A Beginner's Guide to Flying RC Planes

Or at least our attempt at one. Don't let us be the final word. Other channels have fantastic content on this subject and can teach you a lot, too. Get informed and view some other videos on this subject:

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0:00 Intro
0:53 Lesson 1: Ground Handling
2:07 Lesson 2: Takeoffs
3:42 Lesson 3: Landings
6:09 Lesson 4: Stalls
8:58 Lesson 5: Center of Gravity & Gyros
15:28 Anxiety & How to Overcome It
17:25 Real-time Thoughts

[BluegrassStateRC]

I would add on the landing section: Stabilized approach with minimal input for corrections is key. I've found a lot of beginners tend to over-correct with large inputs, causing extreme roll/pitch/yaw that drastically slows airspeed and makes for scary and unstable landing. Kind of goes in line with the anxiety, as you may feel the need to make a correction fast and overdo it or worse, correct in the wrong direction if not very experienced. Great video!

[coyoteman]

I love watching this kind of video even though I consider myself an intermediate pilot because I can always pick up little tips or information that someone else may not of put out. Thanks for the great service you provide and keep up the awesome content.

[flywithmike]

I’m an intermediate at this hobby having tried it first decades ago with my dad and recently gotten back into it. Been watching a lot of YT videos from various channels and I gotta say, your content is my favorite. I love your approach to education, your variety and volume of content, and your overall attitude/humor that you work in from time to time. Thank you for making these videos. You’re also one hell of a pilot. I fly full-scale aircraft and am now working on becoming a commercial pilot for a living, and your grasp of aerodynamics and the physics of flying is something I don’t see much in this hobby, and it’s really great to see! Would love to fly with you some day!

[DronemanJoeRc]

If I may add I grew up flying planes with my dad many years ago. I recently got back into the hobby about 5 years ago. I mostly forgot what my dad taught me and he flew gas and there was no gyro or battery planes back then in. I bought the Eflite Apprentice RTF and really learned a'lot from it and its an excellent 1st plane and I still fly it bc its very enjoyable to fly. You can also get the FMS RANGER its an awesome beginner plane and I highly recommend either planes if you want to learn to fly. Also I agree with John dont take any crap from anyone if you like to use a gyro or safe you do what you feel comfortable with!!! I had ppl say oh your only flying in safe and your scared to fly out of it. No im not scared to fly out of it I just feel comfortable with flying in those flight modes on this plane until I learn the plane more. I will tell you all you will crash and it happens to all of us and anyone that says they never crash well there just full of it. Join a good flight club and find some one that will help and mentor you. I belong to a flying club that my dad was president of and thats the WYOMING FLYERS in Pennsylvania and I also love to fly at the Binghamton Aeros. You will find good ppl clubs and others there are all cocky so dont worry about those who think they are all hot shit and know it all. Just enjoy and take your time and fly the way you feel comfortable. Thats my advice and wish you all the best and if you have any question let me know or ask John he is always willing to answer any questions.

[SlowFlyer]

Great advice and information even for us old timers too good job😊👍👍👍

[KIN_Additive]

Thank you so much for making this video! It's really upsetting when experienced pilots with inflated ego's potentially ruin the hobby for newcomers. Whenever I witness these people shaming others I make sure to confront them with a polite and direct tone and I encourage others to do so as well.

[roberthill]

Thanks for this video! I've been in the hobby about 20 months and I wish I had seen it on day one. You're right, there's a lot of info available and nothing really ties it together. I've transitioned to EDFs and can honestly say... the more you push yourself to advance in flying, the simpler it will seem. Yes, I still use SAFE as a crutch, but slowly I'm trying to get past it. Videos like this one help reinforce basic skills that eventually translate into muscle memory. Thanks and keep it up!

