Radio Control
Now that we’ve explored the fundamentals of how flight is achieved, different types of Air Vehicles (AVs), and how they work, we need to understand how this applies to Radio Controlled (RC) Flight.
The first and most obvious difference between manned and unmanned flight is where the pilot resides. In the cockpit, a pilot has a multitude of control measures, such as a flight yoke, rudder pedals, and in a helicopter, a collective and cyclic. In RC flight, these controls are consolidated into a handheld control box called a Transmitter Unit. As a pilot makes inputs through the flight sticks or switches, the transmitter unit modulates, or encodes, the inputs into a radio signal. This signal is sent to the AV’s receiver, which decodes the signal and sends the commands to the correct servo, which in turn deflects the flight surface.
Transmitter
The Transmitter Unit typically has two flight sticks used for AV control, and a varying number of switches and levers, depending on the unit. Each flight stick has a distinct role in controlling the AV. In standard Mode 2 transmitters, usually sold in the USA, the left stick controls the throttle and rudder, while the right stick controls the elevator and ailerons.
Fixed Wing Control
Fixed Wing Left Stick
- Throttle Control: Pushing the left stick forward increases the speed of the engine or motor, while pulling back reduces the engine speed. As the engine speed increases and decreases, so does the thrust of your AV.
- Yaw Control: Moving the left stick left and right controls the rudder, rotating the AV around the CG about the yaw axis. Pushing the stick to the left causes the nose of the AV to yaw left, and pushing it to the right causes the nose to yaw right.
Fixed Wing Right Stick
- Pitch Control: Pulling the right stick back or pushing it forward controls the elevators, rotating the AV around the CG about the lateral axis. Pulling back on the stick causes the nose of the AV to pitch up, and with the proper amount of thrust, the AV will climb. Pushing the stick forward results in the nose pitching down, causing the AV to descend.
- Roll Control: Pushing the right stick left or right controls the ailerons, rotating the AV around the CG about the longitudinal axis. This will cause the AV to roll to either the left or right, depending on the direction selected.
Orientation Tips and Tricks
When the Nose of the Aircraft is Pointed Away from You:
- Moving the right stick to the right will cause the AV to turn or move right.
- Moving the right stick to the left will cause the AV to turn or move left.
- Moving the right stick up or down will cause the AV to pitch up or down (fixed wing) or move forward/back (rotorcraft).
When the Nose of the Aircraft is Pointed Towards You:
- Moving the right stick to the right will cause the AV to turn or move right, the AV’s right, not yours!
- Moving the right stick to the left will cause the AV to turn or move left, the AV’s left, not yours!
- Moving the right stick up or down will result in the same up/down, forward/back movement as when the AV’s nose is pointed away from you.
