JUNE RC CLUB FLYERS
PILOT SPEAK By Ray Ihlenburg
If it rolls, floats, climbs, or takes to the air, chances are it has been modeled and radio controlled. Flying a radio controlled (RC) airplane has one challenge that other forms of RC modelling do not present to the operator. Consider, the R/C train engineer has the track; the RC car driver has to steer the car around the track or coarse. The R/C sailor has a bit of unique variables between the sails, hull and water, to deal with, however they combine with the rudder to steer the yacht. These RC models are basically 2-dimentional requiring steering and application or management of energy for power.
The challenges the RC pilot must contend with is an extra dimension known as pitch for 3D operation and an unforgiving boundary called the ground. Therefore, the three control axis; yaw, roll, pitch are controlled by the rudder, ailerons, and elevator, respectively. The pilot also must utilize the throttle in conjunction with the three axis controls because the throttle has a direct impact on the speed of the aircraft and how it responds to a pilot’s control inputs. In addition, an airplane with a lifting airfoil tends climb as power increases and descend as the power in reduced. As in any full-size airplane, all these controls are managed together for a successful takeoff, flight, and landing. Not nearly as hard as rubbing your stomach while patting your head while standing on a balance ball.
While the above is happening, the pilot must keep the airplane within the established “flight box”. At our field, the flight box extends from the east and west end of the paved runway to the respective ‘big clump of trees’ and extends north from the runway ‘to the top of the hill’. Add to this, the maximum altitude allowed by the FAA is 700’ above the ground. These spatial constraints form the flight box that is centered in front of the pilot’s station, and the airplane kept within these limits. This is a huge volume of airspace in which to operate, but since the pilot must have line of sight contact with the airplane, is about the limits for safe operation.
Seeing the airplane is paramount to flying R/C models. It is the only physical connection the pilot has with the airplane. This is why keeping the airplane in the flight box is so important. When the airplane gets out of the flight box or too far away to discern direction, trouble is not far away. Looking up too steeply brings a risk of disorientation, especially as we get older and less spry. Pilots must always keep the airplane in front.
Most pilots are capable of handling these challenges, but when physical limitations creep in on us, the club helps those pilots to keep flying. In addition, the club’s instructors teach the new pilot to handle the controls and have fun doing it.
In closing, flying R/C model aircraft is a challenging but a very enjoyable way to be retired.