[Epicdoom]

Great video. I wish I had this when I started flying. I went straight into 4 ch nitro. I dont remember the brand, but it was a 60 balsa kit with electronics. took off, aeleron turn, death spiral, splinters. Gave up but didn't give in. Decided to try electric. Took many smashed airframes and busted props to realize I'm man handling the sticks on something that requires finesse. I learned the hard way, no safe system. I'm teaching my grandson's to fly safe system because I want them to have fun and learn without fear of smashing it into the ground because they forget to be gentle with the sticks. I wish safe was a reality when started flying. The chief financial advisor (wife) would have been happier for sure.

[Drones_Eye_View]

Absolutely correct about using AS3X and SAFE. You're comments are excellent and help clarify the air for some of those guys who what you to fly like them. Love your suggests for T&O flights. I've been starting to do them for the past 4-6 weeks and it has helped immeasurably. My landings are now much smoother.

[meshall]

Such a great video, I hope many new pilots see this. The more newcomers the better so thx for sharing.
Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱

[rjl]

"if Cleetus can do this, so can you" hahaha. Hell yah brother!

[jackschwartz]

Great video. What I like to tell new rc pilots is to fly what and the way gets you the most enjoyment. Also, I tell them that a good landing is defined by how quickly your plane can get back in the air after touching down. Worry less about how the landing looks. If your plane didn't break, then your landing was a success. Just make a mental note of what you can do differently next time.

[kianwong]

Great positivity John. Yesterday i crashed my Bae arrows hawk twice. Both while switching into as3x. The jet is not pretty anymore but it still flies. I have a umx pitts which i have also crashed many times, but once again still flies. I think flying repaired planes lessens the stress, compared to a new one. I think cheaper planes makes is a lot less stressful. But can still hurt the pocket. ` i have been using the Sim. Which gave me the confidence to do 3 barrel rolls yesterday. Thanks for your wise words.

[AL-RCjunkie]

Great information, Jon!
When I was experiencing a lot of anxiety trying land in cross wind or a tail wind shift, etc. I would think of the saying, " when going through Hell, keep going". I'd try not to force a plane down in crappy conditions, scraping wings, breaking props or worse. I learned to just keep going around. Eventually, I time it right and can keep my spare props where they belong. In my shop with the other spare parts I'm no longer breaking on the regular 😊.
I still use SAFE quite often, too. I cranked up the bank angles and SAFE gains to suit me. But, I fly rc planes to relax and have fun. I'm not trying to win any awards or wow anyone with cool tricks. I just love seeing my planes fly and (hopefully) land. And I'm just enough of a control freak to want to it myself.
Thanks for another quality, entertaining tutorial with amazing camera work 👍

[killrertomato]

I started with rc planes and heli then became a real pilot still nothing beats looking at what your doing than being in it. Still flyn rc ❤

[ugottry]

As a man who is 5'8, I was not anticipating catching strays so soon into the video 😂

[emersonb]

To be fair, also don’t let anyone tell you you HAVE to run a gyro. For most planes, you don’t. It can smooth things out but is usually not necessary. If you want to use one, go for it. But if you don’t want to, don’t let someone tell you you’re doing it wrong without a gyro. Most common beginner planes come with them preinstalled nowadays, so might as well use it.

[stevetommy]

Great video, John. I appreciate all the hard work you put in to them to teach us new pilots. The tricks of the trade. I was lucky enough to have a grandfather that was into the hobby, and he build his own planes and take me out when I was a kid and taught me how to fly. I got to fly with him one last time before he passed away. It was a memory. I will never forget and I still have the plane that he flew one last time. Thanks for the video john

[Flyer]

What a great video Jon! I didn’t have anyone to learn from or with when I started flying 6 years ago, I just knew I wanted to fly. Your videos would have made the journey way less stressful and frustrating at the time. I like your honesty and positivity with the hobby. Keep up the good work! ✈️🙂

[Glowingtomato]

Great video! I just started flying some little foam 4ch planes from 400mm to 600mm and have been going daily for almost two weeks and still learned some great stuff. I just got a nice Radio Master TX16s and ordered a Flite Test Tutor bundle so I can go a little bigger.


I've been into surface RC for years and flying is a whole new skill set