| Wing location | | | | aerodynamic structure. This allows the plane |
| | | | to be relatively balanced whether |
| High wing | | | | rightside-up, upside-down, or any other |
| | | | position. This is great for military jets, |
| The easiest planes to fly are typically ones | | | | sport planes and aerobatic planes, but less |
| that have a high wing, or a wing that is on | | | | advantageous for the learning pilot. Because |
| top or above the plane's fuselage. Wing | | | | of this symmetry, the plane doesn't really |
| dihedrals (bend or change of angle in wing | | | | have any natural or stable flying position, |
| relative to fuselage) or polyhedrals are also | | | | like the high wing planes, and will not |
| common. Most trainers and park flyers have | | | | automatically return to a stable gliding |
| this configuration. | | | | position. |
| | | | |
| These planes hold most of their weight under | | | | Number of channels |
| the canopy of the wing structure and tend to | | | | |
| react more like a glider. For this reason, | | | | The number of channels a plane requires is |
| they are very stable and easy to fly. If a | | | | determined by the number of mechanical servos |
| high wing plane is out of control, stability | | | | that have been installed. On smaller models, |
| can often be regained by returning the | | | | usually one servo per control surface is |
| controls to a neutral position, allowing the | | | | sufficient. |
| plane to naturally fall back into a gliding | | | | |
| position. Because of the wing shape, wing | | | | Ailerons - controls roll. |
| position, and drag under the wing due to the | | | | |
| fuselage, these planes fly slower than their | | | | Elevator - controls pitch (up and down). |
| mid and low wing counterparts, but can | | | | |
| usually do some aerobatic maneuvers. | | | | Throttle or, if electric, motor speed. |
| | | | |
| High wings are typical of many vintage | | | | Rudder - controls yaw (left and right). |
| private planes. For example, the Piper Cub | | | | |
| and the Cessna 170. | | | | For more complex models and larger scale |
| | | | planes, multiple servos may be used on |
| Low wing | | | | control surfaces. In such cases, more |
| | | | channels as required to perform the various |
| Low wing planes offer a higher level of | | | | functions such as opening cargo doors, |
| flying difficulty because the weight of the | | | | dropping bombs, operating remote cameras, |
| plane sits on top of the wing structure, | | | | lights, etc. |
| making the balance a bit top heavy. Most wing | | | | |
| configurations provide a slight dihedral to | | | | The right and left ailerons move in opposite |
| provide a bit more balance during flight. | | | | directions. However, aileron control will |
| | | | often use two channels to enable mixing of |
| The weight distribution and wing position of | | | | other functions on the transmitter. For |
| a low wing plane provides a good balance of | | | | example when they both move downward they can |
| stability and maneuverability. The plane's | | | | be used as flaps (flaperons), or when they |
| weight is easier to move around the rotation | | | | both move upward, as spoilers (spoilerons). |
| axis during a roll because it is closer to | | | | Some aircraft, such as the Concorde do not |
| the wing, requiring much less leverage than a | | | | have an elevator. When that function is mixed |
| high wing plane. | | | | with ailerons the surfaces are known as |
| | | | elevons. Each of these mixes are common on |
| Low wings are typical of World War II war | | | | radio control planes. |
| planes and many newer passenger planes and | | | | |
| commercial jets. | | | | With a three channel RC plane, either the |
| | | | ailerons or rudder control surface is |
| Mid wing | | | | eliminated. If the rudder is eliminated, |
| | | | turning is accomplished by rolling the plane |
| Mid wing planes are usually considered the | | | | left or right and applying the correct amount |
| most difficult to fly. The wings are usually | | | | of up-elevator. If the ailerons are |
| located right in the vertical middle of the | | | | eliminated, the wing needs to have a |
| plane, near the bulk mass of the plane. Very | | | | significant amount of dihedral (V-bend in the |
| little leverage is needed to turn and rotate | | | | wing). The rudder will turn the plane so that |
| the plane's weight. | | | | one wing will turn into the wind, causing it |
| | | | to lift and roll the aircraft. Many trainers |
| Mid wings are often straight without any | | | | and electric park fliers use this technique. |
| dihedral providing an almost symmetrical | | | | |