Welcome to RCUniverse.

The general Mode 2 stick configuration (what most pilots in the US fly) has the right stick controlling the elevator/ailerons, and the left stick controlling the rudder/throttle.

Elevator: Pushing the stick forward (away from your self) is down elevator, or moves the nose of the plane down. Pulling the stick towards your self is up elevator and moves the nose of the plane up.

Ailerons: Move the stick to the right causes the plane to roll to the right, and moving the stick to the left rolls the plane to the left. When you enter a bank with ailerons, you need to roll into the bank then return the stick to neutral or the plane will keep rolling.

Throttle: Push the stick forward (away from your self) will cause the engine RPM to increase, thus increasing the speed of the plane and allowing it to climb. Pulling the stick back towards your self causes the engine to drop RPM and allows the plane to slow and descend.

Rudder: Moving the rudder stick to the right causes the nose of the plane to yaw to the right, and moving it to the left causes the nose of the plane to yaw to the left. Rudder is used to steer the plane while on the ground and during the take-off/landing rolls while the wheels are in contact with the ground.

On thing you'll have to get used to is what is referred to as control reversal, or aileron reversal. While the ailerons don't actually reverse in operation, you perception does. What happens is when the plane is moving away from you, moving the aileron stick to the right causes the plane to move to the right. But when it comes towards you, moving the stick to the right gives the impression the plane is moving to the left. Easiest way to work through this is to remember when the plane is heading towards you, to level the wings you need to push the stick towards the low wing. This is phenomenon that you'll get used to as you spend more time at the sticks and everybody who flies has to get used to. After a while it'll become second nature and you won't think about it.

Hope this helps give a basic explanation to how the basic controls work.

Hogflyer