Introduction

Radio controlled aircraft modeling is one of the most exciting hobbies available. It involves many interests, disciplines, and skills. Some of these are aerodynamics, electronics, mechanics, drafting and design, composite material construction, and woodworking, and these are in the airplane alone. There are many other fields of interest in the hobby of aircraft modeling; far too many and too varied to try to list. Many people find that many new skills must be learned before they are ready to begin to learn to fly. The hobby is constantly changing as new technology is developed. A new modeler may become frustrated at times but certainly not bored.

New interested pilot at any age who wants to get into this hobby and learn to fly reveals a personal thought; .. It's just that I'm the sort of person that likes to do things in my own time, if you know what I mean. I like to learn at my own pace and I don't want to be rushed...but give a little consideration in the future O.K.?

To reduce the chance of frustration, a new modeler should become involved with other modelers in order to learn the necessary skills. This may involve simply visiting a flying site and becoming acquainted with experienced modelers or joining a club. These modelers are a source of knowledge and experience that can be invaluable to the new modeler when he begins to build his first aircraft and when he begins to learn to fly. An experienced modeler can act as an R/C flight instructor to teach a new person the skills required to fly the aircraft properly and to avoid the inevitable crash.

New modelers must realize that a radio controlled model aircraft is not a toy. It is a true aircraft in that it flies and operates by the same principles as a full-scale aircraft with the difference being the size and weight. The average model will fly in a range of 20 to 60 MPH and weigh 5 1/2 to 6 pounds. The force of the model hitting an object can be devastating especially if it hits a person. Models must be controlled properly both for enjoyment and for safety. The skills required to accomplish this must be learned from an experienced modeler.

Before purchasing any equipment, the beginner should ask himself, "Is this a hobby I want to try to see if I like it or is it a hobby I am going remain involved in for years to come?" If the beginner is going to remain in the hobby for years, he might consider buying more expensive equipment such as a ball bearing engine and a six (6) channel radio system. Otherwise, he should try to keep his initial outlay as low as possible. A beginner can limit his spending to as little as $200 by buying good used equipment but care must be taken to ensure that the equipment is reliable. At the other end of the scale, a beginner could easily invest $1000 on new equipment if he is not prudent with his purchases.

The topics that will be covered will be relating to a beginner or novice and a trainer airplane. The information relating to all aspects of R/C powered flight can be overwhelming even to the most seasoned pilot. Those disciplines relating to the more advanced levels of R/C flight will most likely be learned as the skill level of the novice improves and the goals are more defined.

Basics of Flight

A beginner should understand the basic concepts of flight. The theories behind the physics of flight are covered in many volumes of books. There are different and sometimes conflicting theories and arguments as to how airplanes fly, but the one accepted principle is that lift is generated as a result of the air pressure on the bottom of the wing being higher than the air pressure on the top of the wing.

The Lift Diagram shows some of the basic terms relating to a wing section. These terms are common to R/C flight. Airfoil - The cross section of the wing Angle of Attack - The angle between the chord line and the relative direction of flight Chord Line - The line between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the airfoil Direction of Flight - The relative direction of the wing in relation to still air Leading Edge - The most forward edge of the wing Trailing Edge - The most rearward edge of the wing

There are four (4) primary forces that act on an aircraft in flight; thrust, lift, drag, and weight. Thrust is the force applied by the combination of engine and propeller acting to pull the aircraft forward. Drag is the resistance against the aircraft by the force of the air against the forward facing surfaces. Weight is caused by gravity. In order for a constant speed to be maintained, thrust and drag must be equal. In order for a constant altitude to be maintained, lift and weight must be equal.

Lift increases as the velocity of the air passing over the wing increases or as the angle of attack increases as long as the flow of air over the wing remains smooth. Actual flight is attained when the force of the lift equals weight.

An aircraft pivots about three (3) axes; the yaw or vertical axis controlled by the rudder, the pitch or lateral axis controlled by the elevator, and the roll or longitudinal axis controlled by the ailerons. It can pivot about any one of these individually or in combination based on the control surfaces that are moved and the direction of the movement.

Basic Trainer

Quite often a person has an interest in model airplanes and visits a local flying field just to observe. He sees all types of airplanes from trainers to pattern planes to scale World War II fighter planes. His interest is piqued by all the fabulous looking models. He thinks, "I have to have one of those Mustangs." He immediately sets out trying to find a P-51 model to begin his modeling hobby. This is a serious mistake. Many hours of training and practice are involved before a beginner has the ability to handle the more advanced models. A beginner must realize the dedication that is required to gain the ability to fly the type of model that initially spawned his interest. He must begin the hobby with a basic trainer and progress through different levels of models until his goal is reached.

A trainer is a specific type of model aircraft that is designed to be stable in flight. This means that it has an inherent ability to correct itself and overcome the rotational forces applied so that it regains straight and level flight. Most trainers are designed to that they remain stable in slow flight so that they are easy to land.

The Basic Trainer diagram shows the components of a common trainer.

