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Information
Frequently Asked Questions.
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2.4GHz - the frequency band of the newest, interference-free 'spread spectrum' digital rc systems.
3D - a complex form of aerobatic flying, usually with more than one maneuver being performed simultaneously. 3D airplanes have over-sized control surfaces, exaggerated control surface deflection and excess power for maximum performance and sensitivity.
Aerobatic - any maneuver or series of maneuvers that involve stunts of any kind, such as loops, rolls and spins. An airplane that is capable of performing such stunts is said to be "fully aerobatic".
Aileron -The hinged control surface on the back(trailing edge) of the wing furthest away from the fuselage.
Airfoil -The wing shape viewed from the end. Flat-bottom, Semi-Symmetrical and Symmetrical are three very popular airfoil types.
Altitude -How high an aircraft is flying in the sky. Such as 100' feet.
ARC - Almost Ready to Crash. An rc airplane or helicopter that knows something that the pilot is just about to find out.
ARF -(Almost-Ready-To-Fly) A aircraft that is factory built and ony needs final assembly.
Brushless motor - type of electric motor used in rc electric aircraft. Brushless motors are much more powerful than traditional brushed motors, and are commonly used in electric aerobatic aircraft. They can be inrunner or outrunner motors.
Buddy Box - one of the best training aids, where the student's transmitter is attached via cable to the instructor's. The student has complete control over the model, but at the flick of a switch the instructor can take control if the student gets into difficulties. Or just to be mean, funny or annoying.
Control Surface -A moveable part of on rc airplane, such as a rudder, aileron or elevator.
Control surface mixing - when two control surface operations are performed by one pair of surfaces eg when aileron and elevator movement is combined into elevons.
Crosswind - when the wind is blowing at, or approximately, 90 degrees to your line of flight, take off or landing.
Dihedral -A wing with a upper angle, resemblying a v-shape. Many trainer airplanes are built with increased dihedral.
Dead Stick -When an rc airplane engine looses power in the sky. The pilot has to land the aircraft without engine power.
Disorientation -When a pilot loses control flying a rc airplane, and cannot regain control of his aircraft.
Drag -The force an aircraft creates as it moves through the air.
Dual rates - a feature of many rc systems, whereby the control surface deflection can be reduced while still maintaining full movement of the transmitter sticks. With dual rates enabled, the airplane is less sensitive to control inputs.
DSM / DSM2 - a type of technology developed by Spektrum for their spread spectrum 2.4GHz rc systems. Stands for Digital Spectrum Modulation, the '2' just being the newer updated version.
Elevator -A control surface located on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer, that allows the airplane to assend or desend.
FASST - Futaba's answer to Spektrum's DSM technology. Stands for Futaba Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology and uses warp-speed frequency hopping to ensure no breakdown of signal.
Fin -The vertical stabilizer on an rc aircraft.
Fixed -Describing landing gear that cannot be moved, it remains down throughout the entire flight.
Flap -A control surface that increases lift and is located close to the fuselage.
Flat bottom -A wing that consist of a flat end surface, found in many highwing trainer airplanes.
Fuselage -The aircraft structure that houses the engine and fin.
Horizontal stabilizer - also called the tailplane. The horizontal surface at the back of the fuselage, to which the elevators are attached.
Kit - An rc airplane that requires building, it comes with balsa wood, hardware and building plans. Does not include engine or radio transmitter.
Leading edge -The front of the wing.
Li-Po - stands for lithium ion polymer battery. These are the most modern kind of battery pack being used in electric aircraft. They provide enormous amounts of power for their size, especially when used in conjunction with a brushless motor.
Loop -A basic maneuver, which the airplane climbs up and over thus returning to level flight.
Mid-air - term used to describe the unfortunate incident of two or more aircraft making physical contact with each other while in flight. A mid-air collision can be very spectacular given the correct speeds and trajectories of each model, and all models involved in such a crowd-pleasing incident always end up going home in the plastic bag.
Main gear -An airplane's two main landing gear, located under the wings.
Mode 2 - refers to the set-up of the transmitter whereby the left stick operates the throttle and rudder, and the right stick operates the elevator and ailerons. Common in North America and much of the world.
Outrunner - the other type of brushless motor, where the outer shell, or 'can', of the motor rotates with the shaft. The extra inertia produces more torque, so outrunners are more powerful than inrunners and rarely are geared.
Park Flyer - the general name given to any electric rc airplane that can be safely flown in a public park / school yard / parking lot / sports field etc.
Pilot error - any mistake, particularly one that ends in a crash, made by the pilot for whatever reasons. Pilot error is never admitted to by the pilot in question. Instead, the incident is traditionally put down to radio failure, radio interference, unexplained gusts of wind, extra fast-growing trees, the strange phenomenon of the ground suddenly lifting upwards and getting in the way without warning, or gravity having some fun and suddenly increasing its strength.
Plug n' Play (PNP) - Ready To Fly models that are missing the transmitter and receiver, allowing the pilot to use his/her own.
Propeller - the thing at the front of the airplane. It spins round very fast when the motor is running. Propellers have been known to eat the fingers of careless rc pilots who hand start their motor without the use of a chicken stick. Props will fly off at an alarming speed, if the securing nut hasn't been tightened properly.
Prop -Refers to propeller.
Radio Transmitter -The pilot controls an airplane's flight movements.
Rechargeable batteries - Older type or rechargeable batteries are called NiCad, while the newer ones are called NiMH or LIPO.
Receiver - This an electronic device that receives signals from a transmitter, and converts the signal into data to control servos and/or speed controllers.
RPM -Revolutions per minute. A engine's operating range.
RTF -Ready-To-Fly. An airplane that is completely built with engine and radio accessories installed.
RTR -This means Ready To Run right out of the box. These radio controlled aircraft contain almost all items needed to run once you take them out of the box. They are fully assembled and include the radio transmitter, batteries and charger for electric models.
Symmetrical - An airfoil that has the same shape on both sides of a wing's center line.
Tail -The rear part of the fuselage that includes the vertical stabilizer.
Trailing edge -The rear part of a wing.
Trimming - Adjusting the airplane in flight mechanically, via the radio transmitter. Thereby providing smoother flights.
Wing area - An area of the wings measured in square inches.
Wingroot - Where the wing joins the fuselage.
Wingspan - It is the length of the wing measured from one wing tip to the other.
Wingtip - The furthest end of the wing from the fuselage. |
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