Learning to fly with an engine-powered model is something that can at first seem quite a complex affair. However, like most things in life once you do a little research, things are often less daunting. The one big difference though is unlike starting with a HobbyZone plane and teaching yourself, with an engine powered plane you will need some help from people with experience to successfully learn to fly.
The very first things to do are to search out your local model shop and flying club. These maybe nearby to where you live, or you may have to make a short trip, in any event the trip will be worth it. For it is from these two facilities that you will gain a wealth of knowledge, experience and guidance as to what model and equipment that will serve you the best. Whether to choose a ready to fly model, or to build a model from a set of plans your self, what radio control equipment or suitable engine you will need and any other essential items you will need to get started.


The classic high-wing trainer
Lets assume for a moment that you have chosen a ready built high-wing trainer, a two-stroke glow engine, and the radio control equipment. You will undoubtedly need additional items, and it is in the area that shopping from your local model shop will really pay dividends advising you on best choices and value for money. The amount of help and information you can gain from your local flying club will amaze you along probably with the willingness of the membership to advise and help you while you are getting through the initial learning stage.
So OK you’ve got your model, joined the local flying club, joined the British Model Flying Association (BMFA) and are insured, and at last the great British summer has arrived! And you’re ready to go flying!

Pre-flight checks
Before your model takes to the air, get a club member to check it over. He will be looking to see that everything is working the right way; are the controls working in the right direction, ie when you move the transmitter stick to the right do the rudder or ailerons move to the right, when you pull up elevator do the elevators move upwards, are all the linkages secure, the batteries fully charged etc. In effect a complete pre-flight check, just like a full-size plane, you may have seen pilots walking around their planes before each and every flight.
So with everything in order, or after any corrections have been made its time to range test your radio. What is a range test? Well with the radio switched on and the transmitter aerial partially extended (one section out being the norm) you should be able to walk at least sixty to seventy paces away and still have full control of the model. If this is all in order, fuel up and range test again with the engine running; there should be no difference in range but if there is cut the engine and investigate the problem. Under no circumstances attempt to fly the model until this problem is resolved.
A little help from a co-pilot
Right then, controls working correctly, radio working properly, satisfactory range test completed, your ready for your fist flight. At most clubs there are two main ways that a novice can get to learn to fly, the first method is whereby an experienced modeller will take the model off and if all is well, stand beside the you and at sufficient height hand over the transmitter to you, then with verbal guidance you will take your first tentative steps on the road to flying your own model round the sky, don’t be surprised if the instructor takes the transmitter from you from time to time, he will do this at the very first signs of a problem, and this is normal, it could be because the model is flying to far away, to high, or getting into any other difficulties, once the model is in a safe attitude he will hand the transmitter back to you, this is quite normal. Usually the main issues that you will face are over-control, and disorientation, over-control is where you move the transmitter sticks to far and the model flys in an erratic manner, and disorientation occurs when the model is either to far away or to high and it becomes difficult to see what way the model is really going, therefore it becomes impossible to give the correct control inputs to recover the model to a safe position, however, long before the model reaches this stage, your instructor will step in, take control of the transmitter, and usually rescue the model before handing control back to you.

The buddy box
The second method is very similar to the first in terms of pre-flight checks, verbal instruction etc, and differs only in as much as its known as the “buddy box” method.
The buddy box system is favoured by many clubs, and operates in the following way, the instructor has a compatible radio system to yours, and the two transmitters are connected by a hardwire cable, this system allows the instructor to gain control of your transmitter by simply pressing a button, or throwing a switch, this instantly hands control of the model to his master transmitter, and at the same time instantly and temporarily disables any signal from what in effect, now becomes the your slave transmitter, as with the previous method, once the model is in a safe position and attitude the instructor disables his transmitter, and once again you have control, this system offers a very smooth and secure method of learning to fly.