The more channels a remote/transmitter has the more functions you can do with your plane. A basic 2 channel remote is for cars, one channel controls the throttle and another controls the steering. The SKY FLY comes with a three channel remote, one channel for throttle, one for rudder, and one for elevators. If you ever get more into the hobby, a nitro trainer will require a 4 channel at the minimum. The first three channels being used for the things i said before, and the fourth channel would be for ailerons. If you really really get into the hobby additional channels are used to operate retracting landing gear, flaps, smoke systems or just about anything you can think of that requires some sort of switch function.