Aileron - The moveable portion of the wing which causes a change about the roll axis
Cowling - The part of the fuselage which covers the engine
Engine - A 2 - cycle reciprocating machine which provides the motivational power
Elevator - The moveable portion of the horizontal stabilizer which causes a change about the pitch axis
Fin - Properly known as vertical stabilizer which provides stabilization about the yaw axis
Fuselage - The main body of an aircraft that holds the components and cargo
Landing Gear - The supporting structure of an aircraft including landing gear struts and wheels
Propeller (Prop) - The combination of blades which provide thrust
Rudder - The moveable portion of the vertical stabilizer which causes change about the yaw axis
Spinner - Covering over the propeller hub
Stabilizer - Properly known as horizontal stabilizer which provides stabilization about the pitch axis
Wing - The horizontal surfaces which provide the lifting forces

There are certain criteria that a trainer should have in order to be satisfactory for a beginner.

1. High Wing - A high wing model is inherently more stable than a low wing model due to pendulum effect. Since the weight of the model is below the wing, the fuselage tends to swing downward like a pendulum in order to equalize forces.

2. Flat Bottom Wing - The wing cross section should have a virtually flat bottom. This type of cross section has more gentle flight characteristics that are necessary for a beginner.

3. Dihedral - The wing should have some dihedral. This means that the tips of the wings are higher than the center. The effect of the dihedral is to try to equalize forces and keep the wings level or to return the wings to a level orientation

4. High Aspect Ratio - The ratio of the wing length or span should be at least 5 1/2 times the width or chord. This will reduce the rate at which the model responds to command input allowing more time for a beginner to react.

5. Constant Chord - The width of the wing should be the same from the center or root to the end or tip. This distributes the weight of the airplane evenly over the entire surface of the wing.

6. Low Wing Loading - The weight of the model divided by the area of the wing should not exceed 19 oz./sq. ft. This reduces the speed required to maintain an acceptable rate that the model descends when the power is reduced resulting in a lower landing speed.

7. Moderate Size - Most trainers are for engine sizes between .15 and .60. The smaller ones are more susceptible to the effects of wind and normally the wing loading is higher simply because of the weight of the radio equipment. The larger sizes are easier to fly and easier to see but are more difficult to transport. Most trainers are for .40 size engines. These trainers have been widely accepted as the optimum size.

8. Structurally Sound - A trainer must be able to take the abuses imposed by a beginner. This is especially true for hard landings. It must be able to withstand minor crashes with minimal damage. It should be relatively easy to repair.

A trainer that meets these guidelines will give the beginner excellent service without the frustration that can occur with an inappropriate model. With proper instruction, the beginner can progress quickly to his solo flight and on to the novice stage and still get years of sport flying from the trainer.

There are several trainers on the market that meet and far exceed the guidelines. These range from the most basic kit to beautiful Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) models and Virtually Ready to Fly (VRTF) complete with engine and radio. There are a lot of considerations when choosing a trainer but the two most basic are time and money.

A trainer built from a kit has the advantage of being less expensive in some cases. It gives the builder the pleasure of building, the option of color and trim scheme, and the knowledge of the structure to perform repairs. The biggest disadvantage is the time required to construct the model when the beginner would rather be learning to fly. Another disadvantage in some cases is the emotional attachment the builder develops having spent many hours on his creation.

The big advantage of the ARF models is that they can be assembled in a matter of a few hours and the beginner can be ready to start his flying lessons. The disadvantages are the cost, the unknown structure that is sometimes weak, and the fixed color scheme. Most ARF models perform as well or almost as well as any kit built model on the market. Any beginner who purchases an ARF model should get an experienced modeler to check the model before assembly is started. An experienced modeler can point out areas that may need to be reglued or reinforced.

There are several models that are widely accepted as being the best in the field although there is disagreement as to which is the "All Time Best". The list is not an all-inclusive but includes those that are most widely accepted and therefore are most widely recommended by novices and seasoned veterans of the hobby. Some of the trainers are also available in .20 and .60 size but the .40 is the most widely accepted.

Some Best Trainers

NAME	SUPPLIER	DESCRIPTION
Stick 40+	Balsa USA	The most basic trainer kit available, inexpensive, easy to build, easy to fly, almost indestructible
Kadet LT40	SIG Mfg. Inc	Very good quality trainer kit, relatively easy to build, easy to fly, excellent performance
Kadet Senior	SIG Mfg. Inc	Very good quality trainer kit, difficult to build, very easy to fly, good performance
Eagle II	Carl Goldberg	Very good quality trainer kit, relatively easy to build, very easy to fly, good performance
Aerostar 40	Midwest	Very good quality trainer kit, relatively easy to build, easy to fly, very good performance
Telemaster 40	Hobby Lobby	Very good quality trainer kit, relatively easy to build, easy to fly, good performance
PT40 Mk II	Great Planes	Very good quality trainer kit, relatively easy to build, easy to fly, very good performance
Trainer 40	Thunder Tiger	Good quality ARF trainer, easy to assemble, easy to fly, excellent performance
Trainer 40 and 60	Tower Hobbies	Good quality ARF trainer, easy to assemble, easy to fly, very good performance

Most if not all of the models listed have been reviewed by one of the major model magazines. A beginner can get information from these reviews that may help in deciding which model to buy and the areas of assembly that need special attention. Regardless of the amount of advice that the beginner gets from experienced modelers, the final decision is the beginner's. The choice of a model is an individual choice and all the pros and cons must be weighed. Each person must decide which model is pleasing in appearance and performance and which one will meet his needs. The final consideration should be that the model should be considered disposable. Many trainers are destined for the junk pile when it has served its purpose.