Hobbies And Interests
Get A Flight Simulator
The urge to get your bird in the air as soon as possible may be too great to overcome, but crashing your plane and causing costly damage is a big price to pay. Instead, invest in a flight simulator program for your home computer. Hobby shops sell programs specifically designed to get you used to using a controller to maneuver an RC airplane. The simulator actually prepares you to be on the ground and watching the plane from a distance, like you will on the test field.
Stay Out Of The Wind
Radio controlled planes maneuver and otherwise react similarly to real airplanes–except for wind. High wind can be a problem for real pilots, but it can be a disaster for RC pilots. If there is more than a light breeze blowing and you are flying, bring your plane in for a quick landing. You should not attempt to fly your RC plane in winds higher than 10 miles per hour, according to the Red Rocket Hobbies website.
Proper Balance
Improperly balanced RC planes are an accident waiting to happen. It's easy to tell if your plane is balanced. Simply set it down on a flat surface and take a look. If the plane is sitting on all wheels and the nose is pointed slightly down, then it's balanced. If the nose is pointing up and the plane appears to be leaning back with the tail down, don't try to fly it. Shifting the battery pack forward to balance the plane is the best option, if possible. If that doesn't work, then add some modeling clay in the front compartment to balance things out.
Test Your Range
Test your radio’s range before flying the plane. Have someone walk the plane away from you across a field as you test the rudder and various controls. The other person will indicate how far he gets before the controls stop working properly. Now you have an idea of your limitations.