Hi, Im very new to RC airplanes. In fact Ive never flown one, and Im just starting to use a simulator (since I was told it is best to first learn on a sim). So this may sound like a very foolish question to some of you pros but it is bothering me .. My question is about the orientation of the controller.

In the sim configuration, I can specify if I want to reverse the controls or not. For example, the right stick (the one that controls the elevators for pitch if you move it up-down) - I can set it so that moving the stick down pitches the plane nose upwards, or I can reverse the configuration so that moving the stick down pitches the plane nose downwards.

My question is which one to choose. I have never flown an RC plane before so I don't know which convention most controllers for an RC plane use. I don't want to learn to fly on the sim using a convention which is the opposite of most RC plane controllers out there. Do the controllers that come with a new RC plane allow you to reverse the orientation if you choose?

And ofcourse the question is not limited to the elevator alone. The right stick also moves left and right to control the aelerons, and I have just assumed that moving the stick left should make the plane turn left. Is this also the correct convention?

Same goes for rudder...

Any information you guys can provide would be most helpful. Feel free to link me to a page showing the regular convention if you know of one.

Thanks

Any and all of the controls can be reversed, if you so desire. However, you will have a hard time finding someone who will train you if all of your surfaces are reversed. Also, even after you have soloed, let's say you are flying, and all of a sudden your eyes start watering, or a bee stings you, or something silly. You have to quickly pass your radio off, and the "pro" you pass it too promptly plants it in the ground because you want your controls reversed for some reason.
Use the traditional configuration....elevatorpush up for down, and pull down for up (it's akin to full scale, where in on the yoke is down, and out on the yoke is up).
The others,,,,,why in the world would you want those reversed?
Also, if you want the elevator on the left stick instead, or some other combination, this is possible too, and is called modes. There are several modes of transmitters, you can look them up. The most common are mode 1 and mode 2.

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

You might start [link=http://www.gettingairborne.com/radios.html]here.[/link] Also, you might want to talk to an instructor (LHS, Club Instructor, etc.) as there are many "bad habits" that can be learned on a sim that will be difficult to "unlearn" once you've spent time on the sim.

Best of luck and have fun.

Yes..there's servo reversing options on most if not all TX.
On a cheap radio system...you'll get a manual servo throw movement adjstments.

On more expensive radio system, you'll also have dual rates. Meaning you have the options of switching between
high or low control defection rates.

On more expensive radio computerized systems ..you can even adjust the stick's sensitivites and a more features.

It depends what direction you mount the servos.

Anyway it's the control surface deflection...the air flow forcing down on the control surface.
That's why it's easier to fly a model at a faster speed and most newbies get into trouble thinking they can fly fast...
The controls become sluggish at a slower air speed. (less air flow on the control surface)


Viewing from behind the model.

Example...if you want a model to roll to the right...the right airleron should be pionting up.
The stick is in the RIGHT position

For the elevator...it's the same . For up..the elevator is pionting up...the air flow force the tail down..therefore pionting the
front of the model up.
The stick is in the pull (DOWN) position.

In the US..the airlerons and elevators are assigned to the right stick.

For the throttle...more power , the stick it in the UP position.


When the model is flying towards you....TURN THE AIRLERON STICK IN THE SAME DIRECTION THE WING IS DIPPING TO LEVEL THE MODEL.
This way you don't have to think...lol
It's the samething when backing up a semi trailer or any trailer...lol When you look in the mirror...turn the steering wheel in the direction the trailer is drifting to straighten the trailer.

When using only rudder to roll/bank the model....assign the rudder as if it's the airlerons. (3 channel configurations)

Ok thanks for replying guys. I have set all the controls to what you said are the standard.

2slow2matter, to reply to your question of why I would ever invert stuff - I wouldnt. Im using an Esky controller, and the default had half the stuff inverted at the start, so I wanted to correct it to the right orientation. Dunno why it started off like that. Its fixed now tho.

MasterAlex, thanks for the link. I don't have an instructor tho, don't have too much time to commit to the hobby during semester. Will try to read up about bad habits in rc flying you speak of.

hogflyer, Ive set all the controls to what you stated. Thanks for that, and yeah I am having a hard time when the plane comes toward me but hopefully that will pass with time as you said.

Thanks for explanation of controls flyX. Im majoring in AE (senior) so I know all the math, but seeing it in action is lot better

Anyway, Ive been flying the models for over an hour (and crashed a lot a so far). I think I can get addicted to this

Thanks again for the help guys.

If you're using FMS...you can use NOTEPAD to open the .par file to adjust the model's parameters.

i have the 2.8..it'll run 99.99999% of fms models. You can download it.
This way i can turn off the fix camera...this will allow the model to float away from the center of the screen.
It feels closer to flying r/c rather than a vedio game.

Anyway go to rc-sim and downlaod the phoenix scanner or the hanger 9 pulxse.
The .par files are in egnlish...lol You can copy and paste the files and rename it then adjust a model parameters...roll rates...thrust..ect.

You can also use Notepad to open .scn files.
Reposition the model or pilot position better.
The defult setting is too close for my taste...plus a barn in fornt of me just don't look right..lol
It's just basic algebra graphing.

the ability to reverse a servo has more to do with how the servo is mounted in an aircraft. and whos servo you are using. different manufacturers use different rotations of their servos. Some turn ccw and others turn cw so the ability to reverse a control on the radio is a good thing depending on whos servo you are using and the orientation it is mounted in the plane and what side of the servo you conect to the pushrod.

You certainly won't get any better advice than you will get fom the link noted by Master Alex above. Go there and get into it. Both Ken and Mike are very approachable and will go to the ends to help you out, as will most of us here on RCU.

CGr.

I know what someone said about the sim as the place to start.....the sim will help you with muscle memory..ie this much stick movement will get this much aircraft movement...however I believe the best thing you can do is get yourself to a local club and use the sim with actual flying lessons....that way you won't have to unlearn bad habits you may get into....besides sims just don't land correctly.....
welcome to the madness it's just great...Good flyin to ya