Basics of AeromodellingBeginners guide to starting RC planes

Basic Model Plane Parts

Aerodynamic Forces?

Weight(Due to gravity)

Lift

Thrust

Drag

Three Axis of Motion

Yaw

RollPitch

Vertical Axis

Lateral AxisLongitudinal Axis

Control surfaces Controlling the motion

• Aileron – Roll Motion

Roll Motion

• Elevator – Pitch Motion

Pitch Motion

• Rudder – Yaw Motion

Yaw Motion

• Elevons – Elevator + Ailerons

Spoiler – Small, hinged plates on the top portion of wings.

Creates drag and hence lowers speed. Reduces lift by dumping airflow.

Flaps – Mounted on the trailing edge of wings.

Reduce the speed and increase the angle of descent for landing.

Slats – Mounted on the leading edge of wings.

Allows wing to operate at higher angle of attack, results in higher lift coefficient.

Main Parts of a PlaneFuselage – • Main body section of the plane.

• Provides the frame for wing and tail to attach with it.

Wing –• Shaped with smooth surfaces.

•  Produces the upward lift.

• Primarily contains ailerons to provide roll motion.

Tail - provides stability

• Horizontal Stabilizer – Contains the elevator to provide pitch motion.

• Vertical Stabilizer – Contains the rudder to provide yaw motion.

Few other important terms• Airfoil/Aerofoil – Cross section of a wing

Airfoil

• Camber Line - Asymmetry between the top and the bottom surfaces of an airfoil.

• Chord Line (C) -  imaginary straight line joining the leading and trailing edges. 

• Wing Span (S) – Distance from one wingtip to other.

• A.R. – Aspect ratio

• Aerodynamic Centre (A.C.) –  point at which the pitching moment coefficient for the airfoil does not vary with lift coefficient. **For symmetric airfoils in subsonic flight the aerodynamic center is located approximately 25% of the chord from the leading edge of the airfoil.

• Centre of Gravity (C.G.) - geometric point on any body where weight of the whole body acts.

• Neutral Point (N.P.) - can be considered as the A.C. of the aircraft.

• Centre of Pressure (C.P.) - point where the total sum of a pressure field acts on a body. The location of the center of pressure varies with change of lift coefficient and angle of attack.