Part 6 Flying a RC Airplane- Landing

[@chuckhoward3626]

One of the best verbal tips I have heard on landing an RC plane. I got into the hobby when the Expo radios were first coming out - the analog radio gear became dirt cheap and I bought a nice set-up - and yes it did have dual rates with channel reversing. What it taught me was how to properly rig my airplanes. I did have a friend who I grew-up with who was a Pilot, Mechanic and Inspector - invaluable advice was given. It took me years to get away from my analog radio gear, and I still always run back first to static rigging of the the airframe before playing with what I call the 'Band-Aid' of Expo.

[@gregpopp4847]

The most intelligent people on the planet learn from those who KNOW - its obvious to me that you are a reservoir of knowledge - very informative video!

[@dagtheaviator]

Thanks!! Rock On!! And have a great day!!

[@patrickhoyle8357]

Think you'll find the great names were self taught. Michelangelo, Einstein, Faraday and Galileo probably read a lot but their cleverness would not have been taught.

[@gregpopp4847]

@@patrickhoyle8357 save time by learning from those who already know. Life is short.

[@gregpopp4847]

@@patrickhoyle8357

[@patrickhoyle8357]

@@gregpopp4847 but how can you be sure they actually know? :-)

[@craigcoghlan546]

Thankyou, great video, well prepared, well presented. I am very happy to have found you, I will go back and watch your other videos

[@John2009R]

Very helpful, thanks. And since you mentioned it, your audio was perfect.

[@dagtheaviator]

Thanks!

[@Glicksman1]

Excellent advice, similar to full scale flight instruction. All of the R/C pilots I have known who were full scale pilots were excellent R/C pilots. The two greatest handicaps to landing R/C airplanes is that you're flying it backwards when it comes at you, and you have no airspeed indicator. Wind on the nose changes everything, and no wind at all can be dangerous because you might try to slow down too much and stall on approach.

[@dagtheaviator]

Thanks! Rock ON!

[@andypc14]

Very helpful video - having flown full-size planes in the past, it seems there are still many significant similarities carried across into r/c flying - albeit the main differences now being ‘remote’ and with a totally different perspective - looking forward to the challenge👍

[@guamflyer1]

Great vid..saw this once in a jet video.." Fly the plane ...Not the money.." made alotta sense...

[@dagtheaviator]

Right on

[@jjs3287]

Great video, you took me right back to my early days when you mentioned watching the plane fly where it wanted to and just turning it around! A problem i have these days is that i have so many planes i never fly any of them long enough to really master them and thats a big problem as i sometimes feel my flying skills have got worse as a result.

[@richarddarlington1139]

You should stop doing that. Choose an airplane you're most comfortable with as your main ride. You're not just flying a model airplane, you're flying a fully functional aircraft. So much to learn...

[@timodell5728]

Hello fellow Hoosier! As you said: Takeoff is optional and landings are mandatory. Nice video, all of it.

[@dagtheaviator]

Rock ON! What part of Indiana?

[@timodell5728]

Indianapolis

[@jimr3633]

Great job. Slow flight advice is great. Get to know what slow looks like from several angles!

[@MayurPatelZA]

Thanks. Good advice for a newbie like me. Hard to keep all this in my head when doing the act though. So gonna have to watch this many times until it's almost second nature and there's good understanding

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks!

[@donadams8345]

Landing, whether it be full scale or R/C, is an art.

[@richarddarlington1139]

Gotta stabilize that approach!

[@rc-fannl7364]

Definitely.

[@earthsciteach]

