Build and fly your very own model airplane design. Using clear explanations, you will learn about important design trade-offs and how to choose among them. The latest research and techniques are discussed using easy to understand language. You will discover: The special challenges faced by the smaller models and how to overcome them. How to choose the right material for each part of the airplane. Easy rules for selecting the right power system, gas or electric. When it makes sense to use one of the innovative KFm airfoils. Pros and cons of canard and multi-wing configurations. A step-by-step design process that includes goal setting and flight testing. In-depth discussions of important topics like airfoils and wing design. The sources of air drag and how to minimize their impact. ADVANCE PRAISE "This book is a joy to read! The writing style and wit add dimension in a way that is rarely found in today's reference materials. If someone has considered designing their own airplane and been put off because of complicated formulas, vocabulary and reference style that would bore even an engineer, this will convince them to go ahead and try it. Written with real people in mind and not engineers - and I mean that in a good way. This is a book that will reside along the other favorites on my bookshelf. Carlos really managed to produce a book that will last a long time and become one of the standards for modelers." - Greg Gimlick, Electrics columnist, Model Aviation magazine "RCAdvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy is the ultimate model airplane design book for both beginning and experienced modelers." - Richard Kline, Inventor, KFm airfoils "RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy is a real contribution to the world's literature on the subject. It provides an excellent bridge between full scale aviation and aeromodeling, showing the relationship between the two, for better understanding of the differences and similarities which should be applied for good model performance. While thorough in detail, the book is also easily readable so that the information is simple to understand. It is a very good combination of theory and practical application. Nicely illustrated, the book is also full of common sense explanations and references to other sources of information." - John Worth, former President and Executive Director of the AMA "Carlos Reyes personably leads the reader through some basic aerodynamics, materials considerations, electric power system planning and a practical application of theory as it is applied to a finished flying model. The background history of various types of aircraft shows the development of aviation and how it relates to the models that we build and fly today, as well as how models have influenced general aviation. It is always exciting to find some 'new to me' concepts and theories, and there were several in this well-written narrative." - Ken Myers, Editor, Ampeer electric flight newsletter "No matter how long you've been aeromodelling, or what your interests are in our great hobby, the greatest thrill of all is standing behind a unique model that you've designed and built yourself, from a blank sheet of paper - or even a blank CAD file - and preparing to make that first take off. So sit yourself down in a comfy chair, read RCadvisor's Model Airplane Design Made Easy and set off on aeromodelling's greatest adventure. Let Carlos Reyes - an aeromodeller of long standing and great talent - take you through the mysteries of how to arrive at the point that every lover of model aircraft should experience." - Dereck Woodward, aeromodeller, designer and magazine writer for the past fifty years
Seldom has a long-established hobby been transformed more than radio controlled model aircraft flying has been with the development of light-weight, inexpensive electric power systems. After decades of dominance by glow and gas powered internal combustion engines, the hottest thing in RC flying today is electric powered model aircraft.Energy dense lithium polymer batteries, powerful brushless electric motors and the digital devices that control them have taken the radio control hobby by storm. With them has come a veritable tsunami of molded foam models of nearly every type of airplane imaginable. Warbirds like the P-51 Mustang, aerobatic aircraft like the Edge 540 and a variety of trainers similar to the Cessna 172 fill the online marketplaces and the shelves of local hobby shops around the world. Traditional models, too, are being developed or converted to fly with electric power systems.These models have their own body of knowledge. Instead of tinkering with the needle valve settings of internal combustion engines, now modelers are computing watts, managing amps, determining volts and shopping for components that maximize power without exceeding the electronic limits of their model's components.RC Ground School provides you with the information you need to get started in the exciting hobby of model aviation. You'll get answers to these and other questions:What should I consider in choosing a model aircraft?What kind of transmitter should I consider?Should I go with a ready-to-fly kit or an almost-ready-to-fly model?What if I need to teach myself to fly?How can I find an instructor?How do I operate my model safely?How do electric models work? Come join the thousands of other modelers enjoying this fun and interesting hobby. RC Ground School is the perfect tool to help you get started.Already flying glow or gas airplanes? Thinking about converting to or adding an electric model to your hangar? The second half of the book is a deeper dive into what makes up an electric model's power system and what you'll need to know to convert that old friend to electric power or at least keep up with the conversations at the field.
It's a lot easier to fly RC planes now than it used to be. There's been a revolution, thanks to the miniaturization and lower cost of tiny electronics and rechargeable batteries. These days you can buy a ready-to-fly plane, charge the battery, and be in the air within an hour. And that's part of the problem. Now it's so easy to get into the air, you can get there long before you're ready. Through trial and error, I've discovered which planes are the best for novice RC pilots. There are dozens of choices, but relatively few have earned a place in this book. I've purchased and flown all of the planes mentioned here (along with other planes that didn't make it into this book). My recommendations are based solely on how the planes perform, the quality of the materials, and the manufacturer's customer support.
