Been away from the hobby a long time.
These terms are new to me.

Well every type of flying would technically be considered 3D flying since we are flying in 3 dimensions. But the current use of the terms refers to the style of flying.

You have regular aerobatics, which involve forward flight type aerobatics like loops, rolls, cuban 8's etc.

Then there are 3D aerobatics. This includes maneuvers such as hovering, blenders, waterfalls, walls, etc.

The 4D thing hasnt really been defined yet. E-flite released a plane called the Tensor4D. This biplane had some strange flight charectoristics that allowed it to perform knife-edge and rolls without elevator or rudder input and other odd maneuvers. But recently 4D has been applied to planes with variable pitch propellors that allow the planes to do reverse maneuvers such as nose down hovering torque rolls, and even flying backwards.

Pics of some 3D planes.

Thanks for the explanation and the pictures.

Do you plan on flying 3D? This is a 3D plane that comes with everything that you need. It is the Typhoon 3D. All of this for $219. This is a great deal.

it looks like an awesome deal, I cannot wait to learn to fly and get the skill needed to fly that!! It doesnt come out until mid-summer though.

Most people understand 3D so I will try to explain 4D.

Someone came up with the idea of the motor on a propeller driven plane that could rotate clockwise and counter clockwise. Whis this in place you can fly straight down and when you are ready, reverse the direction and back back up in the air. I have seen a video of this and it is cool, just before the crash can happen, the plane backs away from the ground and back into the air. It is really cool looking.

I plan on getting the E-flite Yak 54f. Or I might get the E3D.

I dont think the prop changes direction of rotation...I believe the blades are turned by a servo that changes the pitch direction or is variable like the rotors on a Heli

yes nitro you are correct...Geistware almost had it, but thats not how it works...its exactly like the rotor head on a heli. infact some people use the tailrotors from eco 8's or t-rexs...

OK, that is interesting. Seen a guy here who tried one and that is how he did it.
Must have been the poor mans version.
So you have a variable pitch propeller or is it a two position propeller on a switch?

It is a variable pitch. Exactly like is used in Heli's. A video of it in action: http://modellvideos.de/videos/Knuffe...-die-zwote.wmv 11mb

And another: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/media/EVP...iablePitch.wmv

If you'd like to know more about "variable pitch propellors" try going to the VPP forum. There is lots more info.

Most of the VPP mechanisms in use now consist of a "rotor" head that is just like the tail rotor mechanism on a helicopter. When this technology first came out, many guys were using converted tailrotor set-ups by converting a Trex or Shogun heli rotor.

Here is the basics on how it works.

A servo is placed in the front of the airplane and connected to the mechanism by a pushrod that goes through a hollow shaft on the brushless motor, or is attached to a "swashplate". There are quite a few ready made VPP systems out right now. One is from Ikarus you can find it at www.shockflyer.com and the other that I am familiar with is the Shulman Aviation VPP system designed by Jason Shulman.

Reversing the pitch is done in two different ways. One is by programming "collective" into the radio, and the other way is by using a switch on the radio to reverse the pitch.

Collective is the best route, as it allows you to variate the pitch in both + and - .
The simple switch method either gives you full + or full - pitch.

If you want to see what a VPP system can do, click on this link.
http://67.18.81.100/rcuvideos/magazi...cottfoster.wmv

I guess I will tell him he is doing it wrong and lead him to these links.
Thanks

i have a nice easy vpp section on my 3d site you can see it fly and order it from there 2
[link=http://californiadetail.tripod.com/3dairplanes]3d and VPP site[/link]
Vpp works great on the animal3d