How aircraft flaps work

A whiteboard explanation of the theory behind lift and flaps in what is the first of a series that attempts to explain the science behind the technology we use in our RC planes.
I've tentatively called this series "Theory Thursday" but it might also be Technical Tuesday or Whiteboard Wednesday -- you tell me :-)
And if you've got ideas for new theory videos, mention them in the comments below.
Also, if you have any questions about this video, ask-away and I'll do my best to answer them.

[@cmtedan]

Absolutelly impressive, Mr. RC! I am also an aviation teacher here in Brazil and you Sir will be my inspiration! Great class!

[@cencalmatt]

As a licensed flight instructor (and rc modler) I must say, great video. You clearly have a good understanding of flight characteristics and can demonstrate/explain it very well. More of these kinds of videos would kick ass. Ok bye.

[@konturger]

A BIG BIG BIG THUMB UP !!! - I really enjoy your videos, as a X-Plane Sim Pilot, and real life Skydiver with over 200Jumps, this is total perfectly brought to the point. Will be watching your videos in future! Keep things going on, like this! Cheers from Germany.

[@kenbarnett8189]

Well said, your center of gravity comparison was very enlightening, thank you.

[@Ritefita]

yes! Then why didn't he said about planes with a wings AT the center of mass? Do they exist?

[@readymarkgaming2004]

I hope my teacher in aviation when I grow up will be like you, you're really good and I got the lesson fast!

[@cliftondalezirkleii8670]

Bruce you gave a great presentation today on flaps. I had read an article last weekend about flaps and your pictorial explanation helped my understanding even more. Great job!

[@I3attleFieldHero]

I don't hobbie in RC aircraft but this is obviously applicable to full sized aircraft. Very clear and concise video with a great host. Thanks very much!

[@manaoharsam4211]

You did a fantastic job. Explained two reasons for lift, and drag component of flaps. Score of 100 out 100. Need teachers like you.

[@FL_Engineer]

How did I miss the Newtonian component all these years? It was right in front of me but I never had someone explain it so well.

[@keithhudspith5245]

Its ok, you're not the only one.

[@engineerahmed7248]

SYMMETRIC AIRFOILS & FLAT PLATE AIRFOILS work on ONLY NEWTONIAN LIFT PRINCIPLE ..NO FANCY BERNOULLI LIFT

[@lambertodgr8]

Having only taken up flying on retirement at age 75 I have a lot to learn .your videos put things simply so that my senile brain can understand .

[@LLH7202]

If you think about it, a propeller is nothing more than a rotating wing. It produces lift to create thrust. Bernoulli says that the low pressure area ahead of the prop sucks the plane forward to produce thrust. Newton says the the air is accelerated backward to produce thrust in the same way a jet engine does. Which is true? Both.

[@rp4489]

Your real good teacher thanks.

[@springbok4015]

Dave Flysitall he needs better teachers

[@orlandomeister2742]

@@grizzmcsammiches6136 is

[@crewe99]

*You’re a and you’re welcome 😉

[@noeorbase1133]

best

[@youknowwhatithink]

You did a great job explaining everything. Thank you soo much for simplifying aerodynamics

[@hovis1954]

Another great video. Clear explanation. I won't need to look anywhere else, I think I've got it. Thanks for taking the time.

[@davidr5343]

Thanks Bruce! You are just an amazing asset to this hobby.

[@Acula33RC]

Great video. You make it all seem very easy to understand. Thank you

[@icedteaforever]

Both are awesome. Thank goodness for variety!

[@MrJonnymellor]

Great instruction and illustration Bruce.Thanks!

[@benmartz3405]

Thanks for the video. I always learn something new watching them.

[@spencer_gardner]

Amazingly helpful. Thank you!

[@AusHobbies]

Great video, has been much needed!

[@DemoVideosDieCutting]

Easily best teacher I've ever seen.. been in school for a long time.

[@marialauragalvez5011]

Grade 6 student here. I was extremely confused by this topic, thank goodness I came across your channel!

[@nazaharin]

Loud & very clear explanation. Thank you for sharing..

[@jwkong]

amazing... its been a while but you had been teaching and explaining RC plane to us. Good job and thank you for the hard effort.

