From the Albuquerque Radio Control Club,
Albuquerque NM
Getting Started in Model Aviation
Glenn Bontly, editor
This past summer, I was asked if I would be
interested becoming a flight instructor. Having been
an instructor pilot for the Air Force many years
ago, I jumped at the chance to share my knowledge
and skill with new student pilots. In preparation, I
did a lot of research in various books and on the
Internet, and compiled a training manual in order to
help me provide a comprehensive and methodical
approach to training students from Ground School
through Solo and beyond. I would like to share some
of the things I learned during this process for the
benefit of those who are currently learning to fly.
In my opinion, model aviation is one of the most
exciting hobbies available. You are introduced to
many new interests, disciplines, and skills
including: aerodynamics, electronics, mechanics,
engines, model building, and of course flying. As
you know, radio-controlled airplanes are not toys;
they are true airplanes that fly and operate under
the same principles as full-size aircraft, the
primary differences are size and weight. The average
.40-size model will weigh roughly 6 pounds and can
fly at speeds from 25 mph to 50 mph. The force of
the model hitting an object can be devastating,
especially if it hits a person. As such, a model
must be controlled properly for both enjoyment and
safety. An experienced RC flight instructor can
provide you with the knowledge and teach you the
necessary skills to safely and successfully achieve
your goal of becoming an RC Pilot!
The first step in your journey will be to purchase
an airplane, engine, radio, and field equipment.
Expect to pay approximately $400-$500 to get
started, with the understanding that your radio,
engine, and field equipment will usually all carry
over to future airplanes. Often a prospective RC
pilot will visit a flying field, see a sleek-looking
warbird, and decide to run out and buy one as a
first airplane. Hangar 9 recently came out with its
P-51 Mustang PTS (Progressive Training System). I'm
sure it's a fine model, but the fact remains that
it's a low-wing tail dragger—not the best choice for
your first airplane in my opinion. I believe you
will be much more successful if you start with a
standard basic trainer.
A trainer is a specific type of model airplane that
is designed to be stable. Absent of control input,
it has an inherent ability to correct itself and
return to straight and level flight (assuming
sufficient altitude is available to do so). Most
trainers are designed to remain stable in slow
flight as well, so they are easier to land than more
advanced airplanes. A typical basic trainer is
moderately sized (.40-.60 engine), with tricycle
landing gear, structurally sound construction, and a
high, flat-bottom wing.
There are several good trainer airplanes on the
market. These range from the most basic kit (that
you must build from individual pieces using plans,
cover or paint, and install all of the hardware,
including the engine and radio system), to
Almost-Ready-to-Fly (ARF) models (requiring only
assembly of the major components and installation of
the engine and radio system), to Ready-To-Fly (RTF)
models (complete with pre-installed engine and radio
system). The two primary considerations when
choosing a trainer are time and money.
For many aeromodelers, building provides a
significant portion of the fun. Purchasing a kit
gives you the pleasure of building your own model,
the option of selecting your own color and trim
scheme, and the knowledge of the structure of the
airframe (making it easier to perform repairs if
required). The biggest disadvantage of building a
kit is the time required to construct the model—time
you may rather spend learning to fly. Another
disadvantage, in some cases, is the emotional
attachment you may develop, having spent many hours
on your creation (it "hurts" more when you crash!).
As far as cost goes, although the kit itself will be
much less than an ARF model, once you include tools,
covering, and hardware, the difference in cost is
negligible. Often, the final cost of an airplane
built from a kit is higher than an ARF.
The big advantage of ARF models is that they can
usually be assembled over the course of just a few
days, and you will be ready much sooner to start
your flight training. On the down side, you
typically don't have a choice of color schemes, so
your model looks like everyone else's. With the
covering already complete, you usually can't inspect
the quality of the structure, so it would be wise
for the beginner to get an experienced modeler to
check it out before you start assembly. They will be
able to point out areas that may need to be re-glued
or reinforced. On the other hand, the quality of ARF
models is getting better and better. Most are built
and perform as well as any of the kit models on the
market today.
Finally, today's RTF models can literally be
assembled faster than the time it takes to charge
your radio batteries! They cost a bit more, but if
you absolutely must get into the air in the shortest
amount of time, this is definitely the way to go.
Click here to view a diagram that shows the
various components of a typical trainer airplane
listed below.
Aileron: one on each wing; the moveable
control surfaces on the trailing edge of the wing
that cause a change about the roll axis
Cowling: the part of the fuselage that covers
the engine
Engine: an internal combustion machine that
provides motivational power
Elevator: the moveable control surface on the
trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer that
causes a change about the pitch axis
Fin: also know as the vertical stabilizer,
the fin provides stability about the yaw axis
Fuselage: the main body of the aircraft
Landing Gear: the supporting structure of an
aircraft consisting of landing gear struts and
wheels
Propeller: the device that converts the power
created by the engine into forward thrust for the
airplane
Rudder: the moveable control surface attached
to the trailing edge of the fin that causes change
about the yaw axis
Spinner: an aerodynamic covering over the
center hub of the propeller
Stabilizer: also known as the horizontal
stabilizer, the stabilizer provides stability about
the pitch axis
Wing: the horizontal surface that provides
the lifting forces for the airplane
|
|
