Knnow RC: It's Not as Difficult as You Think

Most of us are familiar with the two letter combination of R and C and what it means. When used together, they stand for the phrase “radio control.” A growing number of aspiring and wannabe aviators are choosing to spend a large portion of their leisure time at the controls of an electric RC plane.

The pleasures enjoyed by those who fly model planes increases, if and when the hobbyist takes the time to learn a few principle terms. Those who have just begun to pursue RC flying normally operate a control with three different channels. The smart hobbyist learns the technical name for the thing that is controlled by each channel.

Every electric RC airplane will have a motor and a rudder. Two of the three channels in the controlling device will allow for remote operation of the motor and rudder. The third channel controls the elevator which determines the degree to which the aircraft will rise above the ground.

While hardly a new hobby, the growing numbers of enthusiasts who fly an electric RC plane–fueled by design improvements that make flying easier to learn and less expensive–do serve to illustrate the general public’s fascination with flight. In turn, the increase in RC adherents continues to spur important innovations, such as brushless motors, electronic speed controls (ESC), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries and spread spectrum radio systems.

Thanks to the introduction of 2.4 GHz spread spectrum technology, those Knnow RC who fly RC can now enjoy interference-free flying. If you are just starting out, consider purchasing a 2.4 GHz radio system as opposed to a traditional narrow-band set. That way you’ll never have to worry about another pilot getting on your frequency and causing you to stall out or crash.