Radio Control Guidelines
for the Novice Flyer.
Rolls Royce Bentley Motor Cars Model Flying Club,
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If you want to learn to fly a radio controlled model aircraft, this short article will give you some basic information to help you get started.
We are a fixed wing only 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.
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. 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. Theses 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. Keep away from inverted engines until you are experienced in starting and running model engines. Mounting inverted may be useful when trying to hide your engine in a scale model 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.
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, which reacts with the methanol and causes combustion.
The engines are started on the ground by connecting a 2 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 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.
RADIO SETS
. There is a massive range of radio 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 multi-channel, (10 to 12 channel) and multi-memory computer based sets.
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.
Most radio sets come with four servos and you can buy more, as you require them.
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 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.
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 set, it will come with a set of crystals, and you can specify which channel you want your crystals to be on.
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.
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 plane 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
. First of all, you will need insurance. This is mandatory and 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 a 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 student 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 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.
So it is wise, unless there is some monetary commitment involved, to let your instructor have a flight with his own plane before expecting him to give you a lesson.
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YOU WILL NEED
12 volt Starter Motor.
12 volt battery, motor cycle battery or similar.
Glow plug power source, self contained unit.
Bottle of suitable fuel.
Hand cranked or electric fuel pump
A pack of assorted small tools.
Sunglasses.
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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.
Spare glow plugs.
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 having to undertake running repairs. Be sure to buy a simulator specific to model 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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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
MODEL FLIGHT ON LINE MAG
R. C. Hotel Greece. Model Airplanes 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
East Anglia Model Heli Training
Barnstormers Models Winsford Flight Training
The magazines above all feature beginners advice on a frequent basis. Enjoy your Radio Control Hobby.
Article © 2003 Tom Sharp
© 2003 CTS Web Designs. Rolls Royce Bentley Motor Cars Model Flying Club beginners page.
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