Basics of Aeromodelling

Beginners guide to starting RC planes

Basic Model Plane Parts

Aerodynamic Forces?
Lift

Drag

Thrust
Weight
(Due to gravity)

Three Axis of Motion

Yaw
Longitudinal Axis

Lateral Axis

Roll
Pitch
Vertical Axis

Control surfaces
Controlling the motion

 Aileron Roll Motion

Roll Motion

 Elevator Pitch Motion

Pitch Motion

 Rudder Yaw Motion

Yaw Motion

 Elevons Elevator + Ailerons

Spoiler Small, hinged plates on the top

portion of wings.
Creates drag and hence lowers speed.
Reduces lift by dumping airflow.

Flaps Mounted on the trailing edge of

wings.
Reduce the speed and increase the
angle of descent for landing.

Slats Mounted on the leading edge of

wings.
Allows wing to operate at higher angle
of attack, results in higher lift
coefficient.

Main Parts of a Plane

Fuselage

Main body section of the plane.

Provides the frame for wing and tail to
attach with it.

Wing

Shaped with smooth surfaces.

Produces the upward lift.
Primarily contains ailerons to provide roll
motion.

Tail - provides stability

Horizontal Stabilizer Contains the elevator
to provide pitch motion.

Vertical Stabilizer Contains the rudder to

provide yaw motion.

Few other important terms

Airfoil/Aerofoil Cross section of a wing

Airfoil

Camber Line - Asymmetry between the top and the bottom surfaces of
an airfoil.

Chord Line (C) - imaginary straight line joining the leading and trailing edges.

 Wing Span (S) Distance from one wingtip to other.

A.R. Aspect ratio

 Aerodynamic Centre (A.C.) point at which the pitching moment coefficient for the
airfoil does not vary with lift coefficient.
**For symmetric airfoils in subsonic flight the aerodynamic center is located
approximately 25% of the chord from the leading edge of the airfoil.

Centre of Gravity (C.G.) - geometric point on any body where weight of the whole body acts.
Neutral Point (N.P.) - can be considered as the A.C. of the aircraft.

 Centre of Pressure (C.P.) - point where the total sum of a pressure field acts on a body.
The location of the center of pressure varies with change of
lift
coefficient and angle of attack.