Hey, Dag! Good to see you on youtube. I have spent a lot of time thinking about why RC pilots are so bad at landing. You can see it from foamboard all the way up to jet turbines. As you know, in full scale, a stabilized approach is necessary to consistently land safely. I see so many rc pilots diving for the runway or trying to control altitude with elevator once power is cut. The first thing my instructor drilled into my brain 34 years ago was, "Control airspeed with elevator, control altitude with throttle." From what I've seen, most RC pilots aren't taught this. Next, most RC pilots think of trim as something to make the airplane fly straight and level. While that is true, proper trim is necessary in all flight regimes. The type of rc planes that you fly (freaking amazing!) should have trim settings for every parameter of flight. Whether this is done by a switch or (preferably in my mind) a pot, is up to the pilot. But, properly trimming an rc airplane for landing will really improve things and help the aircraft live longer. Lastly, I detest the term, "tip stall." I've never heard this term used in regards to full scale aircraft. It is misleading. A tip stall is just a stall. If your airplane "tip stalls," then you have an airplane with a nasty stall characteristic or you did something to cause the wing to stall outboard. As a pilot, you need to be aware of that and keep that plane within its flight envelope. If your airplane doesn't tip stall, then you have a docile airplane. You still need to keep it within its flight envelope. A stall is a stall. How the airplane reacts to a stall is a fundamental characteristic of that airplane.

[@dagtheaviator]

The way a tip stall was explained to me by an aeronautical engineer and ex-fighter pilot. Full-Scale planes are designed with washout which prevents the tip stalls they saw in the early 1920s. Nowadays, tip stall can only happen in poor wing designs. But, if stalling a plane in a deep turn with a wing without washout, you can get a tip stall.

[@earthsciteach]

@@dagtheaviator Yes. That is caused by the fuselage blanking the "low" wing. Classic example is overshooting final and trying to crank back in. This is why slips are good and skids are bad. In a slip, the high wing stalls first, basically leveling the aircraft (in a perfect world) and recovering the stall, but in a skid, the low wing stalls causing the classic, stall spin on base to final.

[@TailHeavyProductions]

I will say that I don't really dig the statement/tone of "I have spent a lot of time thinking about why RC pilots are so bad at landing". However, I do agree about tip stalls. We discussed this exact thing on our latest video at 8:05 in (interviewed an engineer buddy of mine).

[@clarencegreen3071]

Patrick, excellent comment. I would add that your "airspeed indicator" for an RC plane is the angle of attack, meaning nose elevation relative to the tail. When a student can fly a stabilized approach at constant airspeed, only then is he/she ready to attempt an actual touchdown. If the speed (angle of attack) is correct, there isn't a lot to do during the flare and touchdown.

[@RedDevilSquadron]

@@clarencegreen3071 I think you more meant "angle between the relative wind and the chordline". Attitude and AOA get too easily mixed up in the RC world. Speed does not equal angle of attack, so be careful putting those words together haha

[@sailr]

Dag, you are da bomb man! You videos are spot on. I love every one of them. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge with us!

[@dagtheaviator]

Thanks!! Rock ON!

[@triskellian]

Great video on common problems with landings! Through the years I learned some techniques for landing RC planes from my full scale commercial flying and RC gliders.To start,I like to become familiar with easy to see landmarks that tell me where base legs and or cross wind legs of the pattern are.Next, what is a good distance from the flight line based on the ground speed of the plane.Also,one can determine the traffic pattern altitude by the slant angle distance from your eyes to the aircraft.For example ,when the plane is slowed down to pattern ground speed and on the down wind leg,your head should be level with the horizon and the plane on that leg.Once you turn to base,the plane should be slowing down with the appropriate throttle setting.On final, the plane should be on a stabilized approach with some input from the elevator to maintain airspeed (and throttle adjustments if the approach altitude will cause an overshoot or undershoot).Finally,within a few inches from the ground,stop the descent briefly with the elevator and then continue to flare until ground contact. Another fun way to land is do a spiraling decent over a fixed position(on a base leg).One can now exit the turn to final and land normally(works well with gliders)!To stay in practice,I like to do a session of touch and go's with a plane I'm familiar with and see how close I can get to a planned touch down point.Plus,it's plane fun to try new things to improve your flying! 😉😊

[@tvwang]

Can you assign the reverse thrust switch to “bind button”? In my opinion that way you can avoid accidentally switching to reverse thrust while flying the plane…

[@DanielvsBabylon]

I'm just getting into the hobby and your advice is really helpful.

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad I could help!!! :)

[@jasonfrodoman1316]

I notice people who fly 3D aerobatics, seem to never have issues landing. Whereas people flying scale have issues. Especially old guys with warbirds.

[@lucyholgate7195]

i just watched this video as i am in the uk and just bought my first rc plane so this is good advice before i take it for my first flight

[@garthlee8166]

Many Thanks Dag Excellent as always

[@Ed-eq8ui]

"You can always go around" Excellent advice.

