PLANE CONFIG
Wing types, control surfaces, aircraft configurations
AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS
HIGH-WING TRAINER
Wing mounted above fuselage. Self-righting, very stable. Good for beginners. Slow flight, large wing area. Examples: HobbyZone Apprentice, FMS Easy Trainer.
LOW-WING SPORT
Wing below fuselage. More agile, responsive. Better aerobatics. Less self-correcting than high-wing. Intermediate onwards. Examples: E-flite Timber, Freewing planes.
FLYING WING / DELTA
No separate tail. Elevons control pitch and roll. Very efficient. Good for FPV cruising. Less stable but high speed capable. Examples: Zohd Dart, Flywing Atlas.
3D / AEROBATIC
Large control surfaces, high-lift symmetrical wing. Capable of hover, knife-edge, torque rolls. High thrust-to-weight (>1:1). Examples: E-flite Extra 300, Pilot-RC models.
WARBIRD / SCALE
Scale replica. Realistic appearance prioritised over performance. Often tricycle or taildragger undercarriage. Retracts, flaps, navigation lights. Examples: FMS P-51, Freewing F-86.
FPV WING / LONG-RANGE
Flying wing or conventional design with FPV gear. Efficient cruise, long range. Autopilot common (INAV). 2–4m wingspan for serious range. Examples: ZOHD Drift, SonicModell AR.
CONTROL SURFACES
| SURFACE | LOCATION | AXIS | FUNCTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aileron | Outer trailing edge of wing | Roll | Bank left/right. Opposite deflection each wing. |
| Elevator | Horizontal tail | Pitch | Nose up/down. Controls climb and descent. |
| Rudder | Vertical tail | Yaw | Nose left/right. Mainly used in coordinated turns. |
| Elevon | Flying wing trailing edge | Pitch + Roll | Combined elevator and aileron function. Used on delta/flying wings. |
| Flaps | Inner trailing edge | Lift/drag | Increase lift at low speed for landing. Increases drag. |
| Spoileron | Wing upper surface | Roll + drag | Combination of spoiler and aileron. Lifts to create drag and roll. |
| Ruddervator | V-tail | Pitch + Yaw | V-tail combines elevator and rudder into two mixed surfaces. |
WING TYPES
| WING TYPE | CHARACTERISTICS | USE |
|---|---|---|
| Flat plate | Simple, no airfoil profile | Small foamies, trainers. Easy to build. |
| Symmetrical | Same profile top and bottom | Aerobatics. Flies inverted same as upright. |
| Semi-symmetrical | Slight camber, moderate lift | Sport and scale planes. Versatile. |
| Flat-bottomed | High lift at low AoA | Trainers, gliders. Stable slow flight. |
| Undercambered | Curved lower surface for high lift | Slow flyers, indoor planes. Very efficient at low speed. |