RC Airplane Controls Explained

RC Airplane Controls are described. The 3 control surfaces of an airplane pus the RC throttle control are shown and how the RC transmitter controls the model. 

The Primary RC Airplane Controls

RC airplane controls generally are of a minimum of 3 channels ( Rudder, elevator and throttle) or ailerons can be added thus making the system a 4-channel unit.

All primary channels are controlled via joy sticks on the RC transmitter and are fully proportional i.e. the amount of movement of the control surfaces is determined by how far the sticks are moved.

E-Flite Apprentice beginner RC airplane with control surfaces names.E-Flite Apprentice beginner RC airplane.

The Ailerons are Used to Control ROLL

Airplane aileron movement

If the left aileron moves up then the right aileron must move down. This is generally achieved in today's RC airplanes by using two servos, one for each aileron.

Note that if the left aileron moves up, then the lift on the left wing decreases and with the right aileron moving down the lift on this side is increased, resulting in a roll to the left.

Obviously if everything is reversed then a right roll is the result. 

A word of advice-ALWAYS check before flying that a left command from the transmitter gives a result that the right aileron lowers, thus increasing the lift on this wing panel and the airplane will roll to the left.

There are a few reasons why this situation can change (such as plugging servos in the wrong way!) and trying to fly with the ailerons reversed is almost impossible! ( Don't ask me how I know this!)

Always check that ALL control surfaces are moving in the correct direction before EVERY flight!


How Do Elevators Work?

How Do Elevators Work?

The elevators control PITCH.

When the elevators move down, once again, (as with the ailerons) the lift of the tail plane is increased and the tail rises and the nose falls. 

Note that altitude may not be affected with small amounts of deflection. Height is much more dependent on throttle settings (Thrust)

The Airplane Rudder

Airplane rudder movement

The rudder controls YAW

If the rudder is moved to the left side then the tail moves to the right and thus the nose moves to the left.

Usually, to perform a turn, a little rudder is used with ailerons and a touch of up elevator is required to keep the nose up.

This is the most basic of all the RC airplane controls and at one time was the only control available!

RC Throttle Control

Throttle controls the speed of the motor (electric RC airplanes) or the engine (Nitro RC airplanes or gas RC planes) and thus the speed of the propeller.

Nitro RC Planes

A carburetor is used (as in most internal combustion engines) to control the engine. An RC throttle servo generally uses a flexible control rod to adjust the position of the nose mounted engine.

As the carburetor barrel is rotated by the control rod, the air/fuel mixture is adjusted and the more open the barrel is, the faster the engine turns the prop.(RPM) and thus the faster the airspeed.

Electric RC Airplanes

In this instance, a device known as an RS ESC (Electronic Speed Control) is used to control the RC electric motor. There are no control rods required.

The power to the motor is increased or decreased in direct proportion to the position of the control stick on the RC transmitter. Up position is high throttle and visa versa.

When flying the throttle not only controls speed but also the rate of climb and descent. This is especially important on landing when throttle is used to control height and elevator is used more to control the "Flair" just before touch down.

Airplane Flaps

Airplane flaps are generally not part of the RC airplane controls but can be used, especially on scale RC models.

They can look just like another set of ailerons, generally set inboard of the ailerons or can be of the "Split flap" variety and as such are a flat surface that can be lowered from the lower surface of the wing.

They can be used to shorten the take-off distance but are generally used on landing. When deployed there can be a "nose up" tendency and a touch more throttle will be required and the approach angle will be steeper.

They can add some fun to landing but I generally not use them on a windy day.

Please note that the above 3 images are downloaded from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum web site. Please click here to visit the site "How Things Fly"


RC Airplane Transmitter Controls

Spektrum DX8 RC Transmitter

These RC airplane controls are initiated at the RC transmitter. The above photo shows the Spektrum DX8. This is one of the transmitters I use and although it has been superseded by the DX9, I really like this transmitter!

It is a computer radio, which means it is easily programmed for many different RC airplanes and it transmits on the 2.4Ghz spread spectrum band. This is the only band to use these days as interference is almost a thing of the past and frequency control is not required.

You will notice there are 2 control joy sticks in this Mode 2 layout. 

The left joy stick controls rudder (horizontally) and throttle (vertically).

The right stick is used for ailerons (horizontally) and elevator (vertically)

This is an 8-channel transmitter and the primary controls use 4 channels. The other 4 channels are controlled by the smaller toggle switches.

Being a computer radio, one of the switches can be programmed to operate the airplane flaps.


More Pages Related to RC Airplane Controls

  • Lithium Polymer batteries-Click here for more details
  • RC Servos: the electric motor that move control surfaces. Visit this page
  • RC ESC: The electronic device that controls the throttle on RC electric planes-Click here.
  • The High Torque Servo-For the bigger RC Airplane. More information here.
  • RC Electric Motors: The mysteries revealed of these modern marvels! Take a look.
  • The Best Lipo Battery for your application. Click here to see.
  • Lipo Battery Charger reviews. Details of the best chargers. Visit this page.
  • RC transmitter reviews. My favorite transmitters. Click here for more details.