BUILD YOUR OWN REMOTE-CONTROLLED AIRPLANES QUICKLY, EASILY, AND INEXPENSIVELY! Take to the skies with a majestic motorized model aircraft you create and pilot yourself. Written by the founder of the Brooklyn Aerodrome, DIY RC Airplanes from Scratch shows you how to build a Flack (Flying + Hack) delta wing from the ground up using widely available, low-cost materials and tools. You'll also learn the skills you need to get your plane into the air and keep it there. By the end of the book, you'll be able to create your own customized designs. The sky's the limit! Discover how to: Select the components you’ll need and get them at a low cost Build a sturdy deck and secure all of your airplane's electronics to it Construct the airframe with the proper trim and center of gravity Learn to fly--one crash at a time Diagnose and repair your airplane Decorate your aircraft for dazzling daytime flights Illuminate a night flyer with otherworldly effects Experiment with unique airframe shapes, including the Flying Heart, the Bat, and the Manta Ray Learn the basics of aerodynamics Devise, build, and fly your own unique designs Companion videos available at http://brooklynaerodrome.com/bible
How to Build Brick Airplanes puts the power of the world's most fearsome jets in your hands—learn how to build the SR-71, the P38 Lightning, the B2 bomber, and more, from LEGO bricks. Grab some bricks, because it's time to get building! How to Build Brick Airplanes is loaded with clear, easy-to-follow designs for creating contemporary and classic jets, warbirds, bombers, and more using nothing more than bricks found in many common LEGO sets. More than just simple, generic recreations, the planes here are all scale models of their real-world counterparts. How to Build Brick Airplanes opens with simpler designs, before working up to more detailed builds. This vivid, user-friendly, and fun title is sure to bring hours of joy and airborne wonder to LEGO fans across the globe, whether you're an aviation enthusiast, LEGO lover, or looking for a project to share with little ones of your own. LEGO is the world's #1 toy company. The adults who grew up building LEGO City and Spaceports are now passing their old sets on to their children—and a new generation of LEGO builders has emerged, along with a rabid online community and celebrated custom builders.
FPV Flight Dynamics is the in-depth handbook designed to catapult Rookies and Intermediates into the Advanced levels and beyond! Whether you’re new to UAVs, a camera drone operator looking to dive into Acro, or an experienced miniquad ripper stuck in FPV purgatory, this guide will arm you with the skills and knowledge that you’ll need to break through plateaus and master your instrument. This visual manual spans 30 chapters and features over 220 full-color illustrations, including stick schematics, 3D diagrams, photos, and infographics. You’ll be presented with actionable strategies that can be employed immediately to make the greatest leaps in skill level with the least amount of time, money, and frustration possible. Master all three of FPV’s disciplines (racing, freestyle, and professional cinematic) by learning what to practice, how to practice it, and, most importantly, in which order! This book offers detailed analyses on more than 50 unique tricks, maneuvers, and flight techniques, including: 31 FUNDAMENTAL MANEUVERS Static Climbs and Drops, medial and lateral Dynamic Climbs, ascending Half-Loops, Convex Climbs, Pullbacks, Parachutes, Diving Helixes, Two-Dimensional Sweeping Turns (2D Sweeps), S-Turns, 180° Hairpin Turns, 3D Sweeps, Coils, Rippled Turns, Elliptical Orbits, Textbook Power Loops, Parachuting Power Loops, Aerial Corkscrews, Barrel Rolls, Stunted Barrel Rolls, Aileron Rolls, the Textbook Split-S, Vaulting Split-S, and Sliding Split-S, Level Orbits, Knife-Edge Orbits, Immelmann Turns, Half Cuban Eights, High Jumps, and Hammer Throws 19 FREESTYLE TRICKS Frontflips, Backflips, Level Yaw Spins, Snap Rolls, Wallkicks, Kamikazes, Juicy Flicks, Vanny Rolls, Proxy Knockbacks and Slingshots, Rewinds, Wall Rides, Stall-Slide Corkscrews, Rubik’s Cubes, Inverted Yaw Spins, Mattyflips, Trebuchets, Inverted Orbits (aka Cyclones/Trippy Spins), Keeling Turns, and Windmills Learn how to: Manipulate your quadcopter’s speed and momentum with techniques like Sprints, Coasts, Stalls, Short-Rooks and Full-Rooks, Rook-n-Rolls, and Blips Negotiate advanced racing complexes like Chicanes/Slaloms, Gated Corkscrews, and coiled obstacles like Ladders Manage your LiPo batteries, including charging, discharging, and storage strategies Dissect your quadcopter, and understand each of its components, their technical specifications, and how they’re all related and interact with one another Chase mobile subjects like drift cars and downhill skiers with advanced cinematic shot-framing techniques, like Sidewinding Sweeps via the quadcopter’s secondary flight stance, the Outside Stance Prioritize visual references in your field of view, so you always know what to be looking at and when This is THE definitive guide to FPV, and a must-read for all newcomers to the hobby! Pick up a copy today and take your skills to the next level! BECOME THE MACHINE
Going flying – even in winter when it's stormy and snowing outside - is a long-cherished dream of model pilots. Until just a few years ago, the fulfilment of this dream of flying indoors was reserved for only a few specialists. Only the discovery of the material "Depron" for model flying, brushless motors and LiPo batteries as well as the ever smaller and lighter components for the RC system make possible flying weights and performances with which even demanding aerobatics, including 3D flight, can be realised. This book makes it easier for the interested model pilot to get started in indoor (aerobatic) flying and gives tips on equipment as well as on building an indoor flying model. From the content: • Silhouette or full fuselage, self-built or finished model? • CFRP profiles, Depron, surface design • Motor, controller, batteries, connectors, charging station • The RC components - transmitter, receiver, servos, rudder linkages, pushrods, cable linkages, • Tips on material processing and assembly • Tips for flying in - flying technique in the hangar and first aerobatic manoeuvres • Illustrated repair instructions for a damaged front wing • Requirements for the hall, contact persons, safety rules, hall regulations, • "preparation" of the hall and special features of the unfamiliar environment • Tabular compilation of the models used