10 Hot Fun Fly Ideas

If you don’t know what a ”FUN FLY” event is, then you are missing out on some real excitement! Fun flys are exciting,  fun and help improve you piloting skills! What do you need, to join in? Well, the definition of a Fun Fly plane is typically any plane that has improved flight performance to execute specific aerobatic tasks in a timed event. But you don’t really need a high-performance plane to do fun fly tasks. The scope of events and maneuvers is very broad and you can even use your old beat up trainer. Adding a stop watch makes it competitive.

For the more dedicated, you can increase the airplanes power, and increase its control surfaces to make it more responsive and faster.

So here are some events and descriptions of popular tasks you can use to add fun to your flying.

• Timed flight. Without outside help or a timer on the radio, take off and fly around. After a give period of time (1 minute or 2) come in to land. The closest time to wheels touchdown (without going over) is the winner. Propeller must still be spinning after the landing to count.
• Timed loops. This is great for beginners as it is started and finished in flight so no rushing to takeoff. Fly straight and level and then when the stop watch is started, do as many loops as you can in one minute. The most loops win.

• Dice Takeoff & Loops. Roll the dice, takeoff and do that number of loops and land. The shortest time wins. This a great chance equalizer, a novice can throw a low number and an experienced flyer can throw a high number, so the novice can easily win. A special version allows anyone to participate is for new student pilots (or family members,) an instructor takes off and lands, and the student does a single loop.
• Triple Loops & Rolls. Takeoff do 3 rolls and 3 loops then land. Best time wins. Loops and rolls can be in any order.
• Timed Dead-stick Spot Landing
• Pilot has set time for engine run, (30 seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, etc.,) then the engine is shut down and the pilot tries to stay up as long as possible and then do a spot landing. The engine must be shutdown with throttle stick and trim. A single club trainer that everyone flies is the best situation but it is pilot choice. Longest flight wins and spot landings (closest to a target) is used for tie breakers.
• Timed Glide. Similar to the above event, with the exception that the engine is set to idle after a certain amount of time and then it is glided for as long as possible until the throttle is applied again which stops the timer.

 Timed Inverted Flight is another easy one to try. After the wheels leave the ground, the pilot starts the clock by flipping the model upside down and he flies for a given amount of time. 1 minute or 2, 3 what ever is appropriate for the pilots. If he reaches the cut off time, he is awarded maximum points. Less time give less points. Spot landings are used as tie breakers.

• Spot Landing. Paint a line across the centerline of the runway and then paint two more parallel lines, (one on either side of the target line,) about 10 or 15 feet apart. Each pilot gets three attempts to land (touchdown,) as close to the middle line as possible. After the three tries, and the plane stops (with propeller spinning), the score is counted. Touching on the middle line is worth 50 points, touching down with on the two outer lines is worth 25 points and just touching down outside of the target lines is worth 5 points. Highest score wins. (Ties are broken by shortest time.)

 

• Golf Ball Bomb Drop. This is borrowed from the gang of the Kingston RC Modelers Club in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Take off and make a bomb run over a 50 foot diameter circle target divided into three bull’s eye circular rings. The smallest (10 feet diameter) is 50 points, the middle circle (30 foot diameter) is 25 points and the outer ring is 10 points. Just hitting the flying field with the ball is a successful attempt and earns 5 points. A spot landing ending within the target (with the prop still spinning) doubles the bomb drop score.  The club supplies the balls and dowel holding fixture that is attached to the airplane with rubberbands. Simply blipping some down elevator throws the ball off the dowel. Or, the plane can do a roll to inverted to release the ball.

 

• Can Can. Tie an empty soda can (or two!)  to a 50 foot length of fishing string and tie the string to the tailwheel of the airplane. Fly the airplane in such a way as to touch the can down onto a 50 foot circle target. Hint: fly past the target and then do a quick 180 degree turn. As the plane reverses direction, the can falls from the air. Three tries are allowed. Highest score wins and lowest time is used for tie breakers.
• Kingston Roops. This is another timed event originating at the Kingston Father’s Day Fun Fly. Time starts  at liftoff then the pilot does a sequence of a loop and then a roll. He does this three times and then comes in for a landing to stop the clock. Lowest time wins and a spot landing (with prop still spinning,) on a target can be worth bonus points.

So there are many, many other fun fly event ideas that clubs have come up with but these are some of the more popular. Give them a try and if you ask why? …The answer is twofold. First, competition helps improve a pilots flying skills and two, getting friends and club members together at the flying field is always good fun! Bringing a tent and a BBQ are always optional. All that’s really required is some spray paint (or powdered chalk,) a few stop watches and some club members to act as line judges and timers. Give it a try! You will have fun!!!

