How exactly does a radio controlled airplane work? This is an in depth look at this question. I explain to you the basics of how the system works and I take a look at the various components that go into the RC Airplane system. This tutorial looks at an electric airplane. A gas powered airplane is a bit different but except for one motor running on gas and the other motor running on electricity (Battery power) the two types of airplanes are pretty much the same and the theory behind them are exactly the same. The only difference is how what kind of engine turns the propellor.

The following picture shows you the major components of an RC airplane.

Here is a list of these major parts:

• Battery - powers the motor
• Canopy - goes over the cockpit where the "pilot" would sit.
• Cowl - This goes on the front of the airplane covering the motor unit
• Engine/motor - turns the propellor
• Fuselage - the main body of the aircraft
• Landing gear - wheels for the plane to land, typically two in front and one at the rear
• Propellor - turns and impels the aircraft forward
• Recharger - charges up the battery
• Spinner - the front nose of the propellor
• Transmitter - The operator uses this to control the aircraft
• Wings - gives the plane flight!

Let's take a look at the controls of an aircraft

The picture above shows the important control parts of the aircraft. These are how you control the flight. I have a more in-depth explanation of these parts on this page here: The controls of an RC airplane

• Ailerons - Control Roll (tilts plane so one or other wing goes down/up)
• Elevator - Controls pitch of airplane (up/down)
• Throttle - Speed of airplane
• Rudder - Controls Yaw (turning left/right)

Now let's take a closer look and see the smaller internal components of the aircraft

Inside the fuselage are these parts:

• Receiver/controller - This receives the radio signal from the transmitter and sends the signal to the various servos in the airplane. This is how you control the plane.
• Servos - These are small electrical activated devices that push or pull the control rods
• Control rods - These extend to the moving parts of the aircraft such as the rudder, elevators and ailerons. The motion of these rods move the controlled parts of the plane causing it to change its flight path.

One final part you should know about is the clevis. This is the connection between the control rod and the controllers. In the picture below I have marked an X on the clevis.

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