How to become a better RC Pilot by using the......

I see many beginner pilots flying their circuits with throttle in the same/static position. The throttle should be modulated for smooth and better flying. In this video I review why its important to modulate the throttle and show examples of what I'm talking about.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Great instruction Will. Throttle modulation is so important as is rudder. I think the "Punch n' Go" takeoffs many people do are more due to a lack of confidence with the rudder and their ability to hold the line at a lower throttle setting...especially with a taildragger. I've had several people in our comments questioning me about jockeying the throttle on landings, as if I'm doing it too much, and to be fair sometimes I may be ...but that said a good bit of what folks are hearing are small rudder corrections that ever so slightly move the throttle a bit as well. I think the two go hand in hand rudder/throttle. I call it left stick skills. I think your idea to work on one at a time can be a good thing. I would simply recommend they watch your rudder vid first and work on that, then the throttle will be easier to master.

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks Adam. Appreciate the comments about the rudder.. Those left stick skills are so important IF you want to become a better pilot. But it requires practice.. Hope this video resonates with pilots.. I like your idea of a Left Stick skills video too....

[@alexandernentwig9596]

Superb demonstration and nice explanations, Will! Fully agree to what you said! It will look so much smoother when you play with the throttle in time and you perfectly demonstrated that. Two additions: On some planes I have often noticed, that I rather needed to reduce the throttle in turns to not gain altitude (yes, I always use rudder in turns to point the nose down 😋). Certainly, the wind direction has an impact, but probably also the model (weight, profile). I guess it is because the plane is getting faster in curves and that speed increase will make it rather climb. The wider the curve, the less of an effect, of course and on heavier birds you rather need to slightly throttle up. Secondly, when you roll a plane. the torque momentum of the motor can support or impede the roll, so speeding up the motor that is rotating CDW will support a left roll and so does easing up un throttle with right roll. I have noticed this recently on my (beloved) Bigfoot. 😊

[@ficosk8]

Hey Will 👍🏼 I learned this last year when I was learning more or less naturally after an older friend of the club told me to not fly so crazy. So I began to modulate a bit. And also passing to Edfs I suppose did that. Sometimes I try to fly the same speed so upwards with throttle, down without. People who have been competing in aerobatics /F3A when they were younger are masters in smooth nice flying :))

[@homienat3374]

Nice vid mate ,what about some nitro aircraft tips on next vid,as electric aircraft are easy to land

[@andrewbaerm.d.3984]

I found it. Just a hex wrench is needed. It's in the manual

[@MivralFifaGaming23Himself]

Hey man tho im a kid when i said (my plane has no rudder) its me but. I changed my user when i grow up can you reccomend me a plane to buy when i grow up also my plane was a small a380 that a crashed 2 times 1st i got back second it fell and someone stole it

[@SteffenRC]

I'd suggest the FMS Ranger or the HobbyZone Aeroscout as a first plane. Both are outstanding for first pilots. I'd also suggest getting help from an experienced pilot. Good luck.

[@Drones_Eye_View]

Will, great video. Well said and demonstrated. Your instruction is always helpful and I really learn a ton. Thanks! Looking forward to you next teaching.

[@mitchgentry-to2wq]

Another really good video !!

[@jollyroger2226]

Excellent video Will ! Some time ago I was flying helicopters and that experience brought me around. I was finding that I really MUST adjust the throttle a lot. (It helped to wake my left thumb up!) So I am now more comfortable using throttle with airplanes as well. I think some of my scale planes look the best if I make a pass at a lower throttle setting. (At an airshow, my impression of a B-17 cruising by is that it almost seems to float by . . . it obviously has a correct flying speed, but it isn't just screaming by.) Some RC models I see videos of never give me that same feeling of floating by at a relaxed (cruising) speed. Considering their weight, some probably must fly that fast to avoid a stall. So for some of my models, (on a calm wind day) I make an effort to really slow it down. I think it has the best scale look for me. - On a pass, I have the throttle well back and like the speed of the fly by just fine. Now it is time for a turn . . . and a 'nudge' or two. I will define my version of a nudge as moving the stick as little as possible, but still moving it. So, just before the turn I often give one or maybe two nudges of more throttle. I finish the turn and going straight and level again - I pull the one or two nudges back out. That has me making quite a few small changes to throttle - but it has become second nature at this point. The extra throttle in a turn is smart insurance to not have a stall, and the bank is kept fairly shallow. So, my 'slow' style is probably boring to some, but I enjoy calm, scale flights like this on a late evening as the sun is setting! - You did a great job of covering an important - but seldom discussed topic !

