Tips for a Successful First RC Flight
Flying RC model airplanes is a popular hobby that brings a lot of fun. If you are in the market for a new hobby, you should consider this great pastime. Flying RC plans has grown in popularity in the last few years. This article is meant to help you get started safely and quickly. Nowadays, flying of these planes can be done without prior experience.
Taking into account your budget and how serious you are about flying an RC plane, you may consider buying a flight simulator to practice on. However, you may not need this for a 2 channel model airplane. The truth is that they are a good idea if you want to fly a bigger, more advanced radio control airplanes.
RC Airplane Weight and Balance
If you purchased an RC airplane from a reputable manufacturer and followed instructions, the balance and weight should be reasonably fine. It is important to check the balance of your RC before flying. You should note that an incorrect balance will make your plane uncontrollable and even crash. Remember that all things have a center of gravity that affects their balance and ultimately their flying characteristics.
Pre-Flight Checks
Before flying any RC plane, it is vital that pre-flight checks are done. You can easily miss obvious things if you want to get the plane into the air quickly. In fact, such mistakes are known to result in crashes. The instruction manual of your airplane ought to outline the much-needed pre-flight checks. The basic checks include:
- Tail and wing securely fastened
- Motor operation correct
- Prop secure
- Range check
- Radio control transmitter batteries
- Motor operation correct
- Ensure everything inside the plane is secure
It is a good idea to check the range before flying. This is necessary to ensure that the radio signal from start to return is strong. In this way, you can fly your plane at a safe distance without worrying that it will get out of range.
Test Glide
Although not necessary, you might consider testing your airplane before it starts flying. This is the case if your plane is in the RC powered glider variety. The good thing about this is to ensure that your plane has a smooth glide path. You can do a test glide over long grass. If there is something wrong, then your plane may have a soft landing. When performing a soft landing, do the pre-flight checks as noted above.