Photos by Ken Park — Words by Gerry Yarrish

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Beginning To Fly RC Planes

Remote control flying can be great fun for the entire family, who can spend an afternoon in the park watching your plane take off and land, while you control it from the ground. There is plenty of option available in the market, if you are planning to buy your own RC plane. You need to study a little about remote control flying, before you decide to choose a plane. Depending on whether you want to build your model plane from scratch or if you want to buy a ready to fly kit, you need to go through the guidelines and choose one that would meet your requirements. Learning to fly a RC plane needs a lot of practice and perseverance and it is best to choose a model that is easy to fly and has the stability for a smooth flight. The nitro model super trainer, which is made of balsa wood, gives a wider wingspan. Its flight characteristics make it easier to fly and controls are easy to handle.

As a beginner, you need to first paint your model with a bright color to keep track of it in the sky. There are plenty of models available, which are inexpensive and give you the same excitement as other more complicated models. The ready to fly model kits can be easy to assemble for someone who has little time on hand. You would also need a radio control and servos to control your plane, when flying. You need to get familiar with the basics of flight controls. Initially, you need to learn how an airplane flies.

The wings of the plane play an important part in its flight. It helps it to take off and maneuver, when in the air. So, the position of the wings is important for flying your airplane. Depending on the direction, you tilt the wings of the airplane, which will turn in the same direction, while you hold the control stick in the neutral position. Low wing aerobatic planes are for the more experienced fliers, as it needs proper control and handling. Park gliders and slow fliers with electric motors are easier for a beginner.

You need to ensure your preflight check is in order, before you take off. The balance of the plane must be taken care of and use required weights, if needed. Make sure that the wing is not warped to ensure a steady flight, but an intended warp near the tips of each wing is necessary to make the plane stall straight without tilting. When flying for the first time, it is better to have a lot of open space and make sure you take off and land with the help of the wind. Try maneuvering only, when the plane has gained considerable height. Turning when the plane is low is to be avoided. Just let the plane glide to a halt.

You can begin to soar high with your RC plane once you have mastered the technique with the first flight. It will also be your first step to greater and faster flying experiences.

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Checkpoints Before Each RC Plane Flying Experience

As much as we'd all like to fly our model RC planes wherever and whenever we like, in practice, and for a number of reasons, it's not a good idea. The main reason is, of course, for the safety of people and animals in the area, but we also need to be watchful for ourselves and the aiRCraft, so be aware of roads and overhead cables, especially power ones.

Pre-flight Checks

Prior to the actual takeoff, it's wise to double check the plane itself, starting by making sure there are no lose parts - you certainly don't want things to fall off.

                                                   If the plane has any visible screws, ensure these are tightened;
                                                if the body is a snap together, make sure its fully clicked into place;
                                        if the motor has a propeller, be sure it's correctly attached and not broken.
                                                  And the most obvious step, make sure your RC plane is fueled up.

For nitro planes this means filling up with gas, while for electric it's simply a matter of being sure you have fully charged batteries.

Finally, check the balance point of the model is where it's supposed to be, as indicated on the instructions.

Initial Preparation

Having selected the area, perhaps a field or park, that you want to fly your RC plane from, you then need to ensure the take off is done safely and correctly. For starters, the ideal is face the plane into a head wind, rather than taking off with the wind. Flying directly into an oncoming wind increases the wind pressure around the wings, resulting in increased uplift, making it easier to get the plane up to a good height. Taking off with the wind has the opposite effect, making it harder to climb, while taking off across the wind makes the aiRCraft hard to control as the gusts push it in directions other than your intention.

The RC Plane Take Off

Having cleared the prior checks, you are now ready for flight. It's wise to turn your transmitter on before you power up the plane or start its engine. Done the other way, there's a risk that little twitches in the transmitter when you turn it on will cause movement in the plane. If your plane starts on the ground, it's time to push the throttle and get it moving. For air starting craft, hold the plane at shoulder level in one hand just behind the landing gear and the transmitter in your other hand. Push the throttle, then propel your model RC plane directly into the wind.

When You're Done - The Landing

Hopefully, whether it lasts 2 minutes or 20 minutes, your plane's flight runs smoothly and ends with a great approach followed by a smooth landing at the same place it took off from. The landing process lends itself to a separate article, but in essence your task is to guide the plane back towards its starting point and to lower it to no more than 200 feet. At this point you should be left with a straight path to the landing point and, as with take off, you should aim to land into the wind. If you have good control of your RC plane, you just need to reduce the speed using the throttle to bring it into a nice controlled landing, cutting the throttle to zero to bring it to its final halt.

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Beginner RC Planes - How Many Channels Do I Need?

When starting in the world of rc planes the first thing you need to do is purchase a plane. Choosing the right plane can be a difficult task. There are many features that a beginner rc plane should have. One of the things you are going to need to consider is how many channels you need.

