Ok,

My first plane was the Hobbico SkyFly. It was a 3CH setup, left stick was for throttle, and the right was for rudder/elevator.


My new plane is a Hobbico Superstar EP RTF. The way they have it set up from the factory is this:

Left stick is throttle and rudder, and Right stick is elevator and ailerons.

My questions is, what is the norm?? I was expecting the left stick to be throttle and ailerons, and the right to be elevator and rudder. I am not dumb and do realize I can change this, but what is considered normal in 4CH rc flying? I am just afraid that after getting used to the old Skyfly setup it will throw me off.

Another question is......what do you mostly use to turn, ailerons or rudder? Thanks for any help, I greatly appreciate it!

The second plane is the norm.

The setup you mentioned is the normal setup for 4-channel. You can change the setup on the 3-channel to also have the rudder on the left stick, this way you will grow accustomed to having the turn control on that side, if that is what you wish.

It's a little misleading to say that this is the norm for all radios. There are essentially 4 "modes" that are used in setups for radios. What you have described is Mode 2 and it is what is most common here in the states, but that doesn't mean everybody uses. There are many fliers here in the US that do use Mode 1. Many pilots in other countries us Mode 1 more than Mode 2. So to say that your set up is the "Norm" is wrong and shouldn't be referred to as such.

What you have is Mode 2 and it is the most common here in the states.

Ken

So can ailerons basically be used to turn too? I know they are used to "roll' but can you actually navigate the plane with them without using the rudder?

Actually, in most planes the ailerons will be used to turn more than the rudder will.

Ken

So I would be safe to just go ahead and use mode 2 and count mainly on the ailerons to turn? What is turning with them like as compared to using the rudder?

Check here and see if the movie doesn't answer your question.

[link]http://www.gettingairborne.com/air.html[/link]

Ken

I was taught with a 4 channel mode two set up. I was told not to use the rudder till I mastered basic flight.

When you turn with ailerons, which I am led to believe is the normal turning method in flight, you roll the aircraft into a bank, shallow for a wide turn, more steep for a sharp turn right up to standing on the wing for VERY sharp aerobatic turns. As the aircraft rolls you add elevator to maintain altitude and effectively turn the aircraft.

My understanding of a three channel set up is the dihedral in the main wing essentially causes the same roll when rudder is applied, then the elevator is still used to compensate, maintaining altitude and pulling into the turn.

Vets out there help me out if I have said anything incorrectly.

Corected my mistype, thank you!

G-Day
fly with the mode that you know and for gods sake dont try and chaing the mode that you fly with "from mode 1 to mode 2 ext" because it will stuff you up realy bad

happy flying


simmo

I believe this should be rudder

A lot of people start with the 3 channel set up exactly as you (it's easier to learn on) and get used to turning with the right stick, when you then go to an aileron plane certainly initially you'll be mainly using ailerons to turn as opposed to rudder but they put it in the same place so it doesn't confuse you as you're now used to using the right stick for turning.
When you become more advanced and doing aerobatics / 3D you'll then also start to use the rudder as well as you can't do a slow roll (and a number of other aerobatics) without loosing line until you do.
At some stage in the not too distant future (couple of months) when you're a bit more advanced you'll then also start using rudder and coordinating it for every turn, I've only started doing it fairly recently as it's neccassary for turning in Harriers and other 3D but wish I'd started a few months back as it would now be more "natural" to use both.
In essence though get used to using just the ailerons for now and as the plane banks give a touch of up elevator, the more up you give the tighter the turn then becomes but this will become natural fairly soon and then in 3 months or so start introducing rudder with it.

RCKen - that link isn't working by the way.

You should be able to get in and see it now.

Ken

Brian,

A lot depends on the airframe and how it responds to control input. Some have a very strong rudder and can even roll from rudder input only. Others is much less and its useful in making coordinated (or deliberately uncoordinated) turns but the ailerons will roll the plane and elevator applied to initiate a turn.

Keep the mode you're most comfortable with and just get used to each plane responding to whatever control surfaces it possesses.

Regards,

Clay

Mode 2 or 3 are the ones most like an actual airplane control stick. If you learned on a skyfly, then just leave the new plane the way it is and all you will have to do is now learn to use the ailerons with the left stick. You will like aileron turns much better than rudder turns, atleast I do.

Actually on the new one the left stick is throttle/rudder, and the right elevator/ailerons. Thanks for the help.

Sorry, brain fart! [&:] Just disregard the second half of what I said in my previous post. I have no idea what I was thinking[:@]