In this section we will give you some basic information about getting started in RC flying. It should be remembered that the single best piece of advice is to contact your local NIAA club, visit their airfield, and have a chat to their club instructors and members. All of our clubs will be more than happy to see you drop in for a chat. In-fact many of the clubs can offer you the chance to fly a club trainer on a buddy box system. The BMFA handbook "Up and Away" is available for download in our Downloads section and covers basic flying techniques and advice on equipment etc. We would urge potential pilots not to purchase equipment and simply have a go. It really is safer to have your model checked over by a professional and that you receive some tuition, it might even save you from a costly mistake.

Buying your first model!

The first thing to decide before you go looking around the shops is what type of model flying interests you? There are many different types of model aircraft out there such as fixed wing (aeroplanes), helicopters, gliders, indoor, and free flight. Have a look at our "Disciplines" section, which may help you decide where your interests are.

Irrespective of the discipline, it is essential to choose a suitable trainer as your first model. A fast, sleek fighter may look impressive hanging in the shop window but won't impress anyone after it's been buried in the ground on it's maiden flight.

A typical powered fixed wing trainer will have a high wing arrangement helping it remain stable and forgiving in the air. This allows the novice pilot more time to think and react during the flight. Most powered fixed wing trainers have reasonably large wingspans (approx 72inch), as large models are easier to see and allow the pilot to maintain orientation with the model, it can also be smoother in flight.

Most powered fixed wing models have at least 4 functions: throttle, aileron, rudder and elevator. The undercarriage arrangement will usually be tricycle, rather than a tail-dragger, as this makes ground handling easier. There are training aids for helicopter pilots, which attach to the models undercarriage and provide a much larger circular skid area.

Get plenty of advice before buying your first model!

Radio equipment!

Most model aircraft are controlled by using a radio transmitter. The transmitter sends the instructions given by the pilot to a small receiver held inside the model. The receiver then controls servos (motors), attached to the models control surfaces (rudder, elevator, aileron and throttle), which allows the pilot to control every aspect of the flight.

There is a huge range of radio equipment available, from simple 2-channel sets to multi-channel, multi-memory computer based sets. As a beginner you should be looking for at least a 4 or 6 channel radio set. If your budget allows, buy the 6 channel set; this will allow your transmitter to control more advanced aircraft and therefore be of use to you for longer as you gain experience and move away from trainer models. The more channels your transmitter has the more servos it can control. For the same reason, it is worth buying a set with as many extra facilities, such as rate switches, mixers or model memories, as possible: you don't have to use them initially, but it is far better to have them available when you are ready rather than having to upgrade your radio equipment.

Any RC model shop should be able to supply you with a suitable package: for a powered fixed wing model it should have a suitable high wing model, engine, transmitter, receiver, at least 4 servos, NiCad or NiMH battery packs and charger. It is also important to state that the only frequencies that are legal to fly on in the UK are 35Mhz and 2.4Ghz. Make sure that all the equipment that you purchase is for use on these frequencies otherwise your club will not allow you to fly.

Learning to Fly

The most important aid you can have in learning to fly is an instructor. It is not impossible to teach yourself, but unless you are exceptionally gifted, the process will inevitably result in many hours spent repairing broken models. An instructors guidance will not necessarily prevent the occasional accident, but will increase tenfold the chances of bringing your model home in one piece at the end of the day, and his experience will be invaluable in reducing the time required to reach a solo standard.

An instructor will also pre-flight check your model carefully to ensure that everything is secure and that control surfaces are working in the right direction, a habit which all pilots should get into right from the start. An additional benefit of using an instructor is that they will explain why certain things happen in flight. If you understand why something went wrong you are less likely to make the same error again.

The traditional arrangement for instruction is for the instructor to get the model airborne, trimmed into level flight, and then hand the transmitter to the student. It is also now possible to link two transmitters together with the use of a lead. The instructor holds the master transmitter and releases control of the model to the trainee's transmitter (slave) by flicking a switch. This means that the instructor can take control of the model in an instance if the trainee gets into trouble. This is known as the "buddy box" system. In either case the instructor will issue instructions to the student to help him or her control the model.

Once the student has mastered level flight and basic turns, the instructor will move the lessons on to how to fly circuits, getting airborne and making an approach to land. You should also receive lessons on how to recognise, and recover from, problems such as stalls or spins.

The BMFA manual "Up and Away" offers a more in depth guide to learning to fly and is available in our downloads section or by clicking HERE.

Insurance

Flying RC aircraft is not a dangerous sport in comparison to many others, but accidents can and do happen. It is advisable to make sure that you are adequately insured to cover all eventualities. A model aircraft hitting a car can cause a lot of damage or worse still, a model that hits a person can kill. All NIAA clubs and their members are insured through the BMFA's insurance scheme.

We hope that this section has been of help to you. Remember the most important advice in RC flying is to get plenty of advice, and the most important thing to do is HAVE FUN and FLY SAFE!

Happy Landings