RC AIRPLANE TRAINING.

RC AIRPLANE TRAINING CAN UTILIZE MANY METHODS.

A Short History of RC Flight Training methods.

Way back, when I was learning to fly, the only method available was to teach your self! This was a long and heart-breaking process, with many crashes and repairs, along the road to success.

I believe the first change came when flying clubs decided to start a  training program. A few of the competent flyers, who were willing to offer their time, were appointed instructors.

These wonderful members were willing to offer their valuable flying time and teach newcomers to fly. This was, and still is, a thankless task that is usually not fully appreciated by a lot of students.

The usual rc airplane training process was for the instructor to initially fly and trim the pupil's airplane. When the plane was flying straight and level and into the wind and at a safe altitude, the transmitter was handed to the student who was coached, by the instructor for the rest of the flight.

If and/or when the student got himself into trouble, he simply handed the transmitter back to the instructor. Who was then expected to save the airplane from whatever position the student had managed to get it into!

The first improvement to come along was the buddy cord. This cable connects the student's transmitter to the instructor's transmitter. (As shown in the photograph above.) The teacher has complete control over the aircraft until he releases the pupil via the switch on his transmitter.

The instructor can take over control at any time during the flight. This feature is a big step forward in the RC flight training process.

A point to realize is that the two transmitters must be compatible. It is recommended to check the type and make of the instructor's transmitter before the student makes his or her purchase of their first radio system.

The last training aide to mention is the RC Flight Simulator. This device is covered in detail on the page titled "The RC Flight Simulator and Learning to Fly Successfully" Click here to visit this page.

The Choices Available to the Modern Student of RC Airplane Flying.

The first decision to be made is- do I join a club or will I "go it alone"?

The many advantages of joining a club are described on this page-"RC Airplane Clubs"-to visit this page please click here.

If you decide to learn on your own, then please, please, buy yourself a decent simulator and PRACTICE on this, until it becomes second nature for you to successfully take-off and land.

For complete information on the RC Flight Simulator, please  click here.

The next recommendation for the "solo" student is to purchase an easy flying and forgiving trainer airplane. For information on my choice for this type of airplane please visit the page "RC Park Flyers" by clicking here.

Please note that I strongly recommend you purchase a good simulator for both methods of RC airplane training.

If you do decide to join a club, then I would leave your decisions regarding purchase of airplanes and radio gear until after you are a member. You will then find out the local preferences for models and gear and make your start, in this great hobby, a lot smoother!

An excellent couple of papers, written by Dr. Robert Suding, offer many excellent tips and techniques for RC airplane training and for the instructor. I came across these articles whilst web surfing, so I have never had the pleasure of meeting the Doctor, but he does write an excellent article obviously based on long experience. If you would like to see these papers, please click  here for students and here for instructors These links will take you to the Kokomo Blue Angels RC Club website. An excellent club site that is well worth a visit.

Something New.

I have to mention a brand new type of trainer aircraft that appears to contradict all the advice myself (and many others!) have been offering over the years! I refer to the Hanger 9 P-51 Mustang TRAINER. Believe it or not, this is a semi-scale, low wing TRAINER RC airplane! For more information, on this revolutionary airplane, please click here.

To return from this page-"RC Airplane Training" to "The RC Flight Simulator & Learning to Fly Successfully" please click here.

To return to the Home Page "Designing, Building and Flying RC Airplanes " please click here.