[@dagtheaviator]

Thanks!

[@driesneyrinck]

Excellent video! The only plane I needed to steer the nose down is a friends Top Flite SE5a that I've maidened. When idling the motor it just stops because of the huge drag. Bricks glide better.... The moment you add power it starts to climb with those huge undercambered wings ... So it needs to be landed with a slight nose down and 1/4 throttle. In that way you can just pick a spot on the runway to set it down.

[@FlyByWireC]

Very Helpful

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad to hear that

[@lubricantrc3244]

What I see most at RC clubs is they actually stop flying the plane when landing, just use elevator, and think its gonna land itself. They usually stall and hit the runway hard. I teel them to keep the prop spinning and fly it to the ground.

[@davidhall4398]

Great advice... especially the SLOW FLYING so so important and RUDDER use👍 I fly 3d...and the things I've learnt... 1.Small wheels are useless on rough grass 2.Overly strong landing gear destroys fusalages. 3. This is personal preference...land with high rates... Micheal WARGO very good advice too I love doing Harrier landings but it takes time to balance the throttle and elevator with 3d planes...but it is so easy once you've mastered it.

[@dagtheaviator]

Well said! Thanks for sharing!! Rock ON!!

[@earthling1984]

Landing is super easy. Just takes some practice, like anything. I've never used DR or Expo at all. Just 100% (or even over 100%) rates. Same with CP helicopter flying, just full rates. I flew before there was DR and Expo in most TX's. Don't fix it if it ain't broken. Those settings can be helpful for many though.

[@richarddarlington1139]

It's the same with me. I don't like having to adjust my transmitter while flying the pattern. A lot depends on the aircraft type, of course. But for general sport flying, just trim it out, then leave it alone.

[@dennisswenson4266]

Landing has always been the most fun. The landing is not difficult. Landing on the runway, and taxiing back to yourself is more difficult, yet more rewarding. Know this, "the plane WANTS to land", you are just guiding it along. The taxi back is your reward. Keep your eyes on your plane at all times, and focus your thoughts TOTALLY. You are the pilot, now land your plane, calmly and give it your TOTAL attention. You can do this. You can!

[@stealthycatman5553]

Awesome vid

[@josephkerkau2520]

Dag, I believe I agree with what you said. But, crosswind landings make my knee shake. And I have avoided them like the plague. Maybe because I do not know how to crab an airplane. I appreciate your videos and your experience! How do you crab an airplane??

[@dagtheaviator]

I usually just let the wind crab me until I am ready to touch down, then I add a bit of rudder and keep wings level with aileron. I hope this helps. :)

[@josephkerkau2520]

@@dagtheaviator I will give that a try you make it sound really easy though..

[@paulwilliams5013]

..excellent watch, i really enjoyed that. Thank you!

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@txkflier]

The first thing I do with my students is walk them out to the center of the runway and show them a landmark on the horizon off the end of the runway where they need to turn final. I start them out flying figure eights where they make their turns away from the flight line. When they get the hang of that, I have them make figure eights where they turn toward the flight line. Next, I have them reduce power some, fly a few laps, and repeat until they barely have enough power to maintain altitude. I show them how to judge airspeed by watching the attitude of the plane, the feel of the stick, and the way the plane responds to the elevator. Then I have them fly the pattern and do low approaches with go-arounds until they can fly down the runway a few feet off the deck at just above landing speed. Once they can do that, it's time to let them land. I remind them not to quit flying when they realize they have the runway made. And I don't let them do takeoffs until they can land.. The remote mic makes it much easier to understand what you're saying.. ;-)

[@clarencegreen3071]

@txkflier Excellent post! Wish I had seen it earlier.

[@richarddarlington1139]

Good stuff. Except I never fly from the center of the runway. Plus, I always save learning to land as the final lessons, with lots of touch and goes. Most newbies don't seek out an instructor to begin with. That's the real problem.

[@txkflier]

@@richarddarlington1139 I have them look down the centerline to show them the landmarks. We don’t stand in the center to fly; we stand at a pilot pad near the approach end to fly. Also, no flying is allowed on the pit side of the runway for as far as you can see. I don’t teach takeoffs before landings.

