I'm really glad you are interested in using rudder control in your flying. It shows you are interested in the details of aviation - I predict you will become an excellent pilot. Flying while ignoring rudder (I used it for taxi, take-off and roll-out only) is really restricting you to three out of four controls to flight - a reduction of 25% of your flight capablilities.

I learned to fly predominantly with aileron - bad mistake. I was having problems with landings by inducing stalls at low altitude and dinged up many a wingtip on short final. Finally I got disgusted and vowed to change my habits and made a concerted effort one summer to do it through practice and concentration. It became a "challenge" to learn something new about model flying.

First I studied the principles of flight to learn what each of the control surfaces do and how they affect flight. Basic knowledge goes a long way. Aviation flight manuals will help here. I learned a lot through full scale flying lessons.

Then I made it a conscious effort to use rudder on every turn trying to make it as realistic of full scale flight as possible. I'd practice applying a little rudder with aileron at a safe altitude and with time I began to "see" when there was adverse yaw and when the turn was controlled. It took practice but with time and persistence it became natural. I viewed it as a challenge on each flight - a flight mission so as to speak.

Also I practiced at safe altitude slips and cross controlling. My J-3 Cub was great for this. On a clalm day I'd throttle back, feed in some rudder and a little opposite aileron and keep the airspeed up with a little forward elevator (to avoid a stall/spin). If the plane got into a bad attitude, I'd neutralize everything and trottle up, come around and try again. The plane would be descending at a slow speed and flying at a crab and when it got too low, I'd recover and go around. By doing it a little at a time, it became comfortable. Eventually I was able to do this all the way to landing - called a slip to landing. Eventually on a steady cross wind day, I'd do the same thing (rudder with the wind and aileron into the wind) and learned to to cross wind landings.

Aslo with landing I found that using rudder with aileron on final made for co-ordinated flight and a lot less botched landings. I'd just concentrate on rudder (left hand) on final, but not ignoring ailerons, elevator and trottle.

All in all, it made for a challenging and fun filled summer where I was learning something new, had a goal and became a better pilot.

Good Luck

Roodester