RC Airplane Controls

"The number of RC airplane controls, or functions,
depends on how many channels the radio system has."

Think of a channel as a specific function or task performed by the radio system.

Generally speaking, each servo plugged into the receiver requires one channel. Don't get "function" channels confused with "frequencies."

A number is designated to the frequency that the transmitter is using. This is also called a channel. Confusing huh?

Three Channel Transmitters

The most basic airplane, with no ailerons, needs a 3-channel radio in order to control the throttle, rudder, and elevator.

Most often, the pitch and turning is controlled by the same stick. A 3-channel radio will have the elevator and rudder(or ailerons) on the right stick and throttle on the left stick. The left stick is replaced with a slider to control the throttle on some radios.

Transmitters with Four or More Channels

Ailerons really bring an airplane to life because they allow the airplane to roll. Most everyone that is serious about this hobby flies planes with ailerons. For this reason I want to focus our discussion of RC airplane controls on four channel radios.

A radio with four or more channels will have elevator/aileron control on the right stick and throttle/rudder control on the left stick. The ailerons are the primary turning control for an airplane with ailerons.

The radio above is a 6-channel radio. I have this radio. It takes four channels to fly the plane, which leaves two channels open for using flaps, retractable landing gear, or anything that requires a servo.

Lets take a closer look at RC airplane controls and how the airplane responds to the movement of the transmitter sticks. The images below coincide with a Mode 2 transmitter. Follow this link to learn the difference between mode 1 and mode 2 RC airplane controls.

Pitch Control

Elevator

Pulling the right stick back makes the elevator raise up. Pushing the left stick forward makes the elevator go down.

Keep an eye on the elevator (highlighted yellow).

When the elevator goes up it causes the airplane to pitch up.

When the elevator goes down it causes the airplane to pitch down.

Ailerons

Moving the right stick to the right makes the aileron on the right wing raise. At the same time it makes the aileron on the left wing to lower.

This makes the airplane roll to the right.

Moving the right stick to the left makes the aileron on the left wing raise. At the same time it makes the aileron on the right wing lower.

This makes the airplane roll to the left.

Keep an eye on the ailerons (highlighted yellow). When the position of the ailerons change the airplane will roll.

Notice that the stick appears to be moving in the opposite direction of the roll. This is because the airplane is coming towards you, so it looks backwards. This is called control reversal.

Training your brain to think backward to move the RC airplane controls in the correct directions when the airplane is coming towards you is the single most challenging aspect of learning to fly RC airplanes. This becomes second nature with time.

Rudder

Pushing the left stick right makes the rudder go right. Pushing the left stick left makes the rudder go left.

Keep an eye on the rudder (highlighted yellow).

When the rudder goes right it causes the airplane to yaw to the right. When the rudder goes left it causes the airplane to yaw to the left.

When the airplane is flying towards you, the RC airplane controls seem to be backwards.

Just like the ailerons, you will get used to this control reversal over time.

Throttle

Pushing the left stick forward will increase the speed of the engine or motor. This will increase the thrust. Pulling the stick backwards will decrease the speed of the engine. This will decrease the thrust.

If your airplane has an engine then moving the left stick forward or backwards moves a servo that is connected to the engine's carburetor.

If your airplane has an electric motor then moving the left stick forward or backwards controls an electronic speed controller(ESC) that controls the speed of the electric motor.

Flaps

The flaps are generally controlled by a knob near the top of the transmitter. The flap control is proportional. The distance the flaps move is directly proportional to how much you turn the knob.

Retractable Landing Gear

The landing gear is controlled by a switch near the top of the transmitter. Flipping the switch will the landing gear to either raise or lower. These miscellaneous RC airplane controls can be switched around to various switches and knobs by plugging the servos into different slots of the transmitter.