[@340phil3]

Good tips here too.

[@MyZxcvb12]

Thank you very helpful information.

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad it was helpful! Have a great day!

[@DontWatchProductions]

Not afraid of the wind, it's the other pilots. That's my philosophy on driving in snow. I'm not bothered by the snow, it's the people who can't drive on snow that bothers me. So true about throttle landings and slow flight. I flew for years just trying to glide in and flare last second. Then I saw a video on using the throttle for speed and elevator for pitch. Not so important on a tricycle but worlds apart on a tail dragger.

[@nwpilot1218]

That's actually backwards of what reality is on the backside of the power curve. Pitch for an airspeed, power for sink rate adjustments (climbing or descending). On final, power should only be used to adjust for unexpected sinks or climbs (up/down drafts/mechanical turbulence low to the ground/etc), and PITCH should be used to get to the speed you want ultimately, not solely power.

[@tunaflights7258]

Nice video very nice plane! Thank you

[@dagtheaviator]

Glad you enjoyed it. Rock On!

[@georgewatts9361]

Great video

[@davidcarroll2035]

I’m a total beginner, I’m hoping to find a club near me to fly at and advance from there. In truth ill health has turned me towards finding something I can do, enjoy and learn along side my grandson. I’ve bought a new rtf horizon hobby sport cub V2S which I’ve still not flown and my most recent purchase is a second hand NX8 spektrum transmitter v1 to add the plane to and a few more planes when I know more about the hobby. In fact I can’t even figure how to program my new plane onto this transmitter yet, it all seems to be a foreign language.

[@dagtheaviator]

Have you gone to places like RC Group or a local flying club and asked about help in programming your radio? In most cases there are people who would love to help you. I am a Futaba guy and don't know much about Spektrum. :)

[@michaelcabe8103]

I want to add retracts to my 64 mm F8 Crusader but am completely oblivious as to how....especially the main gear; nose not so much but the mains look really complicated...

[@dagtheaviator]

The F8 and A7 have gear that has to tuck into the fuse. Very tight, and very hard to do. On a A7 I had, I mounted the main gear to a fuse bulkhead that sat in the fuse. I saw a EDF I think it could be done in, but it would require cutting the fuse in half and then gluing it back together.

[@chadhelms4907]

A lot of good advice here, but turbine jets are a whole different animal.

[@davidmorris436]

Awesome job !!

[@guisblacio]

Great advice, thanks for sharing.

[@pattoallen1981]

Id love to hear that motor and see it in flight

[@dagtheaviator]

I have other videos of that plane flying. Just a FYI, that’s a 3-D printed engine. The motors electric turning a 32 inch propeller.

[@flycatchful]

Takeoff is optional but landing is mandatory.

[@genrcflyer]

Flying helis on a simulator helped me master the rudder.

[@dagtheaviator]

I have flown a T-Rex a bit. I had to master the left thumb. :)

[@jorgenelsonfelix52]

Excelente ✈✈✈👍😎👍✈✈✈

[@anishpandey63]

my newly made RC airplane suffers a lot of turbulence and landing becomes hard. Can i get your gmail or any link so that I could personally contact you?

[@dagtheaviator]

[e-mail] :)

[@anishpandey63]

@@dagtheaviator please check your mail

[@mikepi660]

THANK YOU Sir,,,,

[@dagtheaviator]

No problem. Have a great day!

[@jbonnell1117]

It's not hard ro land, it's just not easy to keep the plane in one piece.

[@MabrysDad]

I never enjoyed flying my planes because I was worried about crashing them. Then I’d have to rebuild them. All those hours and costs, gone.

[@dagtheaviator]

I was like that in the beginning. Still a little at times today. Rock ON!

[@BrainDeadEngineering]

Huge !

[@deago56]

Thank you

[@dagtheaviator]

You're welcome and rock on!

[@fernmelder5594]

Learn your Plane 100%

[@robertthayer5779]

Gravity GUARANTEE'S every plane a landing. Some good.. some not so much.

[@rcthailandbasic9734]

👍🤟

[@billbright1755]

No shame in going around.