I've read where some pilots use flaps when landing and others don't. Just wondering if 'our' RC planes actually need flaps when landing? I'm just rying to make a decision on my next plane. I would like something with retracts and flaps, but thinking maybe they're not really necessary on our size planes?

It depends on the type of plane and its wing loading. You do not need flaps to land a light acrobatic or 3D plane. On a heavy warbird, flaps make landing so much smoother and decrease the chance of nosing over or bending the retracts, especially on a grass runway. Flaps provide additional lift (and drag) on landing, so you can bring a heavy plane in at a crawling pace and gently set it down onto the runway. Landing a plane with flaps is different than landing a plane without flaps. You do not want to do a long shallow approach with the flaps deployed.

What kind of plane are you talking about? It makes a difference. My 15 lb Extra 300 XS doesn't have flaps so I have to land it with throttle on and nose high. That's the only way I can slow it down. A warbird will benefit greatly from flaps, all the aerobatic planes dont need them.

Hell, just learn to land hot. Just kidding.

JimRoss

I'm talking about planes like the Spitfire, Mustang, AT-6, Lancair, etc. For example, the H9 P51 60 size has no flaps, but the 1.50 size does????? Are they really necessary on the 1.50 size or are they just included for the more scale effect of the bigger sized plane?

I had a Goldberg Super chipmunk with fixed gear and flaps, and I loved it. it was real fun to land in a fair breeze,cause you could land with almost no ground speed at all. spectators seemed to be more impressed with that than all the rest of the flying. Awsome plane by the way, till it was shot down by a newbee pilot at our field. (we did put in a good radio impound after that though)
Go ahead,,,, FLAP DEM WINGS!

Yes, flaps are necessary on the bigger and heavier warbirds. You do not want to land a 28 lbs. or a 35 lbs. warbird without flaps because you will be coming in too hot. Otherwise the plane will drop like a brick. I watched my buddy land his giant Top Flite P-47 on numerous occasions with flaps, and that thing just slowly floated down onto the runway like a feather.

60 size warbirds do not need flaps.