Kennelmaster,

I would like to jump in on your question you posed to Any in post #112. while I agree that learning to use rudder should go right along with basic flight skills I think you may want to change you view of the ailerons. I think you mentioed at some point you have done some full scale flying? When you initiate a turn using rudder only what does that tend to do to the turn? It turns into a skidding uncordinated turn. Plus not to mention the fact that using rudder to maintain wings level on approach is difficult at best leaving you behind the aircraft. Using the rudder to raise a lowered wing relies on moving the aircraft on its vertical axis to momentarily increase the speed of the lowered wing and slow the high wing. This does work but there will be a slight delay as the lowered wing develops lift then raises itself back up. Ailerons are the direct route to maintain wings level on apporach.

As for making regular turns in an oval, using ailerons is a much more coordinated means of moving the plane around its lateral axis. You initiate the turn using ailerons, pull some back stick to compensate for loss of vertical lift, correct with rudder to maintain coordination. Most trainer aircraft will fly left turns using only aileron and elevator. Right turns will fight the left turning tendancies of the prop and engine (all 4 of them) so you will need more rudder in a right turn.

Alot of folks who have been in the hobby for many years learned to fly with a 3 channel set up with rudder only. That was more out of neccesity than choice. You are not in that boat and have ailerons to use. I could go on and on about the aerodymics of flight and turns in general but I think I covered the important stuff. I fly full scale as well and I love learning about all the mechanics of flight. Fully scale flying has taught me more about RC and actually made me a better RC pilot by a long shot. Especially when I was working on getting my Flight instructor rating. I hope this helps some. If you want me to clarify any of my rambling feel free to ask!