[@Veyronp87]

great video. finally understand them now

[@fergrn]

simple yet concise. much better understanding now thanks

[@GBLynden]

I know this is not a new video, but I found it very helpful to confirm what I had already suspected. Thank you Bruce!

[@DaninVA]

Another great video! Making a complex topic easy to understand.

[@ayuminor]

Enjoyed this very much! Looking forward to the next one!

[@defnotben]

Excellent explanation! Very clear and informative! Great teacher!

[@raffman4266]

You're the best my friend! We are learning so much from you!

[@richardquinones5598]

now i am learning more then i thought, which was nothing. great videos. love them

[@tonysansom]

Thanks Bruce, excellent tuition!

[@MyTechWebTV]

Simply excellent Bruce! I enjoyed this very much. I just don't see how anyone could give this a thumbs down. Free and accurate information presented well. Probably five of the "Old Sore Heads" just pouting.

[@jakehart123]

Fantastic Explanation! I am a multiengine and instrument rated private pilot and I have never heard such an in depth explanation about flaps before even though I have gone through years of study. Great job! Keep the videos coming. Jake from the USA.

[@damienlim8082]

Perfect teaching for me. Is simple to understand! Thanks young man!

[@jimbo57109]

more please Bruce as a newbie found it interesting and informative and for a man of more advanced years and into this hobby for the first time

[@screamingsavage001]

Man! Awesome video on flaps. I have watched you since I've started RC

[@stinger6470]

I've been confused by how flaps work on planes,finally got an answer after 2 years of looking

[@JacquelineCosta_Kine64]

Thank you for this vídeo and explanation. Very well demonstrated! Nice job!

[@kevindodds8221]

Thanks so much for your video. I was having a discussion with my three sons about the effect of flaps on aircraft and your video explains it very nicely in plain English that even my 9 year old should be able to follow. Cheers Kev

[@Crag19]

Enjoyed the lesson. Can't wait to see what is next. Thanks!

[@paulamsaha1976]

Wonderful Teacher!!! Very nicely explained!!! Thanks a lot!!!

[@Oldvelocette]

Bruce, this is excellent work thank you very much. Keep these kind of videos coming!

[@bl4ck0ut22]

Just started working at an aerospace company. First day was deburring clutch plates for these flaps. So awesome.

[@brandonmuffoletto3032]

Super helpful, as an aspiring aviation simulator and someone going for my PPL license I greatly appreciated this.

[@1959ABF]

Mate...loved your presentation and it was so very helpful. Have always wondered the importance of flaps and you have explained it simply and easy to understand. Hat off to you and will be watching many more of your vids.. GREAT WORK...

[@johnkluth1894]

Excellent presentation. Thank you

[@wendtb]

Fantastic new segment. Great explanation.

[@Jimgoodwin846]

You sir are a fine instructor! I like both of your channels.

[@TheRoggan123]

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of flaps before but this did widen my understanding, thank you! :)

[@colinmale1060]

Very good Bruce-well illustrated

[@shoestring405]

Well done Bruce. I enjoyed this presentation. I am looking forward to technical Tuesday or theory Thursday I think the new studio will be a great asset to what you're doing. I have been following your videos for quite some time. I find them both educational and entertaining. Donation to help with the studio (and my future education) on its way. Keep up the good work Bruce

[@happygolily]

Really clear explanation of flaps - I have a much better understanding now, thank you!!

[@ficosk8]

I love this theory and praxis explanations! It´s like going again to school or university :D

[@mikeulloa]

Nice - exactly what I needed to hear.

[@2whitedudes442]

Very nice Bruce; Looking foreward to many more of these.

[@RoyMcAvoy]

Thank you. I learned new things today. I've always know how wing works with Bernoulli principle but for the Newton principles, it's the first time for. Very precise and clear explanation. Thank you again for this great video.

[@vincentchoufa6042]

what a great lesson, it really cleared up my understanding about the flaps for different plane model

[@hamelionz]

Thank you a lot, please keep making videos of HOW IT WORKS. Cant wait till you will start explaining the electronics, please do not miss anything.

[@donwood7700]

Excellent job! Nice explanation. Keep up the great work! Don

[@hawkskyflier]

Great job Bruce! Thanks for all you do for the hobby

[@trachooyansucon9874]

Thank you so much, I will slowly increase my flap. Very good advice!

