Basic RC Aerobatics

The most common aerobatic maneuvers are listed below accompanied by a video from from James Ballard. It's hard to believe that James was only 15 years old when filming these videos! You can find more of his RC aerobatics videos on his website.

Make sure you have plenty of altitude when performing aerobatic flight maneuvers for the first time. These maneuvers may look easy, but the art of RC aerobatics is to get each maneuver perfect! James makes it look all too easy. It takes tons and tons of practice to get execute these maneuvers perfectly.





A great way to perfect your RC aerobatic skills is to practice on a simulator. Some simulators have built in instructors who will step you through each maneuver. It's just like having James here stepping you through each aerobatic flight maneuver. Another advantage of a simulator is that you can fly day and night, year around. With a simulator you can experiment different airplanes without having to buy them!

The Inside Loop is one of the easiest RC aerobatic maneuvers. While flying into the wind at full throttle, gently apply elevator. Hold the elevator until the airplane rounds the top of the loop and becomes inverted. Cut the throttle to 1/4 or less as the airplane reaches the top of the loop.

Let the airplane free fall downward while holding the elevator. The goal is to reach the bottom of the loop at precisely the place where the airplane entered the loop.

It is very important to cut the throttle at the top of the loop. Many airplanes, especially trainers, are not designed for high G-forces and the wings will fold! Trust me, I learned this lesson first hand...

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While flying into the wind, apply a touch of elevator while applying either left or right aileron. When the airplane begins to roll you will need to add a touch of opposite rudder to keep the airplane straight. When the airplane become inverted you must apply slight down elevator to keep the airplane level.

If you are just learning, rolling with ailerons does not absolutely require opposite rudder. Without rudder input the roll will be "wobbly" and not straight. To perform a perfect barrel roll you will have to practice working the elevator and rudder together as the airplane rolls.

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The Stall Turn is also known as the "Hammerhead". Start this maneuver by pulling the airplane into a vertical climb. Cut the throttle completely while applying full rudder. Apply slight down elevator to keep airplane straight as it spins around 180 degrees. Once the airplane has spun around, release the rudder as the airplane enters a dive.

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The Knife Edge maneuver is nothing more than flying the airplane on its side. You begin this maneuver by rolling the airplane onto its side with either left or right aileron. Once on its side, apply elevator in the opposite direction as the aileron was applied.

The rudder is what keeps the airplane in the air at this point. The rudder acts in the same way as the elevator does during level flight.

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The Immelman Turn is an easy aerobatic maneuver. You start by performing a half loop. Apply either left or right aileron once you reach the top of the half loop to roll the airplane right-side-up. Complete this aerobatic RC maneuver by exiting with straight and level flight.

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This RC aerobatic maneuver is just the opposite of the Immelman Turn. Begin this maneuver with straight and level flight. Use the ailerons to roll 180 degrees. Once the airplane is inverted apply up elevator to perform a half loop. Finish this aerobatic RC maneuver by exiting with straight and level flight.

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