Channels are what control the planes movement and speed. The channels are controlled by the transmitter. 2 channels are necessary for all planes in order to fly. Most all beginner rc planes use either 2 or 3 channels. Let's look at what the channels do.

In a 2 channel plane one channel is used to control the elevator while the other channel is used to control the rudder. The elevator is used to control the up and down movement of the plane. The rudder is used to control the side to side movement which makes the plane turn.

A 3 channel plane uses the 2 channels as mentioned above, but adds a 3rd channel. This third channel is used to control the pitch of the plane. This is done by controlling the speed of the motor. This can be very useful in helping control the descent of the plane without having to actually move the plane. This will help you have more controlled landings.

Once you are more experienced you can move on to a plane that has 4 channels. This fourth channel is used to control the ailerons. The ailerons make the plane roll and are used in more advanced flying.

For a beginner pilot I recommend a 3 channel plane. All more advanced planes use 4 channels so knowing how to fly with 3 channels is a must if you want to keep moving on. Starting out using a 3 channel plane will help make the adjustment to a 4 channel plane much easier. You will also have more control over the plane which is always a good thing.

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Flying RC Helicopter & Planes ''Tips"

As compared to flying planes, helicopters require a higher skill level. So, it is better to learn to fly RC planes first, so that you at least get an idea, of how to handle it in the air. If you are a fresher, then join a good flying club or get an experienced model plane 'pilot' to help you out. Once you have mastered the basics of flying planes, then you can try some stunts, such as inverted flying, rolls or loops. Your first plane should ideally be a 'trainer'. These are planes with big fuselage and wide wings. These planes are slower, steadier and therefore more suited for learners.

Once you have gained complete control over your Remote Control and your plane, then you can think about moving on to faster planes, such as fighter or jet planes. These planes are extremely fast and require very fast reflexes, to keep them in control. Do not forget to take out insurance on any model plane or helicopter you fly, or be ready to be sued, in case of any accident, where there is damage to someone's 'limb' or 'property'. An electric motor or a gasoline engine can be used, to power your model airplane or helicopter. Use electric power, if you are a fresher. It's clean, efficient and easy to maintain. However, keep extra battery packs ready, because you will need them, while flying.

Since the dynamics of a model helicopter are totally different than that of a plane, get expert help, before trying to fly them. You can also practice on a simulator, before attempting an actual flight. Helicopters can take off from a small pad, but model planes require a longer area, to take off and touch down. The chances of a helicopter suffering more damage than a plane, in case of a crash are more, since the blades of the helicopter are quite large.

The stunts, which can be performed by your helicopter, are also different as compared to your plane. One thing your helicopter can do is to 'hover' over the ground and that is what your plane cannot do. You can buy your plane or helicopter from various hobby shops or over the Internet as a RTF kit, i.e. a Ready to Fly Kit, which means that it is fully assembled, or you could buy it in ARF form, i.e. Almost Ready To Fly kit. This kit just has to be assembled and then it is ready to fly. You can think about making your own plane or helicopter from scratch, once you have some experience under your belt. Your models can be made of wood or plastic and you can hand paint them, once you have made them.

These above tips can be helpful, if you are just starting off in the flying arena. Use them to make your flying 'career' safer and easier.

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Tips For Choosing A Beginner RC Plane

   You've decided to get into the world of rc planes, but now you're stuck with the hardest decision to make. What kind of plane do I buy? Here are a few tips someone should follow and look for when buying a beginner rc plane.

1. Go cheap! You are most likely going to crash you very first plane. The cheaper the plane is the less bad you'll fell if you need to buy a new one or spare parts to replace it.

2. Look for a plane that says Slowflyer of Parkflyer. They are called this for a reason. They fly slow so they won't be too fast for you to handle and will give you more time to react if you need it. These planes can also be flown almost anywhere.

3. Look for a plane with a Top Wing design. This means that the wing is on top of the plane. This type of design gives the plane more lift and will help keep it floating if you run into trouble giving you more time to react. A plane with a large wingspan will also help produce lift. So, in summary, look for a plane with a large wing on top.

4. Go with a 2-channel or a 3-channel plane. A 2-channel plane allows you to control the up/down and side to side movement (turning). This is done with the elevator and rudder. A 3-channel plane will allow you to do the same, but also allows you to control the planes speed. Stay away from 4-channel planes for now. This 4th channel is used to control the ailerons and is used in more advanced flying that you won't be ready for just quite yet. A 3-channel will help prepare you for moving on to a 4th channel.

5. Some beginner planes even come with what is called Anti Crash Technology (ACT for short). The plane uses sensors to detect the planes orientation. If they sense that the plane is going into a dive, they will automatically correct the position of the plane giving you more time to react and avoid a crash.

  Flying rc planes is a fun hobby, and with several types of planes geared especially towards beginners anyone can learn to fly. Good luck and happy flying.

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