[@rashmiranjannayak3251]

Very nice and quite educative. Thanks for sharing.

[@nocare8529]

lastly im glad you are making these videos. I am also glad they are simple as most people wont care about the higher complexity stuff. Just try and do a little refresher research to make sure the simplification is not misleading

[@krishnabharihoke3183]

This is the best video for the given topic. Thank you for explaining the theory. :D

[@sameerkm9947]

Well explained, Bruce. Looking forward for more similar videos

[@HotDoggable77]

Looking forward to the next lesson Bruce. Excellent video!

[@dmitriykozmin3091]

Sir! this is an amazing explanation! Thank you for your work!

[@twonkit]

i now understand flaps ,thanks to you , keep up the very good work you do sir , all the very best .

[@philipkingsnorth]

Great video. Nice and simple explanation and I've gains a better understanding than I had.

[@kennetheaton3663]

I knew very little about how flaps and how other items on an airplane worked but this presentation was very very good and understandable to me.

[@BrunoMCDowell]

Awesome video. Very well explained. Cleared up all of my doubts. Thank you, sir

[@adlerpazhouhan7416]

Thanks man. The video was soooooo great. I leaned alot.

[@CybrStreakr]

Thank you for the explanation!

[@radimollov4562]

Sir, perfect explanation. I am starting my training in half a year from now and I am glad i found Your content. Hope you are doing well!

[@abebayehujm]

Thank teacher I love watching your flight lessons time and again bravo !!!

[@valesby3041]

awesome explanation! Thank you teacher!

[@49richard]

Thank you!! It is going to help me use my flaps on my Challenger, your explanation is very easy to understand.

[@navigator902]

Excellent explanation does the same in my piper cub....Cheers to the white board....

[@joelee5875]

Excellent examples, especially on the above wing as compared to the lower wing craft types., Thank you.

[@steelydanfan100]

Great video, I am just getting back into model airplanes and my Dynam Hawksky 4 CH motor glider needs flaperons, it glides so well, I need an acre and a half just to land ! Your whiteboard and ability to hold 4 colored markers while talking and drawing is remarkable. I know I needed flaps, I can now explain why to someone else, that is the lesson learned today.

[@Big_Azz]

Great info for a Noob in RC. Thanks for putting the time in to share your exeprance and knolage

[@tehlump]

great video! I'll be watching all in the series, get busy! :)

[@FPVREVIEWS]

great job, bruce. obviously, there is more to it, but that was the best overall explanation i've heard in a long time. would love more on coanda, though. thanks for all you do!

[@BenPortmanlewes]

Thanks Bruce, keep them coming.

[@2750nav]

Sir, pls more of such theories videos !!! This was really helpful !! we want more of "THEORY TUESDAYS"

[@Ahblair4]

Great video. I learned that I had the wrong idea about flap deployment, but now I got the idea. Thanks!

[@TobiasAwadis]

I see forward to the next one, have a good one Bruce

[@AdventureBrad]

Killer as always!!! Your a born teacher.

[@Trev740]

Brilliant informative video on lift theory and flaps, particularly pitch difference between low wing and high wing configurations, should be compulsory viewing for all new rc pilots.

[@GeorgeMartinRcScratchbuilds]

Great video very informative.Thanks.

[@kathy13volpe]

Thanks. Your video was a good explanation of both lift & drag.

[@swgspear]

great vid Bruce.Looking fwd to some more.

[@TOURMANBOB]

Great job of explaining this in simple terms...thank you sir

[@norpilot4293]

It's defiantly subscribe! Thanks for you awesome explanation!

[@anandshivsali8630]

Superb Explantion! Thank you very much master!!! :-)

[@RahulCarnaliousSnal]

Thank you so much ! The explanation was awesome :)

[@timdavies9494]

Good on you Sir. Very clear, concise and informative explanations. Thanks

[@pjwlk]

Outstanding as usual! I'm grateful for your efforts - thanks so much. BTW, is there a way one can set up an AoA system for FPV using air speed sensors or something? Cheers!

[@johnhiggins6486]

Wow! I just came across your brilliant video. Very informative. Thank you Sir!! I love your explanation. I'll check in a moment but if you or someone else hasn't answered before, could you please make a video on what the difference is between an aileron and a flap. Many thanks!