RC Airplane World flight school
- lesson #7; take off / hand launch
Following on from lesson 6, this rc flight school page will show you how to take off or hand launch your rc airplane.
This is it! The big moment you've been waiting for!
You've researched and bought your plane, got familiar with it, put it together, prepared it for flight, found a suitable location and now it's time to fly it!
The reality is that the take off or hand launch of your rc airplane is pretty much the easiest part. Whether you do an actual take off from the ground or a hand launch depends on a few things, which are...
- does your airplane have landing gear?
- what type of surface are you flying from
- do you just prefer to hand launch?
It's more than likely that your plane does have landing gear, unless you've bought a powered glider. Having landing gear gives you the best of both worlds, because you can take off and hand launch. A plane without landing gear, oddly enough, restricts you to just hand launching.
Above, RTF rc airplanes can be bought with or without landing gear
The type of surface you're flying from is critical to taking off. If you're on concrete, tarmac, smooth gravel or very short grass then a take off is easy. If you're on longer grass, loose gravel or a very rough surface then your airplane might struggle to get the speed it needs to to get airborne.
The size of your airplane's wheels is also another deciding factor, coupled with the type of surface. Larger wheels can cope better with more difficult surfaces.
Finally, you just might prefer to hand launch your plane, even though it's got an undercarriage and you're flying from a smooth surface. Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you're most comfortable with!
The take off
Without doubt the easiest part of the flight, taking off your rc airplane is a simple process that lasts just a few seconds, hopefully!
With all your pre-flight checks and range check complete (see previous lesson), and the transmitter antenna fully extended, face the plane directly into wind if there is any. It's important that you take off in to wind, because this maximizes the airflow over the wing and the plane will get airborne sooner.
Smoothly increase motor power to full and let the airplane accelerate along the ground. It's probable that you'll need to use rudder to keep the plane going in a straight line, don't let it veer off to the left or right.
In a very short time, the plane will rise off the ground. If it seems to be struggling, help it along by applying a small amount of up elevator; this will lift the nose and help it get airborne.
Don't apply full up elevator as soon as the plane starts rolling, you won't gain anything and the plane will likely take off, climb too steeply and just stall - crash!
The idea is to just smoothly accelerate along the ground and let the plane take off itself, with just a tiny amount of up elevator if it needs it.
Once the plane is airborne, maintain full power and continue a smooth climb out, and commence a turn before the plane gets too far away.
The hand launch
Hand launching your rc airplane is simple enough but it's perfectly normal to feel uneasy the first few times you do it.
As for a take off, a hand launch needs to be done into wind to maximize the lift under the wings.
Hold your airplane at head-height, in whichever hand you feel most comfortable with, and have the transmitter (antenna fully extended!) in your other hand with your thumb on whichever stick it naturally falls onto ie it's going to be one stick or the other, depending on which hand the tx is being held in.
With motor power at its maximum, take a step forward and at the same time give the airplane a firm push out of your hand. It's important that you launch it firmly so that it's above stalling speed when it leaves your hand. If you don't push it enough, it will stall and crash before your feet!
It's also important to try and keep the airplane level, and don't aim it up much. If you do launch it with a very nose-up attitude, the same thing is going to happen - a stall and a crash.
As soon as the plane has left your hand, get that hand on to the transmitter and start flying.
Above, hand launch at head-height and into wind
Below is a short video on taking off and hand launching your rc airplane (RealFlight G4.5 rc flight simulator)...
Next up: Lesson 8 - Flying your rc airplane!
Or skip to the lesson appropriate to your current situation...
- Lesson 1: Buying your rc airplane
- Lesson 2: Know your rc airplane
- Lesson 3: Preparing your plane
- Lesson 4: Weight and balance
- Lesson 5: Where to fly your plane
- Lesson 6: Pre-flight checks
- Lesson 8: Flying your rc airplane
- Lesson 9: Landing your rc airplane
Got a question about the take off or hand launch? Join the forum!
