assorted small tools.
Sunglasses. Or clip on's.
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Your aircraft with receiver battery fully charged.
Your Transmitter with battery fully charged.
Suitable clothing for the conditions.
Suitable refreshments.
Spare rubber bands or plastic bolts for wing retention.
'Chicken Stick' to flick the prop, if not
using an electric starter.
Spare glow plugs and props.
Flight box to hold your equipment.
BMFA MEMBERSHIP CARD.
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An R.C. flight simulator set up on your PC, is an invaluable aid to learning to fly. You can go home after a training session and practice what you have learnt that day over and over, without worrying about having to undertake running repairs.
Then when you have gone solo, you can practice more advanced flying and aerobatics until perfect.
Be sure to buy a simulator specific to model aircraft flying, widely available in model shops. Simulators pertaining to full size aircraft are of no value whatever to a model flyer.
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Please Note; You can also take fee paying model aircraft flying lessons at several dedicated R C model training schools situated around the country, see links at the page end.
These courses cost money, but if you want to fast track your flying abilities, then these model flight schools are the way to go.
These schools can also test you for your basic BMFA 'A' certificate of competence to fly a model aircraft solo. Although usually not a necessity, when flying at your local club, you would need this 'A' certificate if you should wish to fly in competitions, fun flys, etc, which are open to the public.
There are also more stringent BMFA 'B' and 'C' certificates if you wish to progress to model show flying for your own pleasure or
(for reward as a sponsered flyer for a model company) or charging a fee to fly models for people who do not have a B certificate etc.
If of a competitive nature you may wish to represent your country taking part in international competitions.
RC Helicopters- RC Planes Guide
Aeromodelling Info Sites.
R. C. M. W. RADIO CONTROL MODEL AEROPLANE MAGAZINE
MODEL ACTIVITY PRESS RADIO CONTROL MODEL AEROPLANES
R. C. M. E. RADIO CONTROL MODEL AEROPLANE MAGAZINE
R.C. ONLINE MAG MOSTLY R. C. MODEL AEROPLANES
MODELFLIGHT ONLINE MAGAZINE. MONTHLY EDITIONS. LOADS OF MODEL AIRCRAFT INFO
The magazines above all feature beginners advice, information and help on a frequent basis.
Enjoy your Radio Control Hobby.
Model Aircraft Flying Training Sites.
York Model Aviation. Personal tuition from novice to BMFA B standard.
R. C. Hotel Greece. Model Airplanes with help and Training on your holls
Aerial Training Services Model Airplanes and Helicopters Wiltshire
Model Flight School Essex Fixed wing and heli
Flyin' Fish Flight training London. Fixed wing and heli models
East Anglia Model Heli Training
Scallywag Models Model Flight Training West Midlands Fixed wing and heli
Paul Heckles School of Flying. Fixed wing and heli
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