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks for the comments. I'm with you, I really like those scale, slow flying too. Early am flying a plane with lots of lights is just good fun...

[@RMC50126]

You have got to be one of the few rc pilots on KZbin that has smooth “buttery” landings. I try to emulate the way you fly your models as I am always looking to improve my skills. Thanks for another tutorial video! I look forward to more!

[@SteffenRC]

Really appreciate the comments. Thanks, Will

[@GreenerShadeRC]

Great video. I enjoy your content. Camera work is excellent as well.

[@SteffenRC]

Much appreciated!

[@hansparam]

Nice field

[@davidhamilton436]

Great advice, 👍👍🇬🇧

[@joepellissier2091]

One more challenging things is landing with the throttle Advanced. Do you want to slow the plane down especially if you have a short field, but you don’t want to stall it. It’s difficult to find that sweet spot, especially with the high wing plane that floats easily.

[@PabloGonzalez-hv3td]

Try the throttle trim. I know guys in RC drag racing that only use trim to steer.

[@tauncfester3022]

If you have a throttle cut like some of the older Hitec radios had, you can set an idle RPM with your electric plane and use the throttle cut button to drop the RPM to zero. If by chance your plane is a slowflyer/parkflyer with a big, low pitch propeller, it's actually better to keep about 1/3rd~1/4th throttle on the final approach as the prop disc will slow you down, possibly too much, as you reach ground level, and as you are leveling or even raising the nose, if it's a tail-dragger, then reduce to full off. Don't do this while the model is still a foot in the air.

[@FlyTimeRC]

I feel like I'm pretty good about throttle modulation in flight. But I'm always working on smoother landings and take offs. A lot of the planes I build don't have landing gear so they are a little different. But my most recent build I recognize that I really need to practice throttle modulation during landings and takeoff. It's actually fun to figure out on each plane. They all need something different.

[@tauncfester3022]

small and light aircraft without landing gear can be brought in with low throttle on approach and if you have a patch of tall, thick grass you can do a high alpha, ( raise your nose up to about 30~50 degrees..) and add enough throttle to keep prop wash on the wing and tail and plop it into the tall grass at less than walking speed

[@FlyTimeRC]

@@tauncfester3022 that's basically what I do with my planes without landing gear. Still much easier than big heavy planes with wheels.

[@livegood9876]

Great content, learned something new.

[@SteffenRC]

Your comments about throttle inspired this video..😎

[@andrewbaerm.d.3984]

How do you put tension/clicks on the NX8?

[@tauncfester3022]

In general: For most transmitters you need to take the back off and examine the gimbal (left side of the TX when looking at the front..) for the throttle and rudder controls. The throttle quadrant will have a little half moon shaped device screwed down off to one side of the gimbal base, that has a raised casting with sawthooth shaped bumps in an arc. You flip this 180 degrees by loosening the screws that hold in place. The throttle part of the gimbal the "quadrant" or the moving piece your stick acts upon should have a little copper plated metal finger with a "dent" at it's tip that engages the arc of saw toothed piece with cast in indents. Your Tx. user manual should have instructions on how to change this; you might need a drawing to identify this part. But most transmitters have used these "indents" feedback mechanical devices since the early 1970's. All you need is a small Phillips screwdriver and be careful about losing the screws inside the Tx. as they may short out an important function if not recovered.

[@SteffenRC]

I can’t remember which screw on the left gimble requires tightening to change tension, but the documentation mentions it.

[@earlpoe7570]

Good video, Will.

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks Earl.