Learning to Fly

You're Charles Lindbergh, winging your way across the Atlantic. Amelia Earhart at the controls of her Lockheed Electra. Or better yet, you're Sky King, piloting the "Songbird" low over the canyons, hunting down the gang who stole the ranch payroll.

There's just something about flying that captures the imagination.

And while for most of us actually climbing in the cockpit is still a fantasy, we can fly our dream plane. All it takes is a radio. And a plane, of course.

Model aviation is a lot like the real thing---the same aerodynamic principles apply. So model planes are built pretty much like full-size aircraft. And radio control pilots need to understand the principles of flight, even though they stay on the ground.

We know that airplanes fly. But how do they fly? Well, the short story is that an airplane's wing has to develop lift greater than the weight of the plane. It does that by using thrust to drive the wing forward through the air and generate lift. But pushing the wing through the air also creates drag ---the resistance of the air to a body moving through it. So in order to fly, an airplane must be designed so that the combination of lift and thrust is greater than the weight of the plane and drag. When designing an aircraft, the wing shape and style, the overall weight, and power and thrust of the engine determines how well the plane will fly.

Okay, you say, so why is this important when I'm buying a model?

Since model aircraft fly the same way full-size planes do, knowing some basic principles will help you understand why different types of planes have their own flight characteristics. It will also help you choose the right model for your first trainer or for more advanced aerobatic flying.

Winging It

As you might suspect, flight performance is greatly influenced by wing design. There are five parts to the wing "equation": placement, shape (airfoil design), thickness, "loading", and angle (dihedral). It's the combination of these elements in various configurations that dictates how each airplane "feels" and handles in flight.

Wing placement, for the most part, falls into two major categories: high wing design and low wing design. In a high wing design, the weight of the model is suspended below the wing. When the plane tilts, its weight tends to try to return it to a level position, making it more stable and easier to fly. That's why trainer planes, such as Hangar 9's Easy 2, Easy Fly 40 and Solo, are all high wing designs. Low-wing models, with their weight above the wing, are generally less stable. That makes them a less-than-ideal choice for beginners, but excellent for advanced flyers who want to perform rolls, loops and other aerobatic maneuvers. You'll notice that virtually all single wing sport/aerobatic planes are low to mid wing designs.

Flat Bottom or Symmetrical?

If you take a cross section of a plane's wingtip, the shape revealed is the wing's airfoil. For model aviation purposes, there are essentially three types of airfoil design. A flat-bottom airfoil is curved above and straight below. It develops the most lift at lower speeds, so it's the right choice when you're learning to fly. A symmetrical airfoil's top and bottom have the same shape, allowing it to produce lift equally when right-side up or upside down. That's important for advanced aerobatic flying, so you'll see symmetrical airfoils on planes such as the CAP 232. The third type of airfoil is semi-symmetrical. A combination of the first two, it offers some of the advantages of each, and is favored by intermediate and sport pilots.

Load and Lift

Wing loading is the weight that a given area of wing has to lift. In model aviation, it's usually measured in ounces per square foot, and it's a ratio between the total weight of the plane and the total wing surface area available to create lift. Generally, a light wing loading (larger wings, less weight) is best for beginners because the plane will fly slower, and thus be easier to control.

The thickness of the wing determines how much drag is created. A thick wing creates more drag, causing slower speeds and gentler stalls. That's what you'll find on most trainers. A thinner wing offers less drag, allowing higher speeds and sudden stalls---important for many aerobatic maneuvers. You'll find thinner wings on sport planes such as the CAP 232 and Extra 300S.

Dihedral

Dihedral is the upward angle of the wings from the fuselage. Dihedral increases stability and decreases aerobatic ability, so you won't see as much on a Super Stick as you will see it on an Easy 2.

Which Plane, What Model?

Okay, now you know something about planes and flight. But how do you choose the right model to suit your style and skills? Here's a quick run down of the basic categories of model planes and some of our recommended kits.

Trainers

Your first step in flying. Designed for easy flying, trainers feature flat-bottom airfoils, high-wing placement, generous dihedral, and wide-stance tricycle gear. They're gentle, slow-flying craft that offer more reaction time, and feature "self-righting" characteristics that return them to straight and level flight by releasing the transmitter sticks. Trainers are also easy to build. In fact, most are offered as ARF--(Almost Ready to Fly) or VRTF (Virtually Ready to Fly) which require minimal building time.

Sport/Aerobatic

Built for performance. Fast, highly maneuverable and lots of fun, sport planes take your flying to the next level. Their thinner, low wing design and symmetrical or semi-symmetrical airfoils make them perfect for aerobatics. But you don't have to be a pro to fly them. With sport planes, there's something for just about everyone...from Fun Fly models, like the Morris Su-Do-Khoi, to scale versions of real life aerobatic planes like the Extra 330L or CAP 232.

Scale

Right off a real-life runway. True scale modeling is a measure of craftsmanship and dedication...building a miniature masterpiece that's accurate down to the last detail. It's an art. For most of us, though, a scale look is enough to give us the realism we're looking for. Here's where your imagination takes flight. Choose the fighter your dad flew in the war, a classic you saw at an air show, or even a biplane. We offer a number of both ARF and traditional kits for all types of scale and scale look planes.